infortune
Malgré son infortune, il garda le sourire.
Despite his misfortune, he kept smiling.
Bad luck or an unfortunate event that causes suffering or hardship.
L'infortune frappa la famille entière après la perte de leur emploi.
Misfortune struck the entire family after they lost their jobs.
Often used in literary or formal contexts; less common in everyday speech.
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'fortune'
Remember that *infortune* is the opposite of *fortune* (luck/prosperity). The prefix *in-* negates the meaning, similar to 'un-' in English (e.g., *inutile* = useless).
Word Origin
From Old French *infortune* (12th century), derived from Latin *infortūna* ('misfortune'), from *in-* (negative prefix) + *fortūna* ('fortune').
Usage Notes
In modern French, *infortune* is rare and mostly appears in literary, historical, or formal texts. The more common equivalents are *malheur* or *adversité*.