Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| malsain | /mal.sɛ̃/ |
| mauvais pour la santé |
The term malsain is a general term for describing something as unhealthy. Other formal options include nocif(ve), which refers to something harmful or detrimental to health and préjudiciable, which is used to express that something is detrimental or prejudicial to health.
What does it mean word for word?
The word malsain is composed of the prefix mal- (bad/ill) and the root sain (healthy).
Which one should you use?
While mauvais pour la santé specifically refers to physical health, malsain can also be used metaphorically to describe something morally or mentally unsound, such as an unhealthy atmosphere or relationship.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective malsain takes a feminine form malsaine when describing a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /mal.sɛ̃/. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The word mauvais descends from the Latin malifātius, which describes someone who is unfortunate or has a bad fate.
- The prefix mal- in malsain is used in dozens of French words to denote sickness or evil, mirroring the 'mal-' in English words like 'malice' or 'malignant'.
- In French, the root sain in malsain is a distant relative of the English word 'sane'.
Examples in context
- Les jus de fruits sont très mauvais pour la santé.Fruit juice is very unhealthy.This sentence is useful for using mauvais pour la santé.Tatoeba #6583818 by GB3, translation #6582650 by Eccles17
- Tu devrais arrêter de fumer, puisque c'est malsain.You must give up smoking, as it is unhealthy.This sentence is useful for using malsain.Tatoeba #3474201 by Scorpionvenin14, translation #19933 by acell
- Je pense qu'il est malsain de manger plus de 20 oranges par jour.I think it's unhealthy to eat more than 20 oranges a day.Tatoeba #8703709 by Julien_PDC, translation #953640 by CK
- Ce mode de vie est malsainThis lifestyle is unhealthy
- Cette nourriture est nociveThis food is unhealthy
- Les effets de ce produit sont préjudiciables pour la santéThe effects of this product are detrimental to health
- Je pense que fumer est très malsain pour toi.I think smoking is very unhealthy for you.
- Les aliments frits sont vraiment nocifs pour la santé.Fried foods are truly unhealthy for your health.
- Manger trop de sucreries est préjudiciable pour nos dents.Eating too many sweets is detrimental to our teeth.
- Ces boissons énergisantes ne sont vraiment pas saines pour toi.These energy drinks are really not healthy for you.
- Ce type de travail est merdique pour ta santé mentale.This type of work is crappy for your mental health.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Gabriel are talking about their diet.
- ManonJe mange trop de sucre, c'est malsain.I eat too much sugar, it's unhealthy.
- GabrielMoi aussi, je devrais faire attention.Me too, I should be careful.
- ManonOn pourrait cuisiner des plats plus sains.We could cook healthier meals.
- GabrielD'accord, Gabriel est prêt pour ce changement !Okay, Gabriel is ready for this change!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “unhealthy” translations and entries malsain, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries la, malsain, mauvais, pour, santé, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
