How to Say ‘Badly’ in French
Mal
mahl
[mahl]
💬 Usage Tip: A tiny but powerful adverb. In health contexts, mal often means unwell, badly, or with difficulty.
🇫🇷 In France: French medical conversations often use simple words like mal rather than very technical vocabulary at first.
Phrase Breakdown
Mal
[mahl]
badly / poorly
Used to say that something is done in a bad or difficult way.
Mal respirer peut être un signe d'infection.
Breathing badly can be a sign of infection.
Get the Full Learning Experience
This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.
Pronunciation Feedback
AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent
Spaced Repetition
Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice
Immersive Roleplaying
Practice real conversations with AI partners
Custom Scenarios
Request lessons tailored to your specific needs
What Learners Are Saying
“Moved to Lyon for a culinary apprenticeship. The food and restaurant scenarios were exactly what I needed — my French colleagues were genuinely impressed.”
Tom H., 38, Chef
“Studying in Paris and the academic French I learned in school was useless for daily life. This app filled the gap in weeks, not months.”
Nina W., 29, Graduate Student
“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”
Alex M., 42, Software Engineer