le pire
The English phrase "the worst" is translated into French as le pire.
Le pire is used to describe the most unpleasant or lowest quality person or thing within a group. To refer specifically to a person who is the worst, you can use celui qui est le pire or celle qui est la pire. In informal speech, you may hear le pire du pire to express "the worst of the worst".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the masculine definite article le (the) and the superlative form of the adjective mauvais (bad).
Which one should you use?
Le pire is a single-word superlative often used for abstract concepts or qualities. In contrast, le plus mauvais is a periphrastic superlative used more frequently for concrete qualities like taste or skill.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Use la pire for feminine nouns and les pires when referring to multiple people or things.
Did you know?
- The word pire shares a distant ancestor with the English word 'foot', stemming from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to go downwards' or 'to the ground'.
- In French, using le pire to describe a person often implies a moral failure rather than just a lack of ability.
Examples in context
- Le pire est passé.The worst is over.This sentence shows how to use le pire to state that the most difficult period has ended.Tatoeba #587682 by qdii, translation #243711 by CK
- Je craignis le pire.I feared the worst.This sentence illustrates using le pire to express a fear of a bad outcome.Tatoeba #1791436 by sacredceltic, translation #1790820 by Spamster
- Tom imagina le pire.Tom imagined the worst.This sentence demonstrates using le pire when someone is imagining a bad situation.Tatoeba #7465706 by tras, translation #7460956 by Hybrid
- C'est la pire expérience que j'aie jamais eueIt's the worst experience I've ever had
- C'est la plus mauvaise des options que vous ayez proposéesIt is the worst of all the options you have suggested
- Cette chanson est le pire du pireThis song is the worst of the worst
- Cet endroit est le fond du fond, je ne reviendrai jamaisThis place is the worst of the worst, I will never come back
- 65 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Hugo are discussing a movie they just saw.
- LéaC'était le pire film de l'année.It was the worst movie of the year.
- HugoJe suis d'accord, c'était affreux.I agree, it was awful.
- LéaL'acteur principal était le pire.The lead actor was the worst.
- HugoIl jouait vraiment très mal.He acted really badly.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries le, pire, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
