Triste is the most common way to say “sad” in French. But just like in English, there are many nuances to how we express feelings of unhappiness. As you learn French, you'll want to convey your emotions accurately and understand others when they do. Let’s explore some common and less common ways to say “sad” (and its various degrees) in French!

The standard 'sad' – triste

Triste is the most common and versatile adjective for 'sad' in French.

Unlike many French adjectives, triste does not change its form based on the gender of the noun it modifies. It remains triste for both masculine and feminine singular. However, it does change for number, becoming tristes in the plural. This means you'll see it as:

triste - for a singular male or female noun
tristes - for plural male or female nouns

You can use triste in almost any situation, from casual conversation to more formal writing. It's a reliable, neutral choice for expressing sadness without being overly dramatic.

While triste means 'sad', another common word is malheureux/malheureuse (unhappy/unfortunate). Triste specifically focuses on the emotion of sadness, often with a more direct and less circumstantial connotation than malheureux which can imply a state of general unhappiness or bad luck.

You will most often find triste used with the verb être (to be) to describe someone's emotional state, e.g., Je suis triste (I am sad). It can also be used with rendre (to make) to express causing sadness, e.g., Ça me rend triste (That makes me sad).

For example, Elle est triste aujourd'hui (She is sad today) clearly states her emotional state. Or, Les nouvelles sont tristes (The news is sad) describes the nature of the news itself, agreeing in number (tristes for plural nouvelles).

While straightforward, triste can also appear in expressions where its meaning extends beyond simple sadness. For instance, un triste sire (a pathetic/wretched fellow) uses triste to describe someone in a negative, almost pitying way, rather than just 'sad' in the emotional sense.

Don't worry about misusing triste. Its meaning is generally very clear from context, making it one of the easier adjectives to master for expressing emotion in French. It's your go-to word for 'sad'.

French culture often values a certain reserve in public emotional expression. While triste is a direct word, it's used to convey genuine sadness without necessarily implying overt displays of emotion. It's a precise and accepted way to articulate this feeling, fitting well within typical French communication styles.

💡 * Il est triste de partir. (He is sad to leave.)

Nous sommes tristes pour elle. (We are sad for her.)

Cette chanson me rend triste. (This song makes me sad.)

Les enfants étaient tristes après la pluie. (The children were sad after the rain.)

C'est une triste histoire. (It's a sad story.)

The 'unhappy' – malheureux/malheureuse

When you want to express a state of unhappiness, misfortune, or sorrow in French, the adjectives malheureux (masculine singular) and malheureuse (feminine singular) are your go-to words.

As adjectives, malheureux and malheureuse must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. The plural forms are malheureux (for masculine plural) and malheureuses (for feminine plural).

Malheureux/malheureuse can describe a person's emotional state, meaning 'unhappy' or 'sad'. It can also refer to an unfortunate situation or event, implying 'unlucky' or 'miserable'.

While it often translates to 'unhappy', malheureux/malheureuse can carry a stronger sense of deep sorrow or even bad luck, more profound than just triste (sad). It often implies a prolonged or significant state.

The direct opposite is heureux/heureuse (happy, lucky). For less intense sadness, you might use triste. For a truly unfortunate person, one might say 'une personne malheureuse'.

Understanding malheureux/malheureuse goes beyond simple translation; it helps convey a deeper sense of adversity or emotional distress, crucial for expressing empathy or describing challenging situations in French.

💡 * Elle est très malheureuse depuis la nouvelle. (She is very unhappy since the news.)

C'est un événement malheureux. (It's an unfortunate event.)

Les enfants malheureux ont besoin de soutien. (The unhappy children need support.)

Je me sens malheureux sans toi. (I feel unhappy without you.)

Une malheureuse coïncidence a causé le retard. (An unfortunate coincidence caused the delay.)

The 'depressed' or 'down' – déprimé/déprimée

The French adjective déprimé (masculine) or déprimée (feminine) is commonly used to describe someone who is feeling 'down' or 'depressed'.

Like many French adjectives, déprimé must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies: déprimé (masculine singular), déprimée (feminine singular), déprimés (masculine plural), déprimées (feminine plural).

This word functions as an adjective, often following a verb like être (to be) to describe a state of mind. For example, "Je suis déprimé" means "I am depressed" or "I am feeling down".

While it can refer to clinical depression, déprimé/déprimée is frequently used in a less severe sense, simply meaning 'feeling down,' 'blue,' or 'low in spirits' after a bad day or a disappointment. The context usually clarifies the intensity.

