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A2 noun #10,000 الأكثر شيوعاً 17 دقيقة للقراءة

malchance

الأكثر شيوعاً #10,000

تدرّب عليها أمثلة ملاحظات ونصائح malchance في 30 ثانية

الشرح malchance in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should focus on the simplest use of 'malchance'. Think of it as the opposite of 'chance' (luck). The most important thing to remember is the phrase 'J'ai de la malchance' (I have bad luck). At this stage, you don't need to worry about complex idioms. Just know that when something small goes wrong—like losing your pen or missing a bus—you can say 'Quelle malchance !' (What bad luck!). You should also recognize that the word is feminine, so it is 'la malchance'. Avoid trying to use it as an adjective like 'I am unlucky'; instead, always use the 'I have' structure. This will keep your sentences simple and grammatically correct. Practice saying 'J'ai de la malchance' vs 'J'ai de la chance' to feel the difference between the two states. Remember that 'mal-' usually means 'bad' in French, which helps you remember the meaning. If you can use this word to express a simple feeling of being unlucky in a basic conversation, you have mastered it for the A1 level.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

At the A2 level, you begin to use 'malchance' in different tenses and with more variety. You should be able to say 'J'ai eu de la malchance' (I had bad luck) in the passé composé to describe a specific event in the past. You also start to learn common pairings, such as 'par malchance' (by bad luck) to start a sentence. For example, 'Par malchance, il pleuvait' (Unluckily, it was raining). You should also be aware of the difference between the noun 'malchance' and the adjective 'malchanceux/se'. At A2, you are expected to handle basic social interactions, so using 'Quelle malchance !' to sympathize with a friend's small problem is a great skill to have. You might also encounter the word in simple texts about superstitions, like 'Le chat noir porte malchance'. Focus on the 'de la' partitive article, as using it correctly shows you are progressing beyond the very basics of French grammar. You are also beginning to see how 'malchance' is used for random events, distinguishing it from things that are your own fault.

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'malchance' in more complex sentence structures. You can use it as a subject, for example: 'La malchance semble me poursuivre' (Bad luck seems to follow me). You should also start using more nuanced expressions like 'jouer de malchance'. This shows a higher level of fluency and an understanding of French idioms. At this level, you can describe a series of events and explain how 'malchance' played a role in the outcome. You should also be able to distinguish 'malchance' from synonyms like 'la poisse' (informal) or 'manque de pot'. In your writing, you can use 'malchance' to add flavor to stories or to explain why a certain plan didn't work out. You are also expected to understand the word when it appears in news articles or radio broadcasts, where it is often used to describe sports results or minor accidents. Your vocabulary is expanding, so you should be able to explain *why* something was 'malchance' rather than just stating that it was. This involves using conjunctions like 'parce que' or 'puisque' in combination with the word.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

At the B2 level, you should have a firm grasp of the 'register' of the word 'malchance'. You know when to use it in a formal report versus when to use 'la poisse' in a casual conversation with friends. You can use 'malchance' to discuss abstract concepts like fate, probability, and risk. For example, you might discuss whether a business failure was due to 'la malchance du marché' or poor management. You should be able to use the word in the conditional mood: 'Si j'avais eu moins de malchance, j'aurais réussi'. This demonstrates your ability to handle complex grammar while using the vocabulary naturally. You also understand the cultural weight of the word, including its use in French cinema and literature to describe the 'anti-hero'. Your ability to use 'malchance' in debate or discussion—perhaps arguing about the role of luck in success—shows that you are reaching an upper-intermediate level. You should also be familiar with more literary synonyms like 'infortune' and know how to use them to vary your style in formal writing.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

At the C1 level, your use of 'malchance' should be indistinguishable from that of a native speaker. You can use it with subtle irony or sarcasm. You understand the historical and etymological roots of the word and how it fits into the broader family of French words related to 'chance' and 'chéance'. You can use the word in sophisticated rhetorical structures, such as 'Que ce soit par malchance ou par dessein...' (Whether by bad luck or by design...). In your writing, you can analyze the role of 'la malchance' in classical French tragedies or modern existentialist literature. You are comfortable with all idiomatic expressions involving the word and can even create your own nuanced descriptions of misfortune. You can distinguish between the 'malchance' of a single event and the 'fatalité' of a life path. Your listening skills are sharp enough to catch the word even when spoken quickly or in a thick regional accent, and you understand the social implications of using it to deflect blame in a professional or political context.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

At the C2 level, you possess a mastery of 'malchance' that allows you to use it in any context, from the most technical scientific discussion of probability to the most refined poetic expression. You can explore the philosophical implications of 'malchance' in depth, perhaps discussing the concept of 'moral luck' or the intersection of 'malchance' and 'déterminisme'. You are aware of the word's archaic forms and how its meaning has shifted over centuries. You can use the word to write high-level critiques of literature or film, discussing how a director uses 'la malchance' as a narrative device. Your vocabulary includes even the rarest synonyms and regional variations, and you can switch between them effortlessly to achieve a specific stylistic effect. You understand the deepest cultural nuances, such as how 'malchance' relates to the French concept of 'le système D' (making do in the face of bad luck). At this level, the word is not just a tool for communication but a brush with which you can paint complex, nuanced pictures of the human experience in French.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

تدرّب عليها أمثلة ملاحظات ونصائح

malchance في 30 ثانية

Malchance is the standard French feminine noun for 'bad luck', used commonly with 'avoir de la'.
It differs from 'malheur' (tragedy) by focusing on random, often minor, unfortunate coincidences.
The word is essential for everyday sympathy, sports commentary, and discussing superstitions like broken mirrors.
Common expressions include 'par malchance' (unluckily) and 'porter malchance' (to bring bad luck).

