French word

malheureux

Pronunciation

IPA/maløʁø/

Meaning

  • adjectiveunhappy

Example

Elle est malheureuse aujourd'hui.

She is unhappy today.

Illustration for malheureux (unhappy)

More examples

Depuis son licenciement, il se sent malheureux.

Since being fired, he has felt unhappy.

Core concept

A life marked by misfortune, with happiness pushed out of reach.

Common phrases

  • se sentir malheureux

    feel unhappy

  • avoir l'air malheureux

    look unhappy

  • être malheureux

    be unhappy

Similar words

triste: Feeling sad and low in spirits.
déprimé: Experiencing intense, long-lasting low mood that affects daily life.
mélancolique: Experiencing a lingering, wistful sense of loneliness.

Definition in French

Qui ressent ou subit du malheur, privé de bonheur dans une situation ou dans sa vie.

Word origin

The French adjective malheureux is formed with mal, 'bad', before heureux, 'happy' or 'fortunate'.

Usage tips

  • The final x is silent in malheureux, pronounced roughly 'mal-uh-ruh', while malheureuse ends with a pronounced z sound.

Other meanings

  • unluckyadjective
  • miserableadjective
  • unfortunateadjective

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word