Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| malbouffe | /mal.buf/ | feminine |
| junk-food | /ʒɔ̃k.fud/ | feminine |
Both terms refer to food with little or no nutritional value.
What does it mean word for word?
The word malbouffe is a compound of the prefix mal- (bad) and bouffe (slang for food).
Which one should you use?
The term malbouffe is the most common way to refer to junk food. You may also see the anglicism junk-food used in French, particularly among younger generations, though it is less common than malbouffe.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Malbouffe is a colloquial and is the most common way to refer to junk food in everyday French. The anglicism junk-food is considered informal. For more formal or neutral contexts, you can use nourriture industrielle (industrial food) or Aliments nuisibles pour la santé (foods harmful to health). If you want to refer to 'unhealthy food' more directly, you can use Nourriture malsaine. If you are referring to 'junky stuff' in an informal way, you might use Cochonneries.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun malbouffe is feminine. When referring to the concept of junk food in general, it is almost always used with the definite article la.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of malbouffe is /mal.buf/.
Did you know?
- In France, the opposition to malbouffe is often framed as a defense of le terroir, which refers to the traditional soul of regional food and soil.
- If you call junk food cochonneries, you are literally calling the food 'little piggies'.
- Though malbouffe is colloquial, it is frequently used in French political discourse and health campaigns to demonize processed foods.
Examples in context
- J'ai arrêté la malbouffe.I've cut out junk food.This sentence is useful for showing how to express that you have stopped eating malbouffe.Tatoeba #12466929 by lbdx, translation #4850051 by CK
- Il est accro à la malbouffe.He's addicted to junk food.This sentence is useful for describing an addiction to malbouffe.Tatoeba #2271445 by sacredceltic, translation #2263525 by Hybrid
- Essaie d'éviter la malbouffe.Try to avoid junk food.This sentence is useful for giving advice to avoid malbouffe.Tatoeba #6537751 by GB3, translation #6531991 by CK
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Lucas are discussing their eating habits at a cafe.
- LéaTu manges trop de malbouffe, Lucas.You eat too much junk food, Lucas.
- LucasC'est vrai, mais c'est tellement bon.It's true, but it's so good.
- LéaJe veux cuisiner des plats sains pour nous.I want to cook healthy meals for us.
- LucasD'accord, je vais essayer de faire attention.Okay, I will try to pay attention.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “junk food” translations and entries malbouffe, junk-food, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
