pas mal
/pa mal/
pas mal is the French phrase for "not bad."
pas mal is used to express that something is quite good or to indicate a considerable amount. It often functions as a litotes, where the speaker uses "not bad" to suggest that something is actually quite good or impressive. If you follow the phrase with the preposition de, it becomes pas mal de, which means "quite a lot of" or "a good amount of". Other variations include pas mal du tout, which means "pretty good" or "not bad at all" and plutôt bien, which also means "quite good".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "not bad".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While very common, using pas mal to mean "quite good" is more characteristic of informal or colloquial speech than formal writing. In France, you may also encounter the slang expression pas dégueu, which specifically means "not disgusting".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Canada, the phrase pas pire is used as the equivalent of "not bad" or "pretty good".
How do you pronounce it?
/pa mal/
Did you know?
Examples in context
- J'ai pas mal de travail à accomplir cette semaine.I have quite a bit of work to do this week.
- "Tu chantes vraiment bien !" – " Pas mal du tout , merci !""You sing really well!" – "Pretty good, thanks!"
- Il a pas mal de talent.He has quite a lot of talent.
- Ce restaurant est pas mal.This restaurant is quite good.
- J'ai pas mal de travail ce soir.I have quite a lot of work tonight.
Example conversation
Nathan and Léa are discussing a movie they just watched.
- NathanTu as aimé le film ?Did you like the movie?
- LéaOui, c'était pas mal du tout.Yes, it was quite good.
- NathanJe trouve que l'acteur était génial.I think the actor was great.
- LéaC'est vrai, il joue pas mal.That's true, he acts quite well.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pas mal, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mal, pas, pas mal, CC BY-SA 4.0.
