AtelierLe journal · French, understood
English

Language

The course

Updated

Phrasebook

Triste, déçu or malheureux: say how you feel in French

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Find words for sadness, disappointment and unhappiness in three short conversations. Practise reasons, feminine forms and the meaning of un malheureux hasard.

In short

Triste means sad. Déçu means disappointed: something fell short of your hopes. Malheureux means unhappy, or “unfortunate” with an event. Add the reason: Je suis déçue du résultat. J’espérais mieux.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

A traveller says goodbye to two friends on a quiet platform.
She feels triste de partir. Illustration: Atelier
Choose the focus
WordWhat it highlightsExample
tristeSadnessJe suis triste de partir.
déçu / déçueAn unmet hopeJe suis déçue du résultat.
malheureux / malheureuseUnhappiness in a situationIl est malheureux dans son travail.
1

A friend is leaving

Use triste de + infinitive when the same person feels sad and performs the action.

YouJe suis triste de partir. Vous allez me manquer.I’m sad to leave. I’m going to miss you all.
Your friendToi aussi, tu vas nous manquer. On reste en contact ?We’re going to miss you too. Shall we stay in touch?
YouOui, bien sûr. On s’appelle dimanche.Yes, of course. Let’s call each other on Sunday.
2

The result was below your hopes

The speaker is a woman, so she uses déçue. A man says déçu.

Your friendAlors, tu es contente de ton résultat ?So, are you happy with your result?
YouJe suis un peu déçue. J’espérais une meilleure note.I’m a little disappointed. I was hoping for a better mark.
Your friendJe comprends. Tu veux en parler ?I understand. Do you want to talk about it?
YouOui. Je vais demander à la professeure de m’expliquer mes erreurs.Yes. I’m going to ask the teacher to explain my mistakes.
3

A job is making you unhappy

Use malheureux / malheureuse dans to name the situation.

Your friendComment ça se passe au travail ?How are things at work?
YouJe suis malheureuse dans ce poste. Je me sens seule.I’m unhappy in this position. I feel lonely.
Your friendQu’est-ce que tu aimerais changer ?What would you like to change?
YouJ’aimerais travailler avec une équipe.I’d like to work with a team.

What is the difference between triste, déçu and malheureux?

Agreement at a glance
SubjectSadDisappointedUnhappy
iltristedéçumalheureux
elletristedéçuemalheureuse
ellestristesdéçuesmalheureuses

These feelings can overlap: a disappointing result can also make you sad. Choose déçu when the failed hope is the detail you want to share. Une histoire triste is a sad story; un malheureux hasard is an unfortunate coincidence.

Un malheureux hasard nous a empêchés de nous rencontrer.

An unfortunate coincidence prevented us from meeting.

Question 1No account needed
A woman says she hoped for a better result. Complete her sentence.Je suis ___ du résultat.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

déçue. The speaker is a woman: déçue. The failed hope explains her disappointment.

Question 2No account needed
Translate un malheureux hasard.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

An unfortunate coincidence. With hasard, malheureux describes an unfortunate coincidence.

Question 3No account needed
Which reply gently invites a friend to share more?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Tu veux en parler ?. Tu veux en parler ? means “Do you want to talk about it?”

Keep going