avertissement
/a.vɛʁ.tis.mɑ̃/masculine
The English phrase 'red flag' can be translated into French as avertissement, signal d'alarme or mauvais signe.
Meaning: a cue, warning, or alert, a sign or signal that something is wrong (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| avertissement | /a.vɛʁ.tis.mɑ̃/ | masculine |
| signal d'alarme | ||
| mauvais signe | masculine |
You can use signaux d'alerte to figuratively express the concept of warning signals.
Which one should you use?
avertissement is often used for a formal warning or a written notice. mauvais signe is the most natural way to express the idiomatic English 'red flag' when describing a suspicious behavior or an omen.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase mauvais signe is masculine and requires the masculine article un or le. avertissement is also a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/a.vɛʁ.tis.mɑ̃/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using the literal translation drapeau rouge to mean a warning sign. In French, drapeau rouge refers specifically to a physical red flag (e.g., at a beach).
Did you know?
- Linguists suspect mauvais was influenced by the Frankish word balwa, meaning 'seducer to evil'. This suggests a Germanic influence on the French word for 'bad' used in mauvais signe.
- French uses the concept of mauvais signe to describe both a suspicious person's behavior and a superstitious omen, such as a black cat crossing one's path.
Example sentences for French are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Chloé tells Hugo about a problematic date.
- ChloéIl a été impoli avec le serveur.He was rude to the waiter.
- HugoC'est un gros avertissement, Chloé.That is a big red flag, Chloé.
- ChloéJe pense que je ne le reverrai pas.I think I won't see him again.
- HugoTu as raison de faire attention.You are right to be careful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “red flag” translations and entries avertissement, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries avertissement, mauvais, signal, signe, CC BY-SA 4.0.
