lourdaud
/luʁ.do/masculine
The English phrase hulk can be translated into French as lourdaud. Wiktionary also lists rustre.
Meaning: big (and possibly clumsy) person (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| lourdaud | /luʁ.do/ | masculine |
| rustre | /ʁystʁ/ | masculine |
The term is used to describe a big and possibly clumsy person.
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between the two terms: lourdaud implies a person is physically heavy-handed or clumsy, whereas rustre implies a person lacks manners or is a boor.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form of lourdaud is lourdaude.
How do you pronounce it?
lourdaud is pronounced /luʁ.do/ and has two syllables.
Did you know?
- The word lourdaud can be used affectionately toward a child or a pet, whereas rustre remains strictly insulting.
- The word rustre was historically used to describe people from the countryside who were seen as lacking the polish of city dwellers.
- The suffix -aud in lourdaud is an augmentative that can turn a quality into a personality trait, often with a slightly mocking or affectionate tone.
Examples in context
- C'est un vrai lourdaud, il casse tout.He is a real hulk, he breaks everything.
- Arrête de faire le lourdaud avec les assiettes.Stop being a clumsy hulk with the plates.
Example conversation
Nathan accidentally knocks over a chair in the living room.
- NathanOh non, je suis désolé !Oh no, I'm sorry!
- ManonNathan, tu es vraiment un lourdaud.Nathan, you really are a hulk.
- NathanJe ne faisais pas attention.I wasn't paying attention.
- ManonC'est toujours la même chose avec toi.It's always the same thing with you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hulk” translations and entries lourdaud, rustre, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
