malade/ma.lad/
adjective / noun · A2 · Frequency 658
adjective
Meanings
ill, unwell, sick
Commonly used to describe physical health status, suitable for both formal and informal contexts.
crazy; nuts (colloq)
informal; describes abnormal mental state or odd behavior.
Examples
Mon frère est malade depuis hier.
My brother has been ill since yesterday.
Le patient se sent malade après le repas.
The patient feels unwell after the meal.
Tu es malade de vouloir conduire sans dormir.
You're crazy to want to drive without sleeping.
Collocations
- être maladeto be ill
Common mistakes
J'ai malade depuis hier.
Je suis malade depuis hier.
For the meaning “ill or unwell,” malade is an adjective and normally combines with être, not avoir.
Related words
nouncommon
Meanings
an ill or sick person; a patient
Refers to a person who is ill or sick; can also mean a patient in a hospital.
someone who is crazy; a nutcase; an extreme enthusiast
Informal usage; can mean a mentally ill person or someone extremely enthusiastic about something.
Examples
Le malade attend les résultats de ses analyses dans la salle d'attente.
The patient is waiting for the results of his tests in the waiting room.
L'infirmière explique calmement au malade comment prendre son traitement.
The nurse calmly explains to the patient how to take his medication.
Il faut être un vrai malade du vélo pour sortir sous cette pluie.
You have to be a real cycling fanatic to go out in weather like this.
Collocations
- un malade hospitaliséa hospitalized patient
- un malade de la musiquea music fanatic
Common mistakes
un malade est toujours heureux
un malade est toujours fatigué
malade means a sick person, usually not always happy; this is a common misuse.
Il est malade pour le football
Il est malade de football
To express extreme enthusiasm, French uses “malade de + noun” not “pour”.
Related words
synonympatientpatient, outpatient
adjective
Meanings
ill, unwell, sick
Commonly used to describe physical health status, suitable for both formal and informal contexts.
crazy; nuts (colloq)
informal; describes abnormal mental state or odd behavior.
Examples
Les enfants malades resteront à la maison demain.
The sick children will stay at home tomorrow.
Après le repas, plusieurs voyageurs se sont sentis malades.
After the meal, several travelers felt ill.
Pour accepter un plan aussi dangereux, ils sont vraiment malades.
They must be crazy to accept such a dangerous plan.
nouncommon
Meanings
an ill or sick person; a patient
Refers to a person who is ill or sick; can also mean a patient in a hospital.
someone who is crazy; a nutcase; an extreme enthusiast
Informal usage; can mean a mentally ill person or someone extremely enthusiastic about something.
Examples
Les malades attendent leur consultation dans le couloir.
The patients are waiting for their appointments in the corridor.
Les infirmières vérifient régulièrement l'état des malades.
The nurses regularly check the patients' condition.
Les malades du bricolage passent leurs week-ends à construire des meubles.
The DIY fanatics spend their weekends building furniture.
adjective
Meanings
ill, unwell, sick
Commonly used to describe physical health status, suitable for both formal and informal contexts.
crazy; nuts (colloq)
informal; describes abnormal mental state or odd behavior.
Examples
Mon frère est malade depuis hier.
My brother has been ill since yesterday.
Le patient se sent malade après le repas.
The patient feels unwell after the meal.
Tu es malade de vouloir conduire sans dormir.
You're crazy to want to drive without sleeping.
Collocations
- être maladeto be ill
Common mistakes
J'ai malade depuis hier.
Je suis malade depuis hier.
For the meaning “ill or unwell,” malade is an adjective and normally combines with être, not avoir.