French dictionary

pauvre/povʁ/

adjective / noun · A2 · Frequency 710

adjective

poor, financially deprived
Used to describe people or groups lacking financial resources.
lacking, scanty
Used to describe insufficient resources, qualities, or quantities.
poor, pitiable
Used to express sympathy or pity for someone or something.
poor; oh dear
Used before a noun in spoken French to express pity or emphasis.

Depuis qu'il a perdu son emploi, il est pauvre et dépend de l'aide de ses proches.
Since losing his job, he has been poor and depends on help from his relatives.
Ce sol pauvre convient mal aux cultures exigeantes.
This poor soil is ill-suited to demanding crops.
Le pauvre animal tremblait sous la pluie.
The poor animal was trembling in the rain.
Pauvre homme, il a encore oublié ses clés.
Poor man, he has forgotten his keys again.

un pauvre homme
un homme pauvre
When the adjective pauvre is placed before the noun, it usually means 'pitiful'; to mean 'poor' financially, it should be placed after the noun.
pauvre Jean!
pauvre Jean !
As an exclamation before a name, pauvre should be followed by a space and an exclamation mark.

poor person; pauper
Usually refers to a person who is economically poor; common in sociological and everyday contexts.
person deserving of pity; pitiable person
Used to express sympathy for someone's situation, carrying an emotional connotation.

Le pauvre dormait sous un abri près de la gare.
The poor man was sleeping in a shelter near the station.
Après l'accident, le pauvre avait besoin de quelqu'un pour l'accompagner.
After the accident, the pitiable man needed someone to accompany him.
Chaque semaine, une association distribue un repas chaud à chaque pauvre du quartier.
Every week, an association gives a hot meal to each poor person in the neighborhood.

un pauvre
un pauvre homme
When using “pauvre” alone as a noun, French often prefers the full expression like “un pauvre homme” to avoid ambiguity.
pauvre personne
une personne pauvre
When “pauvre” is an adjective, it should precede the noun, but to express “a pitiable person,” the phrase “une personne pauvre” is preferred over “pauvre personne.”

poor, financially deprived
Used to describe people or groups lacking financial resources.
lacking, scanty
Used to describe insufficient resources, qualities, or quantities.
poor, pitiable
Used to express sympathy or pity for someone or something.
poor; oh dear
Used before a noun in spoken French to express pity or emphasis.

De pauvres familles ont besoin d'un logement stable et abordable.
Poor families need stable and affordable housing.
Ces sols pauvres produisent peu de récoltes sans engrais.
These poor soils produce few crops without fertilizer.
Les pauvres chatons abandonnés tremblaient sous la pluie.
The poor abandoned kittens were shivering in the rain.
Pauvres voyageurs, ils ont raté leur train et ne savent plus où dormir.
Poor travelers, they missed their train and no longer know where to sleep.

poor person; pauper
Usually refers to a person who is economically poor; common in sociological and everyday contexts.
person deserving of pity; pitiable person
Used to express sympathy for someone's situation, carrying an emotional connotation.

Les pauvres du village ont reçu des paniers de nourriture.
The poor people in the village received food baskets.
Une association aide les pauvres à accéder aux soins.
An association helps poor people access medical care.
Je plains les pauvres qui ont perdu leur maison dans l'incendie.
I pity the poor people who lost their home in the fire.

poor person; pauper
Usually refers to a person who is economically poor; common in sociological and everyday contexts.
person deserving of pity; pitiable person
Used to express sympathy for someone's situation, carrying an emotional connotation.

Une pauvresse a trouvé refuge dans le village avant l'hiver.
A poor woman found shelter in the village before winter.
La pauvresse grelottait sous son manteau trop mince.
The pitiable woman was shivering in her coat, which was too thin.
Les habitants offrirent un repas chaud à la pauvresse.
The residents offered the poor woman a hot meal.