What does mauvais in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word mauvais in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use mauvais in French.

The word mauvais in French means wrong, incorrect, bad, bad, poor, bad (at ), bad, bad, bad, bad, nasty, spiteful, bad, terrible, gloomy, bad, bad guy, ill-advisedly, unwisely, inappropriately, at the wrong time, be a mean drunk, be an angry drunk, be cursed, be jinxed, turn nasty after a few drinks, have a bad attitude, be bad tempered, be a negative person, see the bad in everything, have bad taste, have terrible taste, have no sense of style, taste bad, have an off-day, be basically a bad person, have a bad feeling, have a foreboding of, cross a line, it's a bad sign, it/that makes a bad impression, that's going to cause you problems, it's only a bad memory now, the wrong way, the wrong way round, of poor quality, of doubtful quality, of mediocre quality, in bad taste, in poor condition, in a bad state, in a bad way, be in a bad mood, be on bad terms with , not be on good terms with, be bad at, be a bad sport, make snide remarks, make nasty remarks, be bad, not get along, not get along with , not get along well with, not go together, not be well matched, not go with, be mistaken, be wrong, be mistaken, be wrong, make unfounded accusations against, be going to pot, it is not acceptable to do, miscalculation, grumpiness, crabbiness, awkward customer, bad pupil, malicious remark, spiteful remark, bad example, poor example, poor example, bad example, yob, bad boy, bad impression, bad taste, bad taste, bad taste, bad sport, bad time, evil eye, bad payer, bad loser, poor loser, bad for your health, bad omen, bad dream, bad luck, bad weather, ill turn, mistreatment, mistreatment, poor treatment, set a bad example, not be a bad sort, bird of ill omen, bird of ill omen, start off on the wrong foot, go through hell, be up to no good, be up to no good, bad-tempered, dark look, look unfavourably on, worry yourself sick, get out of bed on the wrong side, get yourself out of a bad situation, smell, under inauspicious circumstances, chill wind, ill wind, look unfavourably on, take a very dim view of. To learn more, please see the details below.

Listen to pronunciation

Meaning of the word mauvais

wrong, incorrect, bad

adjectif (erroné)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
L'adresse était mauvaise, la lettre est revenue à l'expéditeur.
The address was wrong. The letter was returned to sender.

bad, poor

adjectif (pas bon, de peu de valeur)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Il a de mauvais résultats à l'école. Ce film était vraiment mauvais !
He is getting poor results at school. That film was really bad!

bad (at )

adjectif (personne : peu compétent)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Je suis mauvais en maths.
I'm bad at maths.

bad

adjectif (nourriture : au goût désagréable)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Ne mange pas cette choucroute, elle est vraiment mauvaise !
Don't eat that sauerkraut; it's really gross!

bad

adjectif (néfaste, défavorable)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Choisir cette solution serait faire un mauvais choix. Ces composants chimiques sont mauvais pour l'environnement.
Choosing that solution would be a bad choice. // These chemical components are bad for the environment.

bad

adjectif (désagréable)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Elle a passé une mauvaise nuit.
She had a bad night.

bad

adjectif (temps : pas beau)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Si tu pars en randonnée, méfie-toi du mauvais temps.
If you're going hiking, be careful of the bad weather.

nasty, spiteful

adjectif (méchant)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Elle est mauvaise avec ses camarades de classe. Il m'a adressé un sourire mauvais.
He gave me a malicious smile.

bad, terrible, gloomy

adverbe (temps pas beau) (weather)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Il fait mauvais aujourd'hui.
What terrible weather we're having today.

bad

adverbe (exhaler une mauvaise odeur)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Ça sent mauvais, ouvre la fenêtre !
That smells bad; open the window!

bad guy

(personne méchante) (informal)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Dans un film, il y a les bons et les mauvais.
In films, there are always good guys and bad guys.

ill-advisedly, unwisely, inappropriately

locution adverbiale (mal à-propos)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Il fait toujours des remarques à mauvais escient.

at the wrong time

locution adverbiale (mal à propos)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Il est arrivé au mauvais moment, j'étais en pleine réunion avec mon chef.

