très mauvais
The French phrase for "very bad" is très mauvais.
très mauvais is used to describe something of very low quality or a situation that is highly unpleasant. For example, it is commonly used with the verb faire to describe weather (Il fait très mauvais) to indicate that the weather is very bad. Note that très mauvais is an adjective used to describe nouns, whereas très mal is an adverb used to describe how an action is performed.
Which one should you use?
Use très mauvais when you are describing a noun. If you want to describe an action (meaning "very badly"), you should use the adverbial form très mal instead.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, the colloquial expression Vraiment poche is used to say that something is really bad.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender with the noun it modifies. While the default form is très mauvais, you must change it to très mauvaise when modifying a feminine noun.
Did you know?
- In Quebec, calling something poche to mean 'bad' refers to the pocket of a garment, implying the item is as useless as a hole in a pocket.
- The word très is an ancient relative of the English prefix 'trans-', both originating from a root meaning 'through' or 'over'.
- French has several distinct words for 'bad' depending on the context, such as méchant for a 'bad' person who is mean and mauvais for a 'bad' person who is unskilled.
Examples in context
- Il fait très mauvais.The weather is very bad.This sentence is useful for describing how the weather is very bad using très mauvais.Tatoeba #3642831 by sacredceltic, translation #2268650 by _undertoad
- Ma santé est très mauvaise.My health's very bad.This sentence shows the feminine form très mauvaise being used to describe health.Tatoeba #11182511 by lbdx, translation #2267595 by _undertoad
- C'est une très mauvaise idée.That's a very bad idea.This sentence shows the feminine form très mauvaise being used to describe an idea.Tatoeba #3602541 by sacredceltic, translation #3591020 by CK
- Monsieur, votre service est très mauvais . Nous attendons depuis plus de trente minutes.Sir, your service is very bad. We have been waiting for over thirty minutes.
- Ce film était vachement nul . On a perdu notre temps.That movie was really bad. We wasted our time.
- Ce repas était vraiment poche . On ne reviendra plus dans ce restaurant.This meal was really bad. We won't come back to this restaurant.
- 17 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Manon are discussing a meal at a restaurant.
- HugoCe plat est très mauvais.This dish is very bad.
- ManonJe suis d'accord, le service est aussi très mauvais.I agree, the service is also very bad.
- HugoOn devrait partir maintenant.We should leave now.
- ManonOui, allons-nous-en.Yes, let's get out of here.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mauvais, très, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
