malgré
/mal.ɡʁe/
The English phrase 'despite' is translated into French using malgré. Wiktionary also lists en dépit de.
Meaning: in spite of (prep)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| malgré | /mal.ɡʁe/ |
| en dépit de | /ɑ̃ de.pi də/ |
Which one should you use?
While both mean the same thing, en dépit de is a more formal and slightly more emphatic alternative to malgré.
How do you pronounce it?
malgré is pronounced /mal.ɡʁe/. It has 2 syllables.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using malgré que to mean 'despite the fact that'. In standard French, this is considered incorrect. Instead, use bien que followed by the subjunctive mood.
Did you know?
- The word malgré is built from mal meaning 'bad' and gré meaning 'will' or 'pleasure'. It literally translates to 'bad will'.
- In French, the word gré in malgré is a distant relative of the English word 'agree'.
- The phrase en dépit de is often used in French literature to emphasize a defiant or rebellious spirit, more so than the neutral malgré.
Examples in context
- Je l'aime malgré ses défauts.I love him despite his faults.This sentence shows how to use malgré to express affection despite someone's faults.Tatoeba #4550863 by Whidou, translation #238511 by CK
- Malgré ses défauts, je l'aime.Despite her flaws, I'm fond of her.This sentence demonstrates how malgré can be placed at the beginning of a sentence.Tatoeba #8587031 by Aiji, translation #5036882 by AlanF_US
- Tu es venu malgré mon interdiction.You came despite my ban.This sentence illustrates how to use malgré when someone acts despite a prohibition.Tatoeba #5352346 by Rovo, translation #4097981 by lohnesinpr
- Malgré le mauvais temps, j'ai quand même décidé de sortir.Despite the bad weather, I still decided to go out.
- En dépit de son jeune âge, il a réussi à obtenir le poste.Despite his young age, he managed to get the job.
- Malgré que la journée soit chargée, on va quand même sortir.Despite the busy day, we are still going out.
- 71 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Manon are walking outside during a rainstorm.
- NathanMalgré la pluie, nous pouvons marcher.Despite the rain, we can walk.
- ManonTu as raison, Nathan, c'est agréable.You are right, Nathan, it is pleasant.
- NathanJe suis content malgré le mauvais temps.I am happy despite the bad weather.
- ManonMoi aussi, malgré l'humidité !Me too, despite the humidity!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “despite” translations and entries malgré, en dépit de, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, dépit, en, malgré, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
