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A2 adjective #9,000 mais comum 11 min de leitura

irrégulier

Not regular; uneven or inconsistent in shape, pattern, or movement.

At the A1 level, you should learn 'irrégulier' primarily to talk about grammar and basic shapes. You will hear your teacher talk about 'verbes irréguliers' like *être* (to be) or *avoir* (to have). These are verbs that don't follow the normal rules. You can also use it to describe a drawing that isn't a perfect circle or square. It's a useful word to describe things that are 'not normal' in their shape or pattern. Keep it simple: 'Le verbe est irrégulier' or 'La forme est irrégulière.' Remember that if the thing you are describing is feminine (like 'la forme'), you must add an 'e' and an accent to make it 'irrégulière.' This is one of the first 'long' adjectives you will learn, and it helps you sound more descriptive early on. You might also use it to describe your study habits if you don't study every day at the same time. Even at this basic level, it's a helpful word for expressing that something doesn't follow a simple 1-2-3 pattern.
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At the A2 level, you can start using 'irrégulier' to describe your daily life and routines. For example, if your work hours change every week, you have 'des horaires irréguliers.' If you go to the gym sometimes but not always, your exercise is 'irrégulier.' You can also use it to describe the physical world around you, like 'une route irrégulière' (a bumpy road) or 'un terrain irrégulier' (uneven ground). At this level, you should focus on making sure the adjective agrees with the noun. If you are talking about 'des pierres' (feminine plural), it must be 'irrégulières.' You will also encounter this word in simple news stories or health tips, such as 'manger à des heures irrégulières' (eating at irregular hours), which is often described as unhealthy. It allows you to provide more detail about how often things happen or what they look like, moving beyond simple adjectives like 'bon' or 'mauvais.'
At the B1 level, 'irrégulier' becomes a tool for more abstract descriptions and professional contexts. You might use it to describe someone's performance at work or school: 'Son travail est irrégulier' suggests that while they are capable, they are not consistent. You will also see it used in more formal documents. For example, 'une situation irrégulière' is a common administrative term for someone whose legal status is not currently valid. In a B1 discussion about the environment or geography, you might describe 'un littoral irrégulier' (a jagged coastline) or 'des précipitations irrégulières' (inconsistent rainfall). You should also be comfortable using the adverb 'irrégulièrement' (irregularly) to describe actions. At this stage, you are expected to understand the nuance that 'irrégulier' isn't always a negative thing; in art or nature, it can be a neutral or even positive descriptor of organic beauty. You are also beginning to distinguish it from synonyms like 'inconstant' or 'variable.'
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At the B2 level, you should use 'irrégulier' with precision in specialized fields like medicine, finance, or law. You might discuss 'un rythme cardiaque irrégulier' in a medical context or 'une croissance irrégulière' in an economic analysis of a developing market. You will understand how 'irrégulier' functions in formal reports, where it might imply a lack of adherence to protocol: 'La procédure a été jugée irrégulière.' This means the rules were not followed, which could lead to legal consequences. You should be able to debate the merits of 'l'immigration irrégulière' using the term correctly as a neutral, administrative descriptor rather than a value judgment. Your vocabulary should also include related terms like 'l'irrégularité' (the noun). At B2, you are expected to handle the gender and number agreements perfectly, even in complex sentences with multiple clauses, and to use the word to add a layer of professional polish to your speaking and writing.
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At the C1 level, you will encounter 'irrégulier' in complex literary and philosophical texts. It might be used to describe the 'structure irrégulière' of a modernist poem or the 'caractère irrégulier' of a historical figure who defied social norms. You will recognize its use in high-level academic discourse, such as 'une distribution irrégulière des richesses' (an uneven distribution of wealth) or 'des flux migratoires irréguliers.' You should be able to use the word to express subtle shades of meaning, perhaps contrasting 'irrégulier' with 'chaotique' or 'aléatoire.' In a C1 essay, you might analyze how 'l'irrégularité' in a work of art creates a sense of tension or realism. You are also expected to be familiar with idiomatic or rare uses of the word in different French-speaking regions. Your mastery of the word includes knowing its history and how its meaning has shifted slightly from purely geometric to broadly behavioral and legal over the centuries.
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At the C2 level, 'irrégulier' is a word you use with complete native-like fluidity, often in highly nuanced or metaphorical ways. You might discuss the 'pulsations irrégulières de l'histoire' or the 'géométrie irrégulière de l'âme humaine.' You can use it in legal or high-level administrative French to describe 'des actes irréguliers' with a full understanding of the specific legal ramifications that term carries compared to 'illégal' or 'illicite.' You are comfortable using it in aesthetic criticism to describe the intentional 'irrégularité' of a Baroque facade or a contemporary musical composition. At this level, you don't just know what the word means; you know the weight it carries in different registers of speech. You can use it to create precise, evocative imagery in creative writing or to provide rigorous, exacting descriptions in scientific or legal contexts. The word is no longer a 'vocabulary item' but a versatile tool in your extensive linguistic toolkit.
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Exemplos

