fou
male, informal
The usual way to say "crazy" is fou for a man and folle for a woman. Cajun speakers use it both for real madness and for someone who is wild or silly. It is also called fou comme un balai.
Meaning: mad or out of one's mind (adjective)
Ways to say it
| French | Note |
|---|---|
| fou | male, informal |
| folle | female |
| fou comme un balai | figurative |
Il est fou! is a friendly way to say someone is behaving wildly. Said with the wrong tone it can offend, so listen to how the others in the room use it.
How do you pronounce it?
Fou sounds like "foo" and folle like "fol".
Did you know?
- CODOFIL, the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana, was created in 1968 to support the French language in the state.
Examples in context
- Il est fou, lui!He is crazy!
- Elle est folle de joie.She is wild with joy.
- T'es pas fou!You are not crazy!
Example conversation
Paul and his friend Luc talk after a loud crawfish boil in Henderson.
- PaulTu as vu Luc sauter dans le bayou?Did you see Luc jump into the bayou?
- LucOui, il est fou!Yes, he is crazy!
- PaulMoi, je reste sur la terre.Me, I stay on land.
