Common French phrases: 100 Insults, swearing, and vulgar expressions you should know

In this post, we’re diving into the wild and often colorful world of French insults, swear words, and vulgar expressions.

Although we always encourage using polite and respectful language, understanding these phrases can be beneficial for those looking to immerse themselves in French culture or simply have a little fun exploring the edgier side of the language.

Be warned, though—some expressions in this list might be offensive, so make sure you use them responsibly and in appropriate situations. Ready to learn more?

Let’s get started and expand your French vocabulary in a way you probably didn’t expect!

1. Abruti – Moron
2. Aller au diable – Go to the devil
3. Andouille – Dummy
4. Avoir le feu au cul – To be randy, horny (literally: “to have fire in the ass”)
5. Avoir un balai dans le cul – To be uptight (literally: “to have a broom up one’s ass”)
6. Bâtard – Bastard
7. Baveux / Baveuse – Snotty (masculine / feminine)
8. Bordel – Mess (also used as an exclamation, like “dammit!”)
9. Bouffon – Buffoon
10. Bouseux / Bouseuse – Redneck (masculine / feminine)
11. Branleur – Wanker
12. Branquignol – Idiot
13. Ça me fait chier – That pisses me off (vulgar)
14. Ça me gonfle – It gets on my nerves
15. Ça pue – It stinks
16. Casse-bonbons – Pain in the neck (literally: “candy breaker”)
17. Casse-couilles – Ballbuster (vulgar)
18. Casse-pieds – Pain in the ass
19. Casse-pieds – Pain in the neck (literally: “foot breaker”)
20. Casse-toi – Get lost / Piss off
21. Casse-toi, pov’ con – Get lost, you poor fool
22. Chiant / Chiante – Annoying (masculine / feminine, informal)
23. Chier – To sh*t
24. Cloporte – Creepy-crawly (insult)
25. Connard / Conasse – Asshole (masculine / feminine)
26. Connerie – Bullsh*t
27. Couillon – Dumb*ss
28. Cramé – Burnt out (slang)
29. Crétin – Idiot
30. Dégage – Get out (rude)
31. Dégueulasse – Disgusting
32. Donneur / Donneuse de leçons – Know-it-all (masculine / feminine)
33. Enculé – F*cker
34. Énerver – To get on someone’s nerves (also means “to energize”)
35. Enfoiré – Bastard (vulgar)
36. Espèce d’andouille – You silly sausage
37. Espèce d’imbécile – You imbecile
38. Espèce de con – You f*cking idiot
39. Espèce de rat – You rat
40. Espèce de singe – You monkey
41. Fainéant / Fainéante – Lazybones (masculine / feminine)
42. Fais chier – Piss off
43. Ferme ta gueule – Shut the f*ck up (stronger than “ta gueule”)
44. Fils de pute – Son of a b*tch
45. Foutoir – Mess, chaos (vulgar)
46. Foutre – To screw (vulgar)
47. Foutre en l’air – To mess up, screw up (vulgar)
48. Foutre le bordel – To make a mess (vulgar)
49. Foutre le camp – To get the hell out (vulgar)
50. Frimeur / Frimeuse – Show-off (masculine / feminine)
51. Glandeur – Lazybones (slang)
52. Gogol – Idiot (slang)
53. Gros lourdaud – Big oaf
54. Grosse vache – Fat cow (insult)
55. Hurluberlu – Scatterbrain
56. La ferme! – Shut up! (informal)
57. Lèche-cul – Ass-kisser
58. Loufoque – Crazy (slang)
59. Lourdingue – Boorish, heavy-handed
60. Mal léché(e) – Ill-mannered, bad-tempered (literally: “badly licked”)
61. Malpoli / Malpolie – Rude (masculine / feminine)
62. Mange merde – Sh*teater
63. Merde – Sh*t
64. Merdeux / Merdeuse – Brat (masculine / feminine)
65. Mufle – Boor, rude person
66. Nase – Dumb
67. Nique ta mère – F*ck your mother (extremely offensive)
68. Pauvre con – Poor fool
69. Pauvre type – Loser
70. Pétasse – B*tch
71. Pisser dans un violon – To do something useless (literally: “to pee in a violin”)
72. Pisseux / Pisseuse – P*ssy (masculine / feminine)
73. Putain – F*ck (or used as an exclamation)
74. Rabat-joie – Killjoy
75. Raclure – Scum
76. Ramollo – Soft in the head
77. Ras-le-bol – Fed up (literally: “bowl full”)
78. Raseur / Raseuse – Pain in the neck (masculine / feminine)
79. Relou – Annoying (slang, derived from “lourd”)
80. Rien à foutre – Don’t give a damn (vulgar)
81. Ringard / Ringarde – Tacky, uncool (masculine / feminine)
82. S’emmerder – To be bored sh*tless (vulgar)
83. Sac à merde – Piece of sh*t
84. Sacré(e) menteur(euse) – Bloody liar (masculine / feminine)
85. Sale bête – Dirty beast (used as an insult)
86. Sale type – Dirty guy (insult)
87. Salope – Sl*t
88. Sombrer dans la débauche – To sink into debauchery
89. T’es chiant(e) comme la pluie – You’re as annoying as the rain
90. T’es qu’une merde – You’re nothing but sh*t (vulgar)
91. Ta gueule – Shut up (informal and impolite)
92. Tête de lard – Pig-headed
93. Tête de linotte – Birdbrain
94. Tête de mule – Stubborn as a mule
95. Tête de noeud – D*ckhead
96. Tête vide – Empty-headed
97. Tête-à-claques – Slappable face (annoying person)
98. Tocard – Loser (informal)
99. Tricheur / Tricheuse – Cheater (masculine / feminine)
100. Trou du cul – A**hole

BONUS

1. Tu me gonfles – You’re getting on my nerves
2. Tu pues – You stink
3. Va au diable – Go to hell
4. Va chier – Go sh*t (vulgar)
5. Va te faire enculer – Go get f*cked (vulgar)
6. Va te faire foutre – Go f*ck yourself
7. Va te faire voir – Go take a hike (rude)
8. Vaurien / Vaurienne – Good-for-nothing (masculine / feminine)
9. Vieille bique – Old goat (insult)
10. Vieille peau – Old hag
11. Blaireau – Badger (slang for a fool or an idiot)
12. Couillon – Fool, idiot
13. Sale fiotte – Offensive term for a homosexual man
14. Tapette – Offensive term for a homosexual man
15. Trou de balle – Asshole (vulgar)
16. Couille molle – Wimp, coward (literally “soft testicle”)
17. Grosse pute – (Big) Whore (offensive)
18. Fils de pute – Son of a b*tch (offensive)

Remember, language can be powerful, and it’s essential to use it responsibly. It’s always better to communicate politely and respectfully with others.