excentricité
/ɛk.sɑ̃.tʁi.si.te/feminine
The English phrase "kink" can be translated into French as excentricité or kink.
Meaning: peculiarity in sexual behaviour or taste (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| excentricité | /ɛk.sɑ̃.tʁi.si.te/ | feminine |
| kink | masculine |
Both words refer to a peculiarity in sexual behavior or taste.
Which one should you use?
The borrowed word kink is used specifically to refer to sexual fetishes or unconventional sexual tastes.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
kink is an informal loanword used primarily in subcultural contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word kink is a masculine noun, used as un kink.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of excentricité is /ɛk.sɑ̃.tʁi.si.te/. It has 5 syllables.
Did you know?
- The term excentricité is a direct descendant of the Medieval Latin excentricitas, which originally described something that is not at the center of a circle. This linguistic journey from geometry to human behavior is quite long.
- French has a specific word coquin that can be used to describe someone 'kinky' in a playful, flirtatious, or mischievous way without explicitly referring to a fetish.
- When using the informal phrase avoir un truc to imply a sexual preference, the word truc acts as a versatile placeholder. Because truc means 'thing' or 'gadget', the phrase remains intentionally vague and can even be used in polite company to hint at a preference without being explicit.
Examples in context
- Elle m'a confié l'un de ses fantasmes les plus fous.She shared with me one of her wildest kinks.
- J'ai découvert de nouvelles perversions grâce à ce groupe.I discovered new kinks thanks to this group.
- Elle a des bizarreries qui surprennent souvent ses partenaires.She has some kinks that often surprise her partners.
Example conversation
Léa and Lucas are talking about their preferences.
- LéaEst-ce que tu as une excentricité ?Do you have a kink?
- LucasOui, j'aime bien les jeux de rôle.Yes, I really like roleplaying.
- LéaC'est intéressant, Lucas.That is interesting, Lucas.
- LucasEt toi, Léa ?And you, Léa?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “kink” translations and entries excentricité, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries excentricité, CC BY-SA 4.0.
