Which one should you use?
The term malaisant is used to describe the quality of something that is cringeworthy. For more formal situations, you can use gênant(e) to mean 'embarrassing' or 'awkward'. For a colloquial way to describe the sensation of cringing, you can use the expression ça me fait grincer des dents, which literally translates to 'It makes my teeth grind'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In casual conversation, French speakers often use gênant to express the same feeling of secondhand embarrassment as the English 'cringe'. The form gênant(e) is an adjective that translates to 'embarrassing' or 'awkward' in English.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, the term malaisant may be used to describe something cringeworthy.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective malaisant must agree in gender with the noun it modifies, becoming malaisante in the feminine form.
Did you know?
- In modern French youth slang, the English word 'cringe' is often used directly as an adjective, bypassing malaisant entirely.
- The word malaisant comes from the noun malaise, which in a medical context refers to a general feeling of discomfort or illness rather than just social awkwardness.
- In certain contexts, malaise can refer to a political or social tension, so calling a situation malaisant can sometimes imply a broader societal discomfort.
Examples in context
- C'était un moment de malaiseIt was a cringeworthy moment
- C'est vraiment gênant de regarder çaIt's really cringe to watch that
- Cette scène était vraiment dérangeanteThat scene was really cringe
- C'est vraiment gênant de voir ça, sérieusementIt's really cringe to see that, seriously
- Ce spectacle me fait vraiment grincer des dentsThis show really makes me cringe
- C'était tellement malaisant comme situationIt was so cringeworthy as a situation
- C'est vraiment malaisant.It is really cringe.
- Son silence était très malaisant.His silence was very cringey.
- Je trouve ça un peu malaisant.I find that a bit awkward/cringe.
Example conversation
Nathan and Emma are watching a talent show on TV.
- NathanRegarde ce candidat, c'est trop malaisant !Look at this contestant, it's too cringe!
- EmmaOui, je ne peux même pas regarder.Yes, I can't even watch.
- NathanPourquoi il fait ça ?Why is he doing that?
- EmmaIl pense sans doute qu'il est drôle.He probably thinks he's funny.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries malaisant, CC BY-SA 4.0.
