pleurnichard
/plœʁ.ni.ʃaʁ/
The English phrase 'crybaby' is translated into French as pleurnichard.
A crybaby is a person whose feelings are easily hurt. While you can use the descriptive and polite phrase personne qui pleure facilement to mean someone who cries easily, the term pleurnichard is a common way to express this concept.
Meaning: person whose feelings are easily hurt (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word pleurnichard is derived from the verb pleurnicher, which means to whimper or whine, effectively meaning 'one who whimpers/whines'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The term pleurnichard is informal and carries a dismissive, slightly insulting tone. In informal settings, you may also use chialeur or chialeuse to describe someone who frequently cries or complains.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to a female crybaby, use the feminine form pleurnicharde. For a group of males or a mixed group, the masculine plural form is pleurnichards.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /plœʁ.ni.ʃaʁ/ and has 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- If you want to be even more insulting in a poetic or old-fashioned way, you could call someone a pleureuse, though this often refers specifically to a professional mourner.
- The suffix -ard in pleurnichard is often used in French to create pejorative nouns. It transforms a simple action into a character flaw, making the word feel more like a permanent personality trait than a temporary state.
- While pleurnichard is common in France, the term chialeur is far more frequent in Quebec. In Canadian French, the verb chialer is used not just for crying, but as a primary word for complaining or grumbling.
Examples in context
- C'est un pleurnichard, comme toujours.He's a crybaby, just like always.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use pleurnichard in a common context.Tatoeba #1556961 by sacredceltic, translation #300862 by CK
- Mon collègue est toujours en train de pleurnicher pour un rien.My colleague is always whining and crying over nothing.
- C'est vrai que je suis un peu chialeuse, mais c'est uniquement parce que je suis très émotive.It's true that I'm a bit of a crybaby, but it's only because I'm very emotional.
- Ne fais pas le pleurnichard.Don't be a crybaby.
- Ce petit garçon est un vrai pleurnichard.This little boy is a real crybaby.
Example conversation
Léa and Nathan are talking about a child at the park.
- NathanRegarde ce petit, il pleure pour rien.Look at that little one, he's crying over nothing.
- LéaC'est un vrai pleurnichard, le pauvre.He is a real crybaby, poor thing.
- NathanIl faut le consoler un peu.We should comfort him a little.
- LéaTu as raison, Nathan.You are right, Nathan.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “crybaby” translations and entries pleurnichard, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
