moisissure f moisi
masculine
In French, 'mold' is translated as moisissure f moisi. If unsure, use moisissure f moisi. Wiktionary also lists mildiou.
Meaning: furry or woolly growth of tiny fungi (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| moisissure f moisi | masculine | |
| mildiou | /mil.dju/ | masculine |
The word moisissure is used to refer to both the biological organism and the visible growth that appears on surfaces or food.
Which one should you use?
Use moisissure for general mold growth. However, in a botanical context, use mildiou specifically when referring to the fungal disease known as downy mildew.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective form moisi must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies.
Did you know?
- If you are talking about a 'mold' used to shape a cake or a statue, you should not use moisissure, but rather the word moule.
- The phrase c'est moisi can be used as slang to say something is 'lame' or 'rubbish' in a way similar to 'that sucks'.
- While mildiou is the specific term for downy mildew, it is a linguistic 'reversal' because the French word is actually a direct loan from the English word 'mildew'.
Examples in context
- Les spécialistes ont identifié une moisissure dangereuse dans la maison.Specialists have identified a dangerous mold in the house.
- Les champignons microscopiques peuvent se développer dans des conditions favorables.Microscopic molds can develop under favorable conditions.
- Ce pain est moisi, il faut le jeter.This bread is moldy, it needs to be thrown away.
- La salle de bain a de la moisissure, il faudra la nettoyer.The bathroom has mold, we'll have to clean it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mold” translations and entries mildiou, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mildiou, moisissure, CC BY-SA 4.0.
