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mauvais/mauvaise

A1 adjective #1,000 mais comum 11 min de leitura

mauvais/mauvaise

Of poor quality or standard; unpleasant or unsatisfactory; bad.

Top 1,000

At the A1 level, 'mauvais' is one of the first adjectives you learn to describe quality and the weather. You use it in its simplest forms: 'un mauvais livre' (a bad book) or 'il fait mauvais' (the weather is bad). At this stage, the focus is on basic gender agreement—adding an 'e' for feminine nouns ('une mauvaise pomme')—and remembering that it usually sits before the noun, unlike most other adjectives you are learning like 'bleu' or 'grand'. You also learn it as the direct opposite of 'bon' (good).

At the A2 level, you begin to use 'mauvais' in more varied contexts, such as describing health ('avoir mauvaise mine') or mood ('être de mauvaise humeur'). You also start to use it in basic comparisons using 'plus mauvais que' or 'moins mauvais que'. You learn to distinguish 'mauvais' from the adverb 'mal' in common sentences like 'Je me sens mal' vs 'C'est un mauvais sentiment'. You also encounter it in plural forms, learning that the masculine plural 'mauvais' doesn't change its spelling.

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By B1, you are expected to use 'mauvais' in idiomatic expressions and more abstract discussions. You might talk about 'mauvaise foi' (bad faith) or 'mauvaise gestion' (bad management). You understand the nuance between 'mauvais' and its synonyms like 'médiocre' or 'nul'. You also become more comfortable with the irregular comparative 'pire' (worse) and superlative 'le pire' (the worst), often choosing them over 'plus mauvais' for a more natural sound. Your ability to use 'de' instead of 'des' before the adjective in plural phrases (e.g., 'de mauvaises intentions') becomes more consistent.

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At the B2 level, 'mauvais' is used to discuss complex social or professional issues. You can use it to describe a 'mauvais tournant' (a bad turn/development) in a narrative or a 'mauvais présage' (a bad omen). You are aware of the subtle shift in meaning when 'mauvais' is placed after a noun for stylistic emphasis in literature. You also start to use related words like 'malveillance' (malevolence) or 'malencontreux' (unfortunate) to avoid overusing the basic adjective 'mauvais'.

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At the C1 level, you use 'mauvais' with precision in academic or literary analysis. You might discuss the 'mauvais génie' (evil genius) of a character or the 'mauvais usage' (misuse) of a linguistic term. You are fully aware of the historical and etymological roots of the word and can use it in highly specific collocations like 'mauvais gré' (reluctance). Your usage is indistinguishable from a native speaker, incorporating it into complex rhetorical structures and recognizing its use in classical French literature.

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At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of 'mauvais' and all its archaic or rare uses. You can appreciate the word's role in philosophical treatises (e.g., discussing 'le Mal' vs 'le mauvais'). You can play with the word in puns or high-level wordplay. You understand the most obscure idioms and can use the word to convey very specific shades of irony or sarcasm. You also recognize how the word has evolved in different Francophone cultures (e.g., Quebecois vs. Parisian slang).

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Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas

mauvais/mauvaise em 30 segundos

Mauvais is the basic French adjective for 'bad', used to describe poor quality, unpleasant weather, or negative character traits in people and objects.
It must agree in gender and number with the noun: mauvais (m.s.), mauvaise (f.s.), mauvais (m.p.), and mauvaises (f.p.).
Unlike most French adjectives, mauvais usually comes before the noun it modifies, following the BANGS rule for adjectives of goodness.
It is frequently confused with the adverb 'mal'; remember that 'mauvais' describes a thing (noun), while 'mal' describes an action (verb).

The French adjective mauvais (masculine) and mauvaise (feminine) is the primary way to express the concept of 'bad' in French. At its core, it describes something that is of poor quality, unsatisfactory, or morally incorrect. However, its usage is much more nuanced than the simple English translation suggests, as it covers a wide spectrum of negativity from a slightly unpleasant taste to a profound character flaw. Understanding mauvais requires looking at how it interacts with the nouns it modifies and the specific contexts in which it appears.

