23 Comments
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adela bulic's avatar

This is most enlightning. I heard beauf in a Trump related context and didnt get it 😄

Marie | PhD French Teacher's avatar

Ah, what a great real-world example!

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Jul 9
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Marie | PhD French Teacher's avatar

Absolutely! Even just understanding a few words completely changes how you experience the culture and connect with locals. I'm so glad this was helpful!

maryse's avatar

When we moved to France from the US when I was 13, my father overheard us kids using these words and he was rather annoyed. My mother’s response was to point out that he had wanted us to learn French after all.

Marie | PhD French Teacher's avatar

Haha, your mother’s response is absolutely brilliant!

sierra echo charlie's avatar

So can I say.... ofur current president: C'est le gros beauf porc orange?

Marie | PhD French Teacher's avatar

Haha, well technically we have to change the structure a little because porc and beauf are both nouns. The perfect French phrasing would actually be: "C'est un gros beauf et un gros porc orange."

sierra echo charlie's avatar

Thanks! I can use that on my trip later this year!

lunanoire's avatar

Isn’t putain the mother of all insults?

Marie | PhD French Teacher's avatar

It is definitely the most famous! But it's actually not really an insult. It is more of an all-purpose swear word. We use it when we are surprised, frustrated, or just drop our keys, rather than to attack a specific person!

Jade Bowell's avatar

Loved this hahaha

Jay's avatar

Oooohhh - scandalous!

NorthernLight's avatar

Another great lesson. Merci. Not so much for French learners to use, but to know what’s said if we hear them. Although, there are times and people to use these words for. I know of a specific person who is all of these combined.

Marie | PhD French Teacher's avatar

Haha, your last sentence made me laugh! But yes, absolutely, knowing these words is all about building your listening comprehension and feeling safe in everyday situations. Merci for being here!

Lex de Penny's avatar

Nuance...

Il est con

He's an idiot

C'est un con

He is a (vulgar word used for female genitalia )

And be careful with the pronunciation. Get that "cul de poule" shape with your mouth, closed nice and tight. It's an insult to really spit out.

Lex de Penny's avatar

A thought.

I would say Il est con or Elle est con, invariable, but c'est un con/c'est une conne (which has come up recently, reading the news), with the agreement. Qu'en dirait l'Académie, à votre avis?

Flora78's avatar

Also very common, are "salopard" and "fumier" that have a connotation of people intentionally behaving in a very mean, disgusting and harmful way...

I would certainly use "salopard" to qualify someone like Epstein or Milker for example 🤔

Jeff Clemente's avatar

I guess one must be very careful when ordering duck in a Paris restaurant! 😊

Dedene Nelson's avatar

You forgot the multipurpose « putain ». 🤣

Castelmore's avatar

So, where are putain and merde?🤔

Ajs's avatar

Thank you so much for this. In British English I think we would describe a beauf as someone naff