Level B1 (Intermediate)
The French Word of the Day is débordé, meaning “overwhelmed” or “swamped.” Learn how to use this common adjective in everyday French conversations with clear examples.
Meaning
Pronunciation with IPA
Example sentences
Related words and lessons
Meaning
The word débordé means “overwhelmed” or “swamped” when someone has too much work or too many tasks. It comes from the verb déborder (to overflow). Débordé takes an extra -e for the feminine form: débordée.
- Je suis complètement débordé au travail. I’m completely overwhelmed at work.
- Elle est débordée de demandes. She’s swamped with requests.
Pronunciation
Example sentences
For this first sentence, the masculine noun projet has two meanings in French: project and plan. The negation ne + verb + que means “only”.
Je suis vraiment débordé aujourd’hui. Je n’ai qu’une heure pour finir le projet.
I’m really overwhelmed today. I only have one hour to finish the project.
The expression être sous l’eau is an synonymous expression and translates literally to “to be under water”.
Je voudrais bien y aller mais je n’ai pas le temps. Je suis sous l’eau.
I’d love to go but I don’t have the time. I’m snowed under.
Related words and lessons
- occupé – busy
- La goutte d’eau qui fait déborder la vase (Expression)
- surchargé – overloaded
- épuisé – exhausted
- avoir trop à faire – to have too much to do
- déborder – to overflow
