Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| dommage | /dɔ.maʒ/ | masculine |
| dégât | /de.ɡa/ /de.ɡɑ/ |
masculine |
The term dommage is a versatile word used to describe abstract harm, loss or disadvantage. It is also frequently used in the idiomatic expression Quel dommage ! to mean "What a shame!" or "That's too bad!" To describe the act of causing destruction or making something less intact, you can use the verbs endommager or abîmer.
Which one should you use?
You should choose between dommage and dégât based on the type of harm described. Use dégât when referring specifically to physical destruction or material damage, such as damage to a car or a building. Use dommage when referring to abstract harm or loss.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /dɔ.maʒ/ and has two syllables.
When do people say it?
If you want to express sympathy or regret about a situation, you can use the idiomatic phrase Quel dommage ! which means "What a shame!"
Did you know?
- If you describe something as gâté, you might be saying it is 'spoiled' or 'rotten', but you could also be calling a child 'spoiled' or a person 'pampered'.
- In a surprising twist of history, the spelling of dommage was likely influenced by the Old French word dongier, which became the English word 'danger'.
- In French legal terminology, dommages et intérêts is the standard phrase for 'damages' in a lawsuit, combining both abstract harm and financial interest.
Examples in context
- Il n'y a pas de dommage.There's no damage.This sentence is useful for stating the absence of dommage.Tatoeba #3648784 by sacredceltic, translation #3424180 by CK
- Je ne vois aucun dommage.I don't see any damage.This sentence is useful for stating that you do not see any dommage.Tatoeba #2527753 by sacredceltic, translation #2276189 by CK
- Il n'y eut aucun dommage.There was no damage.This sentence is useful for stating that there was no dommage in the past.Tatoeba #3648342 by sacredceltic, translation #2548158 by CK
- La détérioration des meubles était évidente après l'incendie.The damage to the furniture was evident after the fire.
- La grêle a causé des préjudices considérables aux cultures.The hail caused significant damage to the crops.
- J'ai chopé une bosse en rentrant dans le poteau.I bumped into the pole and caused a dent.
- Le moteur de la voiture a pris un coup et ne fonctionne plus.The car engine has taken a hit and is no longer working.
- 73 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Hugo are looking at a broken vase.
- ChloéRegarde le dommage sur ce vase.Look at the damage on this vase.
- HugoC'est vraiment regrettable, Hugo.It's really regrettable, Hugo.
- ChloéLe dommage est trop important pour être réparé.The damage is too great to be repaired.
- HugoOn doit en acheter un nouveau.We have to buy a new one.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “damage” translations and entries dommage, dégât, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dommage, dégât, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
