How to Say "Undone" in French

défait

The English word "undone" is translated into French as défait.

Meaning: Not done (adj)

What does it mean word for word?

défait is the past participle of the verb défaire, which literally means to undo or to unmake.

When using défait as a past participle in compound tenses, such as the passé composé, it uses the auxiliary verb avoir.

While défait describes something 'undone' like a knot, it is also the standard word for 'defeated' in a sports match or a war. A team that has lost a game is described as défait.
The verb défaire can be used to describe the act of unpacking a suitcase, which is called défaire sa valise. In this context, it means 'undoing' the packed state of the luggage.
In French, if you say a person is défait, you might not be saying their laces are undone, but rather that they look completely exhausted or 'undone' by fatigue.

Regarde, tu as tes lacets défaits.
Look, your shoelaces have come undone.
This sentence is useful for showing how to use défait when talking about shoelaces.
Tatoeba #520824 by zmoo, translation #33139 by CM
Excusez-moi, votre lacet est défait.
Excuse me, your shoelace is undone.
This sentence demonstrates a polite way to point out that a shoelace is défait.
Tatoeba #1545133 by sysko, translation #10012987 by sundown
Ce qui est fait ne peut pas être défait.
What is done cannot be undone.
This sentence illustrates the use of défait in a proverbial context regarding irreversible actions.
Tatoeba #353446 by TRANG, translation #20094 by Zifre
Le projet est inachevé.
The project is undone.
4 more sentences on Tatoeba

Hugo and Léa are looking at an old piece of sewing.

Sources

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