1. "Mean" as in "unfriendly" or "cruel":
* méchant: This is the most common translation for "mean" in this sense. It implies someone who is unkind, malicious, or enjoys causing harm.
* mauvais: This is a more general term for "bad" or "evil," but it can also be used to describe someone who is mean.
* cruel: This word is a direct translation of "cruel" and emphasizes the infliction of pain or suffering.
2. "Mean" as in "average":
* moyen: This is the most common translation for "mean" in the sense of an average value.
* moyenne: This is the feminine form of "moyen" and is used when referring to the average of a set of numbers.
3. "Mean" as in "intend" or "signify":
* vouloir dire: This means "to mean" in the sense of "to intend to convey a certain message."
* signifier: This means "to signify" and implies that something has a specific meaning or purpose.
4. "Mean" as in "low" or "small":
* petit: This means "small" and can be used to describe something that is of low value or quality.
* minable: This means "mean" in the sense of "unimportant" or "worthless."
To get the most accurate translation, it's important to consider the context of the sentence. For example, "The mean temperature was 20 degrees Celsius" would translate to "La température moyenne était de 20 degrés Celsius." However, "He was mean to his little brother" would translate to "Il était méchant avec son petit frère."