malchanceux
/mal.ʃɑ̃.sø/masculine
The English phrase "unlucky" is translated into French as malchanceux. Wiktionary also lists poissard.
Meaning: having ill luck (adj)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| malchanceux | /mal.ʃɑ̃.sø/ | masculine |
| poissard | masculine |
The word is used to describe someone having ill luck.
What does it mean word for word?
The word malchanceux is a compound of mal (bad) and chance (luck/chance). The term poissard is etymologically related to poisse (bad luck/sticky grime), implying someone who is 'stuck' with bad luck.
Which one should you use?
While malchanceux is the standard term, poissard is a more colloquial and colorful way to describe someone who is consistently unlucky.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form of malchanceux is malchanceuse. The feminine form of poissard is poissarde.
How do you pronounce it?
/mal.ʃɑ̃.sø/
Did you know?
- The colloquial term poissard refers to someone who is 'sticky' with misfortune, derived from poisse, which originally meant the thick, black tar or resin used to seal ships.
- In certain regional French slang, someone with extreme bad luck might be called a chat noir, literally a 'black cat', which carries the same superstitious weight as in English.
- In French culture, saying je porte la poisse means 'I bring bad luck', treating misfortune like a physical object one carries.
Examples in context
- Je suis un poissard.I'm unlucky.This sentence is useful for saying 'I'm unlucky' using the form poissard.Tatoeba #7731165 by Micsmithel, translation #2203525 by CK
- Je fus très malchanceux.I was really unlucky.This sentence is useful for saying 'I was really unlucky' using the form malchanceux.Tatoeba #6385340 by Aiji, translation #3818978 by CK
- Quel malchanceux je suis !How unlucky I am!This sentence is useful for expressing 'How unlucky I am!' using the form malchanceux.Tatoeba #2347601 by MartinShadock, translation #36100 by CM
- Elle est malchanceuse. Chaque fois qu'elle sort, il se met à pleuvoirShe's unlucky. Every time she goes out, it starts to rain
- Je n'ai vraiment pas de chance avec les concoursI really have no luck with competitions
- Il n'a pas été veinard aux examensHe wasn't lucky with the exams
- Pas de bol, j'ai raté mon trainTough luck, I missed my train
- Il n'a vraiment pas de bol, il a crevé un pneu en allant à son entretien d'embauche.He's really unlucky. He got a flat tire while going to his job interview.
- Il a vraiment la poisse en ce momentHe's really unlucky at the moment
- 22 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Emma are talking about a man who lost his keys in the park.
- EmmaIl a perdu ses clés dans l'herbe.He lost his keys in the grass.
- LucasQuel homme malchanceux !What an unlucky man!
- EmmaC'est vraiment une mauvaise journée pour lui.It is really a bad day for him.
- LucasJe compatis avec lui.I feel sorry for him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “unlucky” translations and entries malchanceux, poissard, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries malchanceux, poissard, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
