ConnectWord · Ages 11-30 · In use
malaisant
Awkward, cringey, makes you uncomfortable. The Québec go-to word for a moment everyone wants to forget.
Le prof a lu mon texto devant la classe, c'était tellement malaisant. (The teacher read my text out loud, it was so awkward.)
For parents and educators
Harmless and very common. The Office québécois de la langue française says there is no reason to avoid it.
Where it came from
Built from 'malaise' (unease). Seen in Québec newspapers since the mid-2000s.
Also heard as
malaisante, full malaisant