The French word malchance is a feminine noun that translates directly to 'bad luck' or 'misfortune' in English. It is a compound word formed from the prefix mal- (bad or poorly) and the noun chance (luck). In French, 'chance' usually implies a positive outcome, so 'malchance' is the specific negation of that positive state. It is used to describe a situation where events occur in an unfavorable way due to circumstances beyond one's control, rather than through personal failure or lack of skill. You will hear this word in everyday conversations when someone misses a train by a few seconds, loses their keys at the worst possible moment, or experiences a series of minor setbacks.

Grammatical Gender: Feminine (la malchance). It almost always requires the feminine article 'la' or the partitive 'de la'.

Understanding the nuance of 'malchance' requires looking at how the French perceive fate. Unlike 'malheur', which often implies a deep, tragic unhappiness or a major life catastrophe, 'malchance' is frequently used for the 'rub of the green'—the small, annoying coincidences that ruin a day. For example, if it rains on the one day you planned a picnic, that is 'malchance'. If a business fails due to a global economic collapse, that might be described as 'malchance' but is more likely to be called 'un revers de fortune'. The word is versatile, appearing in both formal reports and casual street slang, though in very informal settings, speakers might prefer terms like 'la poisse'.

C'est vraiment de la malchance d'avoir crevé un pneu juste avant l'entretien d'embauche.

In terms of frequency, 'malchance' is a staple of the French vocabulary. It is taught early to learners because it fits into the common 'avoir' (to have) construction. You don't 'be' unlucky in French; you 'have' bad luck (avoir de la malchance). This linguistic structure shifts the burden of the event away from the individual's character and onto an external possession of 'luck'. When you say 'J'ai eu de la malchance', you are telling the listener that the universe conspired against you, but you are not necessarily a 'malheureux' (unhappy/unfortunate person) by nature.

Furthermore, the word often appears in discussions about probability and gambling. A player at a casino who loses on a seemingly sure bet will blame 'la malchance'. In sports commentary, if a ball hits the post and stays out, the commentator will inevitably mention 'la malchance des attaquants'. This usage highlights the word's connection to randomness. It is the invisible force that makes the probable outcome fail. It is also important to note that 'malchance' is distinct from 'mauvaise chance', which is rarely used in modern French. 'Malchance' has become the standardized single word for the concept.

Register: Neutral to Formal. It is appropriate for professional emails, news broadcasts, and polite conversation.

In a broader cultural sense, the French often use 'malchance' as a way to express empathy. If a friend tells you about a series of unfortunate events, responding with 'Quelle malchance !' (What bad luck!) is a standard and kind way to acknowledge their frustration without implying that they were at fault. It serves as a social lubricant, allowing people to bond over the shared experience of life's unpredictability. It suggests that while we try to control our lives, there is always an element of 'la malchance' that can disrupt our plans, and recognizing this is a part of the human condition.

Par pure malchance, le magasin était fermé exceptionnellement ce jour-là.

Finally, the word is often used in the plural 'malchances' in more abstract or statistical contexts, though the singular is much more common. For example, in a medical or scientific context, one might discuss 'les malchances' of a certain event occurring, though even here, 'risques' or 'probabilités' would be more precise. In literature, 'la malchance' is often personified as a fickle goddess or a shadow that follows a protagonist, emphasizing the lack of agency the character has over their destiny. This reinforces the idea that 'malchance' is an external visitor, not an internal trait.

Antonym: La chance (luck). Note that French does not have a word for 'good luck' that is as commonly used as 'chance' itself.

Using malchance correctly in a sentence involves understanding its relationship with verbs and articles. The most common construction is with the verb avoir (to have). Because 'malchance' is an uncountable noun in this context, it takes the partitive article de la. For example, 'J'ai de la malchance' (I have bad luck). If you want to emphasize the degree of bad luck, you can add an adjective like 'grande' or 'incroyable', as in 'Elle a une malchance incroyable'. Notice that when an adjective is added, the article often shifts from the partitive 'de la' to the indefinite 'une'.

Nous avons eu la malchance de tomber en panne au milieu de nulle part.

Another frequent construction uses the verb jouer (to play) in the idiomatic expression jouer de malchance. This translates roughly to 'to be unlucky' or 'to suffer from a stroke of bad luck'. It is often used to describe a sequence of events where things go wrong despite one's best efforts. For instance, 'Le skieur a joué de malchance lors de la finale' (The skier was unlucky during the final). This expression is slightly more sophisticated and is common in journalism and sports reporting. It suggests a more active, though involuntary, participation in the misfortune.

Common Verb Pairings: Avoir de la malchance, porter malchance, jouer de malchance, être poursuivi par la malchance.

The verb porter (to carry/to bring) is used when discussing superstitions. 'Porter malchance' means 'to bring bad luck'. For example, 'On dit que croiser un chat noir porte malchance' (They say that crossing a black cat brings bad luck). In this case, 'malchance' acts as a direct object and does not require a partitive article. This is a crucial distinction for learners: you have 'de la malchance', but an object 'porte malchance'. This mirrors the English 'to bring bad luck' versus 'to have bad luck'.

