vice
/vis/masculine
In French, the English phrase "vice" is translated as vice.
The word vice refers to a bad habit. It is important to note that while the English word "vice" can refer to a tool (a vise), the French word vice primarily refers to a moral flaw or a bad habit. Additionally, the Latin phrase "vice versa" is used in French exactly as it is in English to mean "the other way around".
Meaning: bad habit (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
/vis/
Did you know?
- While an English speaker might use 'vicious' to mean 'aggressive', calling someone vicieux in a social context in France can suggest they are sexually perverted or deviously cunning.
- In French law, the phrase vice caché refers to a 'hidden defect' in a product that makes it unfit for use, extending the meaning of vice from a moral flaw to a physical fault.
- The Latin root vitium of the French vice originally described a physical blemish or a crack in a vessel before it was applied to human character.
Examples in context
- Chaque vertu a son vice correspondant.Every virtue has its corresponding vice.This example shows how every virtue has a corresponding vice.Tatoeba #1220073 by sacredceltic, translation #1219466 by darinmex
- Tom est vice-président de l'Association des apiculteurs de Berlin.Tom is vice-chairman of the Berlin Association of Beekeepers.This example uses vice in the compound title of a vice-president.Tatoeba #6297541 by Scorpionvenin14, translation #6297000 by carlosalberto
- Il est difficile de penser du français à l'anglais puis de traduire en allemand et vice versa.It's hard to think from French to English and then translate to German, and vice versa.This example demonstrates the use of the phrase "vice versa" in a sentence.Tatoeba #10838258 by felix63, translation #10950845 by DJ_Saidez
- Il a quelques mauvaises habitudes dont il devrait se défaire.He has some bad habits he should get rid of.
- Il a un défaut de caractère qui le pousse à agir ainsi.He has a character flaw that drives him to act like this.
- Arrête cette mauvaise manie de grignoter entre les repas.Stop this bad habit of snacking between meals.
- 16 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Manon are discussing their small bad habits.
- LucasJe n'ai aucun vice, et toi ?I don't have any bad habits, and you?
- ManonMon seul vice, c'est le chocolat.My only vice is chocolate.
- LucasCe n'est pas vraiment un vice !That isn't really a vice!
- ManonC'est vrai, mais j'en mange trop.That's true, but I eat too much of it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “vice” translations and entries vice, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries vice, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
