dommage

damage, harm

noun doh-MAHZH Less Common

Also means

what a shame (exclamation)

Usage Note

Dommage has two common lives: as a noun it means damage or harm (les dommages causés par la tempête — damage caused by the storm), and as an exclamation quel dommage! or simply dommage! it expresses regret or disappointment, equivalent to 'what a shame!' The plural dommages also appears in legal phrases like dommages et intérêts (damages and interest).

Examples

"Quel dommage qu'il soit parti !"

Natural Translation

What a shame he left!

Literal Translation

What a-shame that-he be departed

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

Aller + Infinitive: The Easy French Future

Form the French near future in seconds: conjugate aller in the present and add an infinitive. Learn futur proche rules, negation, pronouns, and when to use it.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

Avoir or Être? Picking the Right Past-Tense Helper

Use avoir for the passé composé unless the verb is reflexive or one of ~16 DR MRS VANDERTRAMP motion verbs, which take être and force agreement.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

The Bonjour Rule: French Etiquette for Visitors

Always say bonjour before you ask, order, or pay in France — the unspoken rule that opens every door. A respectful visitor's guide to French etiquette.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

Passé Composé vs Imparfait: When to Use Each

Passé composé tells the story; imparfait paints the scene. Use this 2-second flowchart, trigger words, and paired examples to pick the right French tense.

June 3, 2026 6 min read