When 'malchance' is used as the subject of a sentence, it often describes the cause of an event. 'La malchance a voulu que...' is a common literary or formal way to say 'As bad luck would have it...'. This phrasing attributes agency to the bad luck itself, as if it had a will. For example, 'La malchance a voulu qu'il pleuve le jour du mariage' (Bad luck would have it that it rained on the wedding day). This structure is excellent for storytelling and adding a touch of drama to your descriptions of events.

C'est par pure malchance que nous avons perdu nos billets.

In exclamatory sentences, 'Quelle malchance !' is the most natural way to express sympathy or frustration. It is the equivalent of 'What rotten luck!' or 'How unlucky!'. You can also use 'Par malchance' as an adverbial phrase at the beginning of a sentence to set the tone for what follows: 'Par malchance, l'ascenseur était en panne' (Unluckily, the elevator was out of order). This is a very useful transition phrase for both writing and speaking, as it clearly signals the nature of the upcoming information.

Prepositional Usage: Par malchance (by bad luck), par suite de malchance (as a result of bad luck), malgré la malchance (despite the bad luck).

Finally, let's look at the plural. While 'malchance' is mostly singular, you might encounter 'les malchances' when referring to multiple specific instances of bad luck or in a probabilistic context. 'Il a accumulé les malchances cette année' (He has accumulated instances of bad luck this year). However, even in this case, many speakers would prefer 'les déboires' or 'les malheurs'. Stick to the singular 'la malchance' for 95% of your needs to sound more like a native speaker.

Si vous ouvrez un parapluie à l'intérieur, cela vous apportera de la malchance.

You will encounter the word malchance in a wide variety of social and professional settings in France and other Francophone countries. One of the most common places is in the realm of sports. French sports journalists and fans frequently use it to explain away a loss that didn't seem deserved. If a football team hits the crossbar three times and loses 1-0, the headline the next day will almost certainly mention 'la malchance'. It serves as a way to maintain the dignity of the athletes by suggesting that their skill was sufficient, but the 'gods of the stadium' were not on their side.

Context: Sports: Used to explain losses caused by random factors like wind, referee errors, or mechanical failures in racing.

In the workplace, 'malchance' is often used in a slightly more formal or defensive way. If a project is delayed because a supplier went on strike or a server crashed, a manager might report to their superiors that 'par malchance, nous avons rencontré des obstacles imprévus'. Here, the word acts as a professional shield. It implies that the delay was not due to poor planning or incompetence, but rather to an external, unpredictable 'bad luck' factor. It is a socially acceptable way to frame failure without taking full personal responsibility for external variables.

Le présentateur météo a dit que c'était de la malchance si l'orage a éclaté juste pendant le festival.

You will also hear 'malchance' in the context of daily news and human interest stories. News anchors might use it when describing a series of unfortunate events that befell a citizen. For example, if a person's house was flooded and then their car was stolen the same week, the reporter might say, 'Cet homme semble poursuivi par la malchance'. This phrasing adds a narrative quality to the news, making the victim seem like a character in a drama. It evokes empathy from the audience by highlighting the unfairness of the situation.

Culturally, 'malchance' is deeply tied to French superstitions. While modern France is a secular society, many traditional beliefs about luck persist. You will hear the word in discussions about breaking mirrors, walking under ladders, or the number thirteen. In these contexts, 'malchance' is the consequence of breaking a superstitious rule. A grandmother might warn a child, 'Ne fais pas ça, ça porte malchance !' (Don't do that, it brings bad luck!). In this way, the word is part of the linguistic fabric that transmits cultural myths and behavioral norms from one generation to the next.

Context: Superstition: Commonly used with 'porter' (porter malchance) to describe actions that are believed to cause negative outcomes.

In French cinema and literature, 'la malchance' is a recurring theme, especially in comedies. The 'malchanceux' (unlucky person) is a classic character archetype. Think of the films of Pierre Richard, like 'La Chèvre', where the entire plot revolves around a character who has such extreme 'malchance' that it becomes a supernatural force. In these stories, the word is used to describe a comical level of misfortune that is so consistent it becomes a personality trait. Hearing the word in these contexts often triggers a laugh because it's associated with the absurdity of the character's life.

Dans les films de comédie française, le héros a souvent une malchance légendaire qui fait rire tout le monde.

Finally, you'll hear 'malchance' in everyday social interactions as a polite filler. When someone apologizes for being late due to traffic or a broken alarm, the listener might say, 'Ah, quelle malchance !' as a way of saying 'I believe you, and I sympathize'. It's a low-stakes way to acknowledge the small frictions of life. It avoids the heaviness of 'C'est terrible' or 'C'est un drame', making it perfect for the minor inconveniences that characterize modern existence.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make with malchance is trying to use it as an adjective. In English, we say 'I am unlucky'. A direct translation would lead a learner to say 'Je suis malchance', which is incorrect. In French, you must use the noun with the verb 'avoir' (to have): 'J'ai de la malchance'. If you want to use an adjective, the correct word is malchanceux (masculine) or malchanceuse (feminine). So, 'Je suis malchanceux' is the correct way to express the adjectival form. This distinction between 'having bad luck' and 'being unlucky' is a fundamental hurdle for beginners.

Mistake: Partitive Omission: Incorrect: 'J'ai malchance'. Correct: 'J'ai DE LA malchance'. Uncountable nouns in French almost always require a partitive article.

