Using the French Expletive Connard in Conversation

The French noun connard  (pronounced kuh-nar) is an informal term commonly used as an expletive. Loosely translated, it means idiot or jerk, although most people understand it to mean something more obscene. As with all slang, its important to understand what youre saying before you go using it in everyday conversation. You and your friends may toss around expletives like connard  knowing that youre joking. But you probably wouldnt want to use such language in a formal situation or in front of strangers. Translation and Usage A more direct translation of  connard  would be a--hole or any number of variations on the f-word. A French person searching for a synonym might choose imbà ©cile  or  crà ©tin.  There is also  a feminine version:  une connarde / une connasse  for cow. Examples of Usage Here are a few examples for context. To be clear, we are not recommending using this term. But it will be useful to understand it because it can be overheard on the streets of any French city or town. Cest un vrai connard ! Hes a real jerk!Tu es le  connard  de lautre nuit.  Casse-toi ! Youre the [expletive] from the other night. Get away!Et je suppose que le sale  connard  veut quelque chose en à ©change.  Ã‚  And I assume the dirty  [expletive] wants something in return.Ecoute, tu devenais un incroyable  connard.   Listen, you were becoming/being an unbelievable jerk.Babe Ruth à ©tait un  connard, mais le baseball reste gà ©nial.  Ã‚  Babe Ruth was  [expletive], but baseballs still  beautiful.Tu peux pas me parler, espà ¨ce de  connard.   You cant talk to me, you son of an  [expletive].Cest pas toi qui pose  la question,  connard.  Ã‚  Youre not asking the question,  [expletive].Vandalisme, arme blanche : Ten prends pour six mois,  connard.   Vandalism, deadly weapon. You get six months in lockup,  [expletive].Ouai, ben, soul ou sobre, tes toujours un  connard.  Ã‚  Yeah, well, drunk or sober, youre still an [expletive].