Learning French: what is a péché mignon?
All you need to know about discussing guilty pleasures like a French native
It usually refers to an indulgence that is expensive, unhealthy or unnecessary
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When I first heard a French person use the term péché mignon, I was confused as to why the conversation had suddenly jumped to discussing a cute fisherman.
You can imagine my relief when I realised I had mixed up un pêcheur (a fisherman) with un péché (a sin).
I soon learned that this French phrase actually refers to the idea of giving into temptation or having a weakness for something indulgent.
We look at how to discuss guilty pleasures in everyday French and share more similar expressions to help you sound like a native speaker.
Read also: Funny translation mistakes in French to English: real-life stories
What does un péché mignon mean?
Un péché mignon literally translates as a cute sin.
It is a reference to a small luxury with a ‘bad’ reputation, that could be considered embarrassing, unhealthy, expensive or unnecessary.
Confessing to having a péché mignon is usually seen as a lighthearted joke rather than a serious flaw.
In English, we might refer to:
A guilty pleasure
A little weakness
A little indulgence
Similar phrases in French include:
Un petit plaisir - A little pleasure
Se faire plaisir - To treat yourself
Avoir un faible pour - To have a weakness for
Read also: Learning French: Cerise sur le gâteau and other baking expressions
When do you say un péché mignon?
This term can be used to refer to something you enjoy but are embarrassed to admit:
Si j'ai un péché mignon, c'est bien le chocolat. - If I have one weakness, it’s chocolate.
Son péché mignon est de collectionner les peluches, il leur consacre d'ailleurs une pièce entière. - His guilty pleasure is collecting stuffed toys, he has an entire room dedicated to them.
J'ai regardé trois fois la série Emily in Paris. C'est mon péché mignon. - I have watched Emily in Paris three times. It is my guilty pleasure.
Read also: Brigitte Macron to make a cameo in Netflix's Emily in Paris
To whom do you say péché mignon?
It is considered neutral language and can be said in front of friends, family, colleagues or strangers.
It appears in both spoken and written French in a range of formal and informal contexts.
Remember that some people prefer to keep their guilty pleasures to themselves and will not always want to discuss them with people they are not familiar with.
