Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| idiot | /i.djo/ | masculine |
| idiote | /i.djɔt/ | feminine |
| imbécile | /ɛ̃.be.sil/ | feminine, masculine |
| bouffon | /bu.fɔ̃/ | masculine |
| crétin | /kʁe.tɛ̃/ | masculine |
All these terms refer to a person of low general intelligence. While idiot is a general term, crétin is often used more aggressively to imply a lack of common sense or a specific stupidity, similar to the English word moron.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ based on the gender of the person being described and the intensity of the insult. Use idiot for a man and idiote for a woman. Imbécile is a versatile term that can be used for both masculine and feminine subjects. Bouffon is a masculine form, and crétin is a masculine form.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the South of France, the colloquial term cruche, which means jug, can be used to refer to someone who is slow or dim-witted.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use these words in an exclamatory way, such as saying 'What an idiot!', use the structure Quel idiot ! for a man or Quelle idiote ! for a woman. The feminine form of idiot is idiote.
How do you pronounce it?
/i.djo/
When do people say it?
The term andouille literally means sausage and is used humorously to refer to an idiot. In the South of France, the colloquialism cruche literally means jug but is used to describe someone dim-witted.
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Tu es une idiote.You're an idiot.This sentence shows how to use the feminine form idiote.Tatoeba #10495465 by pkill, translation #461945 by tamsanh
- Quel idiot tu es !You're such an idiot!This sentence demonstrates the exclamatory use of idiot.Tatoeba #1243776 by sacredceltic, translation #984523 by CM
- C'est une idiote !She's an idiot!This sentence illustrates how to refer to a woman as an idiote.Tatoeba #12953934 by lbdx, translation #9972614 by ddnktr
- T'es vraiment con parfoisYou're really dumb sometimes
- T'es vraiment un crétin, mais je t'adoreYou're such a moron, but I adore you
- Tu es une vraie andouilleYou're a real idiot
- 179 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Emma are talking about a bad decision a friend made.
- NathanIl a tout perdu, c'est un idiot.He lost everything, he's an idiot.
- EmmaC'est vrai, il n'était pas prudent.It's true, he wasn't being careful.
- NathanJe me sens comme un idiot aussi.I feel like an idiot too.
- EmmaNe dis pas ça, Nathan.Don't say that, Nathan.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “idiot” translations and entries idiot, idiote, imbécile, bouffon, crétin, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bouffon, idiot, imbécile, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
