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Boys vs girls: how to say "not bad" in French

Hugo asks Léa to taste his crêpe and be honest. She grades it before the first bite, and then Hugo makes an honest confession of his own.

In French, with English subtitles.

35-second video.

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In English, with a phrase in French.

36-second video.

Watch on YouTube

The French phrase

Pas mal.

Not bad. / Pretty good.

Word for word, it means "not bad". People often use it as real praise, like "pretty good".

Every line in French with English

Hugo: Goûte ma crêpe, sois honnête !

In English: Taste my crêpe, be honest!

Léa: Pas mal. Je juge sans goûter.

In English: Not bad. I judge without tasting.

Hugo: Donc… une note avant de goûter ?

In English: So... a grade before tasting?

Léa: Pas mal. Tu as vraiment du talent, finalement.

In English: Not bad. You've really got talent after all.

Hugo: Merci. Je l'ai prise à la crêperie en bas.

In English: Thanks. I got it at the crêpe place downstairs.

In English, with a phrase in French.

Hugo: Taste my crêpe. Be honest!

Léa: Pas mal. I'm judging without tasting.

Hugo: So... a grade before tasting?

Léa: Pas mal. You have talent after all.

Hugo: Thanks. I bought it at the crêpe place downstairs.

Quick quiz

Choose a or b, then open the answer to see if you were right.

  1. What does it mean? Pas mal.

    1. Not bad / pretty good
    2. Not now
    Show the answer

    Answer: a) Not bad / pretty good Pas = not, mal = bad. It often means pretty good.

Hugo and Léa are animated characters made with AI.

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