World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English Dictionariesbon à rien
Pronunciation / Transliteration: bon a rjɛ̃
"Il est considéré comme un bon à rien par sa famille."
Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
A worthless, irresponsible person who is of no help or use to society or others.
"His grandfather dismissed him as a lazy good-for-nothing who refused to keep a job."
- 1
Lacking any useful quality, efficiency, or value; worthless.
"He threw away the good-for-nothing gadget after it broke down for the third time."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from the phrasal combination of the adjectives and nouns 'good', 'for', and 'nothing', appearing in English as a compound phrase during the late 16th century. It originally functioned descriptively to characterize someone or something lacking utility or worth, and eventually crystallized into a standard substantive noun and adjective.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Good-for-nothing"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Good-for-nothing" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
bon à rien
Transliteration: bon a rjɛ̃
"Il est considéré comme un bon à rien par sa famille."
Taugenichts
Transliteration: ˈtaʊ̯ɡəˌnɪçts
"Sein Vater nannte ihn oft einen faulen Taugenichts."
buono a nulla
Transliteration: ˈbwɔ.no a ˈnul.la
"Non fare il buono a nulla e aiutami in casa."
bueno para nada
Transliteration: ˈbwe.no ˈpa.ɾa ˈna.ða
"El jefe se cansó de ese empleado bueno para nada."
bom para nada
Transliteration: ˈbõ ˈpa.ɾa ˈna.dɐ
"Ele passa o dia todo sem fazer nada, um verdadeiro bom para nada."
निकम्मा
Transliteration: nikamma
"उसके पिता उसे एक निकम्मा आदमी समझते थे।"
废物
Transliteration: fèiwù
"他什么也不做，真是一个废物。"
쓸모없는 사람
Transliteration: sseulmo-eobsneun saram
"그는 집안에서 쓸모없는 사람으로 통한다."
ぐうたら
Transliteration: guutara
"彼は毎日家でごろごろしているぐうたら者だ。"
Related Vocabulary Words to Explore
View all French termsA visitor or attendee whose arrival was not anticipated or announced beforehand.
Causing strong emotional or ideological reactions because it relates to political issues, power dynamics, or government policies.
Deliverance from harm, ruin, or loss; the state of being saved.
Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "Good-for-nothing"
Discover exact matches, context-specific alternatives, and antonyms with intensity ratings in the VocabDictionary Thesaurus.
Enhance Your Writing & Grammar Precision
Linguistic Origins & Word Stories
View all stories →How Are Palisade Cells Adapted for Photosynthesis (and Why Are They Called 'Palisade')?
Palisade mesophyll cells are column-shaped, densely packed with chloroplasts, and positioned near the leaf's upper surface to maximize light absorption for photosynthesis. Their name comes from the French word for a defensive fence of wooden stakes, referencing their tightly aligned, upright cellular structure.
How Many Chapters Are in 'The Book Thief'?
Markus Zusak’s *The Book Thief* contains 80 main chapters divided across 10 main parts, framed by a Prologue and an Epilogue. Counting the sub-sections in the prologue and epilogue, the novel comprises 88 total titled sections.