Level B1 (Intermediate)
Today we’ll have a look at a simple yet useful verb: Puer. Meaning: To stink! Today you’ll learn:
Meaning
Pronunciation with IPA
Example sentences
Meaning
The French verb puer means “to stink,” “to be stinky,” “to smell bad,” or “to reek.” It’s simply used to describe something that stinks!
Pronunciation
Example sentences
This sentence uses the form “Qu’est-ce qui + verb” (What + verb?). This lesson explains ways of asking questions in detail. Mets is the second-person singular (tu) form of mettre (to put, to wear).
Qu’est-ce qui pue ? Ah, c’est tes pieds ! Mets tes chaussettes !
What stinks? Ah, it’s your feet! Put on your socks!
For this sentence, ce camembert-ci (this Camembert here), the -ci means “this one here”, explained is our demonstrative pronouns lesson.
Achète ce camembert-ci. Ça pue plus.
Buy this Camembert here. It’s more stinky.
For this final sentence, bu is the past participle of boire (to drink).
Mireille a trop bu hier soir et ce matin elle pue l’alcool.
Mireille drank too much yesterday and this morning she reeks of alcohol.
Note that sentir mauvais is the more formal way to say “to stink” or “to smell bad”. Oh là là, ça sent mauvais! (Oh, it/that stinks!).
Present tense conjugation
Puer is a regular ER verb.
Je pue I stink
Tu pues You stink (singular, informal)
Il, elle pue He, she stinks
Nous puons We stink
Vous puez You stink (formal, plural)
Ils, elles puent They stink
Word origin
Puer comes from putere (to stink) in Latin.
Related expressions and synonyms
- Schlinguer to sink
- Empester to stink
- Cocotter – to stink
- Cogner – to stink
- Puer de la gueule to have bad breath
- Puer les pieds to have smelly feet
Related lessons
- Sentir – to feel, to smell (Word of the Day)
- Péter – to Fart, pop, burst, break (Word of the Day)
References
- fr.wiktionary.org (puer)
