hurluberlu
/yʁ.ly.bɛʁ.ly/
The French word for goofball is hurluberlu.
hurluberlu refers to a foolish or silly person.
Meaning: a foolish or silly person (noun)
Which one should you use?
While hurluberlu describes a silly or foolish person, the term Rigolo is used to describe a funny person or a funny guy or girl.
How do you pronounce it?
/yʁ.ly.bɛʁ.ly/
Did you know?
- The term hurluberlu may actually share a common ancestor with the English phrase 'hurly-burly', which refers to a state of commotion or confusion.
- The word is built from the root berlu, which describes someone who is 'unseeing' or lacks clarity, implying the goofball is someone who is not quite seeing the world correctly.
- Unlike 'goofball' which is common in casual speech, hurluberlu is a slightly old-fashioned word that adds a touch of literary flavor to a conversation.
Examples in context
- C'est un vrai rigolo!He/She is a real goofball!
- Ne le prends pas trop au sérieux, c'est juste un bouffonDon't take him too seriously, he's just a goofball
- Quel hurluberlu, ce garçon !What a goofball, this boy!
- Ne sois pas un tel hurluberlu.Don't be such a goofball.
- Mon oncle est un vrai hurluberlu.My uncle is a real goofball.
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are talking about a funny friend.
- EmmaTu as vu comment Gabriel danse ?Did you see how Gabriel dances?
- GabrielOui, c'est un hurluberlu !Yes, he's a goofball!
- EmmaIl nous fait toujours rire.He always makes us laugh.
- GabrielC'est vrai, il est très drôle.That's true, he is very funny.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry hurluberlu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hurluberlu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
