Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| kitsch | /kitʃ/ |
| ringard | /ʁɛ̃.ɡaʁ/ |
In French, the term for "cheesy" depends on whether you are describing something as tacky, outdated or sentimental. kitsch is used for things that are clichéd, tacky or lack aesthetic taste. ringard is used when something is "corny" because it is old-fashioned or out of style. Other synonyms include the slang term Cucul for something overly sentimental or romantic, and gnangnan for something "sappy".
Which one should you use?
Use kitsch when referring to something that is aesthetically low-brow, tacky or overly sentimental. Use ringard specifically when something is cheesy because it is outdated, uncool or old-fashioned.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word kitsch functions as both an adjective and a noun, but as an adjective, it is invariable. It does not change to add an -e for feminine or an -s for plural. In contrast, the adjective ringard is variable and changes to ringarde in its feminine form.
How do you pronounce it?
/kitʃ/
Did you know?
- Unlike the English 'cheesy' which can refer to food, none of these French terms have any connection to 'fromage' or cheese.
- The adjective kitsch entered the French language directly from German, rather than being an organic French development.
- If you find a romantic movie too sappy or weak, you might call it gnangnan, a word that mimics the repetitive, weak sound of something trivial.
Examples in context
- Ce film était vraiment niaisThis movie was really cheesy
- Ce livre est vraiment cuculThis book is really cheesy
- La comédie romantique était tellement cucul que j'ai failli m'endormir devant!The romantic comedy was so cheesy that I almost fell asleep!
- C'est un peu kitsch, ce film.This movie is a bit kitsch.
- Son style est vraiment kitsch.His style is truly kitsch.
- Cette décoration est trop kitsch pour moi.This decoration is too kitsch for me.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Léa are looking at a romantic greeting card.
- GabrielRegarde cette carte, c'est trop kitsch !Look at this card, it's too cheesy!
- LéaC'est vrai, mais c'est mignon.True, but it's cute.
- GabrielLe poème est vraiment kitsch.The poem is really cheesy.
- LéaTu es trop sévère, Gabriel.You are too harsh, Gabriel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cheesy” translations and entries kitsch, ringard, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kitsch, ringard, CC BY-SA 4.0.
