Je suis mauvais
The English phrase "I am bad" can be translated into French as Je suis mauvais.
This phrase is used to say that one is not good at a particular activity or lacks skill.
Which one should you use?
To specify the activity you are bad at, use the preposition en followed by the subject (e.g., Je suis mauvais en maths).
How does it change in a sentence?
If the speaker is female, the adjective must take the feminine form mauvaise.
Did you know?
- Calling yourself mauvais can sound much more severe than the English equivalent because it can imply a moral failing or wickedness.
- In French, if you want to say you are 'bad' in the sense of being mean or unkind, you would use the word méchant instead of mauvais.
- While mauvais describes being unskilled, its root comes from a word meaning 'unfortunate' or 'unlucky'. It is closely linked to the Latin word for 'fate', specifically malifātius, meaning 'unfortunate'.
Examples in context
- Je suis mauvais(e) en mathématiques.I am bad at mathematics.
- Je ne suis pas doué(e) pour le dessin.I am not talented at drawing.
- Je suis nul(le) en cuisine.I am bad at cooking.
- Je suis pas bon(ne) en sport.I am not good at sports.
- Je suis vraiment pas doué(e) en danse.I am really not talented at dancing.
- Je suis mauvais avec les ordinateurs.I am bad with computers.
Example conversation
Nathan and Chloé are discussing a new video game.
- NathanTu veux jouer à ce jeu avec moi ?Do you want to play this game with me?
- ChloéNon, je suis mauvaise à ce genre de jeux.No, I am bad at this kind of game.
- NathanNe t'inquiète pas, je suis mauvais aussi.Don't worry, I am bad too.
- ChloéAlors, nous allons perdre ensemble !Then, we are going to lose together!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries je, mauvais, suis, CC BY-SA 4.0.
