You’ve probably heard the expression “Excuse my French” used to announce an obscenity. But do the French really swear that much? This iconic phrase was actually first used by educated English people who apologized for using a French word someone might not understand, but it quickly took on a more negative connotation.
In some ways, that ambiguity perfectly shows the French relationship to swear words.
On the one hand, France has a very polite culture, where people regularly greet and thank one another, and address strangers as “monsieur” or “madame.” But on the other hand, swear words are often seen as far less shocking here than they are in many other cultures. For instance, most French TV shows won’t censor or bleep out cuss words—and if they do, it’s often to look like a “cool” American show, especially if you’re watching reality TV. (You can see a good example of this at around the 1:10 minute mark in this compilation of French reality TV fights.) That said, there might be rules according to the network that require censoring cuss words, or in some cases, the “bleep” might be used only for words that are considered hateful or aggressive. In recent years, YouTube has started requiring that certain swear words be bleeped out, so you may also come across them in French videos there.
Media censorship (or lack thereof) aside, it’s not as if people in France usually go around spewing cuss words in any situation. As in many other cultures, they avoid using them in formal, polite, or professional situations, as well as when kids are around. But you’re almost guaranteed to come across them in French books, movies, TV shows, sports commentary, and everyday informal conversations… not to mention you’ll probably overhear them in an argument or traffic jam.
Interestingly, although they’re more exposed to swear words than kids in some other cultures, in my experience, French kids don’t typically cuss a lot. Teenagers might, to look cool, but younger children either don’t want to get in trouble or don’t particularly care—maybe because swear words aren’t a big deal. I asked my son, who’s 11 and doesn’t curse (despite his mom’s bilingual potty mouth), if a lot of his friends use cuss words. He told me they’re more likely to just insult each other.
With all this being said, there is one somewhat notorious exception. Putain (Fuck), one of the strongest French curse words, is used by many people in the South of France, especially Marseille, as a sort of filler word or to show emphasis. There, it’s usually pronounced like “poo-ting” due to the local accent. It’s still vulgar and not a word you’d use in formal conversations, but the general opinion seems to be that since it’s not intended to be aggressive or insulting in this case, it’s more of a local quirk. If you have an advanced level of French, you can watch this video from comedian Patrick Bosso, where the Marseille native explains the nuances of putain in Marseille (as well as another French swear word you might come across). That said, if you visit the South of France, don’t just throw this word around, since not everyone may use or appreciate it, and you don’t have the excuse of being a native.
Whatever your own relationship to swear words, it’s a good idea to at least recognize the most common French cuss words, since you’re bound to come across them. Of course, if you’re an etymology and swear word fan like me, you might even relish learning them!
Here are 15 common French cuss words—and, if you’re so inclined, how to use them. I’ve divided them into three categories: A bit vulgar, Somewhat vulgar, and Very vulgar.
…Excuse my French, in advance.
15 French Swear Words & How to Use Them
A Bit Vulgar
Con/Conne
Definition: Con (for males) and conne (for females) means stupid/idiot/moron. These words are etymologically related to two others on our list: connard and connasse. But while connard/connasse implies that a person is mean-spirited or unpleasant, a con/conne could just be someone who’s dumb.
How it’s used: Con and conne can be either nouns or adjectives. So you might see something like Quel con ! (What a moron!) or Il est con. (He’s stupid.)
Like their English equivalents, con and conne can be used to describe situations, things, etc., in addition to people.
For instance, you might hear someone say something like C’est tout con, which basically means, “It’s so easy/simple.” Ce n’est pas con/C’est pas con is another common expression, which means, “That’s not a bad idea.”
Unlike most of the other words on our list, con and conne usually aren’t used on their own, but as part of a phrase or sentence. For instance, you’d say, Quel con/Quelle conne to mean “Stupid!” or “What an idiot!”
There are several other common expressions with con. One of the most common is passer pour un con/une conne (to look like/be perceived as an idiot).