Quality and Performance: When describing objects or skills, it indicates a lack of proficiency or functional failure. For example, 'un mauvais outil' is a tool that doesn't work well, and 'un mauvais élève' is a student who struggles with their studies.
Sensory Displeasure: It is the go-to word for unpleasant smells, tastes, or sounds. If a dish is 'mauvais', it is unpalatable. If the air is 'mauvais', it might be polluted or stinky.
Weather and Environment: In the context of meteorology, 'le mauvais temps' is the standard phrase for rain, storms, or generally gloomy conditions. It is rarely substituted by other adjectives in this specific context.

Ce restaurant a une très mauvaise réputation dans le quartier.

Translation: This restaurant has a very bad reputation in the neighborhood.

One of the most important aspects of mauvais is its placement. In French, most adjectives follow the noun, but mauvais belongs to the 'BANGS' group (Beauty, Age, Number, Goodness, Size), meaning it typically precedes the noun it modifies. Saying 'un film mauvais' is grammatically possible but often emphasizes the 'badness' in a more literary or dramatic way; the standard, everyday way to say it is 'un mauvais film'.

Il a fait un mauvais choix en quittant son emploi.

Translation: He made a bad choice by leaving his job.

Furthermore, mauvais can describe character traits. 'Un mauvais homme' implies someone of poor moral fiber. It is also used in many idiomatic expressions related to health and mood, such as 'être de mauvaise humeur' (to be in a bad mood) or 'avoir mauvaise mine' (to look unwell/pale). In these cases, the adjective is inseparable from the noun to create a specific meaning.

Ne sois pas mauvais perdant, c'était juste un jeu.

Translation: Don't be a sore loser (bad loser), it was just a game.

In summary, mauvais is a versatile and essential adjective. Whether you are complaining about the weather, critiquing a book, or describing someone's grumpy attitude, this word provides the foundational vocabulary for expressing negativity in the French language. Mastery of its gender agreement and its typical position before the noun is a key milestone for any A1 learner.

Using mauvais correctly in a sentence involves two primary considerations: gender/number agreement and syntactic placement. As an adjective, it must mirror the noun it describes. For a masculine singular noun, use mauvais. For feminine singular, use mauvaise. For masculine plural, it remains mauvais (since it already ends in 's'), and for feminine plural, it becomes mauvaises.

The BANGS Rule: In French, most adjectives go after the noun (e.g., 'une voiture rouge'). However, 'mauvais' is part of the 'Goodness' category of BANGS adjectives that almost always precede the noun. You say 'une mauvaise idée', not 'une idée mauvaise'.
Agreement Examples: Masculine: Un mauvais café. Feminine: Une mauvaise note. Masculine Plural: De mauvais souvenirs. Feminine Plural: De mauvaises herbes (weeds).

Elle a reçu de mauvaises nouvelles ce matin.

Translation: She received bad news this morning.

When mauvais is used with the verb 'être' (to be), it functions as a predicate adjective. In this structure, it follows the verb and still agrees with the subject. For example, 'Le temps est mauvais' (The weather is bad). Note that in this specific construction, it does not precede the noun because it is linked by a copular verb.

Attention, ce lait sent mauvais.

Translation: Careful, this milk smells bad.

Another common structure involves the partitive article 'de' instead of 'des' when the adjective precedes a plural noun. While 'des mauvaises idées' is common in spoken French, the formal rule suggests 'de mauvaises idées'. This is a subtle point that elevates your French from basic to proficient.

Il y a mauvaise presse autour de ce projet.

Translation: There is bad press surrounding this project.

Finally, consider the comparative and superlative forms. To say 'worse', you can use 'plus mauvais' or the more common irregular form 'pire'. For 'the worst', you use 'le plus mauvais' or 'le pire'. Using 'pire' often sounds more natural in abstract contexts, while 'plus mauvais' is frequently used for concrete quality comparisons like food or weather.

In the French-speaking world, mauvais is ubiquitous. You will hear it in the street, on the news, in literature, and in the kitchen. It is one of the top 500 most frequently used words because of its broad utility. Let's explore the specific environments where this word frequently pops up.

The Morning Weather Report: Turn on any French radio station like France Inter, and you'll hear the 'bulletin météo'. If rain is forecast, the presenter will inevitably say, 'On attend du mauvais temps sur la Bretagne' (We expect bad weather over Brittany).
School and Education: Teachers use it to describe grades ('une mauvaise note') or behavior. Parents might ask their children, 'Tu as eu de mauvaises notes ?' (Did you get bad grades?). It's a central word in the academic life of a French student.
The Culinary World: In a country that prides itself on food, 'mauvais' is a serious indictment. You might hear a customer whisper to a companion, 'Le vin est mauvais' (The wine is bad). It's also used for ingredients that have gone off: 'Cette viande a une mauvaise odeur' (This meat has a bad smell).

