malade
/ma.lad/
The French word for sick is malade.
malade is the most common term used to describe being ill. For a more specific way to say you are feeling unwell, you can use the expression pas en forme, which means not in shape. If you are feeling particularly unwell, you can use the expression mal en point. For describing a state of being in bad health, use en mauvaise santé.
Meaning: ill, used as a substantive: sick people, collectively (adj)
Which one should you use?
While malade is the general term for being ill, use souffrant if you want a more formal or polite way to describe someone who is ailing or suffering.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective malade is invariable in gender, so the form remains the same regardless of whether the subject is masculine or feminine. To express the plural, such as 'sick people' or 'sick ones', add an 's' to the end to get malades.
How do you pronounce it?
/ma.lad/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers sometimes mistakenly use être malade to mean having a specific pain, such as a headache. However, être malade refers to the general state of being ill. To describe a specific pain, use avoir mal à [body part].
Did you know?
- The word malade comes from the Latin phrase male habitus, which literally means 'badly kept' or 'in bad condition'.
- While English speakers might say 'I am sick' to mean they feel nauseous, saying je suis malade in French often implies you have a broader illness or infection.
- The expression mal en point is used for someone who is not just sick, but is in a state of extreme physical decline or nearing death.
Examples in context
- Tu es malade !You're sick!This sentence is useful for stating that someone is sick.Tatoeba #1156512 by Korekorin, translation #34756 by CM
- Qui est malade ?Who's sick?This sentence is useful for asking who is sick.Tatoeba #3469074 by Lulantis, translation #5504571 by CK
- Tu étais malade ?Were you sick?This sentence is useful for asking if someone was sick in the past.Tatoeba #10518977 by lbdx, translation #2254512 by CK
- Je suis maladeI am sick
- Il est maladeHe is sick
- Je ne me sens pas en formeI don't feel well
- Ma sœur est en mauvaise santéMy sister is sick
- 596 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan is calling Manon to cancel their plans.
- NathanJe ne peux pas venir, je suis malade.I can't come, I am sick.
- ManonOh non, tu as de la fièvre ?Oh no, do you have a fever?
- NathanOui, je me sens très malade aujourd'hui.Yes, I feel very sick today.
- ManonRepose-toi bien, Nathan.Get some good rest, Nathan.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry malade, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries malade, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
