Retrouvailles
Retrouvailles is the reunion of people who have been apart — the event and its joy folded into one word.
Full definition of Retrouvailles →:: COMPARE ::
RetrouvaillesvsLa douleur exquise
The short answer
The instructive pairing. Retrouvailles is real, current, dictionary-attested French that English rarely borrows. La douleur exquise is a phrase anglophones borrow constantly and French speakers use for something else. One is under-borrowed; the other is over-borrowed.
Side by side
| Aspect | Retrouvailles | La douleur exquise |
|---|---|---|
| Used by French speakers | Daily | Medically |
| English awareness | Low | High |
| Meaning survives translation | Yes | No |
| Verdict | Under-borrowed | Over-borrowed |
What each one means
La Douleur Exquise
In English, la douleur exquise means the ache of wanting someone unattainable. In actual French, it's a medical term for sharply localised pain.
Full definition of La Douleur Exquise →