Quel mauvais temps aujourd'hui, n'est-ce pas ?

Translation: What bad weather today, isn't it?

In professional settings, mauvais appears in discussions about strategy and results. A manager might discuss a 'mauvais trimestre' (bad quarter) or a 'mauvaise gestion' (bad management). It carries a weight of objective failure in these contexts.

C'est un mauvais signe pour l'économie.

Translation: It's a bad sign for the economy.

Pop culture also utilizes the word frequently. From song lyrics about 'mauvais garçons' (bad boys) to movie titles, the word is used to evoke a sense of rebellion or danger. In slang, you might hear 'C'est mauvais !' to mean something is uncool or poorly executed, though younger generations might use 'nul' or 'naze' more frequently.

Il est toujours de mauvaise humeur le lundi.

Translation: He is always in a bad mood on Mondays.

Finally, in sports commentary, 'un mauvais geste' refers to a foul or unsportsmanlike conduct. If a football player kicks an opponent, the commentator will cry out against the 'mauvais geste', highlighting the moral and rule-breaking aspect of the word.

The most frequent mistake English speakers make with mauvais is confusing it with the adverb mal. In English, the word 'bad' is often used as both an adjective ('a bad dog') and an adverb in informal speech ('he did bad on the test'). In French, this distinction is rigid and essential for grammatical correctness.

Mauvais vs. Mal: Remember: 'Mauvais' is an adjective (modifies nouns). 'Mal' is an adverb (modifies verbs). Incorrect: 'Il chante mauvais.' Correct: 'Il chante mal.' Incorrect: 'C'est un mal film.' Correct: 'C'est un mauvais film.'
Placement Errors: As mentioned, 'mauvais' usually goes BEFORE the noun. Beginners often place it after because that is the general rule for French adjectives. Saying 'un acteur mauvais' sounds very strange to a native speaker compared to 'un mauvais acteur'.

Faux: J'ai un mal pressentiment. Vrai: J'ai un mauvais pressentiment.

Explanation: 'Pressentiment' is a noun, so it requires the adjective 'mauvais'.

Another mistake involves gender agreement. Because 'mauvais' ends in an 's' in its masculine singular form, learners often forget to change it for the feminine form. They might say 'une mauvais idée' instead of 'une mauvaise idée'. The 's' in the masculine form is silent, but the 's' in the feminine form is pronounced like a 'z' because of the following 'e'.

Faux: Elle est mauvais en maths. Vrai: Elle est mauvaise en maths.

Explanation: The subject 'Elle' is feminine, so the adjective must be 'mauvaise'.

Pluralization of the masculine form is also a source of confusion. Since 'mauvais' already ends in 's', you do NOT add another 's' for the masculine plural. It remains 'mauvais'. For example, 'les mauvais garçons'. Adding an 'es' to the masculine plural is a common written error.

Faux: Ce sont de mauvaises garçons. Vrai: Ce sont de mauvais garçons.

Explanation: 'Garçons' is masculine plural, so 'mauvais' is the correct form.

Finally, be careful with the expression 'avoir mal' (to have pain/to hurt). Learners sometimes say 'j'ai mauvais à la tête', which is incorrect. You must say 'j'ai mal à la tête'. 'Mauvais' describes the quality of a thing, while 'mal' describes a state or a sensation in this context.

While mauvais is a great all-purpose word, the French language offers many synonyms that can make your speech more precise and sophisticated. Depending on whether you are talking about quality, morality, or intensity, you might choose a different term.

Médiocre: Use 'médiocre' when something isn't necessarily 'evil' or 'disgusting', but simply of average or poor quality. It's the perfect word for a 'meh' movie or a lackluster performance. It's less harsh than 'mauvais' but still negative.
Nul / Nulle: In informal French, 'nul' is incredibly common. It means 'rubbish' or 'useless'. If a game is boring, you say 'C'est nul !'. It is much more emphatic and colloquial than 'mauvais'.
Méchant / Méchante: When 'bad' refers to someone's personality or behavior (mean/wicked), 'méchant' is the correct choice. 'Un mauvais chien' might just be poorly trained, but 'un méchant chien' is aggressive and bites.