C’est con is another common expression, but it has two possible meanings. The first is a sense of loss and regret due to something unnecessary or preventable, sort of like “What a stupid waste.” The second meaning can be “It’s hilariously stupid.” You’ll pretty much always be able to tell which meaning is intended based on whether the speaker is sad or laughing.
Level of intensity: Con and conne are among the least offensive words on our list. That said, it’s not nice to call someone this, and certainly seen as an insult. These words really are very much like the words “stupid” and “idiot” in English.
Examples:
Quel con !/Quelle conne ! (What an idiot!)—Note that you can say this about others as well as yourself, sort of like “That was stupid of me!” or “Fuck me!” depending on your level of frustration.
Elle est vraiment conne, Alice. (Alice is really stupid.)
Pour faire marcher la télé, c’est tout con. (Turning on the TV is really simple.)
Ils m’ont pris pour un con mais ils se sont trompés ! (They took me for a fool, but they were wrong!)
Fun fact: You may be familiar with the classic French film Le dîner des cons, about a group who sets up dinners where they only invite people they consider stupid or ridiculous.
Dégueulasse
Definition: Dégueulasse essentially translates to “fucking disgusting.”
Dégueulasse is an interesting swear word because it doesn’t seem like it should be one at all. The vulgarity in this case isn’t so much the surface meaning, but the roots of the words. When you break it down, dégueulasse literally means something like “to vomit from an animal’s mouth.” Gross imagery aside, as we’ll see with fellow French cuss word ta gueule, references to animal muzzles can be super offensive in French.
Although it can also simply be the ending of a feminine word, in some cases, the ending -asse gives a disrespectful connotation. You can see that with dégueulasse.
How it’s used: Like “Fucking disgusting,” dégueulasse can be used on its own, usually as an expression of outrage or disgust, or in a sentence. It can literally mean you’re disgusted to the point of vomiting, or metaphorically disgusted by something like someone’s ideas, statements, or behavior.
Dégueulasse is an incredibly common word in France. You’ll come across it in real-life situations like informal language between friends or in arguments, or in TV or other media, although not in neutral or formal situations. You’re as likely to hear dégueulasse on a reality TV show as you are in a heated debate between celebrities or political pundits on news shows or podcasts.
Level of intensity: Although dégueulasse is not okay to use in mixed company, its level of intensity can vary depending on the tone and context.
For instance, if you’re watching a movie with gross-out humor, your French friend might laugh and say Dégueulasse !, in which case you might even downgrade it to “Fucking gross!” or “So gross!”
But on the other hand, it could be used in heated argument to call out someone’s behavior, in which case it’s forceful and full of venom and definitely the equivalent of “Fucking disgusting.” For instance, Tu as trompé ta copine ?! C’est vraiment dégueulasse. (You cheated on your girlfriend? That’s fucking disgusting behavior.)
Examples:
Cette soupe est dégueulasse. (This soup is fucking disgusting.)
Tu penses comme un Nazi, c’est dégueulasse. (You think like a Nazi. That’s fucking disgusting.)
How to say dégueulasse without saying dégueulasse: You might come across a shortened form of dégueulasse: dégueu.
While still inappropriate to use in mixed company or formal situations, dégueu tends to be less harsh and is typically only used to describe something that’s literally gross, like dog poop on your shoe (a common Parisian problem), rather than things like someone’s beliefs or behavior.
Cul
Definition: Pronounced “coo,” cul is a swear word that means “ass” (the body part, not someone who’s acting like one). It can also be a vulgar term for sex/porn.
That said, there are some uses of cul that aren’t obscene, like cul de bouteil (bottom of a bottle) and Cul sec (Bottoms up!).
How it’s used: Cul is a vulgar way to refer to someone’s butt. It’s not typically used on its own but rather as part of a sentence or phrase.
Cul is used in some typical phrases and expressions, including trou du cul (asshole), Mon cul! (My ass!—showing disbelief/mistrust), avoir le cul entre deux chaises (to be caught between two choices), and Bouge ton cul ! (Move your ass/arse!).
