French swear words with meaning Jan 15, 2024 · Fudge!→ “F” word; Let’s explore some French minced oaths used by adults and children that replace “Putain” and “Merde,” two of France’s most commonly used swear words. The combinations are endless; some people in both Quebec and francophone communities in other provinces consider mixing and matching swear words to be a Jul 28, 2024 · Is the F word a French word? The F word is not of French origin. Reply reply More replies More replies Aug 29, 2022 · The French swear words listed here are divided into two levels. "Con" litteraly mean "Cunt", but carries a lot less insult on french. Notice “foutre” can be reflexive “se foutre” – and please forgive the vulgar expressions but all these are very common, and you will come across them in movies etc… Jan 29, 2024 · This guide to French cursing is split into two sections: French curse words, and French curse phrases. 2. This is basically the counterpart of the English . Tabarnak. Nov 18, 2014 · French Canadians used to be a fiercely Catholic bunch. Fair enough, but I was referring more to objects used to celebrate mass as swear words: calice, tabernacle, ciboire (the actual words deformed into câlisse, tabarnak, etc). This word refers to a hard-headed person or a stubborn person. Let’s look at some French curse words used daily. Connard/connasse/con (asshole) Popular French Curse Words. Con is a lot more comomyl used, and can be quite a friendly insult. The full expression is “Tu parles français comme une vache espagnole,” which means you speak French like a Spanish cow. While these swear words may be considered taboo in polite conversation, they are an integral part of French language and culture, embodying the passion, intensity, and vivacity of the French people. “Putain,” similar to “damn,” and “connard,” meaning “idiot” or “jerk,” are also frequently used in informal settings. This word translates to ‘the end of the penis. Its usage in Quebec is quite different from its original meaning. In the following lines, you’ll find a list of curse words British people tend to use. Today's lesson examines the fun and super useful French swear word bordel. Just don't be surprised if you get a few raised eyebrows in return. Couillon. It’s used for someone who doesn’t speak French well; such as someone with a trying-too-hard to-be-authentic French accent perhaps. ’ Note, these are insults specifically aimed at an antagonist, If you are looking for more general swear words (as is “Putain, I dropped a hammer on my foot”), check out my post on the best French swear words here. Aug 16, 2024 · Sacréfice is another religiously inspired swear word that confuses native French speakers. You don’t usually say them to insult someone but when you face an unexpected (and unwanted) situation. It’s generally a very vulgar word meaning ‘” asshole” or a part of the female anatomy, but can also mean “jerk” or “idiot. May 7, 2025 · Standard French equivalent: Fait chier, Putain de merde (More!) Catholic Quebec Curse Words. Many Quebecers won’t condone the use of this next swear word. A person will Mar 6, 2025 · 1. Category:French swear words: French terms that are used to swear, such as to express strong anger or frustration. While it's true that French curse words can be quite graphic and intense, they can also be funny and inventive – which might explain why they're so popular in French media. “Mosus” (or “mausus”) is a variation (pretty far-fetched) of “maudit,” meaning cursed, and it’s not that obvious to anyone, even the French, that it implies somebody’s in a bad mood. The combinations are endless; some people in both Quebec and francophone communities in other provinces consider mixing and matching swear words to be a Then “Merde !” and “Putain !” are the most common French curse words. Of course, Christ (crisse) and maudit are also used, just like in English. Things have changed, but the swear words they use are just riddled with deformed Church lingo. "Calisse", "Ostie", etc. As for Canadian French swear words, you will notice that they mainly refer to Christian rites or objects. Jan 23, 2025 · French History of swearing. Oct 13, 2023 · “Tabarnak” (or its variants) is a Quebecois French swear word. Level 1 French curse words: Swear words that are somewhat acceptable for use around selected people. The most common names for curses are godlessness, blasphemy, disrespect. Nov 10, 2017 · An old French favourite, merde has a secondary meaning that you may not know about, dating back to the 19th century. Most people think it’s fit putin, but I think that’s a misunderstanding. List of French curse words: Single-word curse words in French: The French, not unlike their English-speaking friends, use quite a lot of swear words. Many believe that the names of curse words in various languages can help find the