The French word irrégulier is a versatile adjective that English speakers will find quite intuitive, as it shares a direct Latin ancestor with the English word 'irregular.' At its core, it describes anything that deviates from a standard rule, a steady rhythm, a symmetrical shape, or a predictable pattern. Whether you are discussing the jagged edges of a coastline, the unpredictable hours of a freelance job, or the complex conjugation of the verb 'avoir,' this is the term you need. It is essential for learners because French is famous for its linguistic exceptions, many of which are labeled as such. However, its utility extends far beyond the classroom into the realms of medicine, law, geometry, and daily social interactions. Understanding 'irrégulier' requires recognizing its dual nature: it can be a neutral descriptor of physical properties or a more critical assessment of behavior or legality.

Physical Form
When describing objects, it refers to lack of symmetry or smoothness. A stone found on a beach might have an 'aspect irrégulier' because it hasn't been fully rounded by the waves. In architecture, an irregular layout might be a stylistic choice or a result of building on uneven terrain.

La surface de cette pierre est très irrégulière, ce qui la rend difficile à peindre.

Temporal Patterns
This refers to frequency. If you don't go to the gym every Monday but rather whenever you feel like it, your attendance is 'irrégulière.' It is often used to describe heartbeats (un pouls irrégulier) or breathing patterns in a medical context.

Depuis qu'il a changé de travail, il a des horaires irréguliers.

Legal and Moral Contexts
In more formal or administrative settings, 'irrégulier' can imply that something was not done according to the law or established procedures. For instance, 'une situation irrégulière' often refers to someone residing in a country without the proper visa or documentation.

L'administration a rejeté le dossier car il contenait des pièces irrégulières.

In summary, 'irrégulier' is a foundational word because it captures the essence of inconsistency. From the 'verbes irréguliers' that haunt every French student to the 'battements irréguliers' of a nervous heart, it is a word that describes the beautiful and sometimes frustrating lack of uniformity in our world. It helps you move beyond simple adjectives like 'mauvais' (bad) or 'bizarre' (weird) to provide a more precise description of structure and timing.

Le relief de cette région est très irrégulier, avec beaucoup de collines et de vallées.

Son comportement est devenu irrégulier après l'incident.

Using irrégulier correctly requires careful attention to gender and number agreement, as well as an understanding of its placement within a sentence. As an adjective, it typically follows the noun it modifies. For example, you would say 'un rythme irrégulier' (a masculine noun) or 'une respiration irrégulière' (a feminine noun). The shift from 'er' to 'ière' is a common pattern in French adjectives (like 'cher' to 'chère' or 'premier' to 'première'), and mastering this transformation is a key step in reaching intermediate proficiency.

Grammatical Agreement
Always check the noun. If the noun is plural, add an 's'. Masculine plural: 'des verbes irréguliers'. Feminine plural: 'des formes irrégulières'. The pronunciation of the masculine 'irrégulier' ends with a 'ay' sound (the 'r' is silent), while the feminine 'irrégulière' ends with a clear 'air' sound where the 'r' is pronounced.

Elle a remarqué des taches irrégulières sur le mur du salon.

Placement and Emphasis
While most French adjectives follow the noun, 'irrégulier' almost always does. Placing it before the noun (e.g., 'un irrégulier rythme') would sound very unnatural to a native speaker. However, it can also function as a predicate adjective after verbs like 'être', 'sembler', or 'devenir'.

Le flux de la rivière est devenu irrégulier à cause de la sécheresse.

Nuance in Professional Contexts
In business or academic writing, 'irrégulier' is used to describe data or trends that do not follow a linear path. If sales are high one month and low the next, the 'croissance' (growth) is described as 'irrégulière'. This is more precise than saying 'instable' (unstable), which might imply a risk of collapse.

