grand méchant loup
/ɡʁɑ̃ me.ʃɑ̃ lu/masculine
The English phrase "big bad wolf" is translated into French as grand méchant loup.
grand méchant loup is a fixed idiomatic expression used primarily in the context of children's fairy tales to refer to a fictional evil wolf.
Meaning: fictional evil wolf (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of grand (big), méchant (bad/naughty) and loup (wolf).
How does it change in a sentence?
When the phrase follows the preposition de (of/from), the article le contracts to become du, as seen in the form du grand méchant loup.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡʁɑ̃ me.ʃɑ̃ lu/
Did you know?
- The word méchant comes from an ancient root meaning 'to happen by chance' or 'to misfall', relating to misfortune rather than inherent malice.
- In French, the word 'méchant' can also be used to describe a 'naughty' child, making the 'big bad wolf' sound somewhat like a mischievous, misbehaving character rather than a purely terrifying monster.
- French speakers often use loup in the expression être un loup solitaire to describe a 'lone wolf' who avoids social interaction.
Examples in context
- Qui a peur du grand méchant loup ?Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?This example is useful for seeing how the phrase is used in a question about being afraid of the grand méchant loup.Tatoeba #6000905 by sicerabibax, translation #5999705 by Adelpa
- On raconte l'histoire du grand méchant loup.We are telling the story of the big bad wolf.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Léa are reading a fairy tale book together.
- HugoLéa, regarde le grand méchant loup !Léa, look at the big bad wolf!
- LéaIl a l'air vraiment effrayant.He looks really scary.
- HugoEst-ce qu'il va attraper la grand-mère ?Is he going to catch the grandmother?
- LéaOui, c'est une histoire classique.Yes, it is a classic story.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “big bad wolf” translations and entries grand méchant loup, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries grand, loup, méchant, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
