Mince vs. maigre vs. maigrichon vs. svelte
The French language has a rich vocabulary for describing the nuances of slimness and thinness. Words such as 'mince', 'maigre', 'maigrichon' and 'svelte' each convey unique shades of meaning, allowing speakers to express precise observations and judgements about body shape and size.
Mince
'Mince' refers to someone who is slender in a graceful or attractive way, often implying a healthy thinness.
Elle est assez mince pour entrer dans cette robe étroite.
(She is slim enough to fit into this narrow dress.)
Maigre
'Maigre' denotes a degree of thinness that implies leanness or lack of fat, often with a connotation of being too thin or underweight, possibly related to poor diet or health.
Après la maladie, il est devenu vraiment maigre.
(After the illness, he became really skinny.)
Maigrichon
'Maigrichon' is an affectionate or diminutive term for someone who is skinny, often used for children or in a less serious context. It implies being slightly but noticeably underweight.
Le jeune garçon maigrichon se tenait à côté de ses frères plus robustes.
(The skinny young boy stood next to his more robust brothers.)
Svelte
'Svelte' describes someone who is slender in an elegant and graceful way, often implying both leanness and toned musculature. It has a positive connotation.
Avec sa silhouette svelte, elle était remarquée partout où elle allait.
(With her svelte figure, she was noticed everywhere she went.)
Summary
'Mince', 'maigre', 'maigrichon', and 'svelte' are French adjectives that all suggest some form of slimness but differ in their connotations and nuances. 'Mince' is generally positive, referring to an attractive slenderness. 'Maigre' indicates a more extreme thinness that may not be healthy. 'Maigrichon' is a softer word, often used for children or in less serious contexts, and conveys a slight underweight. 'Svelte', like 'mince', is positive but emphasizes elegance and grace as well as slenderness.