nuisible
/nɥi.zibl/
The English word 'pest' is translated into French as nuisible.
nuisible is used to refer to an animal regarded as a nuisance. In more formal contexts, the word parasite can also be used to describe a pest.
Meaning: animal regarded as a nuisance (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
As a noun, the plural form is nuisibles. When used as an adjective, nuisible must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies, such as in the phrase une espèce nuisible.
How do you pronounce it?
/nɥi.zibl/ (two syllables)
Did you know?
- While English uses 'pest' for a bothersome child, French speakers use nuisible only for something truly damaging. To call a child a 'pest' in the annoying sense, a French speaker would use casse-pieds.
- The verb nuire, the root of nuisible, is used in French legal disputes to describe 'nuisance' in terms of property or noise. It describes the act of disturbing the peace or rights of a neighbor.
- The word nuisible was shaped by the Latin word nocibilis, which is also a distant relative of the English word 'noxious'.
Examples in context
- Qu'est-ce que je vais faire quand ce nuisible s'introduira dans mon champ ? Je n'ai pas beaucoup d'options.What will I do when this pest gets in my field? I don't have a lot of options.This sentence shows how to use nuisible when discussing a pest entering a field.Tatoeba #9755449 by lbdx, translation #7767337 by Hybrid
- Mon collègue est un vrai parasite !My colleague is a real pest!
- Arrête d'être importun !Stop being such a pest!
- Ce nuisible a mangé toutes les graines.This pest ate all the seeds.
- On doit éliminer ce nuisible du jardin.We must eliminate this pest from the garden.
Example conversation
Manon and Lucas are looking at a hole in the wall.
- ManonRegarde, un nuisible a rongé le bois.Look, a pest gnawed the wood.
- LucasC'est sûrement un rat ou une souris.It is probably a rat or a mouse.
- ManonJe déteste avoir un nuisible dans la maison.I hate having a pest in the house.
- LucasJe vais appeler un professionnel demain.I will call a professional tomorrow.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry nuisible, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nuisible, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