Ce film n'est pas seulement mauvais, il est carrément détestable.

Translation: This movie isn't just bad, it's downright detestable.

For higher levels of intensity, words like horrible, affreux, or épouvantable are used. These describe things that are 'terrible' or 'dreadful'. If you have a 'mauvaise journée', it was a bad day. If you have an 'horrible journée', something truly upsetting likely happened.

C'est une piètre excuse pour ton retard.

Translation: That's a poor/paltry excuse for your lateness.

In a technical or professional context, you might use défectueux (defective) for a product or erroné (erroneous) for data. These words replace 'mauvais' to provide a more specific reason why something is 'bad'. Using 'mauvais' in a technical report can sometimes feel too vague or subjective.

Le résultat est médiocre malgré nos efforts.

Translation: The result is mediocre despite our efforts.

Finally, consider the opposite of 'mauvais', which is 'bon'. Just as 'mauvais' usually goes before the noun, so does 'bon'. This symmetry makes it easier to remember the placement of these fundamental evaluative adjectives in French.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"Nous déplorons la mauvaise gestion de ce dossier."

Neutro

"C'est un mauvais film, je ne le recommande pas."

Informal

"C'est mauvais, ce truc !"

Child friendly

"Ce n'est pas bien d'être un mauvais camarade."

Gíria

"C'est trop mauvais, j'en peux plus."

Curiosidade

Because it literally meant 'bad fate', in the Middle Ages, calling someone 'mauvais' was almost like saying they were cursed by the stars. It was a much heavier insult than it is today.

Guia de pronúncia

UK /mo.vɛ/

US /mo.vɛ/

In French, stress is generally even, but a slight emphasis may fall on the final syllable 'vɛ'.

Rima com

vrai frais paix lait fait souhait forêt arrêt

Erros comuns

Pronouncing the final 's' in the masculine form.
Pronouncing 'au' like the English 'ow' in 'how'.
Failing to pronounce the 'z' sound of the 's' in the feminine 'mauvaise'.
Confusing the vowel sound of 'ai' with 'oi'.
Making the 'o' sound too long or diphthongized.

Nível de dificuldade

Leitura 1/5

Very easy to recognize as it is a foundational word.

Escrita 2/5

Requires attention to gender agreement and the silent 's' in masculine.

Expressão oral 2/5

Learners must remember to place it before the noun and distinguish it from 'mal'.

Audição 1/5

Clearly audible, though the feminine 'z' sound is a key marker.

O que aprender depois

Pré-requisitos

bon grand petit être faire

Aprenda a seguir

pire médiocre nul méchant mal

Avançado

malveillance délétère nocif pernicieux exécrable

Gramática essencial

BANGS Adjectives

Mauvais precedes the noun: 'un mauvais livre'.

Gender Agreement

Mauvais (m) becomes Mauvaise (f).

Plural Agreement

Mauvais (m.pl) stays Mauvais; Mauvaises (f.pl).

Adjective vs Adverb

Mauvais (adj) vs Mal (adv).

Partitive 'de' before plural adjectives

Use 'de mauvais amis' instead of 'des mauvais amis' in formal French.

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Exemplos por nível

C'est un mauvais film.

It's a bad movie.

The adjective 'mauvais' comes before the noun 'film'.

La soupe est mauvaise.

The soup is bad.

Feminine agreement: 'mauvaise' matches 'la soupe'.

Il fait mauvais aujourd'hui.

The weather is bad today.

Idiomatic expression for weather using 'faire'.

C'est une mauvaise idée.

It's a bad idea.

Feminine singular agreement.

Le café est mauvais.

The coffee is bad.

Masculine singular agreement.

J'ai de mauvais résultats.

I have bad results.

Masculine plural: 'mauvais' does not change.

Elle a une mauvaise voiture.

She has a bad car.

Placement before the noun.

Ce sont de mauvaises pommes.

These are bad apples.

Feminine plural agreement: 'mauvaises'.

Il est de mauvaise humeur.

He is in a bad mood.

Common idiom: 'être de mauvaise humeur'.

