gonzesse
What does gonzesse mean? gonzesse is a French moderate that translates to “chick, broad, bird” in English.
Literal Translation
woman/girl (old slang, possibly from Italian)
Meaning & Usage
"chick, broad, bird"
An older slang term for a woman that carries more baggage than 'meuf.' It can mean girlfriend, but applied to men it means coward or wimp — 'c'est une gonzesse' (he's a sissy). This dual usage reveals the misogyny baked into the word: being compared to a woman is the insult.
Examples in the Wild
'Arrête de faire ta gonzesse' — stop being a wimp (to a man). 'C'est sa gonzesse' — that's his girl (dated, crude).
When to Use It
Context
- Casual conversations with friends
- Informal settings where profanity is accepted
- Direct confrontation (use with caution)
Avoid
- Professional or formal settings
- Job interviews, meetings, or customer-facing situations
Cultural Context
Pre-verlan era slang that's been largely replaced by 'meuf' for the neutral 'woman' meaning. When 'gonzesse' survives in modern speech, it tends to carry the negative meanings — either dismissive toward women or used to question a man's toughness. It's the kind of word that was everywhere in 1970s French cinema.
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“bitch / slut”
Female dog; used as insult toward women.
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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'.
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.
nique
“fuck”
The raw verb form of 'niquer,' used on its own as a crude exclamation or command. Unlike 'baiser,' which has a polite meaning (to kiss) that was slowly corrupted, 'niquer' has always been purely vulgar — borrowed from Arabic and arriving in French already loaded.
chier
“to shit / to annoy”
To defecate; also used in expressions meaning 'to annoy' or 'bore'.
dégueulasse
“disgusting, gross, nasty”
The go-to French word for expressing physical or moral disgust. It covers everything from a filthy bathroom to a politician's corruption scandal. Shortened to 'dégueu' in casual speech, which somehow sounds even more disgusted despite being shorter.