Sale is the most common way to say "dirty" in French. But just like in English, "dirty" can have many different meanings and connotations – from a dirty room to a dirty joke, or even a dirty secret. To express these nuances accurately and sound more like a native speaker, it's incredibly helpful to know the various French words that convey different shades of "dirty." Let's dive into 9 different ways to say "dirty" in French, so you can choose the perfect word for any situation!

The standard 'dirty' – sale

The standard “dirty” – sale

Sale is the most common and versatile word for “dirty” in French.

Unlike some adjectives, sale is invariable in its singular form regarding gender, meaning it's sale for both masculine and feminine singular nouns. However, it does agree in number:

• sale - dirty (singular, masculine or feminine)
• sales - dirty (plural, masculine or feminine)

Its primary use is to describe something physically unclean, soiled, or messy.

Beyond physical grime, sale can also describe something morally corrupt or unpleasant. Think of “dirty tricks” or a “dirty mind.”

It can also be used to express a strong negative feeling or disgust towards a person or situation, often implying something mean, nasty, or contemptible.

You'll often hear it in common expressions like “faire une sale gueule” (to look grumpy/unpleasant) or “un sale coup” (a dirty trick/blow).

Its broad applicability makes it the go-to adjective whenever you need to convey “dirty” in French, whether literally or figuratively.

💡 * Ma chemise est sale. (My shirt is dirty.)

• Ces mains sont sales. (These hands are dirty.)
• Il a fait un sale boulot. (He did a dirty job/a nasty piece of work.)
• C'est une sale histoire. (It's a dirty story/a nasty business.)
• Attention, le sol est sale! (Watch out, the floor is dirty!)

The 'filthy' or 'grimy' – crasseux/crasseuse

The “filthy” or “grimy” – crasseux/crasseuse

When you want to describe something or someone as truly filthy or grimy, the French adjective to reach for is crasseux (masculine singular) or crasseuse (feminine singular).

This word goes beyond simply "dirty" (sale); it implies a deep-seated, often neglected, or ingrained dirtiness, suggesting a significant lack of hygiene or care.

You can use it for inanimate objects, like a crasseux floor that hasn't been cleaned in ages, or a crasseuse old rag found in the attic.

It's also applied to people or animals, often implying extreme unkemptness. Using it to describe a person can be quite insulting, suggesting a state of squalor or poor personal hygiene.

While sale simply means "dirty," crasseux conveys a more intense, often repulsive level of filth that has accumulated over time.

The term derives from crasse, which directly translates to "grime" or "filth," reinforcing its strong, negative connotation.

💡 * Le sol de la cave était complètement crasseux. (The cellar floor was completely filthy.)

• Ce chien errant était si crasseux qu'on ne voyait plus la couleur de son pelage. (This stray dog was so grimy you couldn't see the color of its coat anymore.)
• Après avoir travaillé dans les égouts, il était crasseux de la tête aux pieds. (After working in the sewers, he was filthy from head to toe.)
• Elle a trouvé une vieille couverture crasseuse dans la poubelle. (She found an old filthy blanket in the trash.)
• Son appartement était tellement crasseux qu'on ne pouvait pas y entrer. (His apartment was so grimy that you couldn't enter it.)

The 'unclean' or 'untidy' – malpropre

The "unclean" or "untidy" – malpropre

In French, the adjective malpropre directly translates to "unclean" or "untidy."

It goes beyond simply being sale (dirty); malpropre often implies a lack of care, hygiene, or order, suggesting something habitually unkempt or even unsanitary.

Malpropre is invariable in its masculine and feminine forms, meaning it stays the same regardless of gender. Its plural form is malpropres.

You'll typically use malpropre to describe a person, a place, or an object that is consistently messy, unhygienic, or poorly maintained.

While sale describes a temporary state of dirtiness (e.g., "dirty hands"), malpropre often refers to a more ingrained characteristic or a general state of being unkempt or unsanitary.

💡 * Cet enfant est toujours malpropre après avoir joué dehors. (This child is always untidy after playing outside.)