Tu as mauvaise mine ce matin.

You look unwell/pale this morning.

Idiom: 'avoir mauvaise mine'.

C'est le mauvais côté de la rue.

It's the bad side of the street.

Using 'mauvais' to indicate position/quality.

Elle a fait un mauvais choix.

She made a bad choice.

Masculine singular.

Le poisson sent mauvais.

The fish smells bad.

Adverbial use with the verb 'sentir'.

Ce n'est pas un mauvais bougre.

He's not a bad fellow.

Colloquial expression.

Nous avons pris le mauvais train.

We took the wrong train.

'Mauvais' can mean 'wrong' in this context.

Elle a de mauvaises habitudes.

She has bad habits.

Feminine plural agreement.

Il agit souvent de mauvaise foi.

He often acts in bad faith.

Abstract noun collocation: 'mauvaise foi'.

C'est un mauvais perdant.

He is a sore loser.

Noun phrase used to describe character.

Le projet a pris une mauvaise tournure.

The project took a bad turn.

Describing the progression of an event.

Il y a un mauvais contact électrique.

There is a bad electrical connection.

Technical use of 'mauvais'.

Elle a une mauvaise influence sur lui.

She has a bad influence on him.

Describing social dynamics.

C'est un mauvais présage pour l'avenir.

It's a bad omen for the future.

Abstract/literary usage.

Il a de mauvaises fréquentations.

He hangs out with the wrong crowd.

Fixed expression for social circles.

Le médicament a un mauvais arrière-goût.

The medicine has a bad aftertaste.

Sensory description.

Le gouvernement souffre d'une mauvaise image.

The government suffers from a bad image.

Used in political/media context.

Il s'est mis dans de mauvais draps.

He got himself into a fix / into hot water.

Idiomatic expression.

C'est une mauvaise herbe qui envahit le jardin.

It's a weed that is invading the garden.

'Mauvaise herbe' is the standard term for weed.

Il a pris cette remarque en mauvaise part.

He took that comment the wrong way.

Idiom: 'prendre en mauvaise part'.

La répartition des richesses est mauvaise.

The distribution of wealth is bad/poor.

Predicate adjective in a socio-economic context.

Il a un mauvais fond malgré ses airs gentils.

He is bad at heart despite his kind appearance.

Describing deep character.

Le film a reçu un mauvais accueil critique.

The film received a bad critical reception.

Formal usage in arts/media.

Elle a été victime d'un mauvais coup du sort.

She was the victim of a bad stroke of fate.

Literary/dramatic expression.

L'auteur dépeint la mauvaise conscience de la bourgeoisie.

The author depicts the guilty conscience of the bourgeoisie.

Philosophical/Literary usage.

Il a cédé de mauvaise grâce à leurs exigences.

He yielded reluctantly/with bad grace to their demands.

Idiom: 'de mauvaise grâce'.

C'est un mauvais génie qui le pousse au crime.

It is an evil genius/spirit pushing him to crime.

Metaphorical/Literary use.

La mauvaise herbe ne meurt jamais.

Ill weeds grow apace / Bad people are hard to get rid of.

Proverbial usage.

Il y a une mauvaise corrélation entre ces deux variables.

There is a poor correlation between these two variables.

Academic/Scientific context.

Il a le mauvais œil sur cette entreprise.

He has the evil eye on this business.

Superstitious/Cultural idiom.

Elle a une mauvaise langue et colporte des rumeurs.

She has a sharp/wicked tongue and spreads rumors.

Idiom for a gossip.

Le mauvais vouloir de l'administration ralentit tout.

The ill will/unwillingness of the administration slows everything down.

Formal noun phrase.

Il s'agit d'un mauvais procès fait à la modernité.

It is an unfair/unjustified criticism of modernity.

Abstract rhetorical idiom: 'faire un mauvais procès'.

L'existence du mal ne prouve pas que l'homme soit mauvais.

The existence of evil does not prove that man is bad.

Philosophical distinction between 'le mal' and 'mauvais'.

Il a pris un mauvais pli dès son plus jeune âge.

He fell into bad habits from a very young age.

Idiom: 'prendre un mauvais pli'.

La mauvaise rencontre qu'il fit changea sa vie.

The chance meeting with a dangerous person changed his life.

Literary/Archaic phrasing.

