cafard
/ka.faʁ/
The English phrase "roach" is cafard in French.
cafard refers to the insect known as a roach. It is also used idiomatically in the phrase avoir le cafard, which means to feel depressed or to have the blues.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of cafard is formed by adding an 's' to create cafards.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /ka.faʁ/.
Did you know?
- The word cafard originally stems from the Arabic word kāfir, which means 'unbeliever' or 'infidel'.
- The verb cafarder is used in some contexts to mean the act of betraying someone or reporting them to an authority.
- While cafard is the standard term, people in Quebec often use the word coquerelle to describe the insect.
Examples in context
- Le cafard est sur la table.The roach is on the table.This sentence shows the position of the cafard.Tatoeba #8639020 by lbdx, translation #8321506 by Amastan
- Sami a refusé de marcher sur le cafard.Sami refused to step on the roach.This sentence illustrates the action of avoiding stepping on the cafard.Tatoeba #8639018 by lbdx, translation #6119287 by OsoHombre
- Il y a un cafard dans la cuisine.There is a roach in the kitchen.
Example conversation
Manon and Hugo are in their kitchen during the evening.
- ManonHugo, regarde, il y a un cafard !Hugo, look, there is a roach!
- HugoOù est-ce ? Je ne vois rien.Where is it? I don't see anything.
- ManonIl est juste là, près du mur.It is right there, near the wall.
- HugoAh non, ça me dégoûte.Oh no, that disgusts me.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry cafard, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cafard, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
