pétard
/pe.taʁ/masculine
The English word 'reefer' can be translated into French as pétard or joint.
Meaning: marijuana cigarette (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pétard | /pe.taʁ/ | masculine |
| joint | /ʒwɛ̃/ | masculine |
Both terms are used to refer to a marijuana cigarette.
Which one should you use?
While both words refer to a marijuana cigarette, pétard is a more slangy, street-level term than joint, which is used in informal speech but is generally considered less 'street'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
joint is an informal term, whereas pétard is categorized as slang.
How do you pronounce it?
The word pétard is pronounced /pe.taʁ/ and has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The slang pétard is built from the verb péter, which means 'to fart' or 'to burst'. This gives the term a somewhat vulgar, scatological undertone that 'joint' lacks.
- The word pétard can actually refer to an old-fashioned firearm, creating a double meaning between an explosive, a weapon, and a drug-related item.
- The term pétard literally translates to 'firecracker' or 'bomb' in English. This explosive connotation reflects the sudden, intense effect the substance can have on a person.
Examples in context
- Il a fumé un pétard.He smoked a reefer.
- Il a fumé un pétard dans le parc.He smoked a reefer in the park.
- Tu veux partager ton pétard ?Do you want to share your reefer?
- Elle a caché un pétard dans son sac.She hid a reefer in her bag.
Example conversation
Two friends are hanging out in a park.
- ManonTu as apporté un pétard ?Did you bring a reefer?
- NathanOui, j'ai un gros pétard pour nous.Yes, I have a big reefer for us.
- ManonSuper, Nathan est vraiment prêt !Great, Nathan is really prepared!
- NathanOn va bien s'amuser.We are going to have fun.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “reefer” translations and entries pétard, joint, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries joint, pétard, CC BY-SA 4.0.