Les résultats financiers de cette année sont assez irréguliers.

When you are describing people's work habits, 'irrégulier' suggests someone who has bursts of productivity followed by periods of inactivity. It's a common critique in school reports: 'Un travail trop irrégulier' (Work that is too inconsistent). This tells the student they have the ability but lack the steady application of effort.

Son sommeil est irrégulier depuis qu'il voyage beaucoup.

Nous avons trouvé des motifs irréguliers dans le tissu ancien.

You will encounter irrégulier in a surprising variety of real-world situations in French-speaking countries. One of the most common places is the news. French media often discusses 'l'immigration irrégulière' or 'les travailleurs irréguliers,' referring to people without legal residency or work permits. This is a formal, administrative way of speaking that avoids more stigmatizing or slang terms. You'll also hear it in weather reports, where a meteorologist might describe 'des vents irréguliers' (gusty or inconsistent winds) or 'des précipitations irrégulières' across a region.

In the Doctor's Office
If you ever have to visit a French doctor, you might hear this word during a physical exam. A doctor might say, 'Votre rythme cardiaque est un peu irrégulier' (Your heart rate is a bit irregular). It’s a standard medical descriptor for anything that doesn't follow a steady physiological pulse.

Le médecin m'a dit que ma respiration était irrégulière pendant mon sommeil.

In the Classroom
This is perhaps the most familiar context for learners. Teachers will constantly talk about 'les verbes irréguliers.' Unlike English, which has a significant number of irregular verbs, French verbs often follow very strict patterns, making the 'irregular' ones stand out as obstacles to be memorized.

Apprendre les verbes irréguliers est l'étape la plus difficile au début.

In Sports and Arts
Sports commentators use 'irrégulier' to describe a player or a team that shows flashes of brilliance but cannot maintain a high level of performance throughout a season. In art, 'des lignes irrégulières' might be used to describe the intentional, organic style of a painter like Van Gogh or the rough texture of a sculpture.

C'est un joueur de tennis très talentueux mais trop irrégulier.

Finally, you'll hear it in casual conversation when people discuss their lives. 'Ma connexion internet est très irrégulière' is a common complaint in rural France. Or someone might describe their appetite or their mood as 'irrégulier' during a stressful period. It is a word that helps French speakers express the 'ups and downs' or 'fits and starts' of life without needing complex idioms.

La distribution du courrier est devenue irrégulière dans notre village.

Le rythme de la musique était volontairement irrégulier.

For English speakers, the biggest pitfall with irrégulier isn't the meaning—which is nearly identical—but the grammar and pronunciation. Because the English word 'irregular' doesn't change based on the noun it describes, learners often forget to apply gender and number agreement in French. This results in errors like 'une forme irrégulier' instead of 'une forme irrégulière.' Another common mistake is the confusion between 'irrégulier' and 'anormal.' While something irregular might be abnormal, 'irrégulier' specifically points to a lack of pattern, whereas 'anormal' suggests something is wrong or strange.

Pronunciation Pitfalls
English speakers often try to pronounce the final 'r' in the masculine 'irrégulier.' Remember, in French, adjectives ending in '-er' usually have a silent 'r.' It should sound like 'ee-ray-goo-lyay.' In the feminine 'irrégulière,' the 'r' is pronounced, and the 'e' before it takes a grave accent, making it sound like 'ee-ray-goo-lyair.'

Faux: Elle a un travail irrégulière. Correct: Elle a un travail irrégulier.

Confusion with 'Inconstant'
While 'irrégulier' and 'inconstant' are synonyms, 'inconstant' is more often used for people's feelings or weather. Using 'irrégulier' for a person's romantic feelings might sound a bit clinical or technical. Use 'irrégulier' for their work habits or their pulse, but 'inconstant' for their heart's desires.

Il a des résultats irréguliers à l'école, mais il est très intelligent.

Spelling Errors
Learners often forget the double 'r' or the accent on the first 'e.' In French, it is 'i-r-r-é-g-u-l-i-e-r.' The accent acute (é) is vital for the correct 'ay' sound. Without it, the pronunciation and the word itself are incorrect.

La police a trouvé une situation irrégulière dans l'entreprise.

