French Idiom · Intermediate
mal de chien
great pain
Pronunciation: /mal də ʃjɛ̃/
Meaning
A word or expression meaning "great pain".
Example
Cette entorse me fait un mal de chien, j'espère que ça va passer.
This sprain hurts like hell; I hope it gets better.
Practice tips
- Practice mal de chien out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this French idiom is for intermediate-level learners.