griffonner
/ɡʁi.fɔ.ne/
To doodle in French is griffonner. Wiktionary also lists gribouiller.
Meaning: to draw or scribble aimlessly (verb)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| griffonner | /ɡʁi.fɔ.ne/ |
| gribouiller | /ɡʁi.bu.je/ |
Both griffonner and gribouiller are used to describe the act of drawing or scribbling aimlessly. If you want to refer to the result of this action, you can use the nouns griffonnage or gribouillis to mean a small, mindless sketch or the masculine noun un gribouillis to refer specifically to a single doodle or scribble.
Which one should you use?
While both words describe aimless drawing, gribouiller is the more common, colloquial term for aimless doodling or messy scribbling. The noun gribouillage is also an informal way to refer to a doodle.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
{/ɡʁi.fɔ.ne/}
Did you know?
- The verb griffonner shares its root with griffe, which means 'claw'. Using it implies your pen is scratching the paper like a claw.
- The noun gribouillis can be used to describe not just drawings, but also a tangled mess of wires or even a chaotic situation.
- While 'doodle' in English is often a harmless, creative distraction, calling someone's writing un gribouillage can be quite insulting, as it implies their handwriting is completely unintelligible.
Examples in context
- J'ai fait quelques griffonnages pendant la réunionI made some doodles during the meeting
- Je fais souvent des gribouillages lorsque je m'ennuie en coursI often doodle when I'm bored in class
- Je griffonne souvent pendant les réunions.I often doodle during meetings.
- Il aime griffonner dans ses cahiers.He likes to doodle in his notebooks.
- Ne passe pas ton temps à griffonner.Don't spend your time doodling.
- Elle a commencé à griffonner sur la nappe.She started to doodle on the tablecloth.
Example conversation
Léa and Nathan are sitting in a quiet cafe.
- LéaNathan, qu'est-ce que tu fais ?Nathan, what are you doing?
- NathanJe n'arrête pas de griffonner sur mon carnet.I can't stop doodling in my notebook.
- LéaC'est un beau dessin, même si c'est un gribouillis.It is a beautiful drawing, even if it is a scribble.
- NathanMerci, c'est juste pour passer le temps.Thanks, it's just to pass the time.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “doodle” translations and entries griffonner, gribouiller, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries griffonner, CC BY-SA 4.0.