• Sa chambre est devenue très malpropre. (His/Her room has become very untidy.)
• Il ne faut pas laisser des outils malpropres sur l'établi. (One should not leave unclean tools on the workbench.)
• Les conditions étaient si malpropres que le magasin a été fermé. (The conditions were so unsanitary that the store was closed.)

The 'sordid' or 'squalid' (often for places/situations) – sordide

The adjective sordide translates to 'sordid' or 'squalid' in English, describing something morally repulsive or physically filthy.

It is frequently used to describe places or situations that are dirty, run-down, or morally corrupt. Think of a 'squalid room' or a 'sordid affair'.

Sordide carries a strong negative connotation, suggesting not just dirtiness but often a sense of moral degradation, misery, or a lack of dignity. It implies something base or ignoble.

As an adjective, sordide is invariant in both masculine and feminine forms (e.g., un endroit sordide, une histoire sordide). For plural, only an 's' is added: sordides.

💡 * Il vit dans une chambre sordide. (He lives in a squalid room.)

• C'était une affaire sordide. (It was a sordid affair.)
• Les conditions de vie y étaient sordides. (The living conditions there were squalid.)
• Son passé est plein d'histoires sordides. (His past is full of sordid stories.)
• Le quartier était connu pour ses ruelles sordides. (The neighborhood was known for its squalid alleys.)

The 'soiled' or 'stained' – souillé/souillée

The French words souillé and souillée translate to 'soiled,' 'stained,' or 'defiled,' and are used as adjectives.

At its core, souillé/souillée refers to something physically dirty, stained, or made impure. This can apply to objects, clothes, or even places.

As an adjective, souillé must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Use souillé for masculine singular, souillée for feminine singular, souillés for masculine plural, and souillées for feminine plural.

Beyond literal dirt, souillé/souillée is often used metaphorically to describe something morally corrupted, dishonored, or spiritually defiled. It carries a stronger connotation than simply 'dirty.'

This term often appears in more formal, literary, or emotional contexts, implying a significant loss of purity, integrity, or honor. It suggests a deeper impact than common words like sale (dirty).

Choose souillé/souillée when you want to emphasize a deep stain, a loss of purity, or a defilement, whether physical or moral, rather than just superficial dirt.

💡 * La chemise était souillée de boue. (The shirt was stained with mud.)

• Son honneur a été souillé par ces accusations. (His honor was sullied by these accusations.)
• Les eaux du lac sont souillées par la pollution. (The lake waters are polluted/defiled by pollution.)
• Il se sentait souillé par l'injustice. (He felt defiled by the injustice.)
• Une conscience souillée ne trouve pas la paix. (A defiled conscience does not find peace.)

The 'foul' or 'disgusting' – immonde

The French adjective immonde translates directly to “foul,” “disgusting,” “filthy,” or “unclean.” It describes something that is profoundly offensive to the senses or to moral standards.

While it can refer to something physically dirty or repulsive (like an immonde odeur – a foul smell), immonde is often used to describe things that are morally reprehensible, despicable, or ethically repugnant. Think of an immonde crime or an immonde injustice.

Immonde carries a stronger, more formal, and often more dramatic connotation than common slang like dégueulasse (gross/disgusting). It implies a deeper level of revulsion, often bordering on the abominable or monstrous, rather than just everyday unpleasantness.

You’ll typically hear immonde in contexts where a strong, definitive condemnation is intended. It’s less common in casual conversation for minor annoyances and more reserved for truly shocking or deeply offensive situations, whether physical or abstract.

In summary, immonde is a powerful word to express extreme disgust or moral outrage. Use it when something is truly beyond the pale, whether it’s a horrific sight, an unbearable smell, or an act of profound wickedness.

💡 * Cette odeur est absolument immonde. (This smell is absolutely foul.)

• Il a commis un acte immonde. (He committed a despicable act.)
• Leur comportement était immonde et inacceptable. (Their behavior was disgusting and unacceptable.)
• J'ai vu des choses immondes pendant la guerre. (I saw abominable things during the war.)

