French, like any language, has its share of quirky and unusual words. Some of these might sound strange to non-native speakers or have peculiar meanings. This list of weird French words is both fun and insightful, showing the language’s playful side.
1. Crapoter
- Meaning: To fake smoke.
- Explanation: It refers to someone who doesn’t inhale cigarette smoke but puffs it in and out as if they are smoking.
- Example: “Il ne sait pas fumer, il crapote.” (He doesn’t know how to smoke, he fake-smokes.)
2. Loufoque
- Meaning: Absurd, crazy, zany.
- Explanation: A playful word that means something or someone is eccentric or ridiculous in a fun way.
- Example: “Son idée est complètement loufoque !” (His idea is completely zany!)
3. Quinquennat
- Meaning: A five-year term.
- Explanation: This odd word refers specifically to a five-year period, often used in politics to describe a presidential term.
- Example: “Le président est élu pour un quinquennat.” (The president is elected for a five-year term.)
4. Zigzaguer
- Meaning: To zigzag.
- Explanation: The verb for moving in a zigzag pattern. It’s a fun word to say and describes erratic movement.
- Example: “Le cycliste zigzague entre les voitures.” (The cyclist is zigzagging between the cars.)
5. Tintamarre
- Meaning: Racket, din, loud noise.
- Explanation: A playful word that describes loud and chaotic noise, like a cacophony of sounds.
- Example: “Quel tintamarre ! Je ne peux pas me concentrer !” (What a racket! I can’t concentrate!)
6. Rouspéter
- Meaning: To grumble, complain.
- Explanation: A funny word that means to complain or protest loudly, often over something small.
- Example: “Il n’arrête pas de rouspéter pour rien.” (He keeps grumbling for no reason.)
7. Bidon
- Meaning: Fake, phony.
- Explanation: This informal term can refer to something that’s false or a hoax. It also means a canister or container, making it even weirder!
- Example: “Cette histoire est complètement bidon.” (This story is completely fake.)
8. Gourgandine
- Meaning: A promiscuous woman.
- Explanation: An old-fashioned and somewhat funny term, often used humorously to describe a flirtatious or shameless woman.
- Example: “Elle fait vraiment la gourgandine ce soir.” (She’s really acting shameless tonight.)
9. Frimousse
- Meaning: Cute little face.
- Explanation: A term for a cute or tiny face, usually used to describe children or pets in an endearing way.
- Example: “Regarde sa petite frimousse, trop mignonne !” (Look at her cute little face, so adorable!)
10. Chafouin(e)
- Meaning: Sneaky, sly.
- Explanation: A word used to describe someone who seems sneaky or devious, but also anxious or worried in appearance.
- Example: “Il a l’air chafouin aujourd’hui, méfie-toi.” (He looks sneaky today, be careful.)
11. Caqueter
- Meaning: To chatter like a hen.
- Explanation: A comical word used to describe someone who talks excessively or noisily, like the sound a hen makes.
- Example: “Elles caquettent sans arrêt.” (They chatter endlessly.)
12. Saperlipopette
- Meaning: Gosh! Goodness me!
- Explanation: An old-fashioned exclamation of surprise or frustration, it’s a fun word that isn’t used seriously but makes for a quirky outburst.
- Example: “Saperlipopette, j’ai oublié mes clés !” (Goodness me, I forgot my keys!)
13. Branquignol
- Meaning: Buffoon, clown.
- Explanation: A slang term used to describe someone who’s a fool or behaves ridiculously.
- Example: “Ne l’écoute pas, c’est un branquignol.” (Don’t listen to him, he’s a buffoon.)
14. Tohu-bohu
- Meaning: Chaos, commotion.
- Explanation: A funny and playful way to describe complete disorder or a noisy mess.
- Example: “Il y avait un vrai tohu-bohu à la fête.” (There was complete chaos at the party.)
15. Pataquès
- Meaning: Confusion, mess.
- Explanation: A colloquial term that describes a blunder or awkward mix-up, especially in communication or speech.
- Example: “Il a fait un vrai pataquès en essayant d’expliquer.” (He made a real mess trying to explain.)
16. Attrape-nigaud
- Meaning: A scam, swindle (literally “fool-catcher”).
- Explanation: This strange word refers to a trick or scam designed to deceive gullible people.
- Example: “Ce site web est un attrape-nigaud, méfie-toi.” (This website is a scam, beware.)
17. Enquiquiner
- Meaning: To annoy, bother.
- Explanation: A playful and somewhat humorous way to say you’re bothering someone.
- Example: “Arrête de m’enquiquiner avec tes questions.” (Stop bothering me with your questions.)
18. Bredouille
- Meaning: Empty-handed, unsuccessful.
- Explanation: This quirky word is used to describe someone who returns with nothing after attempting something, especially after fishing or hunting.
- Example: “Il est revenu bredouille de sa pêche.” (He came back empty-handed from fishing.)
19. Kif-kif
- Meaning: Same, similar.
- Explanation: A colloquial term to describe two things that are practically the same, with little or no difference.
- Example: “C’est kif-kif, ça ne change rien.” (It’s the same, it doesn’t change anything.)
20. Fichu(e)
- Meaning: Done for, ruined.
- Explanation: This word is used to express that something is messed up or ruined beyond repair, but it also refers to a headscarf, making it an odd double-meaning.
- Example: “C’est fichu, on a perdu !” (It’s ruined, we’ve lost!)
Practice Quiz
Test your knowledge with this short quiz:
- What is the French word for “to zigzag”?
- How do you say “empty-handed” in French?
- Translate: “He’s grumbling for no reason.”
- What is the French term for “loud noise or racket”?
- How do you say “same” (as in no difference) in French?
Conclusion
These weird and wonderful French words show just how playful and diverse the language can be. Whether describing zigzagging cyclists or exclamations like “Saperlipopette!”, these words add character to everyday conversations.
