gros porc
The English phrase "greedy pig" can be translated into French as gros porc.
This phrase is used as an insulting way to describe someone's gluttony or to criticize someone who is overly greedy.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Both gros porc and the informal term Goinfre are used in informal situations to insult someone's greed.
Did you know?
- Calling someone a porc in French can be a serious accusation of sexual predation or crude behavior, not just a comment on their eating habits.
- In French, the word porc refers to the animal as a species or the meat, whereas cochon is the common word used when talking about a domestic pig.
- The word gros in this phrase is a linguistic relative of the English word 'gross'. Although 'gross' now often means disgusting, it stems from the same Latin root as gros, which originally meant 'thick' or 'large'.
Examples in context
- Tu es un goinfre!You're a greedy pig!
- Elle a mangé tout le gâteau! Quelle goinfre!She ate the whole cake! What a greedy pig!
- Ne mange pas tout, espèce de gros porc.Don't eat everything, you greedy pig.
- Il a tout fini comme un gros porc.He ate everything like a greedy pig.
- Arrête de te comporter comme un gros porc.Stop acting like a greedy pig.
Example conversation
Hugo and Léa are sharing a plate of fries.
- HugoTu as pris presque toutes les frites, gros porc !You took almost all the fries, you greedy pig!
- LéaJ'avais très faim, Hugo !I was very hungry, Hugo!
- HugoLaisse-en un peu pour moi, Léa.Leave some for me, Léa.
- LéaD'accord, je t'en donne quelques-unes.Okay, I'll give you a few.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gros, porc, CC BY-SA 4.0.
