vulgaire
/vyl.ɡɛʁ/feminine, masculine
The English word "crude" (meaning lacking tact or taste) is translated into French as vulgaire. Wiktionary also lists cru.
Meaning: lacking tact or taste (adj)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| vulgaire | /vyl.ɡɛʁ/ | feminine, masculine |
| cru | /kʁy/ |
vulgaire is used to describe behavior that lacks tact or taste, often referring to someone being coarse. It can also describe something that is common or of low quality.
Which one should you use?
vulgaire describes a lack of tact or taste, whereas cru is used when you mean "crude" in the sense of raw or unrefined materials, such as crude oil.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective vulgaire is invariable in gender, so it remains the same whether it is describing a masculine or feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/vyl.ɡɛʁ/
Did you know?
- In the context of wine, the word cru changes meaning entirely, referring to a specific vineyard or a growth of grapes from a particular plot of land.
- While vulgaire describes a lack of taste, the word cru is used in French to describe someone who speaks with a blunt, raw honesty that borders on being offensive.
- While cru translates to 'crude' or 'raw', it is also the past participle of the verb croire, meaning 'to believe'. Depending on the context, cru can mean 'raw' or 'believed'.
Examples in context
- On considère comme vulgaire, quelqu'un qui est plus grossier que nous et comme prétentieux, quelqu'un qui a davantage de classe.You think someone coarser than you is "crude", and someone higher class than you to be "putting on airs".This sentence illustrates how vulgaire is used to describe someone perceived as coarse.Tatoeba #2040669 by sacredceltic, translation #329244 by fcbond
- Mais ce même principe doit s'appliquer aux perceptions musulmanes de l'Amérique. De même que les Musulmans ne correspondent pas à un vulgaire stéréotype, l'Amérique n'est pas le vulgaire stéréotype d'un empire égoïste.But that same principle must apply to Muslim perceptions of America. Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire.This sentence shows vulgaire being used to describe a crude stereotype.Tatoeba #481762 by sacredceltic, translation #376914 by saeb
- Les données brutesRaw data
- pétrole non raffinéCrude oil
- une peinture grossièreA crude painting
- un dessin primitifA crude drawing
- Sa remarque était vraiment vulgaire.His remark was truly crude.
Example conversation
Chloé and Lucas are discussing a joke a coworker made.
- ChloéTu as entendu la blague de Thomas ?Did you hear Thomas's joke?
- LucasOui, c'était très vulgaire.Yes, it was very crude.
- ChloéJe suis d'accord, c'était déplacé.I agree, it was inappropriate.
- LucasIl devrait faire attention à son langage.He should watch his language.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “crude” translations and entries vulgaire, cru, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