Another common error is confusing 'malchance' with 'malheur'. While both relate to negative outcomes, 'malheur' is much heavier. 'Malheur' implies a great tragedy, misery, or a profound misfortune (like a death or a total ruin). Using 'malheur' for a missed bus sounds overly dramatic and can even be seen as disrespectful to people facing real tragedy. Conversely, using 'malchance' for a major catastrophe can sound dismissive or insensitive. 'La malchance' is for the 'bad luck' of the draw; 'le malheur' is for the 'unhappiness' of the soul or fate.

Ne dites pas 'C'est un malheur' si vous avez seulement perdu vos clés ; dites 'Quelle malchance !'

A subtle mistake involves the expression 'pas de chance'. Many learners think 'malchance' and 'pas de chance' are interchangeable in all contexts. While they are close, 'pas de chance' is much more common in spoken French for immediate, small events. If you ask for a croissant and the baker says they just sold the last one, you would say 'Ah, pas de chance !' rather than 'Ah, quelle malchance !'. 'Malchance' feels slightly more formal or descriptive of a broader situation, whereas 'pas de chance' is the quick, idiomatic reaction to a specific 'no' or 'miss'.

Learners also struggle with the verb 'porter'. They often try to say 'faire malchance' (to make bad luck) or 'donner malchance' (to give bad luck). The only correct verb for 'bringing' or 'causing' bad luck in a superstitious sense is porter. 'Le chiffre treize porte malchance'. Any other verb will sound unnatural to a native ear. Additionally, some learners try to pluralize it unnecessarily. While 'malchances' exists, it's rare. Stick to the singular to describe the general concept of bad luck.

Mistake: Preposition Confusion: Incorrect: 'Avec malchance, je suis tombé'. Correct: 'PAR malchance, je suis tombé'. 'Par' is the standard preposition for 'by/through bad luck'.

Finally, watch out for the pronunciation of the 'ch' sound. English speakers sometimes pronounce it like 'k' (as in 'character') or with a hard 't' sound (as in 'chance' in English). In French, 'ch' is always a soft 'sh' sound, like in 'shoe'. So 'malchance' should sound like 'mal-shance'. Also, ensure the nasal 'an' sound at the end is properly produced without pronouncing the 'n' too hard. Mispronouncing the word can lead to confusion with 'mal chant' (bad singing), which, while funny, isn't what you want to convey!

Il a eu la malchance de se tromper de train, ce qui est une erreur classique de voyageur.

While malchance is the standard term, French is rich with synonyms that vary by register and intensity. Understanding these alternatives will help you sound more like a native and allow you to express different shades of misfortune. One of the most common informal synonyms is la poisse. If you say 'J'ai la poisse', you're implying a sort of 'sticky' bad luck that follows you around. It's very common among young people and in casual conversation. It's more visceral than 'malchance' and suggests a certain level of frustration or even cursedness.

Comparison: Malchance vs. Poisse: Malchance: Neutral, standard, can be a one-off event.
La Poisse: Slang, implies persistent or annoying bad luck.

Another colorful synonym is la guigne. This is a slightly older term but still very much in use. It often refers to a specific 'jinx'. If someone 'a la guigne', they are having a run of bad luck, often in a way that seems almost comical or predictable. Even more informal is la déveine. This comes from the word 'veine' (vein), which in French is a slang term for luck (related to finding a 'vein' of gold). So, 'avoir de la veine' is to be lucky, and 'avoir la déveine' is to be unlucky. These terms add flavor to your speech that 'malchance' lacks.

Quelle malchance ! Mais bon, c'est la vie, on ne peut pas toujours gagner.

In a more formal or literary context, you might encounter l'infortune. This word is closer to the English 'misfortune' and carries a weight of dignity and sadness. It is used to describe serious life setbacks rather than just missing a train. You might read about a 'héros frappé par l'infortune'. Similarly, l'adversité (adversity) refers to the state of facing many 'malchances' or difficulties. While 'malchance' is the event, 'adversité' is the condition of having to struggle against those events. Using these words correctly shows a high level of French proficiency.

There are also phrases that act as alternatives. We already mentioned 'pas de chance', which is the go-to for quick reactions. Another is 'manque de pot' (literally 'lack of pot/luck'). This is a very common idiomatic expression for 'bad luck'. For example, 'Manque de pot, il n'y avait plus de places pour le concert'. It’s slightly more informal than 'malchance' but less slangy than 'la poisse'. It's perfect for everyday disappointments. Understanding these variations allows you to tailor your response to the severity of the situation and the person you are talking to.

Comparison: Malchance vs. Malheur: Malchance: Luck-based, often minor or random.
Malheur: Deep tragedy, grief, or catastrophic misfortune.

Finally, consider the word fatalité. While 'malchance' implies randomness, 'fatalité' implies that the bad outcome was inevitable or destined. If you say 'C'est une fatalité', you are suggesting that no matter what you did, the result would have been the same. This is a more philosophical way to look at bad luck. In summary, while 'malchance' is your safe, all-purpose word, don't be afraid to experiment with 'poisse' for small annoyances, 'infortune' for serious matters, and 'manque de pot' for casual chats.

On peut appeler cela de la malchance, ou simplement un manque de préparation.

How Formal Is It?

حقيقة ممتعة

The word 'chance' in French was originally neutral—it just meant 'how things fall out'. Over time, 'chance' became positive, requiring the creation of 'malchance' to describe the negative side of the coin.

