French word of the day: Chauffard
If you're fed up of French drivers, then this is the word for you.
Why do I need to know chauffard?
Because whether you're driving, walking, or cycling, sometimes you just have to let out your anger.
What does it mean?
A chauffard is a reckless driver. It comes from the word chauffeur (driver), combined with the suffix -ard, which often signifies that a term is pejorative. For example:
- Ringard (unfashionable)
- Connard (jerk/arsehole)
- Bâtard (bastard)
- Flemmard (lazy)
- Vantard (bragger)
You may be used to coming across chauffards in France – dangerous drivers who don’t pay attention to other people.
It can be used more or less formally depending on the context. When a woman died earlier this week after a car crashed into a café terrace in Paris, the mayor of the 17th arrondissement tweeted that she had been “percutée par un chauffard” (hit by a reckless driver).
😩🔴 Tragique accident de la route rue Sauffroy avec une femme décédée percutée sur le trottoir protégé par des potelets par un chauffard.
Plusieurs blessés graves.
Sur place avec le Préfet @prefpolice @PompiersParis et mes adjoints @GuerrePhil @LoulouGauthey @AtanasePerifan pic.twitter.com/09H872pRn6
— Geoffroy Boulard (@geoffroyboulard) July 29, 2021
On the more informal end of the spectrum, it can also be used as an exclamation. If a car cuts you off or skips a red light, you can yell, “Chauffard !”.
Use it like this
Chauffard ! C’est un passage piéton ! – Arsehole! It’s a pedestrian crossing!
Conduire à Paris, c’est dangereux, il n’y a que des chauffards – Driving in Paris is dangerous, there’s nothing but reckless drivers
Un chauffard a été arrêté après avoir percuté un cycliste - A reckless driver was arrested after hitting a cyclist
See Also
Why do I need to know chauffard?
Because whether you're driving, walking, or cycling, sometimes you just have to let out your anger.
What does it mean?
A chauffard is a reckless driver. It comes from the word chauffeur (driver), combined with the suffix -ard, which often signifies that a term is pejorative. For example:
- Ringard (unfashionable)
- Connard (jerk/arsehole)
- Bâtard (bastard)
- Flemmard (lazy)
- Vantard (bragger)
You may be used to coming across chauffards in France – dangerous drivers who don’t pay attention to other people.
It can be used more or less formally depending on the context. When a woman died earlier this week after a car crashed into a café terrace in Paris, the mayor of the 17th arrondissement tweeted that she had been “percutée par un chauffard” (hit by a reckless driver).
😩🔴 Tragique accident de la route rue Sauffroy avec une femme décédée percutée sur le trottoir protégé par des potelets par un chauffard.
— Geoffroy Boulard (@geoffroyboulard) July 29, 2021
Plusieurs blessés graves.
Sur place avec le Préfet @prefpolice @PompiersParis et mes adjoints @GuerrePhil @LoulouGauthey @AtanasePerifan pic.twitter.com/09H872pRn6
On the more informal end of the spectrum, it can also be used as an exclamation. If a car cuts you off or skips a red light, you can yell, “Chauffard !”.
Use it like this
Chauffard ! C’est un passage piéton ! – Arsehole! It’s a pedestrian crossing!
Conduire à Paris, c’est dangereux, il n’y a que des chauffards – Driving in Paris is dangerous, there’s nothing but reckless drivers
Un chauffard a été arrêté après avoir percuté un cycliste - A reckless driver was arrested after hitting a cyclist
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