pédé
/pe.de/
The English term 'pede' translates to the French slang word pédé.
pédé is a highly offensive and derogatory slang term used to insult men by mocking their homosexuality.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
This is a derogatory and highly offensive slang term.
How does it change in a sentence?
To form the plural, add an 's' to the end to create pédés.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /pe.de/.
Did you know?
- The word pédé is a shortened form of the older, more formal term pédéraste, which once referred to a mentor-student relationship in Ancient Greece.
- In recent decades, some LGBTQ+ activists in France have attempted to reclaim pédé as a term of empowerment and identity, similar to the English word 'queer'.
- In French law, using pédé against someone in public is not just a social faux pas but a specific crime known as 'injure publique'.
Examples in context
- Ce mec est un vrai pédé.That guy is a real faggot.
- Arrête de l'appeler le pédé.Stop calling him the faggot.
- Ils l'ont traité de pédé.They called him a faggot.
Example conversation
Léa and Gabriel are discussing a bully at school.
- LéaIl est méchant avec tout le monde.He is mean to everyone.
- GabrielIl a encore insulté Marc en l'appelant pédé.He insulted Marc again by calling him a faggot.
- LéaC'est vraiment dégoûtant.That is truly disgusting.
- GabrielOui, il dépasse les bornes.Yes, he is crossing the line.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pédé, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pédé, CC BY-SA 4.0.