Il y a une mauvaise odeur de corruption dans cette affaire.

There is a foul stench of corruption in this affair.

Metaphorical use of sensory description.

Il a été de mauvais conseil dans cette situation critique.

He gave bad advice in this critical situation.

Formal expression: 'être de mauvais conseil'.

Le mauvais sort s'acharne sur cette famille.

Bad luck/A curse is relentlessly pursuing this family.

Idiom: 'le mauvais sort'.

Il a une mauvaise presse, mais ses intentions sont pures.

He has bad press, but his intentions are pure.

Metaphorical use of 'presse'.

Colocações comuns

mauvais temps

mauvaise idée

mauvaise humeur

mauvaise note

mauvais signe

mauvais goût

mauvaise foi

mauvais exemple

mauvaises herbes

mauvais œil

Frases Comuns

C'est mauvais.

Pas mauvais.

Mauvais perdant.

Mauvaise langue.

Faire un mauvais coup.

Prendre un mauvais tournant.

Mauvaise mine.

De mauvaise grâce.

Mauvais coucheur.

Mauvais sang.

Frequentemente confundido com

mauvais/mauvaise vs mal

Mal is an adverb (badly), while mauvais is an adjective (bad). You say 'C'est mauvais' but 'Il joue mal'.

mauvais/mauvaise vs méchant

Méchant refers to being mean or wicked, whereas mauvais refers to quality or general negativity.

mauvais/mauvaise vs pire

Pire is the comparative form (worse). Use mauvais for 'bad' and pire for 'worse'.

Expressões idiomáticas

"Se faire du mauvais sang"

To worry excessively about something.

Sa mère se fait du mauvais sang quand il rentre tard.

informal

"Être dans de mauvais draps"

To be in a difficult or precarious situation (in hot water).

S'il perd son travail, il sera dans de mauvais draps.

informal

"Avoir le mauvais œil"

To be cursed or to have a streak of bad luck.

Depuis un mois, j'ai le mauvais œil.

neutral

"Prendre un mauvais pli"

To acquire a bad habit that is hard to break.

Il a pris le mauvais pli de fumer au lit.

neutral

"Être de mauvaise foi"

To be dishonest with oneself or others; to argue something you know is false.

Il sait qu'il a tort, il est juste de mauvaise foi.

neutral

"Mauvaise herbe ne meurt jamais"

Bad people or bad things are difficult to get rid of.

Il est encore là ? Mauvaise herbe ne meurt jamais !

proverbial

"Avoir mauvaise presse"

To have a bad reputation or negative media coverage.

Cette entreprise a mauvaise presse depuis le scandale.

neutral

"Faire mauvais ménage"

To not go well together (people or concepts).

L'alcool et la conduite font mauvais ménage.

neutral

"Tomber au mauvais moment"

To happen at an inconvenient time.

Ta visite tombe au mauvais moment, je suis occupé.

neutral

"Un mauvais quart d'heure"

A short but very unpleasant or difficult period.

J'ai passé un mauvais quart d'heure chez le dentiste.

neutral

Fácil de confundir

mauvais/mauvaise vs mal

Both translate to 'bad' in English.

Mauvais is an adjective that modifies a noun. Mal is an adverb that modifies a verb. You cannot use them interchangeably in French.

Un mauvais chanteur (A bad singer) vs. Il chante mal (He sings badly).

mauvais/mauvaise vs méchant

Both can describe a 'bad' person.

Mauvais describes a lack of quality or a general negative state. Méchant describes a specific intent to be mean or cruel.

Un mauvais élève (A poor student) vs. Un méchant élève (A mean student).

mauvais/mauvaise vs nul

Both mean 'bad' in a qualitative sense.

Nul is much stronger and more informal, often meaning 'worthless' or 'zero'. Mauvais is more neutral.

Ce film est mauvais (It's not good) vs. Ce film est nul (It's garbage).

mauvais/mauvaise vs piètre

Both describe poor quality.

Piètre is more formal and often implies a pathetic or insignificant quality. It is almost always used before the noun.

Un mauvais avocat vs. Un piètre avocat (A pathetic/poor lawyer).

mauvais/mauvaise vs sale

Sometimes 'bad' can mean 'dirty' or 'nasty' in English.

