French Conversation · Level 10
88 words
French word
sale
Pronunciation
IPA/sal/
Meaning
- adjectivedirty
Example
La cuisine est sale.
The kitchen is dirty.
More examples
Il a les mains sales après le jardinage.
He has soiled hands after gardening.
Core concept
A clean surface smeared with grime, with the same taint extending to language or conduct that violates decency.
Common phrases
les mains sales
soiled hands
des vêtements sales
soiled clothes
une pièce sale
dirty room
Similar words
crasseux: Covered in thick grime or built-up dirt.
dégoûtant: So unpleasant to see, smell, or taste that it causes strong disgust.
crade: Extremely dirty and unclean in casual, blunt usage.
malpropre: Not properly kept clean or hygienic.
Definition in French
Qui présente de la saleté; en langage courant, utilisé aussi pour parler d'une action ou d'une parole vulgaire ou offensante.
Word origin
Sale comes through Old French sale and sal; its deeper etymology is uncertain, so it is best treated as an inherited French word.
Usage tips
- Sale has the same spelling for masculine and feminine singular, while sales is plural; the final e is silent.