دليل النطق

UK /mal.ʃɑ̃s/

US /mɑl.ʃɑns/

In French, stress is generally even across syllables, with a slight emphasis on the final syllable 'chance'.

يتقافى مع

chance danse france pense balance vengeance confiance ordonnance

أخطاء شائعة

Pronouncing the 'ch' as a hard 'k' (like 'character'). It should be 'sh'.
Pronouncing the final 'n' in 'chance' clearly. It should be a nasal vowel.
Pronouncing it like the English word 'chance'.
Stress on the first syllable 'MAL-chance' instead of the end.
Failing to pronounce the final 'e' as a silent or very soft breath.

مستوى الصعوبة

القراءة 2/5

The word is easy to recognize because it looks like its English components 'mal' and 'chance'.

الكتابة 3/5

Requires remembering the partitive 'de la' and the feminine gender.

التحدث 3/5

The nasal 'an' and soft 'sh' sound require practice for English speakers.

الاستماع 2/5

Very common and usually pronounced clearly in most contexts.

ماذا تتعلّم بعد ذلك

المتطلبات الأساسية

mal chance avoir la de

تعلّم لاحقاً

malheur poisse sort destin hasard

متقدم

conjoncture fatalité infortune déveine guigne

قواعد يجب معرفتها

Partitive articles with uncountable nouns

J'ai de la malchance.

Negative transformation (de la -> de)

Je n'ai pas de malchance.

Agreement of the adjective 'malchanceux'

Il est malchanceux / Elle est malchanceuse.

Exclamative 'Quel'

Quelle malchance ! (feminine agreement)

Preposition 'Par' for cause

Par malchance, il est tombé.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

أمثلة حسب المستوى

J'ai de la malchance aujourd'hui.

I have bad luck today.

Uses 'avoir de la' + feminine noun.

Quelle malchance !

What bad luck!

Exclamatory sentence with 'Quelle'.

C'est de la malchance.

It is bad luck.

Uses 'C'est' + partitive article.

Il n'a pas de malchance.

He doesn't have bad luck.

In the negative, 'de la' becomes 'de'.

La malchance est là.

Bad luck is here.

Subject + verb 'être'.

Tu as de la malchance avec ton vélo.

You have bad luck with your bike.

Avoir + de la + malchance + prepositional phrase.

Pas de malchance pour moi !

No bad luck for me!

Elliptical sentence for emphasis.

Elle a beaucoup de malchance.

She has a lot of bad luck.

Adverb of quantity 'beaucoup de'.

Par malchance, le bus est déjà parti.

Unluckily, the bus has already left.

Adverbial phrase 'Par malchance'.

J'ai eu de la malchance hier soir.

I had bad luck last night.

Passé composé of 'avoir'.

Ouvrir un parapluie porte malchance.

Opening an umbrella brings bad luck.

Verb 'porter' used with 'malchance'.

C'est vraiment une grande malchance.

It is really a big piece of bad luck.

Use of 'une' when an adjective is present.

Nous avons de la malchance avec le temps.

We are having bad luck with the weather.

Preposition 'avec' indicating the domain of luck.

Est-ce que tu as souvent de la malchance ?

Do you often have bad luck?

Interrogative with 'est-ce que'.

Il a perdu son travail par malchance.

He lost his job through bad luck.

Phrase 'par malchance' as a cause.

La malchance a gâché nos vacances.

Bad luck ruined our vacation.

Noun as the subject of the verb 'gâcher'.

Le joueur a joué de malchance pendant tout le match.

The player was unlucky throughout the whole match.

Idiom 'jouer de malchance'.

C'est une suite de malchances incroyables.

It's a series of incredible strokes of bad luck.

Plural use 'malchances' in a collective sense.

Malgré sa malchance, il garde le sourire.

Despite his bad luck, he keeps smiling.

Preposition 'Malgré' + possessive adjective.

On ne peut pas tout mettre sur le compte de la malchance.

You can't blame everything on bad luck.

Expression 'mettre sur le compte de'.

La malchance s'est acharnée sur ce pauvre village.

Bad luck relentlessly pursued this poor village.

Pronominal verb 's'acharner' with 'malchance'.

J'espère que ce miroir brisé ne me portera pas malchance.

I hope this broken mirror won't bring me bad luck.

Future tense of 'porter' with indirect object 'me'.

Il y a une part de malchance dans chaque échec.

There is a part of bad luck in every failure.

Partitive structure 'une part de'.

Si seulement la malchance pouvait nous laisser tranquilles.

If only bad luck could leave us alone.

Hypothetical 'Si seulement' + imperfect.

L'entreprise a fait faillite suite à une série de malchances.

The company went bankrupt following a series of misfortunes.

Compound preposition 'suite à'.

La malchance a voulu qu'ils se croisent à ce moment précis.

Bad luck would have it that they crossed paths at that exact moment.

Formal construction 'La malchance a voulu que' + subjunctive.

Il ne faut pas confondre la malchance avec l'impréparation.

One must not confuse bad luck with lack of preparation.

Verb 'confondre... avec...'.

Certains voient la malchance comme une fatalité inévitable.

Some see bad luck as an inevitable fatality.

Verb 'voir... comme...'.

Elle a surmonté sa malchance avec une détermination exemplaire.

She overcame her bad luck with exemplary determination.

Verb 'surmonter' + direct object.

La malchance ne peut expliquer à elle seule ce résultat catastrophique.

