"Notre chien a peur des orages."

Translation: Our dog is afraid of thunderstorms.

[jacob_garofalo]

Why is this "des orages" and not "d'orages," if it's not "the thunderstorms?" Is "avoir peur" a generality and therefore utilising the definite, like with "aimer", for example?

[n6zs]

First "des" does not contract. It will always be "des orages". Second, "des" is the plural of "un", not "le/l'". The sentence is not "our dog is afraid of the thunderstorm", but "our dog is afraid of thunderstorms." As to using the definite article with "aimer", that applies to verbs of appreciation, e.g., aimer, but not to "avoir peur de".

[bpeel]

Apparently “avoir peur de” is an exception and doesn’t contract to “de” when it is followed by “des” :o

So:

J’ai besoin d’orages

but:

J’ai peur des orages

https://www.frantastique.com/en/french-grammar/les-articles-partitifs-et-les-prepositions

[boydell]

surely 'frightened of storms' is also a good translation?

[Kayleigh693364]

Google translate says frightened is effrayé and peur is afraid. I always figured they were interchangeable until now.

[M.parlange]

Is "thunderstorm" the proper translation of "orage"? I mean, there are not any "orages" with no thunders? Thanks in advance.

[n6zs]

"Un orage" may be simply "a storm", but "thunderstorm" is also accepted.

[M.parlange]

Thank you, n6zs

[L.Alexander]

My dictionary gives (thunder)storm for orage; but DL doesn't.

[chrisbrown441096]

Duo did not accept - My dog is afraid of storms. May 2019