In very informal French language, cul can also be a vulgar way to refer to sex, especially pornography or dirty pictures. For example, un plan cul is a friend with benefits or a hookup, and un film de cul is a porno.
Level of intensity: As a general rule, you could consider cul similar to its English equivalent, “ass,” in terms of its intensity. It’s definitely not something you’d say in polite company, but it’s not the worst word you could use, either.
When using cul to refer to sex, it’s a bit more vulgar than many other terms like sex or porno, on the other hand.
Examples:
Bouge ton cul ! (Move your ass!)
Il matait son cul toute la soirée. (He was checking out her ass the whole evening.)
Je ne sais pas si j’ai envie de regarder ce film—il y a du cul dedans ? (I’m not sure I want to watch this movie—is there any sex in it?)
Salaud
Definition: A salaud is a bastard, a real asshole.
How it’s used: Salaud is only used for males. It can be used on its own or as part of a phrase or sentence. While it’s most commonly used as a noun, you may also see it used as an adjective, as well.
Level of intensity: Salaud is a relatively mild French swear word. It’s not that you should use it in polite or professional situations, but it’s not quite as obscene as many other words on our list. In that way, you could think of it as equivalent to a word like “bastard” in English.
Examples:
Son copain est un vrai salaud. (Her boyfriend is a real asshole.)
Le salaud ! (That bastard!)
Somewhat Vulgar
Merde
Meaning: Shit (literal and metaphorical).
Along with putain, merde is one of the most-used swear words in France.
Interestingly, the two can even be combined into one mega swear word: Putain de merde (roughly equivalent to “Fucking shit”).
How it’s used: In terms of usage, merde is very close to its English equivalent, “shit.” It can be used on its own or in a sentence. When talking about literal or figurative pieces of shit, however, merde has to be preceded by de la. For instance: J’ai de la merde sur mon pantalon ! (I have shit on my pants!)
When using merde as an adjective, you have three main choices. The most common is to use it with de la: C’est de la merde. (That’s shitty.)
A noun followed by de merde is a specific way to call something shitty Putain de voiture de merde ! (Fucking piece of shit car!)
Merdique is an adjective derived from merde that literally means “shitty.” For instance: Il avait une vieille télé merdique. (He had a shitty old TV). It’s slightly less common than de la merde/de merde, but you’ll still come across it pretty often.
Level of intensity: In many cases, merde is about as obscene as “shit” is in English. That is, it’s certainly not to be used in polite company, and can shock people, but it’s not quite as vulgar or in some contexts violent as putain (fuck). In fact, depending on tone and context, in some cases merde might even be closer to the slightly less strong “crap” in English.
Examples:
Et merde ! (Well, shit!)—As in, you’ve just done something that went wrong and are fed up, like dropping a cake on the ground.
Merde, on a oublié son anniversaire. (Shit, we forgot his birthday.)
Tu n’es qu’une pauvre merde ! (You’re a real piece of shit.)
C’est de la merde son histoire. (His story’s full of shit.)
J’en ai marre de cet appartement de merde. (I’m sick of this shitty apartment.)
How to say merde without saying merde:
As in English, some French cuss words have minced oaths—softer, more polite versions for those who don’t like to use the real versions, or can’t, due to the company they find themselves in.
The common minced oath for merde is mercredi (Wednesday).
Merde has another delightful, non-obscene alternative that shows that it’s been used by the French, even famous military figures, for centuries: le mot de Cambronne (Cambronne’s word). This refers to a legend that, at the Battle of Waterloo, when the British demanded that Napoleon’s troops surrender, their general, Cambronne, allegedly retorted, Merde!
In this particular case, it didn’t mean “Shit!” but rather an expression of obscene defiance, more akin to “Fuck you.” But while Cambronne became (in)famous for this reply, most historians and experts, as well as contemporary evidence, claim that he didn’t actually say this. But that doesn’t seem likely to stop people from saying le mot de Cambronne.
