Why do I need to know vilain? Even though this French word has many definitions, if someone calls you vilain, it’s never a good sign. What does it mean? The French world vilain (feminine vilaine with an -e), roughly pronounced vee-lan (listen here) has several meanings. Although it sounds like the English word ‘villain’, it does not have the same meaning (if you want to describe someone as a villain in French you say ‘le méchant/ la méchante). In French it can be used to
describe something or someone “unattractive” or “ugly” – un vilain bâtiment (an ugly building) In the same sense, if someone is dishonest, corrupt, wicked, you could qualify them as vilain – Il a été très vilain avec sa sœur. (He was very mean to his sister) The word can also be used in the context of a wound that has a hard time healing – une vilaine plaie (a bad wound). In casual conversation, you could also qualify bad weather as un vilain temps. You’ll
often hear parents or teachers use vilain to describe a child’s naughty behaviour. Meanwhile, children may use the word to describe someone they perceive as mean or unpleasant, as in un vilain monsieur (a mean man). When used this way by adults, however, it tends to sound rather childish or ironic. Originally, vilain comes from the Latin villanus, meaning a farm worker or a peasant. In medieval France, a vilain was simply someone who lived and worked in the countryside – similar to the old
English term villein, meaning a peasant under the Medieval feudal system. Occasionally, vilain is also used in this way in French too, although it is archaic. Over time, the upper classes began associating peasants with rough manners and a lack of refinement. As a result, the word gradually acquired its more common negative meanings such as rude, coarse, unpleasant or ugly. Use it like this Faire une vilaine chute. – To have a nasty fall. Un vilain rhume. – A bad cold. Un vilain défaut.
– A nasty flaw.
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