pute / putain
What does pute / putain mean? pute / putain is a French severe that translates to “whore / hooker” in English.
Literal Translation
whore
Meaning & Usage
"whore / hooker"
Prostitute. 'Pute' is noun form, 'putain' is interjection or noun.
Examples in the Wild
Espèce de pute ! (You whore!)
When to Use It
Context
- Expressing strong frustration or emphasis
- Only among very close friends who share this register
- Direct confrontation (use with caution)
Avoid
- Professional or formal settings
- Around elders or authority figures
- Public spaces — will cause genuine offense
- Mixed company or unfamiliar social groups
- Job interviews, meetings, or customer-facing situations
Cultural Context
Highly offensive when directed at women. 'Fils de pute' = son of a whore. 'Putain' as interjection is less offensive than 'pute' as noun.
More in French 🇫🇷
View all →garce
“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'.
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.
chier
“to shit / to annoy”
To defecate; also used in expressions meaning 'to annoy' or 'bore'.