Fun fact: One confirmed use of merde at that time is a famous quote by Napoleon himself, who threw out this amazing insult to Talleyrand, the diplomat with whom he had a tumultuous partnership: Vous êtes de la merde dans un bas de soie ! (You’re shit inside a silk stocking!)
Emmerder
Definition: Literally translated as “to cover with shit,” emmerder is a vulgar way to say “to annoy” or “to bore.” You could translate it to something like “to fucking annoy” or “to fucking bore.”
How it’s used: You’ll often see emmerder used with a direct object pronoun or as a reflexive verb. For instance: Tu m’emmerdes (You’re annoying the shit out of me) and Je m’emmerdais (I was bored as shit).
S’emmerder can also mean “go to a lot of fucking trouble” for someone/something. For example: Elle s’est bien emmerdée à trouver le dernier exemplaire de cette robe pour sa taille. (She went through a lot of fucking trouble finding the last dress like this in her size.)
Emmerder can also be used as a sort of equivalent to “Fuck you!” or “Piss off”: Je t’emmerde (literally, “I cover you in shit”). If you’re addressing a group of people, it would be: Je vous emmerde !
My personal favorite form of emmerder is the noun emmerdeur (for males) or emmerdeuse (for females)—literally, a shit-stirrer, someone who’s really annoying or a massive troublemaker. You’ll often see it translated as “a pain in the ass.” I just love the image of someone adding shit (or adding more shit) to someone else’s life—it’s a perfect way to illustrate this type of action.
Level of intensity: As a general rule, emmerder and its related words tend to be mid-range insults. They’re definitely obscene and shouldn’t be used in polite company, and if you say someone t’emmerde or is being an emmerdeur or emmerdeuse, you will insult or offend them. But in most cases, these words aren’t the absolute most vulgar or offensive thing you could say. Still, don’t use any of these expressions in polite company.
As with many French cuss words, if said lightly or fondly, emmerder and its ilk could be taken as a (still vulgar) form of affection or a joke. But as a general rule, these words are not nice.
Je t’emmerde (Fuck you/Piss off) is especially vulgar.
Examples:
Tu m’emmerdes. (You’re annoying the shit out of me.)
On s’emmerdait en classe comme toujours. (We were bored off our asses in class, like always.)
Il a passé toute sa journée à emmerder sa sœur. (He spent his whole day annoying the shit out of his sister.)
Je me suis bien emmerdé à faire ces macarons ! Heureusement ils sont bien réussis. (I went through a fuck-ton of trouble to make these macarons, luckily they turned out really well.)
Je t’emmerde ! (Fuck you!/Fuck off!/Piss off!)
C’est un vrai emmerdeur. (He’s/She’s a real fucking troublemaker.)
Connard/Connasse
Definition: Though they come from the root word con, which originally was a vulgar term for a certain part of female anatomy, over time these words have taken on a different meaning. Connard, the masculine form, is best translated as “asshole” or “jerk.” Connasse, the female form of the word, is best translated as bitch/stupid bitch/stupid cow.
How it’s used: Connard and connasse can be used on their own or as part of a sentence.
Interestingly, according to this recent survey, as well as this one, connard and connasse are the most common swear words French people say when they’re driving.
Level of intensity: As insults and obscenities go, connard and connasse are mid-range. Definitely not to be said in polite company, but not the absolute worst, most offensive options. Still, don’t use them lightly!
Examples:
Quel connard ! (What an asshole!)
Apprend à conduire, connasse ! (Learn to drive, stupid cow!)
Tu n’es qu’un connard ! (You’re such an asshole!)
Ta gueule
Definition: Literally “Your muzzle” (mouth of an animal), Ta gueule is a short and more common form of Ferme ta gueule (Literally: Shut your muzzle). Both range in meaning from “Shut your trap” to “Shut your fucking mouth,” depending on the context, tone, etc.
