fou
/fu/
The English phrase 'crazy guy' is translated into French as fou.
The term fou is used to describe someone who is crazy. To specifically refer to a person as 'a crazy guy', you might use un type fou or un mec fou in casual speech.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective fou changes depending on the gender and number of the person being described. Use folle when referring to a woman, and fous when describing multiple men or a mixed group. For multiple women, use folles. There is a special form, fol, which is used instead of fou when the following masculine noun begins with a vowel or a silent 'h'.
How do you pronounce it?
/fu/
Did you know?
- The word fou is surprisingly related to the word for 'elephant' in Arabic, 'al-fīl', through the history of the chess piece 'alfil'.
- Calling someone un fou can sometimes be a compliment in French, implying they are brilliantly unconventional or 'mad' in a creative sense.
- In French, fou can be used to express an intense passion or love, such as in the phrase être fou de quelqu'un.
Examples in context
- Tu as vu ce mec fou là-bas ? Il danse comme un fou.Did you see that crazy dude over there? He's dancing like crazy.
- C'est un fou, ce type.That guy is a crazy guy.
- Ne l'écoute pas, il est complètement fou.Don't listen to him, he is completely crazy.
- Ce fou court dans la rue.That crazy guy is running in the street.
Example conversation
Manon and Gabriel are watching people from a cafe terrace.
- ManonRegarde ce fou avec son chapeau rouge !Look at that crazy guy with the red hat!
- GabrielAh oui, il est vraiment fou.Ah yes, he is truly crazy.
- ManonTu penses qu'il est dangereux ?Do you think he is dangerous?
- GabrielNon, il a juste l'air un peu fou.No, he just looks a little crazy.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry fou, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fou, CC BY-SA 4.0.
