French Conversation · Level 57
74 words
French word
nul
Pronunciation
IPA/nyl/
Meaning
- adjectivebad
Example
Ton gâteau est nul.
Your cake is bad.
More examples
Le film était nul hier soir.
The film was boring last night.
Core concept
Someone or something unable to perform a task competently, with results judged very poor in that field.
Common phrases
être nul
be no good
un film nul
a boring movie
être nul en cuisine
be bad at cooking
Similar words
mauvais: Of generally bad quality or character.
médiocre: Failing to meet expectations or normal standards.
incompétent: Without the competence needed to handle work or a role properly.
minable: Exceptionally poor or worthless, with an informal, contemptuous tone.
Definition in French
Qui manque de compétence dans une activité, très mauvais dans un domaine.
Word origin
The adjective nul is inherited from Latin nullus via Old French and shifted from 'nonexistent' or 'absent' to describing a lack of worth or competence.
Usage tips
- For a field of skill, French commonly uses nul en followed by the activity or subject, as in Ton gâteau est nul rather than a direct English-style preposition.