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malheur

misfortune

noun mah-LUR Less Common

Also means

unhappiness, disaster

Usage Note

Malheur is the opposite of bonheur ('happiness'). The classic expression un malheur n'arrive jamais seul ('misfortunes never come alone') is the French equivalent of 'it never rains but it pours'. The adjective malheureux means unhappy or unfortunate.

Examples

"Quel malheur que cet accident soit arrivé."

Natural Translation

What a misfortune that this accident happened.

Literal Translation

What misfortune that this accident is arrived.

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