Bad luck alone cannot explain this catastrophic result.

Negative construction with 'ne peut... à elle seule'.

Jouer de malchance est parfois le lot des plus grands champions.

Being unlucky is sometimes the lot of the greatest champions.

Infinitive phrase used as a subject.

Le destin et la malchance sont souvent entremêlés dans la littérature.

Destiny and bad luck are often intertwined in literature.

Passive voice with 'être entremêlés'.

Attribuer ses échecs à la malchance est une forme de déni.

Attributing one's failures to bad luck is a form of denial.

Infinitive subject and abstract noun usage.

La malchance, ce spectre qui hante les couloirs de l'histoire.

Bad luck, that specter that haunts the corridors of history.

Appositive phrase for poetic effect.

Nul n'est à l'abri des caprices de la malchance.

No one is safe from the whims of bad luck.

Formal 'Nul n'est' construction.

L'ironie de la malchance veut que le remède soit pire que le mal.

The irony of bad luck dictates that the remedy be worse than the disease.

Subjunctive 'soit' after 'veut que'.

Sa vie fut marquée par une malchance aussi persistante que cruelle.

His life was marked by a bad luck as persistent as it was cruel.

Passé simple 'fut' and comparative structure.

On pourrait presque parler d'une esthétique de la malchance dans son œuvre.

One could almost speak of an aesthetic of bad luck in his work.

Conditional 'pourrait' for nuanced suggestion.

La malchance n'est souvent que le nom que nous donnons à nos erreurs de calcul.

Bad luck is often only the name we give to our miscalculations.

Restrictive 'ne... que' construction.

Elle a accueilli cette nouvelle malchance avec un flegme tout britannique.

She welcomed this new bit of bad luck with a very British phlegm.

Use of 'nouvelle' as an adjective before the noun.

L'ontologie de la malchance soulève des questions métaphysiques profondes.

The ontology of bad luck raises profound metaphysical questions.

Highly academic terminology.

Il existe une corrélation ténue entre la malchance perçue et la résilience psychologique.

There exists a tenuous correlation between perceived bad luck and psychological resilience.

Formal 'Il existe' with complex noun phrases.

La malchance s'érige en obstacle insurmontable pour celui qui manque de foi.

Bad luck sets itself up as an insurmountable obstacle for those who lack faith.

Pronominal 's'ériger en' (to set oneself up as).

On ne saurait occulter la part de malchance inhérente à toute entreprise humaine.

One cannot obscure the part of bad luck inherent in every human endeavor.

Formal 'on ne saurait' + infinitive.

L'œuvre de Zola dépeint souvent la malchance comme un déterminisme social.

Zola's work often depicts bad luck as a form of social determinism.

Literary analysis register.

Par-delà la malchance, il faut savoir discerner les opportunités latentes.

Beyond bad luck, one must know how to discern latent opportunities.

Preposition 'Par-delà' (Beyond).

La malchance n'est-elle pas le moteur secret de bien des tragédies antiques ?

Is bad luck not the secret engine of many an ancient tragedy?

Rhetorical question in the negative-interrogative.

Elle a su transcender la malchance pour en faire le terreau de sa créativité.

She was able to transcend bad luck to make it the breeding ground for her creativity.

Verb 'transcender' and metaphorical 'terreau'.

تلازمات شائعة

avoir de la malchance

porter malchance

par malchance

jouer de malchance

quelle malchance

une série de malchances

poursuivi par la malchance

pure malchance

accumuler les malchances

vaincre la malchance

العبارات الشائعة

Pas de chance !

— A short, very common way to say 'Bad luck!' or 'Tough luck!'. It is used constantly in spoken French.

Tu as raté le train ? Pas de chance !

C'est la faute à la malchance.

— It's bad luck's fault. Used to deflect blame from a person.

Ne sois pas triste, c'est la faute à la malchance.

Manque de chance.

— Similar to 'pas de chance', often used at the start of a sentence.

Manque de chance, il n'y avait plus de pain.

Tirer la malchance.

— To 'pull' or attract bad luck. Slightly more informal.

Il tire la malchance comme un aimant.

Contre la malchance.

— Against bad luck. Used when talking about remedies or charms.

Il porte un talisman contre la malchance.

Un coup de malchance.

— A stroke of bad luck. Refers to a single, sudden event.

Un simple coup de malchance a ruiné ses plans.

La malchance s'acharne.

— Bad luck is relentless. Used when many things go wrong in a row.

La malchance s'acharne sur cette famille.

Si la malchance le veut.

— If bad luck wills it. A fatalistic expression.

Si la malchance le veut, nous serons en retard.

Sortir de la malchance.

— To get out of a period of bad luck.

Il espère enfin sortir de la malchance.

Victime de la malchance.

— A victim of bad luck.

Il a été victime de la malchance lors du tirage au sort.

يُخلط عادةً مع

malchance vs malheur

Malheur is for deep tragedy or great unhappiness; malchance is for bad luck/accidents.

malchance vs mauvaise chance

English speakers say 'bad luck', but French uses the single word 'malchance'.

malchance vs malchanceux

This is the adjective (unlucky); malchance is the noun (bad luck).

تعبيرات اصطلاحية

"Jouer de malchance"

— To have a run of bad luck, especially in a specific situation where one's efforts are thwarted.

L'équipe a joué de malchance avec deux blessés en début de match.

standard

"Porter la poisse"

— To bring bad luck to others or to be a 'jinx'. 'Poisse' is the informal equivalent of malchance.