Sale literally means dirty. While 'un mauvais tour' is a bad trick, 'un sale tour' is a nasty/dirty trick.

Une mauvaise odeur (A bad smell) vs. Une sale odeur (A nasty/dirty smell).

Padrões de frases

C'est un/une mauvais(e) [noun].

C'est une mauvaise idée.

Il fait mauvais.

Il fait mauvais dehors.

Être de mauvaise [noun].

Il est de mauvaise humeur.

[Noun] sent mauvais.

Le fromage sent mauvais.

Avoir de mauvais(es) [noun]s.

Elle a de mauvaises intentions.

Prendre un mauvais [noun].

Le projet a pris un mauvais tournant.

Se faire du mauvais sang.

Je me fais du mauvais sang pour lui.

De mauvaise grâce.

Il a obéi de mauvaise grâce.

Família de palavras

Substantivos

Verbos

Adjetivos

Relacionado

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Como usar

frequency

Extremely high; one of the core adjectives in the French language.

Erros comuns

Il chante mauvais. → Il chante mal.
You must use the adverb 'mal' to describe the action of singing. 'Mauvais' is an adjective for nouns.
C'est un film mauvais. → C'est un mauvais film.
'Mauvais' belongs to the BANGS group and almost always precedes the noun.
Une mauvais idée. → Une mauvaise idée.
The adjective must agree with the feminine noun 'idée'.
J'ai mauvais à la tête. → J'ai mal à la tête.
The expression for 'to have a headache' or pain is 'avoir mal à'.
Ce sont des mauvaises garçons. → Ce sont de mauvais garçons.
'Garçons' is masculine plural, so use 'mauvais'. Also, 'des' becomes 'de' before the adjective.

Dicas

Placement is Key

Always place 'mauvais' before the noun. It's one of the few adjectives that breaks the 'adjectives after the noun' rule in French. Think 'mauvais film', not 'film mauvais'.

The Silent S

In the masculine 'mauvais', the 's' is silent. In the feminine 'mauvaise', the 's' sounds like a 'z'. This is a crucial distinction for listeners to understand the gender of the noun you are describing.

Adjective vs Adverb

Never use 'mauvais' to describe how someone does something. If they sing, run, or sleep poorly, use 'mal'. Use 'mauvais' only to describe the person or the thing itself.

Be Precise

If something is just 'okay' but not great, use 'médiocre'. If it's totally useless, use 'nul'. 'Mauvais' is a broad word; using synonyms makes you sound more like a native speaker.

Weather Talk

When talking about the weather, 'il fait mauvais' is the standard way to say it's raining or gloomy. It's an essential phrase for small talk in France.

Mood Matters

To say someone is in a bad mood, use 'être de mauvaise humeur'. This is a fixed expression. You cannot say 'avoir une mauvaise humeur'.

The 'De' Rule

In formal writing, when 'mauvais' comes before a plural noun, change 'des' to 'de'. Example: 'Il a de mauvais souvenirs' instead of 'des mauvais souvenirs'.

Politeness

If you are at a friend's house and don't like the food, saying 'c'est mauvais' is very rude. Use 'ce n'est pas trop à mon goût' (it's not quite to my taste) instead.

Opposites Attract

Learn 'mauvais' and 'bon' together. They follow the same rules: they both go before the noun and both have irregular comparative forms (pire and meilleur).

Smell and Taste

For 'it smells bad' or 'it tastes bad', the phrases are 'ça sent mauvais' and 'c'est mauvais'. Notice that 'mauvais' doesn't change gender in 'ça sent mauvais'.

Memorize

Mnemônico

Think of a 'Movie' that is 'Mauvais'. Both start with 'M'. If the movie is bad, it's a mauvais movie.

Associação visual

Imagine a giant red 'X' over a rotten apple. The apple is 'mauvaise'. The red 'X' reminds you of the negativity associated with the word.

Word Web

Mauvais Bon Pire Mal Temps Humeur Idée Film

Desafio

Try to find three things in your room right now that are 'mauvais' or in 'mauvais état' (bad condition) and name them in French.

Origem da palavra

The word 'mauvais' comes from the Old French 'malvais', which evolved from the Vulgar Latin 'malifatius'. This Latin term is a compound of 'malus' (bad) and 'fatum' (fate/destiny).

