négatif
/ne.ɡa.tif/
The English word "negative" is translated to French as négatif.
négatif is used as an adjective to describe something that is not positive or neutral, such as a bad, undesirable or unfavourable attitude or result. In the context of photography, the term négatif or film négatif refers to a photographic negative.
Meaning: not positive or neutral, bad, undesirable, unfavourable (adj)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, négatif must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. The masculine singular is négatif, the feminine singular is négative, the masculine plural is négatifs and the feminine plural is négatives.
How do you pronounce it?
/ne.ɡa.tif/
Did you know?
- In casual spoken French, the ne part of a negative sentence is almost always dropped, leaving only pas to signal the negative meaning.
- While négatif describes a bad attitude, the French often use the phrase voir le verre à moitié vide meaning 'to see the glass half empty' to describe a negative person.
- While négatif is the standard adjective, in certain mathematical contexts, French speakers may use the term opposé to describe a negative number or value.
Examples in context
- Ne sois pas si négatif !Don't be so negative.This sentence is useful for telling someone not to be so negative using négatif.Tatoeba #2036230 by sacredceltic, translation #1860507 by CK
- Pourquoi es-tu si négatif ?Why are you being so negative?This sentence is useful for asking why someone is being so negative using négatif.Tatoeba #5931257 by Aiji, translation #3359711 by CK
- Le test s'est avéré négatif.The test came back negative.This sentence is useful for stating that a test result was negative using négatif.Tatoeba #6729962 by GB3, translation #5736434 by CM
- Je ne veux pasI don't want
- Il ne parle pasHe does not speak
- Je regrette, je ne peux pas t'accompagnerI'm sorry, I cannot come with you
- Je regrette, mais je ne peux pas vous aiderI'm sorry, but I can't help you
- C'est impossible de faire çaIt's impossible to do that
- C'est impossible de venir demainIt's impossible to come tomorrow
- Je n'en ai rien à faire de ce problèmeI don't care about this problem
- Je n'en ai rien à faire de ce que tu pensesI don't care about what you think
- C'est pas grave, on peut le réparerIt's not a big deal, we can fix it
- C'est pas grave si tu es en retardIt doesn't matter if you're late
- Je m'en fiche de ce qu'il ditI don't care about what he says
- Je m'en fiche de ce filmI don't care about this movie
- Il n'a pas mangéHe did not eat
- Je ne comprends pasI don't understand
- Il n'y a rien iciThere's nothing here
- Je ne peux pas venirI can't come
- Elle ne sait rienShe doesn't know anything
- Il ne fait pas beauThe weather is not good
- Je ne veux plusI don't want anymore
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Manon are discussing a recent project at work.
- ManonQuel est ton avis sur le projet ?What is your opinion on the project?
- HugoMon avis est assez négatif.My opinion is quite negative.
- ManonPourquoi es-tu si pessimiste, Hugo ?Why are you so pessimistic, Hugo?
- HugoLes résultats actuels sont mauvais.The current results are bad.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “negative” translations and entries négatif, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
