While I grew up hearing accidental French expletives that would sneak their way out of my mother’s mouth, for those who learned French in the classroom, I’m guessing the teacher was not willing (or able) to teach students how to properly and thoroughly cuss in French. So, in that vein, here are some of my very favorite French curses. These are the things you hear spilling out of cab driver’s mouths, accidentally being shouted by my grandmother when she drops the milk, or accompanied by grimaced faces and occasional hand gestures in the streets of Paris.
Now, before you go around dropping the French equivalent of the F bomb on your next trip, keep in mind that language plays an immensely important role in French culture. In fact, being articulate and well spoken is considered to be an extremely valuable asset and characteristic, and while the French also like to curse a lot, the term most often associated with curse words is “unrefined.” However, in the right place, with the right people, you can impress your French friends (and make them giggle) by appropriately using these very useful and colorful curses.
1. Merde!(MARE-deh)
This translates quite literally as “shit.” I grew up hearing this word mumbled (or sometimes shouted) when my mother accidentally would burn herself on the stove or have some sort of other expletive inducing outburst. You’ll definitely hear “merde” used in France in as wide of a context as “shit” in English.
2. Putain!/Pute!(Poo-TAHN)/(poote)
This word packs a serious punch, so use it with caution (and maybe not in mixed company). Putain literally translates as “whore,” but tends to be used more like the word “fuck” in English. Not only can it be used as an emotional reaction to something, like “Fuck!” in English, you can also direct it at someone in particular, “ca pute” (that whore). People joke that the word “fuck” can be used as every part of speech in English, and in French, putain functions much the same way.
3. Chiant/Ca me fait chier(CHI-ant)/(sa meh fey CHIay)
This word is most commonly used in the context of “ce me fait chier,” which translates as a more vulgar version of “that pisses me off.” This became one of my favorite expressions when I was living in Paris (which tells you something about my personality…) and my great Aunt who I lived with would cringe when I would accidentally let this slip out at home.
4. Salope! (SAL-up)
You’ll most likely be directing this one at someone in particular, rather than as an angry expletive shouted in response to something. It translates as “bitch,” and is used pretty much exactly the same way the word is used in English. Also, like in English, you can incorporate this word into a a phrase like “fils de salope” (son of a bitch).
*salop (pronounced sal-o) is the masculine version
5. Foutre/ Je m’en fou (FOO-truh)/(Juh MONH foo)
Again, although you may hear this dropped around a lot, use it with caution as “foutre” is the verb for “to fuck.” You’ll most often hear this in the phrase “je m’en fou,” which essentially means “I don’t give a fuck.” This also became one of my favorite phrases while I was living in Pairs and it was another one that would make my grande tante (great aunt) cringe when it slipped out at home.
6. Con/conasse/connard (cohn)/(COHN-asse)/(COHN-nard)
This is often used as “ass” in French , though it is also sometimes translated as a milder “idiot.” There is a famous movie in French titled “Le Diner des Cons,” which is about a group of Parisian businessmen who each bring a “con,” or an idiot, to dinner and then the favorite “con” is chosen at the end (i.e. the guy who makes the biggest fool of himself). The movie title has been translated a variety of different ways (like “The Diner of Idiots” and “The Dinner Game”) and exemplifies why direct translation of idiomatic phrases, slang and cuss words can be difficult. Also, while this is a milder curse than “putain,” it is also certainly not polite, so use with caution.
7. Nique ta mere! (neek tah mare)
Watch out for this curse, as it literally translates as “fuck your mother.” This phrase is not only extremely vulgar, but also very offensive and should be reserved for situations when only the most extreme curse is needed.
8. Ta Gueule! (THAI-gull)
This is just about the rudest way possible of telling someone to shut up. While it does not really have an exact equivalent or translation in English, it’s kind of like saying “shut the fuck up,” or “shut your trap.” You’ll definitely hear this in banter among friends, but it can also be used in a really insulting way.
9. Casse-toi! (KASS-twah)
This French curse became the center of a French controversy when President Sarkozy was caught saying this a French citizen who had refused to shake his hand at an agricultural fair in France. This insult is kind of like a very rude way of saying “bug off,” or maybe even “fuck off.” Combined with another expletive, (like “con”) it can actually pack quite a powerful punch.
10.. C’est des conneries! (Say-day-KOHN-ree)
Clearly this curse is related to #6 on this list, and can be translated best as “this is bullshit.” I particularly enjoy this phrase and found it very useful in my daily life. I also like to throw in extra words for emphasis like “C’est vraiment des conneries!” (That is REALLY bullshit).
*If you want to know some of our Paris resident’s essential French swear words
So, those are my favorite French swear words and cusses. You may have your own colorful expletives. What’s your favorite way to swear in French?
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Great additions, Jules. I especially love “Comment it fait des conneries, ce branleur.” C’est geniale ca.
My favourite by far…
Nom de dieu de putain de bordel de merde de saloperie de connard d’enculé de ta mère.
That’s fantastic, Zac. Of course many swear words is better than one, so the more you put together the better.
Salut la gang de freaks! Hello to all the freaks out there! You don’t know about Quebeckers!? Vons ne connaissez pas les Québécois? It shows! Ça paraît! lolllllllll… ici, au QC, on sacre! Here in QC, we swear! Hostie de criss de tabarnak! That’s pretty nasty! Tu’m fais chier!
I always have appreciated:
Branleur — as in, ‘Quel Branleur!’ Which essentially translates as ‘You wanker.’ Stringing this together with ‘Comment il fait des conneries, ce branleur!’ is particularly satisfying.
While it is not particularly gauche to say, ‘Mon Oeil,’ it will make one sound like a native. The way that this tiny phrase is best used is as a response to when someone tells a completely unbelievably ridiculous story. One should pull lightly at the skin jut below the eye, just to show some pink of the underside. Hold this for as long as it takes to utter, ‘Mon oeil,’ and then release. Look directly at the tall tale teller as this happens. It works best if the bass quality of the voice is dropped an octave for emphasis upon how much the tale is completely unfathomable. ‘Mon oeil’ literally means ‘my eye’ although it is similar to saying ‘my ass.’