Yes, you must even learn these when you are in France. Nothing’s more embarrassing than repeating something you’ve often heard in French, thinking it’s no more than a harmless interjection…. only to learn (regretfully late) that you’re turning the air blue with vulgarities.
I once knew an American lawyer who said she repeatedly used “je m’en fous” in client meetings for years, thinking she was saying: “I don’t care.” Somehow, no one told her until much later that she was saying: “I don’t give a f***.”
Oops.
French swear words are called “gros mots” – big words – and they’re sometimes a tricky thing to master. Sometimes these words are perfectly acceptable. But when said in a certain way or context, they are extremely harsh, disrespectful and rude.
Before throwing out any gros mots, foreigners should be sure of what they’re saying and how it’ll come across. When swearing in another language, it can be difficult to judge the intensity of your words or how they’ll be taken. So use with caution, if at all.
Exclamations
These are the ones that are said in times of frustration or anger. Not for use in any kind of professional or formal setting.
- Putain! This literally means whore but is the equivalent of “f***!” in English. It’s one of the most common swear words in French and can even act as a filler word like “damn” or “bloody.”
Cultural note: Be careful—while friends might use it casually, it’s considered vulgar in front of elders or strangers. - Merde! Translates as “shit!” It’s probably the most commonly used curse word in French. Interestingly, French theatre actors say merde before a performance—similar to “break a leg” in English.
- Mince! Roughly the equivalent of “damn!” It’s milder than the two exclamations above, but still be cautious using it in polite company.
- Zut! Means “darn!” or “heck!” – This is not a gros mot and is acceptable in general society, especially around kids.
- Punaise! This literally means “bed bug.” It’s an acceptable, family-friendly way to avoid saying putain.
- Bordel! Literally “brothel,” but often used like “damn it!” or “what a mess!” (e.g., Quel bordel! – “What a mess!”).
Insulting Words
- Con/conne/connard! This word can have a variety of meanings and intent, depending on context. It’s generally a very vulgar word meaning “asshole” or part of the female anatomy, but can also mean “jerk” or “idiot.” However, if you say: “C’est con…” it means: “It’s dumb” and it’s generally acceptable.
Note: While younger French people use this casually, foreigners should avoid it in case it comes across harsher than intended. - Salope! This translates as “bitch” with the same vulgarity level.
- Trou du cul. This means “hole of the ass,” which, of course, means asshole.
- Fils de pute. Translates as “son of a whore!” As you might suspect, this has no neutral or polite interpretation.
- Enfoiré! Famous thanks to TV shows and comedians, it’s often used jokingly among friends but literally means “bastard” or “jerk.”
Vulgar Phrases
- Je m’en fous. Equivalent of “I don’t give a f***!” A less crude way of saying this would be Je m’en fiche (“I don’t care”) or Ça m’est égal (“It’s all the same to me”).
- Ça me fait chier. A polite interpretation is “that annoys me.” A more common interpretation is “that pisses me off!” If you want to be on the safe side, better to say: Ça m’énerve or Tu m’énerves (That gets on my nerves).
- Casse-toi. It’s generally understood to mean “F*** off!” or “Piss off!” It’s even worse if you combine it with another insult. You may remember that former President Sarkozy got into hot water by saying “Casse-toi pauvre con” to a constituent who had refused to shake his hand.
- Ta gueule. A very rude way of saying “shut up.” It’s like saying: “Shut your trap/hole!”
- C’est chiant. “That’s shitty.” It’s sometimes interpreted as “that’s annoying,” but in a formal setting, assume that your listener will hear it as shitty. To be on the safe side, say: c’est énervant or c’est irritant.
- Va te faire foutre. Extremely vulgar—equivalent to “Go f*** yourself.” Definitely not for casual use.
Nique ta mère. One of the most offensive insults in French, often heard in rap lyrics or street slang. Avoid completely in polite conversation.
Have you had any situations where you used a “gros mot” without realizing it?
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