arnaqué
The English phrase ripped off is translated into French as arnaqué.
To express the passive experience of being ripped off, French speakers commonly use the reflexive construction se faire arnaquer.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form arnaqué is the masculine singular past participle used as an adjective or to describe a person who has been ripped off. Use arnaquée for the feminine singular, arnaqués for the masculine plural and arnaquées for the feminine plural.
Did you know?
- In certain French contexts, particularly in street slang, people use the word carotte (carrot) as a verb, carotter, to mean the same thing as 'to rip off' or 'to cheat'.
- While arnaqué is used globally, in Quebec, you might hear the expression se faire passer un sapin. This literally means 'to be passed a fir tree'.
- The verb rouler (to roll) is often used figuratively, as in se faire rouler dans la farine, which means to be 'rolled in the flour' or completely deceived.
Examples in context
- Je me sens escroqué(e) par ce vendeur malhonnêteI feel ripped off by this dishonest seller
- Nous avons été floués par cette publicité mensongèreWe were ripped off by this misleading advertisement
- Il a été arnaqué par ce faux agent immobilierHe was ripped off by this fake real estate agent
- Je me suis fait avoir par ce vendeur peu scrupuleuxI got ripped off by this unscrupulous seller
- On s'est fait pigeonner en achetant cette contrefaçonWe got ripped off buying this counterfeit item
- J'ai été totalement escroqué par cette agence de voyage. Je ne recommanderais jamais leurs services à qui que ce soit.I was completely ripped off by this travel agency. I would never recommend their services to anyone.
- Je me suis fait avoir en achetant cette voiture d'occasion. Elle était bien plus problématique que le vendeur ne l'avait prétendu.I got ripped off buying this used car. It had far more issues than the seller claimed.
- Je me suis fait arnaquer par ce vendeur.I got ripped off by this seller.
- Il a été arnaqué lors de son voyage.He was ripped off during his trip.
Example conversation
Lucas and Chloé are discussing a cheap taxi ride.
- LucasLe chauffeur a demandé cinquante euros !The driver asked for fifty euros!
- ChloéQuoi ? Tu t'es fait arnaqué, Lucas.What? You got ripped off, Lucas.
- LucasOui, c'est beaucoup trop cher.Yes, it's way too expensive.
- ChloéC'est malheureux, Chloé ne le fera pas.That's unfortunate, Chloé wouldn't do that.
