General sense of evil:
* Le mal: This is the most common and general term for evil. It can refer to both physical and moral evil.
* Le mal (masculine singular) and les maux (masculine plural) can also mean "evil" in the sense of harm, suffering, or illness.
More specific meanings:
* Le mal (masculine singular) is also used for "evil" as a force, like in "the devil."
* Le démon: This means "demon" and can refer to a supernatural evil entity.
* La méchanceté: This means "wickedness" or "cruelty" and refers to intentional harm.
* La perversité: This means "perversity" and refers to evil intentions or actions.
* La corruption: This means "corruption" and refers to moral decay or dishonesty.
* L'obscurité: This means "darkness" and can be used figuratively to represent evil.
Examples:
* Le mal a gagné: "Evil has won."
* Elle est pleine de méchanceté: "She is full of wickedness."
* Il a commis un acte de perversité: "He committed an act of perversity."
The best way to choose the right word for "evil" depends on the specific situation and the type of evil you want to express.