Ne dis pas ça, tu vas nous porter la poisse !

informal

"Avoir la guigne"

— To be jinxed or to have persistent bad luck.

Il a vraiment la guigne avec ses voitures.

informal

"Être né sous une mauvaise étoile"

— To be born under a bad star; to be naturally unlucky in life.

Il pense être né sous une mauvaise étoile car rien ne lui réussit.

standard

"Attirer la foudre"

— To attract lightning; metaphorically, to attract bad luck or trouble.

Il a le don d'attirer la foudre sur lui.

figurative

"C'est la loi des séries"

— The law of series. Used when several bad things happen one after another.

Encore une panne ? C'est la loi des séries !

neutral

"Jouer de malheur"

— Similar to 'jouer de malchance' but slightly more dramatic or old-fashioned.

Il a joué de malheur en perdant son billet de loterie.

literary

"Tomber au mauvais moment"

— To fall at the wrong time. Used when bad luck is a matter of timing.

Cette grippe tombe vraiment au mauvais moment.

neutral

"La faute à pas de chance"

— A common, slightly colloquial way to say 'It's just bad luck's fault'.

On a perdu, c'est la faute à pas de chance.

informal

"Manger son pain noir"

— To eat one's black bread. To go through a period of hardship or bad luck.

Il mange son pain noir en ce moment, mais ça ira mieux.

idiomatic

سهل الخلط

malchance vs chance

Opposite meaning.

Chance is positive luck; malchance is negative luck.

J'ai de la chance (I'm lucky) vs J'ai de la malchance (I'm unlucky).

malchance vs maladroit

Both start with 'mal'.

Maladroit means clumsy (a personal trait); malchance is external bad luck.

Il est maladroit (He is clumsy) vs Il a de la malchance (He has bad luck).

malchance vs méchant

Phonetic similarity in the first syllable.

Méchant means mean or wicked; malchance is bad luck.

Un homme méchant vs Un coup de malchance.

malchance vs mélange

Phonetic similarity.

Mélange means a mix; malchance is bad luck.

Un mélange de couleurs vs Une série de malchances.

malchance vs malheureux

Related meaning.

Malheureux means unhappy or unfortunate in a broad sense; malchanceux is specifically about luck.

Il est malheureux (He is sad/unhappy) vs Il est malchanceux (He is unlucky).

أنماط الجُمل

J'ai de la [noun].

J'ai de la malchance.

Quelle [noun] !

Quelle malchance !

Par [noun], [clause].

Par malchance, j'ai perdu mes clés.

[Subject] porte [noun].

Le chat noir porte malchance.

[Subject] a joué de [noun].

Il a joué de malchance.

[Subject] est poursuivi par la [noun].

Il est poursuivi par la malchance.

La [noun] a voulu que [subjunctive].

La malchance a voulu qu'il soit absent.

Attribuer [something] à la [noun].

Il attribue son échec à la malchance.

عائلة الكلمة

الأسماء

chance (luck)

malchanceux (unlucky person)

malchanceuse (unlucky person, fem.)

malheur (misfortune/tragedy)

الأفعال

chanceler (to wobble - related etymologically via the idea of falling/happening)

الصفات

malchanceux (unlucky)

chanceux (lucky)

malheureux (unhappy/unfortunate)

مرتبط

malediction

maladroit

malfaisant

malveillance

malformation

سجّل مجاناً لرؤية جميع الأمثلة

كيفية الاستخدام

frequency

Common in both spoken and written French.

أخطاء شائعة

Je suis malchance. → J'ai de la malchance. / Je suis malchanceux.
You cannot 'be' the noun bad luck. You either 'have' it or you are 'unlucky' (the adjective).
J'ai malchance. → J'ai de la malchance.
In French, uncountable nouns usually require a partitive article like 'de la'.
C'est un malheur que j'ai raté le bus. → C'est de la malchance que j'ai raté le bus.
'Malheur' is too strong for missing a bus; it implies a major tragedy.
Ça fait malchance. → Ça porte malchance.
The correct verb for 'bringing' or 'causing' bad luck in a superstitious sense is 'porter'.
J'ai eu de malchance. → J'ai eu de la malchance.
In an affirmative sentence, you need 'de la'. Use 'de' only in negative sentences (Je n'ai pas eu de malchance).

نصائح

Partitive Article

Always remember the 'de la' when using 'malchance' with 'avoir'. It's one of the most common spots where learners forget the article. Say 'J'ai de la malchance' out loud ten times to make it a habit.

Informal Alternatives

To sound more like a native in casual settings, try using 'pas de chance' or 'manque de pot'. These are much more common in daily spoken French than the full word 'malchance'.

The 'CH' Sound

The 'ch' in 'malchance' is always soft, like 'sh' in English. If you pronounce it like a 'k', people might not understand you or might think you're saying something else entirely.

Superstitions

Learn the verb 'porter' to talk about superstitions. 'Porter malchance' is the standard way to say something brings bad luck. It's a great conversation starter with French people.

Sentence Starters

Use 'Par malchance' at the beginning of sentences to add a narrative flow to your stories. It's a more sophisticated way to introduce a problem than just saying 'And then something bad happened'.

Nasal Vowels

Train your ear to recognize the 'ance' ending. It's a very common ending for feminine nouns in French, and being able to spot it will help you guess the gender of new words.