The 'piggy' or 'messy' (informal, often for kids) – cochon/cochonne

The terms cochon (masculine) and cochonne (feminine) are informal ways to describe someone who is messy, like a 'piggy.' While cochon literally means 'pig,' its adjectival form often refers to untidiness, especially when talking about children.

This word is frequently used in a playful or slightly scolding manner towards kids who are being untidy, for example, making a mess while eating or playing. It implies a lack of cleanliness rather than malice.

As an adjective, cochon (m.) and cochonne (f.) must agree in gender with the person or thing they describe. It can also be used as an informal noun to call someone a 'pig' or 'messy person,' like quel cochon ! (what a pig!).

💡 *Ne sois pas cochon ! Mange proprement. (Don't be a piggy! Eat cleanly.)
*Sa chambre est toujours cochonne. (His/Her room is always messy.)
*Quel cochon ! Il a mis de la boue partout. (What a pig! He put mud everywhere.)
*Elle est un peu cochonne avec la nourriture. (She's a bit messy with food.)

The 'fouled' or 'clogged with grime' (for objects/mechanisms) – encrassé/encrassée

The 'fouled' or 'clogged with grime' (for objects/mechanisms) – encrassé/encrassée

Encrassé/encrassée is an adjective used to describe an object, mechanism, or surface that is heavily soiled, fouled, or clogged with dirt, grime, or residue.

This term specifically refers to the accumulation of crasses (grime, dirt, or gunk) that hinders proper functioning or makes something dirty, rather than general messiness. Think of a car engine or a pipe.

As an adjective, it agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies. For example, un moteur encrassé (a fouled engine) or une cheminée encrassée (a clogged chimney).

💡 * Le filtre à air est complètement encrassé. (The air filter is completely clogged with grime.)

• Nous devons nettoyer la hotte encrassée. (We need to clean the grimy range hood.)
• La machine à laver est encrassée par le calcaire. (The washing machine is fouled by limescale.)
• Ces tuyaux encrassés nécessitent un bon décrassage. (These clogged pipes need a good cleaning.)

The 'muddy' – boueux/boueuse

The French word for 'muddy' is an adjective that changes form depending on the gender of the noun it describes: boueux for masculine nouns and boueuse for feminine nouns.

Like many French adjectives, boueux/boueuse must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. For example, you would say un chemin boueux (a muddy path – masculine singular) but une route boueuse (a muddy road – feminine singular).

This adjective is frequently used to describe surfaces, objects, or conditions affected by mud. You'll hear it for terrains (grounds), chaussures (shoes), chemins (paths), or even eaux (waters) after heavy rain or in wet environments.

The adjective boueux/boueuse is derived from the noun la boue, which means 'the mud'. Understanding this connection helps in remembering the word and its usage.

💡 *La route est très boueuse après la pluie. (The road is very muddy after the rain.)
*Mes bottes sont boueuses. (My boots are muddy.)
*Le chemin de campagne était boueux. (The country path was muddy.)
*Les champs sont boueux en hiver. (The fields are muddy in winter.)
*Il a des chaussures boueuses. (He has muddy shoes.)

Are there other ways to say 'dirty' in French?

Are there other ways to say “dirty” in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say “dirty” in French. But the French language, like any other, is rich with nuances, including old-fashioned terms, regional expressions, and evolving slang that even this author might not be fully aware of!

To explore further, you can always do an online search for “comment dire sale en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region to discover local variations.

You might uncover some fascinating synonyms for sale or related concepts on your linguistic journey. As always, make sure to check a word’s precise definition and observe its usage in context before incorporating it into your vocabulary.

Keep your ears and eyes open as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you’ll undoubtedly stumble upon different, perhaps more colorful, ways to describe something as dirty.

And if you’re looking for a comprehensive overview of terms related to 'dirty' or 'cleanliness' in French, the WordReference entry for sale is an excellent starting point!

I hope this article has helped you navigate the nuances of describing 'dirty' in French. Remember, mastering these nuances is part of the fun of learning a new language. As the French saying goes, 'Petit à petit, l'oiseau fait son nid' (Little by little, the bird builds its nest) – every new word brings you closer to fluency!