gueule
What does gueule mean? gueule is a French moderate that translates to “face, mug, trap (shut your trap)” in English.
Literal Translation
animal's mouth/muzzle
Meaning & Usage
"face, mug, trap (shut your trap)"
Technically the word for an animal's mouth, applied to humans to dehumanize. 'Ta gueule' (shut your mouth) is its most common deployment, but 'gueule' alone refers to someone's face in a deliberately crude way — 'il a une sale gueule' (he has an ugly mug). It's versatile and everywhere in spoken French.
Examples in the Wild
As a standalone: 'ferme ta gueule' (shut your face). As a descriptor: 'il fait la gueule' (he's sulking/making a face). As a compliment, rarely: 'il a de la gueule' (it has character/style).
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
One of French's most productive vulgar words. It generates dozens of expressions: 'gueule de bois' (hangover, literally 'wooden mouth'), 'coup de gueule' (angry rant), 'grande gueule' (loudmouth), 'casser la gueule' (to beat someone up). Understanding 'gueule' unlocks a huge chunk of colloquial French.
More in French 🇫🇷
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“bitch / slut”
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.