fille laide
The English phrase "ugly girl" is translated into French as fille laide.
The phrase is used to describe a girl who is not physically attractive. Depending on the social context, you might use different variations such as une fille moche for a more common, everyday way to say "an ugly girl" or une nana pas très belle to mean "a not very beautiful girl".
Which one should you use?
While fille laide is the standard term, the adjective moche is a more colloquial and common way to say "ugly" in everyday speech than the word laide.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Une meuf moche is a slang variant often used in urban areas.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the phrase with an indefinite article to say "an ugly girl", use une fille laide. To say "the ugly girl", use the definite article la fille laide.
Did you know?
- The slang word meuf in une meuf moche is an example of verlan, a type of French slang where syllables are reversed. It is the word femme flipped backwards.
- In certain historical or literary contexts, the word fille can be used as a euphemism for a prostitute, coming from longer phrases like fille de joie or 'girl of joy'.
- The word moche is so versatile that it can describe not just a person, but also a piece of clothing, a building, or even a weather forecast.
Examples in context
- Je ne voulais pas être une fille laide.I did not want to be an ugly girl.
- Il a décrit une fille laide au téléphone.He described an ugly girl on the phone.
Example conversation
Nathan and Manon are discussing a character in a book.
- NathanLe personnage principal est une fille laide.The main character is an ugly girl.
- ManonOui, mais elle est très intelligente.Yes, but she is very intelligent.
- NathanC'est vrai, elle a un bon cœur.That's true, she has a good heart.
- ManonC'est le plus important pour elle.That is the most important thing for her.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fille, CC BY-SA 4.0.