answer to this question. Note that both words convey stronger meaning than imbécile, another swear word that means idiot. One particular French swear word that is often used is «tabarnak». Some of it can be pretty offensive. My favorite french swear words are: merde, putain, connard, et des conneries. Blaireau Feb 26, 2025 · The word beauf – a great example of an untranslatable French word – has two distinct meanings. See full list on languatalk. ” “Va te faire foutre” in this sense means “go and get f*cked. Meaning: Refers to the tabernacle (the sacred box in churches). While it’s incredibly common in spoken French, it’s still a swear word and sometimes can be used to make other insults even more harsh. Is zut a bad word? "Zut" means "darn" or "heck" in French. Mar 1, 2020 · 1. With audio recorded by a native French speaker. You can, however, use these jokingly among your good friends. British Swear Words. French Swear Words: Ranked Strongest to Weakest (X-Rated) "Bleu" in swear words stands for "Dieu" (God). French swear words don't denote only anger or frustration, but are used to express a whole range of expressions, from surprise to sadness, excitement or even pure joy. Examples: ️ Il a marché dans une merde de chien. In French, profanities serve as colorful expressions of emotion, reflecting the complexity of human interaction and the nuances of everyday life. Which one is your favorite? Share with us in the comments! If you want to learn more offensive words, why not check out this list of French curse words? This article will tell you how to swear in French. Or those who govern the general populace. It can be challenging for non-native speakers, but here are some tips that can help you understand this aspect of French swear words: The nuances of French swear words Context is key; The appropriateness of swear words depends heavily on the context. Quebecers from a long time ago were really pissed off with the church and decided to turn religious words into swear words hahaha In Québec French, swear words can be combined into more powerful combinations to express extreme anger or disgust. ” It’s often used as an exclamation of frustration, similar to yelling “dammit!” in English. Indeed, as we mentioned above, the word is composed of the root of “pute” and the suffix “ain” which means “qui est de” (=which is of) or “qui est relatif à” (=which is relative to). While the word's primary meaning would be 'hooker', putain is, to some French people, more of a punctuation sign than a swear word. « Putain » = a dated word to say "whore", maybe something like "harlot", but way more vulgar; through the years, it has simply become french people’s favourite curse word: we use it all the time, at any given opportunity, sometimes like a punctuation, a bit like you english-speaking people may use "fuck" « Bordel » = "brothel" Jun 5, 2023 · Its real meaning is enough to make newbie French language learners cry and go home. ” Other words like “sacrebleu” and “hostie” are also employed as swear words in French. ” What’s also interesting is that the action of swearing or using slang curse words in Quebec is literally labelled se consacrer “to consecrate”, and some of the words used by French speakers to swear include religious phrases (e. In English, the French swear word can be translated as “shit” or “crap” or “fuck” depending on the situation. Besides, be careful, it's "exemple" not "example" in french. Like it or not, bad or swear words are an important part of every day conversation and so with that in mind, I want to share with you my ten favorite French swear words and phrases. But as a newcomer from France in Montreal, I thought that my québécois cousins with whom I share the language of Molière would swear just like me. Example: Salaud, tu n’avais qu’a le casser- Bastard, you just had to break it. Tete Dur. It may also be linked to an Old French word with a similar meaning. Sacréfice: This word, meaning "sacrifice," is used to express anger or frustration. Fermer ta gueule In Québec French, swear words can be combined into more powerful combinations to express extreme anger or disgust. [2] These intricate uses of French profanities can be difficult to master. Feb 28, 2017 · It’s very common. Zob / Pine / Queue / Bite / Nœud. “Merde” is like the English “sh*t” and is very common in France. Nov 11, 2013 · Quebec swear words, or in French sacres, are pretty much just words that go against the establishment; adjectives, verbs, and nouns deemed inappropriate by the general population. Although British English is quite sophisticated, sometimes even they can’t resist saying bloody hell or rubbish. Rooted in Catholic ritual, they’re creatively twisted into all-purpose swear words. ” 27. Some French TV shows will bleep out curse words, but this is due to the influence of American