fichu
What does fichu mean? fichu is a French mild that translates to “ruined, damn, done for” in English.
Literal Translation
done for (euphemism for foutu)
Meaning & Usage
"ruined, damn, done for"
The polite cousin of 'foutu.' It means exactly the same thing — done for, ruined, or used as a mild intensifier — but without the sexual etymology. It's what you say when you want to express 'foutu' energy in front of your grandmother or your boss.
Examples in the Wild
'C'est fichu' — it's ruined. 'Ce fichu téléphone' — this darn phone. 'Elle est mal fichue' — she's under the weather.
When to Use It
Context
- Casual conversations with friends
- Informal settings where profanity is accepted
- As a spontaneous exclamation
Avoid
- Professional or formal settings
- Job interviews, meetings, or customer-facing situations
Cultural Context
A perfect example of French linguistic stratification. 'Foutu' and 'fichu' are interchangeable in meaning but signal completely different social registers. Choosing 'fichu' over 'foutu' says 'I'm annoyed but I have manners.' Originally, 'fichu' was a headscarf — the insult sense comes from 'badly dressed/put together.'
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“to get out, to bolt, to take off”
Another crude way to say 'to leave,' slightly less aggressive than 'se casser.' 'Barre-toi' is 'get out of here.' 'Je me barre' is 'I'm leaving.' The word implies leaving quickly, sometimes covertly — sneaking out of a boring party or fleeing a bad situation.
con / conne
“stupid / idiot / asshole (fem: bitch)”
Originally vulgar slang for female genitalia (cunt), now primarily means 'stupid' or 'idiot' in France. The feminine 'conne' is more offensive than 'con'.
pute / putain
“whore / hooker”
Prostitute. 'Pute' is noun form, 'putain' is interjection or noun.
nom de Dieu
“for God's sake / goddamn”
Religious exclamation, mild blasphemy.
crade
“gross, filthy, nasty”
Slang contraction of 'crasseux' (filthy) that became its own word. It describes anything disgustingly dirty — a room, a person, a habit. Less intense than 'dégueulasse' but covers the same territory. The extended form 'cradingue' adds emphasis through its playful suffix.
raclure
“scum, lowlife, bottom-feeder”
What you scrape off the bottom of a pot — the residue, the dregs. Applied to a person, it means they're the lowest of the low, the scum of society. It's a creative insult that paints a vivid picture of worthlessness.
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“shit / crap”
Standard exclamation for frustration, disappointment, or surprise. Literally excrement.