plouc
/pluk/feminine, masculine
The French word for hick is plouc.
plouc is an informal term used to describe someone who is uncultured, unsophisticated or considered a country bumpkin.
Meaning: country yokel or hillbilly (noun)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
plouc is both informal and derogatory, often used to insult a person's lack of sophistication or their rural background.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of plouc is ploucs.
How do you pronounce it?
/pluk/
Did you know?
- The word plouc originates from the Breton word ploue, which simply means 'parish'.
- In modern French slang, plouc can be used to describe someone's fashion sense rather than their origin, referring to someone wearing clothes that are outdated or tacky.
- Despite its derogatory nature, you might encounter the term in French comedies to depict a lovable but clumsy character from the provinces.
Examples in context
- Tom est un plouc.Tom is a hick.This sentence is useful for seeing how to identify someone as a plouc.Tatoeba #7125488 by Rovo, translation #2272811 by CK
- Luc est vraiment un plouc. Il porte toujours des chemises à carreaux et des bottes en caoutchouc en ville.Luc is such a hick. He always wears flannel shirts and rubber boots in the city.
- Il se comporte comme un vrai plouc.He behaves like a real hillbilly.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Emma are talking about a man's strange fashion choices.
- GabrielRegarde ses chaussures, c'est ridicule.Look at his shoes, it's ridiculous.
- EmmaC'est vrai, il a l'air d'un plouc.It's true, he looks like a hick.
- GabrielJe me demande où il a acheté ça.I wonder where he bought that.
- EmmaSûrement dans un petit village perdu.Probably in some remote little village.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hick” translations and entries plouc, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries plouc, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