The vulgarity in this expression comes from comparing a person’s mouth to that of an animal. You can also see this idea of animals as an insult in the word bête, which means “stupid” but also “beast/animal/creature.”
How it’s used: Ta gueule is typically used on its own, as a reaction or response, but you may also see it as part of a sentence.
Level of intensity: Ta gueule is never polite, but it can be softer or harder depending on a person’s tone and the context.
For instance, you might hear it used in a French comedy or sitcom. But you’ll just as likely come across it in a violent film or when people in real life are having a heated argument. As a general rule, if you want someone to be quiet and you maybe want to be a little bit rude or forceful about it, a simple Tais-toi (Shut up) is a better, less offensive choice.
Examples:
Ta gueule ! (Shut your trap/Shut the fuck up!)
Enculé/enculée
Definition: Literally evoking something in someone’s ass or someone who “takes it up the ass,” enculé (for males), or enculée (for females) roughly translates to an insult like asshole, bitch (for women), etc., but with that literal meaning to give it even more edge.
Note that enculer, the verb it’s derived from, means “to fuck in the ass.”
How it’s used: You’ll often come across the masculine form, enculé, but using the insult for females is a bit more rare. It could be because the act it refers to seems even more vulgar and taboo for women, at least in mainstream French society.
Enculé and enculée can be used on their own or as part of a sentence. You might also hear a phrase like Les enculés !, meaning “The/These/Those assholes!”
You’ll also come across some related insults, including any expression with the verb enculer (to fuck in the ass), notably Va te faire enculer ! (Go fuck yourself (in the ass)!)
Level of intensity: Although it’s pretty obscene when you think about it literally, enculé is a fairly common, mid-range French curse word. That said, saying it to someone’s face is extremely offensive. I tend to hear it used more often when the person it’s directed to can’t hear.
Examples:
Enculé !
Regarde-moi cet enculé, il ne sait pas utiliser son clignotant ! (Look at this asshole, he doesn’t know how to use his turn signal!)
Va te faire foutre, enculé ! (Fuck off, asshole!)
Bordel
Definition: Bordel literally means “brothel,” but it can also mean something like “Shit!”or “Dammit!” Additionally, it’s an obscene way to say “mess”—think, “fucking mess” or “fucking nonsense.”
How it’s used: Bordel can be used on its own or as part of a sentence or phrase.
It can also be combined with de merde to make an extra bad swear word: Bordel de merde, which roughly translates to “Fucking shit” or “holy shit.” Add putain to the mix for the ultimate intense French swear word, Putain de bordel de merde, which you could translate to “Holy fucking shit.”
On a slightly less extreme note, you’ll also see it in phrases like faire le bordel or the more obscene foutre le bordel, which both translate to “make a fucking mess,” “stir shit up,” and so on.
Level of intensity: Without any words added to it, bordel is a mid-range French swear word, similar in register to something like “dammit” or “shit.”
Examples:
C’est quoi ce bordel? (What’s this fucking nonsense/fucking mess?)
Écoute-moi, bordel ! (Listen to me, dammit!)
Bordel de merde! (Fucking shit/Holy shit!)
Enfoiré/Enfoirée
Definition: Enfoiré (masculine) means “bastard” (not literally) or asshole. Enfoirée (feminine) means “asshole” or “bitch.”
How it’s used: Enfoiré is used more often in its masculine form than its feminine form. Either way, it can be used on its own or in a sentence.
Enfoiré is an exception to the other cuss words on our list because it’s definitely not something you should say in polite company MOST of the time, but now and then you might actually hear it said in mixed company without a single flinch or raised eyebrow. This is because Les Enfoirés is a famous, frequently changing group of French singers who perform for the charity Les Restos du Cœur, which provides food for the less fortunate. The risqué name is thanks to the group and charity’s founder, legendary French comedian Coluche.
