sale gosse
feminine, masculine
The English word brat can be translated into French as sale gosse. Wiktionary also lists morveux and peste.
Meaning: a selfish, spoiled, or unruly child (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| sale gosse | feminine, masculine | |
| morveux | /mɔʁ.vø/ | masculine |
| peste | /pɛst/ | feminine |
| garnement | /ɡaʁ.nə.mɑ̃/ | masculine |
The term is used to describe a selfish, spoiled or unruly child.
What does it mean word for word?
The colloquial phrase sale gosse literally translates to 'dirty kid'.
Which one should you use?
Sale gosse is gender-neutral. Morveux is a masculine term used for a 'snotty brat' and is more insulting than garnement, often implying the child is physically messy. Garnement is a masculine term that serves as a milder, more playful way to say 'rascal' or 'brat'. Peste is a feminine term used specifically for a female brat or a pest.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using these nouns, you must use the correct article: use the masculine article un before morveux and the feminine article une before peste.
Did you know?
- The word gosse is primarily used in France, but in Quebec, it can be an extremely vulgar slang term for a body part.
- While 'brat' in English implies a spoiled child, the French peste carries a weight of historical contagion, originating from the Latin word for 'plague'.
- While morveux refers to a 'snotty brat', it is often used as a general term of condescension toward anyone perceived as inexperienced or young, regardless of their hygiene.
Examples in context
- Tu es un petit morveux.You're a snotty little brat.This sentence uses morveux to show how to call someone a snotty little brat.Tatoeba #12834237 by lbdx, translation #7112854 by CM
- Reviens ici, petit morveux !Come back here, you little brat!This sentence uses morveux to show how to command a little brat to come back.Tatoeba #9870986 by lbdx, translation #5353436 by mailohilohi
- Tu ne devrais pas laisser ton fils agir comme un sale gosse égoïste.You shouldn't allow your son to act like a selfish brat.This sentence uses sale gosse to describe a son acting like a selfish brat.Tatoeba #9871000 by lbdx, translation #1341480 by CM
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Gabriel are watching a child throw a tantrum in a park.
- ManonRegarde ce sale gosse qui hurle.Look at that brat screaming.
- GabrielIl est vraiment insupportable, ce garçon.That boy is really unbearable.
- ManonSes parents ne font rien pour l'arrêter.His parents are doing nothing to stop him.
- GabrielC'est dommage pour lui.That is too bad for him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “brat” translations and entries morveux, peste, garnement, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries garnement, gosse, morveux, peste, sale, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
