le malheur
misfortune
C'est une situation où quelque chose de triste ou de mauvais arrive à quelqu'un.
Word: malheur
Language: French
Meaning:
The French noun "malheur" translates to "misfortune," "unhappiness," or "bad luck" in English.
It refers to a state or condition of suffering, adversity, or unfavorable circumstances.
Breakdown:
- mal: a prefix meaning "bad" or "wrong"
- heur: from Old French "heure," meaning "luck" or "fortune"
Together, "malheur" combines to mean "bad luck" or "misfortune."
Synonyms:
- infortune (misfortune)
- malchance (bad luck)
- tragédie (tragedy, in some contexts)
- maladie (illness, metaphorically bad fortune)
Antonyms:
- bonheur (happiness, good luck)
- chance (luck)
- félicité (bliss, joy)
Additional notes:
- Malheur can be used in both concrete and abstract forms.
- Concrete: suffering caused by an event (e.g., accident, disaster)
- Abstract: general state of unhappiness or bad luck
- It appears in expressions like:
- "avoir du malheur" — to have bad luck
- "un grand malheur" — a great misfortune or tragedy
In summary, "malheur" captures the concept of experiencing something unfortunate or unlucky, broadly relating to sorrow, suffering, or adverse conditions.
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Examples
Ce malheur me rend triste.noun
This misfortune makes me sad.
Ce malheur lui cause beaucoup de peine.noun
This misfortune causes him a lot of pain.
Les gens peuvent apprendre beaucoup après un malheur.noun
People can learn a lot after a misfortune.
Parfois, le malheur arrive sans prévenir.noun
Sometimes, misfortune happens without warning.
Après ce grand malheur, elle a trouvé la force de recommencer sa vie.noun
After this great misfortune, she found the strength to start her life over.
Il a gardé l’espoir même au milieu du malheur.noun
He kept hope even in the midst of misfortune.
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