bouffon

//bu.fɔ̃//insult

What does bouffon mean? bouffon is a French moderate that translates to “clown, fool, joke” in English.

buffoon, jester

01

"clown, fool, joke"

Calling someone a court jester — someone who's ridiculous and not to be taken seriously. In banlieue slang, it's evolved into a more serious insult: someone who's fake, disrespectful, or not worth your time. Context determines whether it's playful or fighting words.

Standard: 'Quel bouffon ce mec' — what a clown. Street: 'Vas-y, traite-moi de bouffon' — go ahead, call me a clown (i.e., I dare you).