Significado original: Originally, it meant 'unlucky' or 'ill-fated'. Over time, the meaning shifted from being cursed by fate to simply being of poor quality or morally bad.

It belongs to the Romance language family, sharing roots with the Italian 'malvagio' and the Spanish 'malvado'.

Contexto cultural

Calling a person 'mauvais' is a strong moral judgment. Use 'méchant' for mean behavior or 'pas sympa' for someone who isn't nice to avoid sounding overly dramatic.

English speakers often use 'bad' as a catch-all. In French, you must be more careful to distinguish between 'mauvais' (adjective) and 'mal' (adverb).

Les Mauvais Coups (1961 film by François Leterrier) Mauvais Sang (1986 film by Leos Carax) The philosophical concept of 'Mauvaise Foi' by Jean-Paul Sartre

Pratique na vida real

Contextos reais

Weather

Il fait mauvais.
Le mauvais temps arrive.
Quel mauvais temps !
À cause du mauvais temps.

Food

C'est mauvais.
Ça a un mauvais goût.
Le lait est mauvais.
Une mauvaise odeur.

School/Work

Une mauvaise note.
Un mauvais résultat.
Une mauvaise gestion.
Un mauvais élève.

Health/Mood

Être de mauvaise humeur.
Avoir mauvaise mine.
Se faire du mauvais sang.
Un mauvais rhume.

Character

Un mauvais garçon.
Une mauvaise personne.
Être de mauvaise foi.
Un mauvais perdant.

Iniciadores de conversa

"Tu penses que c'est un mauvais film ou juste un film moyen ?"

"Pourquoi es-tu de mauvaise humeur ce matin ?"

"Est-ce qu'il fait souvent mauvais dans ta région en hiver ?"

"As-tu déjà fait un mauvais choix que tu regrettes ?"

"Quel est le plus mauvais restaurant que tu as testé ?"

Temas para diário

Décris une journée où tout s'est mal passé à cause du mauvais temps.

Penses-tu qu'il est possible d'être une bonne personne avec de mauvaises habitudes ?

Raconte une expérience où tu as eu une mauvaise impression de quelqu'un qui s'est avérée fausse.

Qu'est-ce qui te met de mauvaise humeur le plus facilement ?

Décris un mauvais livre que tu as lu et explique pourquoi il était mauvais.

Perguntas frequentes

10 perguntas

In 95% of cases, yes. It follows the BANGS rule. However, in literary or very formal French, it can be placed after the noun to add poetic emphasis or a specific nuance of character, but for learners, placing it before is the safest and most natural choice.

This is the most common question. 'Mauvais' is an adjective (modifies nouns: un mauvais café). 'Mal' is an adverb (modifies verbs: il dort mal). Think of 'mauvais' as 'bad' and 'mal' as 'badly'.

For masculine nouns, it stays 'mauvais' (the 's' is already there). For feminine nouns, it becomes 'mauvaises'. Example: 'de mauvais garçons' and 'de mauvaises filles'.

Yes, in certain contexts. 'Le mauvais numéro' means 'the wrong number' and 'le mauvais chemin' means 'the wrong path'. It implies that the choice made was of 'bad' or incorrect quality for the situation.

Both are correct, but 'pire' is more common, especially for abstract things. 'Cette idée est pire que l'autre' sounds more natural than 'plus mauvaise'. However, for concrete quality like food, 'plus mauvais' is frequently used.

It is pronounced /mo.vɛz/. The 'au' is like 'o', the 'ai' is like 'e' in 'bed', and the 's' is pronounced like a 'z' because it is between two vowels (the 'i' and the silent 'e').

It means 'to smell bad'. In this specific phrase, 'mauvais' acts as an adverbial adjective and remains masculine singular regardless of what is smelling bad. 'La fleur sent mauvais' (not mauvaise).

Yes, calling someone 'un mauvais homme' or 'une mauvaise femme' is a serious moral judgment, implying they are a bad or wicked person. It is stronger than just saying they are 'pas sympa' (not nice).

It translates to 'bad faith'. It refers to someone who is being dishonest, often with themselves, or who is arguing something they know isn't true just to win or avoid responsibility.

You use 'le pire' (masculine), 'la pire' (feminine), or 'les pires' (plural). You can also say 'le plus mauvais', but 'le pire' is much more frequent in everyday French.

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