ouste
/ust/
The French exclamation for "shoo fly" is ouste.
ouste is an exclamation used to drive away a fly or another small insect.
How do you pronounce it?
/ust/
Did you know?
- In French comic strips like Astérix, characters might use ouste to humorously dismiss a person as if they were a bothersome insect.
- The sound of ouste is so distinct that it is occasionally used in French literature to evoke a rustic or peasant atmosphere, signaling a rural setting to the reader.
- In the context of animals, a French farmer might use ouste not just for flies but to nudge a stubborn sheep or goat to move forward.
Examples in context
- Ouste ! Laisse-moi manger en paix.Shoo! Let me eat in peace.
Example conversation
Lucas is trying to eat his fruit outside while Manon watches.
- LucasOuste, cette mouche m'énerve !Shoo, this fly is annoying me!
- ManonElle tourne autour de ton assiette, Lucas.It is circling around your plate, Lucas.
- LucasOuste ! Elle ne part pas.Shoo! It won't leave.
- ManonLaisse-moi t'aider à la chasser.Let me help you drive it away.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ouste, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