Empathy

Don't just use 'malchance' for yourself. Use 'Quelle malchance !' to show empathy to others. It's a key social skill in any language to acknowledge someone else's frustration.

Context Clues

When you see 'mal-' at the start of a word, you know it's something negative. This can help you understand 'malchance' even if you've forgotten the specific definition.

The Root Word

Remember that 'chance' in French usually means 'luck' (positive). So 'mal-chance' is just 'bad-luck'. This logical connection makes the word very easy to remember.

Avoid 'Mauvaise Chance'

Even though it sounds like a direct translation of 'bad luck', 'mauvaise chance' is rarely used. Stick to 'malchance' to sound natural and avoid 'Anglicisms'.

احفظها

وسيلة تذكّر

Think of 'mal' as 'bad' (like 'malfunction' or 'malice') and 'chance' as 'luck'. So, 'malchance' is simply 'bad luck'. It's a direct logical build.

ربط بصري

Imagine a gambler at a table. When the dice fall (cadentia) and show a losing number, that is 'mal-chance'. Visualize the 'mal' as a dark cloud over the dice.

Word Web

Mal Chance Poisse Avoir Porter Par Quelle Féminin

تحدٍّ

Try to write three sentences about a bad day you had, using 'par malchance' to start one, 'avoir de la malchance' in another, and 'Quelle malchance !' as an exclamation.

أصل الكلمة

The word 'malchance' is a compound formed in French from 'mal' and 'chance'. 'Mal' comes from the Latin 'malus' meaning bad. 'Chance' comes from the Old French 'cheance', which in turn comes from the Vulgar Latin 'cadentia', meaning 'a falling'.

المعنى الأصلي: The original meaning of 'chance' (falling) referred to the way dice fell. Therefore, 'malchance' literally meant a 'bad fall' of the dice.

Romance (Latin-based).

السياق الثقافي

Be careful not to use 'malchance' when someone has experienced a major tragedy (like a death); 'malheur' or 'tristesse' is more appropriate and respectful.

English speakers often say 'I am unlucky', but in French, you 'have bad luck'. This shift from 'being' to 'having' is a key cultural-linguistic difference.

The movie 'La Chèvre' (1981) featuring Pierre Richard as the ultimate 'malchanceux'. The character of François Pignon in various Francis Veber films. The poem 'L'Albatros' by Baudelaire, where the bird's 'malchance' is being on land.

تدرّب في الحياة الواقعية

سياقات واقعية

Sports

Jouer de malchance
La malchance du gardien
Un coup de malchance
Vaincre la malchance

Superstition

Porter malchance
Attirer la malchance
Un signe de malchance
Contre la malchance

Daily Inconveniences

Quelle malchance !
Par malchance
Avoir de la malchance
Pas de chance !

Workplace

Une série de malchances
Malchance technique
Facteur de malchance
Indépendamment de la malchance

Gambling

Avoir la déveine
La malchance aux dés
Tirer la malchance
Sortir de la malchance

بدايات محادثة

"Est-ce que tu crois que certains objets portent malchance ?"

"Quelle est la plus grande malchance qui t'est arrivée cette semaine ?"

"Penses-tu que la malchance existe vraiment ou est-ce juste le hasard ?"

"Connais-tu des gens qui ont toujours de la malchance ?"

"Est-ce que tu as un porte-bonheur pour éviter la malchance ?"

مواضيع للكتابة اليومية

Décris une journée où tu as eu beaucoup de malchance. Qu'est-ce qui s'est passé ?

Est-ce que tu es superstitieux ? Quelles choses portent malchance selon toi ?

Penses-tu que l'on peut changer sa malchance en chance ? Comment ?

Raconte une histoire où une malchance s'est finalement transformée en quelque chose de bien.

Quelle est la différence pour toi entre la malchance et une erreur personnelle ?

الأسئلة الشائعة

10 أسئلة

It is feminine: 'la malchance'. You can remember this because many abstract nouns ending in '-ance' are feminine in French, such as 'la chance', 'la confiance', and 'la vengeance'.

No, that is a common mistake. In French, you 'have' bad luck, so you say 'J'ai de la malchance'. If you want to use 'I am', use the adjective: 'Je suis malchanceux' (masculine) or 'Je suis malchanceuse' (feminine).

'Malchance' is the standard, neutral word for bad luck. 'La poisse' is informal slang. Use 'malchance' in professional or polite settings, and 'la poisse' with friends when you are very frustrated.

You can use the adjective 'malchanceux' (masculine) or 'malchanceuse' (feminine). Alternatively, you can use the phrase 'qui n'a pas de chance'.

While it is grammatically correct, it is rarely used. Native speakers almost always prefer the single word 'malchance' to express the concept of bad luck.

Use it to react to someone's minor misfortune, like if they lost their umbrella or missed their bus. It is a polite and empathetic exclamation.

No, in the expression 'porter malchance', the noun 'malchance' acts as a direct object without an article. Example: 'Le sel renversé porte malchance'.

The opposite is 'par chance', which means 'luckily' or 'by chance'. Example: 'Par chance, j'ai trouvé un billet de dix euros'.

Yes, 'malchances' exists, but it is much less common than the singular. It is used to refer to multiple specific unlucky events: 'Il a accumulé les malchances'.

It is a nasal vowel. To produce it, say 'ah' but let the air come out of both your nose and mouth. Do not pronounce the 'n' as a hard consonant at the end.

سجّل مجاناً للنصائح والملاحظات