Level B1/B2 (Intermediate-Upper Intermediate)
The French Word of the Day is foutre, one of the most widely used slang verbs in everyday French. It’s a stronger, often vulgar version of faire (to do/to make) or mettre (to put). This lesson offers a clear overview of its many common and colorful expressions.
Podcast
Meaning
Pronunciation & register
Example sentences
Conjugation
Relate lessons
Podcast
Meaning
The verb foutre is a very informal and often vulgar synonym of faire (to do) or mettre (to put), depending on context. It often appears in slang expressions and typically adds intensity to casual speech.
Pronunciation & Register
[futʁ]
Very informal / vulgar
Example sentences
For this first example sentence, foutre is being used in the same way as faire (to make, to do).
Je me sens paresseux et je ne fous rien aujourd’hui !
I feel lazy and am not doing a darn thing today!
The reflexive expression se foutre de means “to not care about” or “to not give a damn about.” In everyday spoken French, you’ll often hear the pronoun en added—s’en foutre—even though it’s not technically required. This usage is informal and common in street French.
Je m’en fous de ton opinion !
I don’t care about your opinion!
The expression n’en avoir rien à foutre means “to not care about” or “to not give a damn about”. Again, be careful with this expression—it’s strong. Also notice that in this example the ne is omitted as it’s French slang.
De toute façon, j’en ai rien à foutre !
Anyways, I don’t give a f*!
The expression foutre le camp means “get lost”, “beat it”, “scram” or “get out of here”.
Fous le camp ! Tu m’énerves !
Get lost! You’re bothering me!
In the passé composé, j’ai foutu translates to “I put” and is synonymous j’ai mis (passé composé of mettre, to put).
Où est-ce que j’ai foutu les maudites clés ?
Where did I put my darn keys?
The expression se foutre de la gueule de quelqu’un means “to mock” or “to make fun of someone,” and is a vulgar synonym of se moquer de. For example, you could also say: “Est-ce que tu te moques de moi ?” (Are you making fun of me?).
Est-ce que tu te fous de ma gueule ?
Are you mocking me?
Conjugation
Foutre is an irregular RE verb. This means that it’s endings are different than other regular RE verbs when conjugated in the present tense.
Je fous I do (or make)
Tu fous You do (singular, familiar)
Il, elle fout He, she does
Nous foutons We do
Vous foutez You do (plural, formal)
Ils, elles foutent They do
More usages of foutre
- foutu(e) (adj.) – screwed, damned
- foutre le bordel – to make a mess / create chaos
- foutre la merde – to stir up trouble
- en foutre une – to hit someone
- foutre en l’air – to ruin, mess up
- foutoir (n.m.) – a mess
Discover more French slang Word of the Day lessons!
- Le bordel – mess, chaos
- Crevé – exhausted, tired
- Ouf – crazy
- Meuf – girl, chick
- Kiffer – to like
- Le fric – money
- La balle – buck (money)
- Fait chier ! – that sucks!
- Le/la Gamin(e) – kid, child
References
