foutre
What does foutre mean? foutre is a French strong that translates to “to fuck, damn” in English.
Literal Translation
to fuck / semen
Meaning & Usage
"to fuck, damn"
An ancient French vulgarism that functions as both a noun (semen) and a verb (to fuck, to do, to put). In modern usage, the sexual meaning has faded behind its role as an all-purpose intensifier. 'Qu'est-ce que tu fous?' means 'what the hell are you doing?' without anyone thinking about sex.
Examples in the Wild
'J'en ai rien à foutre' (I don't give a damn). 'Il fout rien' (he does nothing). 'C'est foutu' (it's done for, it's screwed).
When to Use It
Context
- Informal settings where profanity is accepted
- Expressing strong frustration or emphasis
- As a spontaneous exclamation
Avoid
- Professional or formal settings
- Around elders or authority figures
- Mixed company or unfamiliar social groups
- Job interviews, meetings, or customer-facing situations
Cultural Context
One of the oldest vulgar words in French, attested since the 13th century. It has spawned an entire family: 'foutu' (fucked/done for), 's'en foutre' (to not give a damn), 'foutoir' (a mess), 'foutaise' (bullshit). The word is so embedded in French that many speakers don't register its original vulgarity.
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Female dog; used as insult toward women.
se barrer
“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.
merde
“shit / crap”
Standard exclamation for frustration, disappointment, or surprise. Literally excrement.