Bedeutung
Bad things often happen in a series.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The French often use this phrase with a shrug of the shoulders (the 'Gallic Shrug') to show acceptance of a bad situation. In Quebec, you might hear 'Un malheur n'arrive jamais seul' using the verb 'arriver' instead of 'venir'. This proverb is a favorite of 19th-century realist writers like Balzac to foreshadow a character's downfall.
Drop the 'Ne'
To sound like a native in a casual setting, say 'Un malheur vient jamais seul'.
Don't be too negative
Using this too often can make you sound like a 'râleur' (a chronic complainer).
Bedeutung
Bad things often happen in a series.
Drop the 'Ne'
To sound like a native in a casual setting, say 'Un malheur vient jamais seul'.
Don't be too negative
Using this too often can make you sound like a 'râleur' (a chronic complainer).
Teste dich selbst
Complete the proverb with the missing word.
Un malheur ne vient ______ seul.
The fixed proverb uses 'jamais' to emphasize that it *never* happens that a misfortune is alone.
Which situation best fits the proverb?
Situation: You win the lottery and get a promotion.
The proverb is only for 'malheur' (misfortune), not for good news.
Choose the correct gender agreement.
Un malheur ne vient jamais ____.
'Malheur' is masculine singular, so 'seul' must match.
Complete the dialogue.
A: J'ai perdu mon portefeuille et ma clé est cassée. B: Oh là là, _________ !
This is the natural empathetic response to a streak of bad luck.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
When to use this phrase
Bad Luck
- • Broken phone
- • Late bus
- • Rainy day
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenUn malheur ne vient ______ seul.
The fixed proverb uses 'jamais' to emphasize that it *never* happens that a misfortune is alone.
Situation: You win the lottery and get a promotion.
The proverb is only for 'malheur' (misfortune), not for good news.
Un malheur ne vient jamais ____.
'Malheur' is masculine singular, so 'seul' must match.
A: J'ai perdu mon portefeuille et ma clé est cassée. B: Oh là là, _________ !
This is the natural empathetic response to a streak of bad luck.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
6 FragenIn formal writing, yes. In spoken French, it is almost always dropped.
No, 'malheur' specifically means misfortune. For good things, you'd have to invent a phrase like 'Une bonne nouvelle n'arrive jamais seule'.
'Un malheur ne vient jamais seul' describes the current situation, while 'Jamais deux sans trois' predicts that a third bad thing will happen.
Yes, it is one of the most common proverbs in the French language.
It is masculine (un malheur).
Yes, with colleagues, but avoid using it with your boss during a serious meeting.
Verwandte Redewendungen
La loi des séries
synonymThe law of series.
Jamais deux sans trois
similarNever two without three.
C'est la scoumoune
slangIt's bad luck.