Another subtle mistake is using 'irrégulier' when you mean 'uneven' in a physical sense like 'rough.' If a surface is physically rough to the touch, 'rugueux' is better. 'Irrégulier' refers to the geometry or the levelness of the surface, not necessarily the texture. So, a road can be 'irrégulière' (full of potholes) but not 'rugueuse' (which would mean it has high friction).

Le tracé de la frontière est très irrégulier à cet endroit.

Son assiduité aux cours est malheureusement irrégulière.

To truly master French, you need to know when to use irrégulier and when to reach for a more specific synonym. While 'irrégulier' is a great 'catch-all' word, choosing a more precise alternative can make your French sound more natural and sophisticated. Depending on whether you are talking about shapes, time, or behavior, different words might be more appropriate.

Asymétrique vs. Irrégulier
'Asymétrique' is used specifically when one side of something does not match the other. A face or a building might be 'asymétrique.' 'Irrégulier' is broader; it could mean asymetrical, but it could also mean jagged or bumpy. Use 'asymétrique' for mirror-image issues and 'irrégulier' for general lack of form.

Cette robe a une coupe asymétrique très moderne.

Inconstant vs. Irrégulier
As mentioned before, 'inconstant' is best for moods, feelings, and the weather. If a friend is hot-and-cold with you, they are 'inconstant.' If their work output varies, they are 'irrégulier.' 'Inconstant' carries a slight connotation of unreliability or fickleness.

Le temps est inconstant en avril, il pleut et il fait beau sans cesse.

Saccadé vs. Irrégulier
'Saccadé' describes a movement that is jerky or broken. If a video is buffering and playing in fits and starts, the movement is 'saccadé.' 'Irrégulier' would mean the timing is off, but 'saccadé' captures the physical jerkiness of the motion. It’s often used for breathing or speech (un débit saccadé).

Il parlait d'une voix saccadée à cause de l'émotion.

Finally, consider 'sporadique' for things that happen very occasionally and without a fixed pattern. If you only get a headache once every few months, it's 'sporadique.' If you get them every few days but at different times, they are 'irréguliers.' Choosing the right word demonstrates a high level of nuance in your French communication.

Les apparitions de cet oiseau sont sporadiques dans cette région.

Le contour de l'île est extrêmement irrégulier.

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Exemplos por nível

1

Le verbe 'être' est irrégulier.

The verb 'to be' is irregular.

Masculine singular agreement with 'le verbe'.

2

C'est une forme irrégulière.

It is an irregular shape.

Feminine singular agreement with 'la forme'.

3

J'ai un rythme de sommeil irrégulier.

I have an irregular sleep rhythm.

Adjective follows the noun 'rythme'.

4

Les verbes sont irréguliers.

The verbs are irregular.

Masculine plural agreement.

5

Cette table est irrégulière.

This table is uneven.

Feminine singular agreement.

6

Il dessine des lignes irrégulières.

He draws irregular lines.

Feminine plural agreement with 'lignes'.

7

Le pouls est irrégulier.

The pulse is irregular.

Medical context, masculine singular.

8

Elle a des horaires irréguliers.

She has irregular hours.

Masculine plural agreement with 'horaires'.

1

Il travaille de manière irrégulière.

He works in an irregular manner.

Feminine singular agreement with 'manière'.

2

La route est irrégulière et dangereuse.

The road is uneven and dangerous.

Feminine singular agreement.

3

Nous avons des pluies irrégulières cet été.

We have irregular rains this summer.

Feminine plural agreement.

4

Son écriture est très irrégulière.

His handwriting is very irregular.

Feminine singular agreement with 'écriture'.

5

Elle mange à des heures irrégulières.

She eats at irregular hours.

Feminine plural agreement with 'heures'.

6

Le terrain de sport est irrégulier.

The sports field is uneven.

Masculine singular agreement.

7

Ce tissu a un motif irrégulier.

This fabric has an irregular pattern.

Masculine singular agreement.

8

Il fait des progrès irréguliers en français.

He is making irregular progress in French.

Masculine plural agreement.

1

Le médecin surveille son rythme cardiaque irrégulier.

The doctor is monitoring his irregular heart rate.

Professional medical context.

2

L'entreprise fait face à une demande irrégulière.

The company is facing irregular demand.

Business context, feminine singular.

3

Le littoral de la Bretagne est très irrégulier.

The coastline of Brittany is very irregular.

Geographical context.

