How to Say “Simp” in French

By Landon Norman • Updated October 4, 2026

canard

/ka.naʁ/

The English phrase "simp" is translated into French as canard.

canard is used to describe a person who shows excessive attention or submission to someone they are attracted to in hopes of winning their affection.

How do you pronounce it?

The word is pronounced /ka.naʁ/ and consists of two syllables.

Did you know?

Outside of this specific slang meaning, the word canard is also used in French journalism to describe a fake news story or a hoax.
The word canard literally means 'duck' in French.
The word canard is distantly related to the English word 'knarr', a type of merchant ship from Old English.

Example conversation

Léa and Nathan are talking about a mutual friend.

Léa

Regarde Nathan, il lui offre encore des fleurs.
Look Nathan, he is giving her flowers again.
Nathan

C'est vrai, il fait trop le canard.
True, he is simping way too much.
Léa

Elle ne s'intéresse même pas à lui.
She isn't even interested in him.
Nathan

Pauvre canard, il n'a aucune chance.
Poor simp, he has no chance.

Sources

Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry canard, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
Word origins: Wiktionary entries canard, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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About The Author

Landon Norman

Bonjour! I'm Landon, who's utterly besotted with the sultry whispers of the French language. On any given day, you'll find me hiking in the great outdoors, a clarinet on my back and a dachshund on the leash. While immersive in music or nature, that's where I distill French phrases for myriad situations, from the banal – like asking to go the toilet or stating one's age – to expressing feelings of amour et bisous with poise. Join me on my linguistic journey! Who knows? Maybe you too will start dreaming en français.

Landon NormanHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.

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