nocif
/nɔ.sif/
The English word "harmful" can be translated into French using nocif. Wiktionary also lists nuisible and préjudiciable.
Meaning: likely to be damaging (adj)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| nocif | /nɔ.sif/ |
| nuisible | /nɥi.zibl/ |
| préjudiciable | /pʁe.ʒy.di.sjabl/ |
These adjectives are used to describe things that are likely to be damaging.
Which one should you use?
nuisible often implies something that is harmful because it is an annoyance, an interference or a nuisance to a process or person. préjudiciable is a more formal term used when describing something that causes prejudice, loss or disadvantage, often in a legal or professional context.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective nocif must agree in gender with the noun it modifies, becoming nocive in the feminine form. The adjective nuisible is the same in both masculine and feminine singular forms. The adjective nuisible takes an 's' in the plural form to agree with the noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/nɔ.sif/
Did you know?
- In French, the word préjudice does not mean a preconceived opinion. It refers to a loss, harm or injury, which is why préjudiciable is used in legal contexts to describe damaging outcomes.
- The adjective nuisible is the root for the French word nuisibles, which is commonly used as a noun to refer to pests like rats and cockroaches.
- The word nocif shares the same Latin root as the English word 'innocuous'. While nocif describes something that causes harm, 'innocuous' describes something that does not.
Examples in context
- Ce liquide est nocif.That liquid is harmful.This sentence is useful for describing a liquid that is nocif.Tatoeba #8751335 by Aiji, translation #3795123 by AlanF_US
- Les rayons ultraviolets nous sont nuisibles.Ultraviolet rays are harmful to us.This sentence shows how to use nuisible to describe ultraviolet rays.Tatoeba #446277 by Archibald, translation #263365 by CK
- Ce médicament n'a pas d'effets secondaires nocifs.This medicine has no harmful side effects.This sentence demonstrates the use of nocif to describe side effects.Tatoeba #12180178 by lbdx, translation #1500180 by CK
- Cette substance chimique est nocive pour l'environnement.This chemical is harmful to the environment.
- Des informations erronées peuvent être nocives pour l'économie.Misinformation can be harmful to the economy.
- Ce médicament peut être dangereux pour les personnes âgées.This medication can be harmful to elderly individuals.
- Manger trop de sucre est néfaste pour la santé.Eating too much sugar is harmful to health.
- Cette décision est néfaste pour notre relation.This decision is harmful to our relationship.
- La magie noire est connue pour ses incantations maléfiques.Black magic is known for its harmful incantations.
- Ces produits chimiques sont toxiques pour l'environnement.These chemicals are harmful to the environment.
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Emma are discussing the impact of a new chemical in the garden.
- HugoEst-ce que ce produit est nocif pour les plantes ?Is this product harmful to the plants?
- EmmaOui, il peut être très nocif pour le sol.Yes, it can be very harmful to the soil.
- HugoJe ne savais pas que c'était aussi nocif.I didn't know it was so harmful.
- EmmaIl vaut mieux éviter de l'utiliser.It is better to avoid using it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “harmful” translations and entries nocif, nuisible, préjudiciable, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
