French Conversation · Level 106
60 words
French word
vilain
Pronunciation
IPA/vilɛ̃/
Meaning
- adjectivemean
Example
Tu es vilain avec moi.
You're being mean to me.
More examples
C'est vilain de mentir à un ami.
It's mean to lie to a friend.
Core concept
A person or act with a petty, unpleasant edge, sometimes softened by playful teasing.
Common phrases
un geste vilain
a mean gesture
être vilain avec quelqu'un
be mean to someone
Similar words
méchant: Unkind and hurtful in dealings with other people.
mauvais: Showing poor qualities or bad behavior.
taquin: Fond of lightly teasing others for fun.
Definition in French
Qui décrit une personne ou un comportement mesquin, désagréable ou taquin, souvent utilisé familièrement, notamment avec les enfants.
Word origin
French vilain comes from Old French vilain, from Latin villanus, a farm worker associated with a villa, and its sense shifted from rustic or coarse to morally unpleasant.
Usage tips
- Toward a child, vilain can sound like affectionate mock-scolding, but toward an adult it can sound insulting.