baraqué
/ba.ʁa.ke/
The French word for hunky is baraqué.
The term baraqué is typically used to describe a man with a muscular, well-built physique.
Which one should you use?
While baraqué specifically highlights a muscular build, other informal terms like Canon can be used to describe someone as being hunky or stunningly attractive more generally.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The word baraqué is colloquial. If you want to use other informal expressions, you might use Beau gosse to mean a good-looking guy or Canon to describe someone as stunningly attractive.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, the informal term beau bonhomme is sometimes used to mean handsome.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender and number with the person described. Use baraquée for a woman, baraqués for a masculine plural group and baraqué for a masculine singular subject.
How do you pronounce it?
/ba.ʁa.ke/ (3 syllables)
Did you know?
- The word baraqué comes from baraque, which means a 'shack' or 'hut'. To be baraqué is literally to be built like a sturdy wooden cabin.
- While baraqué describes a muscular build, the term canon literally means 'cannon'. It is used to describe someone who is a 'knockout' in terms of beauty.
- The term baraqué can be used to describe objects or animals, not just humans, whenever something is unusually thick-set or chunky.
Examples in context
- Regarde ce beau gosse là-bas.Look at that hunk over there.
- Tu trouves pas qu'il est canon ?Don't you think he's hunky?
- Il est vraiment baraqué.He is really hunky.
- Regarde ce garçon, il est baraqué.Look at that boy, he is hunky.
- Mon nouveau coach est très baraqué.My new coach is very hunky.
Example conversation
Chloé and Nathan are watching people at a beach club.
- NathanDis, tu as vu le nouveau serveur ?Hey, did you see the new waiter?
- ChloéLequel ? Celui qui est baraqué ?Which one? The hunky one?
- NathanOui, lui ! Il est super beau.Yes, him! He is super handsome.
- ChloéC'est vrai, il est très baraqué.It's true, he is very hunky.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry baraqué, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries baraqué, CC BY-SA 4.0.
