radin
/ʁa.dɛ̃/
The English word "stingy" can be translated into French using several terms, most commonly radin. Wiktionary also lists pingre and chiche.
Meaning: unwilling to spend or give (adj)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| radin | /ʁa.dɛ̃/ |
| pingre | /pɛ̃ɡʁ/ |
| chiche | /ʃiʃ/ |
These terms are used to describe someone unwilling to spend or give. Depending on the context, you may be describing a person's character or the insufficient size of a portion.
Which one should you use?
The term radin is used to describe a person's character. In contrast, chiche is often used to describe an amount or a portion that is insufficient or scanty.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Pingre is a more formal or literary way to describe someone as stingy. Radin is a common colloquial term. There is also an informal and affectionate version, Radinou.
How does it change in a sentence?
When describing a female, the feminine form of radin is radine.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʁa.dɛ̃/
Did you know?
- The term chiche is sometimes used in the phrase chiche !, which functions as a challenge meaning 'I bet you won't!' or 'Are you game?'
- The formal term pingre may be etymologically linked to épingle, meaning 'pin'. This likely evokes the idea of someone who is as stingy as a pin is small.
- In French, adding the suffix -ou to create radinou transforms a criticism into an affectionate or teasing remark, similar to calling someone a 'stingy-pants' in English.
Examples in context
- Ne sois pas radin.Don't be stingy.This sentence shows how to use radin in a command.Tatoeba #10718636 by lbdx, translation #2245309 by CK
- Il est un peu radin.He's a bit stingy.This sentence shows how to describe someone's degree of stinginess using radin.Tatoeba #3127725 by Sisyphe, translation #3128602 by brad
- Ne sois pas si radin.Don't be so stingy.This sentence shows how to emphasize the quality of being stingy using radin.Tatoeba #8414118 by lbdx, translation #3820594 by CK
- Il est vraiment avare, il ne veut jamais payer l'additionHe is truly stingy, he never wants to pay the bill
- Mon patron est vraiment radin, il ne me donne jamais de primesMy boss is really stingy, he never gives me bonuses
- Il est vraiment pingre, on doit souvent partager l'addition entre nousHe is really stingy, we often have to split the bill amongst ourselves
- Arrête d'être radinou, invite-nous au restaurant !Stop being stingy, treat us to a restaurant meal!
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Hugo are deciding who pays for the coffee.
- ManonC'est ton tour de payer le café.It's your turn to pay for the coffee.
- HugoJe n'ai plus d'argent sur moi.I don't have any money on me.
- ManonArrête d'être radin, Hugo !Stop being stingy, Hugo!
- HugoD'accord, je paye pour nous deux.Okay, I'll pay for both of us.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stingy” translations and entries radin, pingre, chiche, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chiche, pingre, radin, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