be a mean drunk, be an angry drunk

locution verbale (être méchant lorsque soûl)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

be cursed, be jinxed

locution verbale (avoir la poisse)

Cet acteur a le mauvais œil, il rate tous ses films.

turn nasty after a few drinks

locution verbale (être méchant quand on est soûl)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

have a bad attitude, be bad tempered

locution verbale (être irritable, irascible)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

be a negative person

locution verbale (péjoratif (être négatif) (pejorative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Jules interprète tout d'une manière négative, il a mauvais esprit.

see the bad in everything

locution verbale (péjoratif (voir le mal) (pejorative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Dans un village il y a toujours quelques personnes ayant mauvais esprit.

have bad taste, have terrible taste

locution verbale (apprécier ce qui est laid)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Ils vont revoir ce film. Ils ont vraiment mauvais goût.

have no sense of style

locution verbale (ne pas savoir apparier les choses)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Tu as mauvais goût de mettre cette cravate avec cette chemise.

taste bad

locution verbale (avoir un goût désagréable)

Cette sauce a mauvais goût.

have an off-day

locution verbale (être de mauvaise humeur)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
He got out of bed on the wrong side this morning.

be basically a bad person

locution verbale (être méchant)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

have a bad feeling, have a foreboding of

locution verbale (penser que [qch] va mal se passer)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

cross a line

locution verbale (franchir une limite néfaste) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

it's a bad sign

(la situation se présente mal)

it/that makes a bad impression

(ça donne mauvaise impression)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Les cheveux longs, la casquette, les chaussures de sport et la cigarette, tout ça fait mauvais genre.

that's going to cause you problems

(ça t’apportera des problèmes)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

it's only a bad memory now

(c'est enfin terminé)

the wrong way, the wrong way round

locution adverbiale (à l'envers)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
You have set the picture the wrong way round.

of poor quality, of doubtful quality, of mediocre quality

locution adverbiale (soutenu (de piètre qualité)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Ce produit à bas prix est de mauvais aloi.

in bad taste

locution adjectivale (vulgaire)

in poor condition, in a bad state, in a bad way

locution adjectivale (abîmé)

be in a bad mood

verbe intransitif (familier (être de mauvaise humeur)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Je suis toujours de mauvais poil le lundi matin.

be on bad terms with , not be on good terms with

locution verbale (avoir de mauvaises relations avec [qqn])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Il est en mauvais termes avec son frère pour une histoire d'argent.

be bad at

locution verbale (ne pas être doué pour)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Gérard a toujours été mauvais en géographie.

be a bad sport

locution verbale (mal accepter la défaite et tricher)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Je ne veux plus jouer avec mon frère, il est mauvais joueur.

make snide remarks, make nasty remarks

locution verbale (être cynique, ironiser)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

be bad

locution verbale (être nuageux, pleuvoir) (weather)

Il a fait mauvais toute la semaine dernière.
The weather was dreadful all of last week.

not get along

locution verbale (ne pas bien s'entendre)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Julie et sa nouvelle belle-mère font mauvais ménage.

not get along with , not get along well with

(ne pas bien s'entendre avec [qqn])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

not go together, not be well matched

locution verbale (ne pas être compatible)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

not go with

(ne pas être compatible avec [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

be mistaken, be wrong

locution verbale (figuré (espérer vainement [qch])

Tu fais un mauvais calcul si tu crois que les impôts vont t'oublier !

be mistaken, be wrong

locution verbale (figuré (estimer en se trompant)

Tu fais un mauvais calcul si tu penses qu'elle va changer d'avis.

make unfounded accusations against

(accuser à tort [qqn] de [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

be going to pot

locution verbale (se laisser aller)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

it is not acceptable to do

(ce n'est convenable de)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

miscalculation

nom masculin (espoir erroné, mauvais choix)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

grumpiness, crabbiness

nom masculin (caractère peu conciliant)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

awkward customer

nom masculin (homme d'un caractère difficile)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Au bureau, Paul a la réputation d'être un mauvais coucheur.