4

Il a été renvoyé pour son assiduité irrégulière.

He was fired for his irregular attendance.

Formal workplace context.

5

La connexion internet est irrégulière à la campagne.

The internet connection is irregular in the countryside.

Common daily complaint.

6

Le sculpteur préfère les formes irrégulières aux formes parfaites.

The sculptor prefers irregular shapes over perfect ones.

Artistic context.

7

Le débit de la rivière est irrégulier à cause du barrage.

The river's flow is irregular because of the dam.

Environmental context.

8

C'est un élève brillant mais irrégulier dans ses efforts.

He is a brilliant student but inconsistent in his efforts.

Educational feedback context.

1

L'administration a détecté une situation irrégulière.

The administration detected an irregular situation.

Administrative/Legal context.

2

La croissance économique est restée irrégulière tout au long de l'année.

Economic growth remained irregular throughout the year.

Economic context.

3

Les experts dénoncent l'exploitation irrégulière des ressources naturelles.

Experts denounce the irregular exploitation of natural resources.

Environmental/Legal context.

4

Elle souffre d'une respiration irrégulière pendant son sommeil.

She suffers from irregular breathing during her sleep.

Medical/Clinical context.

5

Le recrutement s'est fait de manière irrégulière.

The recruitment was done in an irregular manner.

Corporate/Procedural context.

6

Le relief irrégulier de la région complique la construction de l'autoroute.

The region's irregular terrain complicates the highway construction.

Engineering context.

7

Les fluctuations irrégulières du marché inquiètent les investisseurs.

The market's irregular fluctuations worry investors.

Financial context.

8

Le procureur a souligné le caractère irrégulier de la procédure.

The prosecutor highlighted the irregular nature of the procedure.

Legal context.

1

L'auteur utilise une ponctuation irrégulière pour créer un sentiment de malaise.

The author uses irregular punctuation to create a feeling of unease.

Literary analysis.

2

La répartition irrégulière des vaccins a été critiquée par l'OMS.

The uneven distribution of vaccines was criticized by the WHO.

Global politics context.

3

On observe une sédimentation irrégulière dans cette couche géologique.

Irregular sedimentation is observed in this geological layer.

Scientific/Geological context.

4

Le flux migratoire irrégulier pose des défis logistiques majeurs.

The irregular migratory flow poses major logistical challenges.

Sociopolitical context.

5

La structure irrégulière de ce cristal fascine les chercheurs.

The irregular structure of this crystal fascinates researchers.

Scientific/Crystallography context.

6

Son parcours professionnel est marqué par des périodes d'activité irrégulières.

His professional career is marked by irregular periods of activity.

Biographical context.

7

L'irrégularité des battements d'ailes de l'oiseau indiquait une blessure.

The irregularity of the bird's wingbeats indicated an injury.

Biological observation.

8

Le traité a été invalidé en raison d'une signature irrégulière.

The treaty was invalidated due to an irregular signature.

International law context.

1

L'esthétique du Wabi-sabi valorise l'irrégulier et l'imperfection.

The Wabi-sabi aesthetic values the irregular and imperfection.

Philosophical/Artistic context. 'L'irrégulier' used as a noun.

2

Le philosophe explore la tension entre l'ordre social et le désir irrégulier.

The philosopher explores the tension between social order and irregular desire.

Philosophical discourse.

3

La topographie irrégulière du fond marin rend la navigation sous-marine périlleuse.

The irregular topography of the seabed makes underwater navigation perilous.

Oceanographic/Technical context.

4

Le texte juridique est truffé de formulations irrégulières qui prêtent à confusion.

The legal text is riddled with irregular formulations that lead to confusion.

Legal/Textual analysis.

5

Il existe une corrélation entre les cycles solaires irréguliers et le climat terrestre.

There is a correlation between irregular solar cycles and Earth's climate.

Scientific/Astrophysical context.

6

La cadence irrégulière de la prose proustienne imite le flux de la mémoire.

The irregular cadence of Proustian prose mimics the flow of memory.

Literary criticism.

7

Les autorités tentent de régulariser les situations irrégulières les plus précaires.

Authorities are trying to regularize the most precarious irregular situations.

Policy/Humanitarian context.

8

L'architecture déconstructiviste se définit par ses volumes irréguliers et fragmentés.

Deconstructivist architecture is defined by its irregular and fragmented volumes.

Architectural theory.

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