The verb déprimer means 'to depress' or 'to get someone down.' For instance, "Cette nouvelle me déprime" means "This news gets me down." It is also commonly used reflexively: "Je me déprime" (I get myself down).

💡 * Elle est déprimée depuis des jours. (She has been depressed/down for days.)

Je me sens un peu déprimé aujourd'hui. (I'm feeling a bit down today.)

Les mauvaises nouvelles peuvent nous déprimer. (Bad news can get us down.)

Il a l'air déprimé, non? (He looks depressed/down, doesn't he?)

Ne sois pas déprimé(e) ! (Don't be down!)

The 'upset' or 'annoyed' – contrarié/contrariée

The “upset” or “annoyed” – contrarié/contrariée

The French adjective contrarié/contrariée translates to “upset,” “annoyed,” or “displeased” in English. It describes a state of irritation or frustration, often due to something unexpected or unwanted.

As an adjective, contrarié must agree in gender and number with the noun or pronoun it modifies. Use contrarié for masculine singular, contrariée for feminine singular, contrariés for masculine plural, and contrariées for feminine plural.

This term is frequently used to express annoyance resulting from an obstacle, a change of plans, or someone's behavior. It conveys a feeling of being bothered or put out.

💡 * Il était très contrarié par la nouvelle. (He was very upset by the news.)

Elle semblait contrariée de devoir annuler son rendez-vous. (She seemed annoyed about having to cancel her appointment.)

Nous étions tous contrariés par le retard du train. (We were all displeased by the train's delay.)

Pourquoi es-tu si contrariée par ce petit problème ? (Why are you so annoyed by this small problem?)

The 'sorrowful' or 'grieved' – chagrin/chagrine

The French words chagrin (masculine) and chagrine (feminine) are used to describe someone who is 'sorrowful,' 'grieved,' or 'distressed.'

Chagrin as an adjective means 'sad,' 'distressed,' or 'upset.' It's often used to describe a state of emotional pain or disappointment.

Interestingly, chagrin also exists as a masculine noun, meaning 'sorrow,' 'grief,' or 'distress.' For example, avoir du chagrin means 'to be sorrowful' or 'to feel grief.'

While not overly formal, chagrin carries a stronger sense of profound sadness or disappointment than simpler words like triste. It implies a deeper, more internal suffering.

As an adjective, it agrees in gender with the noun it modifies: chagrin for masculine singular subjects (e.g., il est chagrin) and chagrine for feminine singular subjects (e.g., elle est chagrine).

Remember the phrase faire du chagrin à quelqu'un ('to cause someone sorrow'). While similar to triste, chagrin often suggests a more specific, sometimes prolonged, emotional pain due to a particular disappointment or loss.

💡 * Il était très chagrin après la nouvelle. (He was very grieved after the news.)

Elle est un peu chagrine aujourd'hui. (She is a bit sorrowful today.)

J'ai eu beaucoup de chagrin en apprenant ça. (I had a lot of sorrow learning that.)

Ne me fais pas de chagrin. (Don't cause me sorrow.)

Sa mine chagrine inquiétait ses amis. (His sorrowful expression worried his friends.)

The 'disappointed' – déçu/déçue

The French word for 'disappointed' is déçu (masculine singular) or déçue (feminine singular). It's an adjective that describes a state of feeling let down or unsatisfied when expectations are not met.

Like many French adjectives, déçu must agree in gender and number with the noun or pronoun it modifies. This means you'll see it as déçu (m.s.), déçue (f.s.), déçus (m.pl.), and déçues (f.pl.).

When expressing what you are disappointed by or about, French typically uses the prepositions par or de. You are déçu par something or someone, or déçu de a situation or outcome. Déçu de is often followed by an infinitive verb or a noun.

Déçu conveys a specific kind of negative emotion – it's not just sadness, but a feeling of being let down because something didn't live up to what was hoped for or promised. It implies a sense of unmet expectation, whether from a person, an event, or a result.

Mastering déçu/déçue allows you to express a nuanced emotion crucial for everyday French conversation. Remember its agreement and the appropriate prepositions to convey disappointment accurately.

💡 * Je suis déçu par ton comportement. (I am disappointed by your behavior.)

Elle est déçue de ne pas avoir eu le poste. (She is disappointed not to have gotten the job.)

Nous étions déçus des résultats de l'examen. (We were disappointed with the exam results.)

