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malin

clever

adjective mah-LAN Less Common

Also means

shrewd

Usage Note

Malin has two registers: in a neutral sense it means clever or smart, but it can carry a slightly cunning, sly connotation. The feminine form is maligne. C'est malin ! said sarcastically means 'That was clever (not)!' The adverb malignement and the noun la malignité are more formal and can also describe medical malignancy.

Examples

"Il est trop malin pour tomber dans ce piège."

Natural Translation

He is too clever to fall into that trap.

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