Mauvais, Mal: Which to Use in French?
Should you use mauvais or mal?
That is a simple question, with a complicated answer. Just like Bon and Bien , my students sometimes mix them up and use the wrong word. They are two tricky and confusing words for French learners as they have similar meanings in English, but in French their use will be distinct depending on the element of speech you are utilising (adjective, verb, or adverb).
In this week’s post, I explain simply and clearly the differences between mauvais and mal. I promise this is not a bad lesson (une mauvaise leçon!).
If you are not familiar with grammar, the examples in context should help you to understand this trick point.
5 Situations Where you Should Use “mauvais”
Mauvais is mainly an adjective which means “bad” in English but it can also, less frequently, be used as an adverb.
Most of the times, it serves to describe a noun as "bad" as in mean, wrong, poor quality, and the like. Here are several common situations in which you should use mauvais.
A - Bad for the taste of food (adverb)
Ce citron est trop amer, c’est mauvais
This lesson is too sour, it’s bad
B - Connected to the verb sentir, meaning that something smells bad (adverb)
Ce parfum est trop fort, il sent mauvais
This perfume is too strong and it smells bad
C - Used as an adjective related to a noun: a very frequent use
- C’est une mauvaise idée
It’s a bad idea
- Il ne propose que de mauvaises solutions
He only offers bad solutions
- Ce tableau est en mauvais état
This painting is in a bad condition
D - To express that you are poor at a skill, school subject
Jane est mauvaise en maths
Jane is bad at maths
But you can also use the adjective “pas bon/ne en“: Jane n’est pas bonne en maths
E - To express that something is bad for your health
It this context, mauvais is used as an adverb
Boire 10 bières par jour, c’est mauvais pour la santé
To drink 10 beers per day is bad for your health
5 Situations Where you Should Use “mal”
Mal is mainly used as an adverb of manner, which it means badly, poorly, not well. But it can also be used to express that something is morally bad.
We will also see that associated with the word “pas” pas mal, it can be an adverb of quantity.
A - To talk about a pain (physical)
Used as an adverb in this context, it can be used to express a pain in your body
J’ai mal à la tête
I have a headache
J’ai mal au pieds quand je cours
My feet hurt when I run
B - If you want to say that something is morally or legally wrong or bad
C’est mal de mentir
It is bad to lie
C’est mal de voler
It is bad to steal
C - Used as adverb of manner, it is used to describe how the action of a verb is.
Most of the time it can be translated by the adverb badly in English.
Je dors mal quand je ne suis pas chez moi
I sleep badly when I am not at home
Il parle mal mais il comprend bien
He speaks badly but he understands well
D - To express that someone doesn’t feel well for physical or mental reasons
Il va mal depuis 6 mois, il est épuisé
He’s been feeling bad for 6 months, he is exhausted
E - Pas mal & pas mal de can be used in different situations
Pas mal can also be an understatement, to mean "good job!" or to state that something is quite good. French people are sometimes negative and pas mal that literally means not bad is a rather positive comment from French people.
Pas mal de (with nouns) are adverbs of quantity meaning a bit.
J’ai eu 15 en maths
Pas mal! (meaning good job!)
I got 19/20 in maths
Good job!
-Comment s’est passé la réunion?
Pas mal, j’ai fait une bonne présentation
-How was your meeting?
Not bad actually, I made a good presentation
J’ai pas mal de travail en ce moment
I have quite a lot of work this week