Level of intensity: If you’re referring to the charity singing group Les Enfoirés, you can probably get away with saying this word in just about any context. But in general, it’s a mid-range swear word, like its English equivalents bastard and asshole.
Examples:
Cet enfoiré m’a volé la vedette. (That asshole stole my thunder.)
Quel enfoiré ! What an asshole!
Salope
Definition: Bitch, slut, whore.
How it’s used: Salope is an insult only used for women. Depending on the context, salope can just be a general term for something like “bitch,” but it usually has a slightly sexual connotation as well, implying that the person being called that is a “loose woman.” In that way, you could think of it more like “slut” or “whore.”
Salope can be used on its own or in a phrase or sentence.
Level of intensity: Like the word “bitch” or “slut,” salope can be seen as a true insult—and a rather misogynistic one at that. It’s a mid-range swear word, similar to “bitch” in English.
You may also hear a man call a woman a salope to her face in a sexy way—at least in a sexually charged movie or porno. If you start dating a woman in France, it’s probably best not to do this, unless you’re totally sure she’s okay with it….
Examples:
Cette salope est en train de flirter avec ton mec. (That bitch is flirting with your boyfriend.)
Sa tante est une vraie salope. (His aunt is a real bitch.)
Very Vulgar
Putain
Meaning: Fuck/Fucking—as an expression of joy, frustration, surprise, concern, etc., but not the verb “to fuck.” It’s one of the most common French cuss words, and the one most used by a majority of French people.
Putain originally meant “prostitute,” so you may come upon it used this way in centuries-old French literature or in period films. In this context, it’s not obscene, although depending on who’s using it and how, it could possibly be an insult.
Remember that, as previously mentioned, in some places in the South of France, notably Marseille, putain is often used more as a filler or emphasizing word rather than its obscene meaning. That said, in polite company, it still shouldn’t be used, and as a non-native of this area you should probably avoid using it this way, as well (unless you fully become a part of the community).
How it’s used: Putain can often be used on its own, or in a phrase to emphasize your emotional reaction to something. Usually, if putain is used at the start of a phrase, the connotation is either positive or negative, but if it’s used at the end of a phrase, it tends to be negative.
Putain followed by de is the rough equivalent of the English adjective (not verb) “Fucking.” For instance: Cette putain de voiture ne se démarre jamais ! (This fucking car never starts!)
Level of intensity: Similar to “fuck” in English, while putain is a major swear word, its level of intensity can vary slightly depending on how it’s used.
For instance, many people might use putain to gleefully react to something. You’ll often hear a phrase like, “Putain, c’est genial !,” which roughly translates to something like, “That’s so fucking cool!” On the other hand, something like Mais putain, tais-toi ! (rough translation: “Shut the fuck up!”) is a violent and mean thing to say, so it comes across as far more shocking and obscene.
Whatever the case, even if you use it in a positive way, it’s still a swear word, so you should never say putain in formal or professional situations, with strangers, or around children.
Examples:
Putain, j’ai oublié de fermer la porte. (Fuck, I forgot to close the door.)
Oh putain, ça brûle ! (Oh fuck, it’s burning/it’s burning me!)
Putain, c’est joli ! (Fuck, that’s beautiful!)—You’re especially likely to hear this phrase during a French soccer match, when the sportscaster is particularly impressed by a move or goal.
Mon putain d’ordinateur ne marche pas. (My fucking computer isn’t working.)
Mais arrête de me couper la parole ! Putain ! (Stop fucking interrupting me!)
How to say putain without saying putain:
Two popular minced oaths for putain are punaise (literally “thumbtack” or “stink bug”) and purée (literally purée or mashed potatoes). So if you hear someone randomly exclaim “Thumbtack!” or “Mashed potatoes!” totally out of context in French, that’s probably what they mean.
Branler
Definition: Most commonly, branler means “to jerk off oneself or someone else.”
How it’s used: Nine times out of ten in contemporary French, branler will be a vulgar word for “to masturbate” or “to jerk someone off.” But it can occasionally mean things like “shake/wobble,” so pay attention to context.