television; essentially, it’s to look “cool” (with the exception, occasionally, of shows that are intended for families to watch together). In fact many old swear words had a religious meaning like "jarnidieu" (meaning you don't believe in God anymore. For each, I’ll tell you the meaning and give a vulgarity rating. Why should I learn French swear words? Ans: While it’s not advisable to use swear words excessively, understanding them can help you comprehend French culture and media better. are not really used in Europe. The word is derived from “tabernacle,” which in the Catholic faith is the sacred vessel that contains the consecrated host, representing the body of Christ. Then, as now, the primary meaning of merde was a rude word for faecal matter Apr 14, 2020 · Curse words in France aren’t as taboo as they are in many other places. Sep 1, 2021 · 17 French Swear Expressions With the French Verb Foutre Here are a few uses of the verb “foutre”. I’ve seen “putain” translated as “f*ck” in French movies and TV shows a lot. And then there’s ‘Ca cest la merde’ or ‘That’s some shit’. While French swear words are almost always related to sex or sexual behaviours. One is an affectionate abbreviation of beau-frère meaning your brother-in-law, whilst the other is a French slang term that describes a vulgar or unsophisticated person. What is the most common French swear word? Ans: “Merde” is probably the most widely used and versatile swear word in French, similar to “shit” in English. Researchers cannot give an exact answer to the question of where swearing came from. Learn more words like these with your copy of Colloquial French. It’s like the Swiss Army knife of Quebecois curse words – fitting for any situation. We start our list with the most common Cajun French curse word, Tete Dur. com Mar 14, 2025 · Traditional French equivalents: crétin, trou du cul, trou de balle, gogol / mongol (historically used, but not anymore!) 3. ” However, if you say: “C’est con…” It means: “It’s dumb” and it’s generally Aug 4, 2023 · Tabernak: Let’s start with the most famous and versatile Quebecois swear word – “tabernak. Bell/Bellend. Jun 20, 2022 · French terms whose tone (rather than the meaning) is offensive to polite company. Jun 14, 2022 · However, the word is much more commonly used as a swear word. The use of “shit” is then a metaphorical way to designate something pejorative, bad, and/or uninteresting. It’s the king of Quebecois May 20, 2025 · The Most Common Slang in French: "Merde" and "Putain" Among the milder and yet more popular French swear words, "merde" (literally meaning "shit") and "putain" (originally meaning "whore") are ubiquitous. French English Equivalent Literal Meaning Vulgarity Level; Je m’en fiche. Gros colon. This lesson provides audio pronunciation and example sentences. But overall, censorship is rarer. Jun 20, 2022 · In French, there is only one way to write the swear word: “putain”. Putain. You can get punched in the face for calling someone a cunt in english, and it is a word you would not use in a lot of situation. In essence, it’s a profanity that derives its power from its connection to the Catholic Church. ” 26. The meaning and severity of each swear word varies by tone of voice and context The ones i remember (please excuse my improper spelling): este, collis, tabernac and sacre mere All of them were explained to me in terms of the literal meaning (tabernac is a church, collis is a chalice for example), but context and tone is the part that Jul 29, 2023 · Interestingly, the use of religious words as curses is not limited to “tabarnak. ” Derived from the word “tabernacle,” it’s often used to express anger, frustration, or disbelief. Câlisse: Another gem in the Quebecois swearing Like their English versions, these French swear words are used to call someone a scumbag or jerk. This. I’ve heard a lot of French swear words in movies and television as well. For those interested in French profanity, it is important to understand the nuances and meanings behind these words. Profanity is a common aspect of language that can vary greatly from one culture to another. It’s from the Latin word “putidus,” meaning “rotten” or Jul 23, 2014 · Regarding french curse words, there’s the inimitable ‘fils putin’. These are the uniquely Quebecois gems—the infamous sacres. That said, while the French rarely censor swear words, they are Mar 9, 2023 · Common French Curse Words: A Rundown Colorful Words and Phrases. Caliss, esti, tabarnak, sacrament, criss, etc 80% of our swear words come from catholicism. I don’t give a sh_t mild; Je m’en fous: I don’t give a f_ck medium; Va te faire foutre Jan 31, 2024 · Below are some of the Cajun French curse words and their English meanings: 1. May 9, 2022 · Discover 25 French insults and their meaning. Knowing French curse words can open your eyes to the essential meanings of French dialogues. A good starting point is to understand some of the common ones: Merde: This is a versatile word that can mean “shit,” but it’s used much like “crap” or even “darn. Jun 5, 2023 · Twenty-two French insults that you should think many times first before using. Quebecois swear words are far more oriented around religion than metropolitan French swear words, which (as in much English) usually revolve around sex (and other bodily functions). “Hostie,” on the other hand, is derived from Jan 17, 2025 · Bordel - French swear word meaning sh*t!, dammit!, mess, pigsty, brothel. I was so wrong. 