30+ Common French Swear Words and Insults

If you’re studying the French language, you may notice some pretty interesting French words or phrases that your teachers deliberately withhold.

French swear words and insults.

Well, you can’t really claim to speak this beautiful language if you do not know how to cuss like a [French] sailor. Because let’s face it: curses and insults are very much part of every human language. 

30+ Common French Swear Words and Insults

Let’s take a look at the following French swear words and insults so you can cuss like a local.

1. Merde

One of the most common French swear words, “merde” can be used any way you want it. One uses this expression when one is surprised or disappointed, or when referring to something or someone that is unpleasant. It is the French’s answer to the English “crap” or “shit.”

“Merde” is often added to other swear words or phrases for emphasis, as in “nom de dieu de merde!” Or “putain de merde!” 

2. Nom de dieu

“Nom de dieu” can be translated as “for God’s sake” or “goddamn.” To intensify the profanity, “merde” is added – as in, “Nom de dieu de merde!“

3. Putain / Pute

Literally meaning “bitch” or “whore,” “putain” is employed more like the English “f*ck.” It is perhaps the most widely used French curse word.

Just like “merde,” “putain” is used it to express one’s anger, surprise or amazement at something or someone. 

4. Pute

“Pute” is the same as “putain” – but stronger. “Fils de pute” translates as “son of a b*tch” or ” son of a whore.”

5. Bordel

“Bordel” is the French word for “brothel.” However, its employment is akin to “putain.” “Merde” can be added for emphasis and if that’s not enough, “putain” can also join in. “Putain de bordel de merde” is a real badass combo to express your intense anger or frustration.

It makes you feel like there’s more foam in your mouth than “goddammit,” “bloody hell,” or “for Christ’s sake.”

6. Niquer

The vulgar French word for “have sex,” “f*ck” or “screw.”  It can also be used to mean “trick” or “swindle” someone. 

You can hurl “Niquer!” at someone if you want to say “f*ck you” in style. And when you’re really mad, add “ta mère” (“your mother”), as in: “Nique ta mère!” Being told to f*ck their mother will really insult someone.

7. Salaud

If someone tells you “salaud,” they’re not being nice. They mean you are a bastard.

8. Salope

This one’s for the women. “Salope” is the feminine counterpart of “salaud” and – depending on the context – can be translated as “bitch” or “whore.” It is used to insult women, mostly with regards to their sexual behavior. 

However, “salope” can also be employed to insult men sans the sexual connotation. This feminine version of “salaud” insults a man more effectively.

9. Salopard

This is pretty much the same as “salaud” but with more intensity. If “salaud” is a bastard, then “salopard” is a scumbag.

10. Trou du cul

French for “asshole,” “tro du cul” is used on someone you have little or totally no respect for.

11. Garce

“Garce” can refer to a misbehaving woman – a bitch or a slut. This insult is derived from “gars,” a term used back in the Middle-Ages, which means “boy.” 

12. Chatte

The French version of “pussy,” “chatte” is a female cat. It is a vulgar word to refer to the female genitalia. 

13. Fous-toi

French for “f*ck you” or “f*ck yourself.” 

14. Va te faire foutre 

Similar to “fous-toi,” “va te faire foutre” literally means “go f*ck yourself.”

14. Connerie

You say “connerie” when you hear something that you do not believe or doesn’t make sense, like the English “bullcrap” or “bullshit.” Connerie can also mean any stupid action – as in “faire une connerie,” which means to fuck up or to screw up. 

14. Emmerdeur / Emmerdeuse

Masculine “emmerdeur” or feminine “emmerdeuse”  refers to someone so annoying they’re a pain in the ass.

15. Je t’emmerde’ 

Another way to say “f*ck.” you” or “screw you” in French.

17. Chieur / Chieuse

Same as above, “chier” (male) or “chieuse” (female) is a person who takes a crap, used as an insult on someone you think is a pain in the ass.  

18. Chiant / Chiante

Also refers to someone who’s a pain in your ass, a chiant (male) or a chiante (female) is a bit different from chieur/chieuse because the former is someone who makes you take a crap. 

19. Con / Conne

The French term “con” originally referred to the female genitalia and can be translated as “pussy” when insulting a man. It is also used on someone you consider a jerk or a moron. 

20. Lèche-cul

“Lèche” is French for “lick” and “cul” means “ass.” So when someone calls you a “lèche-cul,” they mean you’re an ass-licker.

21. Brûle en l’enfer

“Brûle en l’enfer” literally means “burn in hell.”

22. Tête de nœud

“Dickhead” in English, but in French it’s an insult used to call someone stupid.

23. Enculer

The French way to say the expression “f*ck.” 

24. Enculé / Enculée

This insult is employed to call someone a cocksucker or an asshole. “Petit” (small/little) is usually added and the insult – “petit enculé/enculée” – comes to mean “little f*cker” or “little shit.”

25. Va te faire foutre

The vulgar French word for “sperm” or “cum,” “foutre” is also used as a verb which means “f*ck.” “Va te faire foutre” in this sense means “go and get f*cked.”

26. Zob / Pine / Queue / Bite / Nœud

These are just some of the French swear words that equal with the English “d*ck” or “penis.” 

27. Fermer ta gueule

“Fermer ta gueule” – often shortened to “ta gueule” – is used to tell someone to shut the f*ck up. “Fermer” means to close or shut, while “gueule” translates to mouth (commonly, of an animal). 

28.  Couilles

The vulgar term for testicles, “couilles” is the French equivalent of the English “balls” or “bollocks.” 

29. Pouffiasse / Pouffe

An insult intended for a woman who dresses or behaves like a slut and is considered somewhat dumb, “pouffiasse” or “pouffe” is the French equivalent of the English “bimbo.”

30. Zut

By far the “mildest” in the list, “zut” can be considered “wholesome.” It is the French expression that can be translated as “shucks” or “darn.”