Branler can be used literally or figuratively. For instance, one of my favorite over-the-top French swear word expressions is Je m’en branle. This roughly translates to “I don’t give a fuck” or “I don’t give a flying fuck,” but the literal translation is “I masturbate with it.” The expression Je n’en ai rien à branler (I don’t give a fuck) is similar.
In certain expressions, branler is also used as an impolite, informal way to say “to do/to do with it.” For instance, Je n’ai rien branlé da ma journée (I did fuck-all today), or Qu’est-ce que tu branles ? (What the hell are you up to?) These expressions aren’t as explicit or obscene as the verb’s other most common meaning, but they’re still best to avoid in polite conversations.
A branleur is the noun form of this word, but it’s not taken literally to imply someone who masturbates. Instead, it’s more like “slacker.” There’s a feminine form, branleuse, that’s far less common.
Level of intensity: Because it’s so explicit and vulgar (in most cases), branler is a fairly strong French swear word.
Examples:
Je m’en branle. (I don’t give a flying fuck.)
Il est dans sa chambre, sans doute en train de se branler. (He’s in his room, no doubt jerking off.)
Qu’est-ce que tu branles ? (What the hell are you up to?)
Foutre
Definition: Foutre is the swear word version of the verb faire (to do/to make). When foutre is involved, the phrase isn’t polite. And no wonder; the origins of foutre come from a Latin word for “to fuck.”
How it’s used: Foutre was once used on its own, but that’s old-fashioned now. Today, it’s used in a phrase or sentence. While this could be a totally original expression, there are also some typical phrases you’ll find for foutre. You’ll find some of the most common of these in the Examples section below.
There are many other examples of foutre phrases besides the common ones I’ve listed, so if you’re interested they could be a good rabbit hole to go down!
Foutu(e), the past participle of foutre, can also be used as an adjective that means “fucked” or “gone to shit.” For instance: C’est foutu. (Everything’s gone to shit.)
Level of intensity: Depending on the phrase and context, foutre can be slightly obscene, for instance in a phrase like Je m’en fous, or incredibly rude and obscene, like Je n’ai rien à foutre or Va te faire foutre. Whatever the case, if you’re in mixed company or not sure it will be well-received, it’s best to avoid using it.
Examples:
Va te faire foutre. (Go fuck yourself.)
Je m’en fous de ton planning (I don’t give a fuck about your schedule).
Fous-moi la paix! (Leave me (the hell/the fuck) alone!)
Je n’en ai rien à foutre. (I don’t give a fuck.)
Nous avons passé la journée à rien foutre. (We spent the day doing fuck-all.)
C’est foutu. (It’s fucked.)
Je m’en fous de ta musique. (I don’t give a fuck about your music.)
How to say foutre without saying foutre: Generally speaking, there are lots of non-obscene ways to express many of the things foutre phrases do. But if you want to stay close to these, in many cases you can replace foutre with ficher or faire.
For example: Je m’en fiche is a common way to say “I couldn’t care less,” replacing the more aggressive Je m’en fous. Fiche-moi la paix is another, nicer way to say “Leave me alone,” as opposed to Fous-moi la paix. On a similar note, Je n’en ai rien à faire is a nicer way to say Je m’en fous.
Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to replace foutre. Some common foutre expressions won’t work with ficher or faire, or would only work with one of them. The more French you learn, the more you’ll become familiar with these alternative expressions.
Although they certainly aren’t used in every situation or context, swear words are undeniably a part of life in France. Hopefully, this post has helped you get to know them better.
Alysa Salzberg is an American writer, worrier, teacher, travel planner, and cookie enthusiast who’s lived in Paris, France, for nearly two decades. Author of Hearts at Dawn, a historical fantasy novel set during the 1870-1871 Siege of Paris, she often shares things she loves about life and history in the City of Light on her blog here, and on Instagram @lamarquisedecarabas.