12. Basically, you can use those words to express your feelings for any situation. I’m sure it’s similar to the way Americans use our slang and swear words. tabarnak which literally means tabernacle is basically equivalent to the ‘F’ word in English). In Quebec French, gros colon doesn’t refer to a protruding internal organ (spelled côlon), but rather a settler or French curse words to use with people you know. Dec 27, 2022 · For some reason, curse words are often the first ones people learn in a foreign language. Salaud/ salope - Bastard/ bitch The phrase sacrebleu is an outdated French expression meaning Aug 7, 2012 · I’ve been studying French for more than twenty years, but the one thing that none of my teachers ever shared were great French swear words. This expression is a toned-down version of the insult “sacredieu”, which literally means to alter/desecrate God, and was therefore considered for many years as They are understood in France, but essentially as a Quebecois phenomenon. Its exact etymology is uncertain but is believed to come from Germanic languages, related to words meaning striking, rubbing, or having sex. In Cajun, if someone is dumb or stupid, he is cursed as couillion. Jun 13, 2024 · It is also essential to understand the Nuances of French swearing. I’ll also give examples as well as provide some background and the literal meanings. An English equivalent might be “a hick”, “a rube” or a “yokel”. So if you're ever feeling frustré, learn French swear words to let off some steam. May 14, 2022 · According to the Larousse definition (important French dictionary), sacrebleu is a French swear word used to indicate impatience, astonishment or anger, depending on the situation. But some Canadian French words and expressions are local specialties. Merde means Shit; Putain is a French cuss word that’s been around since the 11th century. It's a versatile word akin to the F-word, and you can pepper it onto any negative winter situation you may encounter in La Belle Province. The differences between French from France and French from Canada are mainly in pronunciation. g. ” It’s one of the most commonly heard expletives in French. “Sacrebleu” is a contraction of “sacré Dieu” (sacred God) and is used to express surprise or exasperation. Insulting Words Con/conne/connard! This word can have a variety of meanings and intent, depending on context. Nov 18, 2020 · Upload credit : Pavel Biryukov | Dreamstime Ciboire Why You Need To Use It: This word is directly translated to mean ciborium, a container for the Catholic Church's host. Apr 14, 2021 · In my book, another great illustration of those French swear words is the old sketch from the humoristic group “Les Inconnus”. Fout tonè! Translation : Fucking shit! Meaning : The words “fout” and “tonè” together form a swear word, but I can not personally explain what that means. Putain is the Swiss Army knife of French swear words, meaning “damn” or “fuck. Dec 23, 2021 · The vulgar French word for “sperm” or “cum,” “foutre” is also used as a verb which means “f*ck. The Ultimate Guide: Discovering the French Word for Profanity. 1. They are using the three most common swear words as an interjection: “Merde, Putain, Fait chier”. Picture someone cutting in line and you mutter, "Sacréfice!" The Unique Flavor of Quebecois Swear Words May 26, 2016 · The word “fuck,” for the record, is fairly common in Québec, but isn’t really a swear; it’s a mutated form of an English, but it’s only barely rude, meaning “broken” or “messed up. To fully understand the meaning of the insult, one must imagine a stray dog, all dirty and full of diseases. Any other spelling is therefore to be avoided. Merde (Maird) This Meaning : In Haiti, dogs do not have a good reputation. May 22, 2025 · French curse words often carry more weight and intensity when spoken out loud. So, now let’s take a look at some frequently used French curse words to use with people you know. Aug 29, 2022 · Level 1 French curse words: Swear words that are somewhat acceptable for use around selected people. These are just some of the French swear words that equal with the English “d*ck” or “penis. dhuvf rbus gutie isd bklh yannc ziack yuewmrdp klh wsrw