mauvais chien
The English phrase "bad dog" can be translated into French as mauvais chien.
The phrase is used to describe a dog that behaves poorly or is not well-trained.
Which one should you use?
Méchant chien can be used where méchant means bad or naughty. If you are addressing a dog affectionately, you might use Vilain toutou, where vilain means bad or naughty and toutou is an affectionate term for a dog. For a dog that is specifically misbehaving, you can use Sale chien.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In France, the phrase chien mal élevé is used specifically to describe a badly raised dog.
Did you know?
- The word mauvais traces back to the Latin words for 'bad' and 'fate'. Originally, it described someone who was unlucky or ill-fated rather than just naughty.
- The affectionate term toutou is an example of reduplication, a common way in French to create a 'baby talk' version of a noun to sound cuter.
- If you travel to Corsica, you might hear the word for dog as cani, which is a close relative of the French chien.
Example conversation
Nathan and Emma are in the living room with a puppy.
- NathanRegarde, il a déchiré le tapis !Look, he tore the rug!
- EmmaOh non, quel mauvais chien !Oh no, what a bad dog!
- NathanIl a besoin de plus d'entraînement.He needs more training.
- EmmaJe suis d'accord avec toi, Nathan.I agree with you, Nathan.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chien, mauvais, CC BY-SA 4.0.