Ils sont déçus par le film. (They are disappointed by the movie.)

Tu as l'air déçue, qu'est-ce qui ne va pas ? (You look disappointed, what's wrong?)

The 'melancholic' – mélancolique

The French word mélancolique directly translates to 'melancholic' or 'melancholy' in English. It describes someone who is prone to sadness, introspection, or a pensive mood, often with a sense of wistfulness.

Mélancolique is an adjective that remains the same for both masculine and feminine singular nouns. For example, you would say un homme mélancolique (a melancholic man) and une femme mélancolique (a melancholic woman). In the plural, it takes an 's': des hommes mélancoliques or des femmes mélancoliques.

While often associated with sadness, mélancolique can also evoke a sense of poetic pensiveness or a gentle, reflective sorrow rather than deep depression. It’s frequently used in literature and art to describe a particular temperament or atmosphere.

💡 * Il a toujours eu une nature un peu mélancolique. (He always had a somewhat melancholic nature.)

Ses chansons sont souvent mélancoliques, mais très belles. (His songs are often melancholic, but very beautiful.)

L'ambiance du film était étrangement mélancolique. (The atmosphere of the film was strangely melancholic.)

Elle regardait la pluie tomber avec un air mélancolique. (She watched the rain fall with a melancholic look.)

The 'downcast' or 'dejected' – abattu/abattue

The 'downcast' or 'dejected' – abattu/abattue

Abattu (masculine) and abattue (feminine) are adjectives meaning 'downcast', 'dejected', 'crestfallen', or 'downtrodden'. It describes a state of profound sadness or emotional exhaustion.

The word comes from the verb abattre, which means 'to fell' or 'to strike down'. This etymology perfectly encapsulates the feeling of being emotionally struck down or overcome by circumstances.

This adjective conveys a strong sense of despair or extreme fatigue, often due to bad news, stress, or a difficult situation. It's more intense than simply being 'sad'.

💡 * Il est complètement abattu depuis qu'il a perdu son emploi. (He is completely downcast since he lost his job.)

Elle semblait abattue après l'annonce. (She seemed dejected after the announcement.)

Les joueurs étaient abattus après leur défaite. (The players were crestfallen after their defeat.)

Malgré la mauvaise nouvelle, elle n'était pas abattue. (Despite the bad news, she wasn't dejected.)

The 'miserable' – misérable

The French adjective misérable is a versatile word that directly translates to "miserable" in English, but encompasses a broader range of meanings including "wretched," "pitiable," "poor," or "meager." It describes a state of profound unhappiness, extreme poverty, or severe inadequacy.

When applied to people, misérable can describe someone who is deeply unhappy, unfortunate, or in a state of great distress. It can also refer to someone living in extreme poverty or destitution, often evoking a sense of pity or compassion.

Beyond individuals, misérable is frequently used to characterize situations, conditions, or even objects that are extremely poor in quality, insufficient, or deplorable. For instance, it can describe living conditions, a salary, or a meal that is far below an acceptable standard.

As an adjective, misérable agrees in number with the noun it modifies. However, it's an adjective that ends in -e in its singular form, meaning it does not change for gender (it's the same for masculine and feminine singular nouns). For plural, you simply add an -s: misérables.

💡 * Elle se sentait misérable après avoir perdu son travail. (She felt miserable after losing her job.)

Les conditions de vie dans ce quartier sont misérables. (The living conditions in this neighborhood are miserable/wretched.)

Il a mené une vie misérable, sans jamais connaître le bonheur. (He led a miserable life, never knowing happiness.)

Ce salaire est misérable pour tout le travail que je fais. (This salary is miserable/pitiable for all the work I do.)

Le misérable n'avait nulle part où dormir. (The wretched/poor man had nowhere to sleep.)

Are there other ways to say 'sad' in French?

Are there other ways to say “sad” in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say “sad” in French. But there are other terms, from old-fashioned ones, to regional ones, to up-and-coming slang ones this middle-aged author might not even be aware of!

You can also do an online search for “comment dire triste en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region.

You might find some interesting synonyms for triste on this list. Of course, make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you use it.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to express sadness.

And if you’re looking for ways to talk about different nuances of sadness, or words related to feeling down in French, the WordReference entry for triste is a great place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful. Here’s what I think is the perfect quote to finish it with, courtesy of Victor Hugo: La mélancolie, c'est le bonheur d'être triste. (Melancholy is the happiness of being sad.)

9 ways to say "sad" in French