bad pupil

(cancre)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

malicious remark, spiteful remark

nom masculin (péjoratif (remarque volontairement négative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

bad example, poor example

nom masculin (exemple à ne pas suivre)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

poor example, bad example

nom masculin (exemple illustrant mal un propos)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

yob

nom masculin (vieilli (voyou) (UK)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

bad boy

nom masculin (garçon de mauvaise fréquentation)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

bad impression

nom masculin (mauvaise impression)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Son allure est bizarre et vulgaire, ce mauvais genre ne plaira pas à son futur patron.

bad taste

nom masculin (goût désagréable)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

bad taste

nom masculin (figuré (goût contraire aux bonnes mœurs) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

bad taste

nom masculin (figuré (manque de classe) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

bad sport

(figuré (joueur n'aimant pas perdre)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

bad time

nom masculin (moment désagréable à vivre)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

evil eye

nom masculin (mauvais sort)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
N'attrape pas le mauvais œil lors de ton voyage exotique.

bad payer

([qqn] payant difficilement ses dettes)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

bad loser, poor loser

(joueur perdant de mauvaise grâce)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

bad for your health

locution adjectivale (déconseillé pour la santé)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

bad omen

nom masculin (annonce défavorable)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ma voisine vient de croiser un chat noir, elle croit que c'est un mauvais présage.

bad dream

nom masculin (cauchemar)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

bad luck

nom masculin (destin défavorable)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Pour certains briser un miroir serait un mauvais sort apportant sept ans de malheur.

bad weather

nom masculin (intempérie) (uncountable)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

ill turn

nom masculin (farce peu appréciée)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

mistreatment

nom masculin (brutalité) (uncountable)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Cet enfant porte des traces de coups et des blessures qui relèvent d'un mauvais traitement.

mistreatment, poor treatment

nom masculin pluriel (coups ou brimades)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

set a bad example

locution verbale (ne pas montrer ce qu'il faut faire)

not be a bad sort

locution verbale (figuré (être de bonne volonté) (informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Cet employé est un peu rude de prime abord mais ce n'est pas un mauvais cheval.

bird of ill omen

nom masculin (porteur de mauvaises nouvelles)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

bird of ill omen

nom masculin (personne portant malheur) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

start off on the wrong foot

locution verbale (figuré (mal débuter, entamer [qch]) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

go through hell

locution verbale (familier (éprouver [qch] de désagréable)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

be up to no good

locution verbale (s'apprêter à commettre un méfait)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

be up to no good

locution verbale (s'apprêter à faire une entourloupe)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

bad-tempered

locution adjectivale (pas facile à vivre)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

dark look

nom masculin (regard exprimant l'animosité)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

look unfavourably on

verbe transitif (être soupçonneux) (UK)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Mon père regarde ma relation avec un ex-détenu d'un mauvais œil.

worry yourself sick

locution verbale (familier (s'inquièter, se faire du souci)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Ne te fais pas de mauvais sang, il y a toujours une solution aux choses !

get out of bed on the wrong side

(se réveiller de mauvaise humeur) (UK, figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

get yourself out of a bad situation

(se sortir d'une situation difficile)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Elle s'est tirée d'un mauvais pas.

smell

locution verbale (avoir une odeur désagréable)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Quand on rentre dans ces toilettes, ça sent mauvais.

under inauspicious circumstances

locution adverbiale (de façon défavorable)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Ce projet commença sous de mauvais auspices.

chill wind

nom masculin (vent froid ou violent) (weather)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Un vent mauvais se lève et annonce l'hiver.

ill wind

nom masculin (mythologie : phénomène météorologique) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le vent mauvais a inspiré aux civilisations humaines de nombreuses mythologies ayant influencé le sens de l’Histoire

look unfavourably on

locution verbale (accueillir défavorablement [qch]) (UK)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Il voit d'un mauvais œil le départ de Marcel.

take a very dim view of

locution verbale (accueillir défavorablement [qch]) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Il voit d'un très mauvais œil l’installation des nouveaux voisins.

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