French · Emotions & Descriptions
"Thin" in French: mince
mince
Note: very thin: maigre
Thin in French is often mince for people or objects: il est mince, une ceinture mince. Maigre can mean thin/skinny and may sound harsh about bodies. Fine / fin also covers thin slices.
Clothes
Ce pull est trop mince pour l'hiver.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce mince
Say it
MANSS
/mɛ̃s/
Mince: MANSS (nasal in). Soft s at the end.
"Thin" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| mince | thin / slim People and objects. | People and objects. |
| plus mince | thinner Comparisons. | Comparisons. |
| maigre | skinny / lean Can sound critical for people. | Can sound critical for people. |
| fin / fine | thin / fine Slices, paper, features. | Slices, paper, features. |
How to use mince in real life
- 1Clothes
Ce pull est trop mince pour l'hiver.
This sweater is too thin for winter.
Mince for fabric.
- 2Describing someone
Depuis le sport, il est plus mince.
Since working out, he's thinner.
Plus mince.
- 3Cooking
Coupe le concombre en tranches minces.
Cut the cucumber into thin slices.
Tranches minces.
Mistakes English speakers make with mince
Incorrect: Elle est thin.
Correct: Elle est mince.
Use mince, not English thin.
Incorrect: Une mincee couche.
Correct: Une mince couche.
Mince already works for feminine; no extra e spelling like that.
Good to know
Mince ! as an interjection means "darn" — same spelling, different use. For bodies, many speakers prefer élancé or simply avoid comments. Maigre is fine for lean meat (viande maigre).
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing a jacket
ChatPal
Ce manteau n'est pas trop mince ?
Isn't this coat too thin?
You
Si, il est un peu mince pour janvier.
Yeah, it's a bit thin for January.
ChatPal
Prends celui avec la doublure.
Take the one with the lining.
You
Bonne idée.
Good idea.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Thin" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Thin" in French
How do you say thin in French?
Often mince; also fin/fine for slices.
Mince vs maigre?
Mince is neutral slim/thin; maigre can sound skinny or mean lean (food).
What does Mince ! mean?
An interjection like "darn."
How do you pronounce mince?
MANSS.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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