French Word of the Day: Tartufferie
If you're looking for an insult that proves your credentials as a cultured and literary individual, look no further.
Why do I need to know tartufferie?
Because 400 years since the birth of Molière, people in France are still insulting each other with reference to one of his plays.
What does it mean?
Tartufferie, pronounced "tar-toof-erry" and sometimes spelt tartuferie, is a French way of saying "hypocrisy".
It comes from the work of famed playwright Molière, widely considered the French Shakespeare.
READ MORE France marks 400 years of Molière, master of stage and satire
Probably his best-known play is Tartuffe, in which the title character presents himself as a pious man, while sneakily attempting to seduce the lady of the household where he is staying as a guest.
Since then, the word tartuffe has become shorthand for "hypocrite" or someone who feigns religious or other virtue.
It follows that tartufferie means "hypocrisy".
You often hear politicians in France accusing each other of tartufferie.
Examples
Pour les oppositions tout est scandale. Quelle tartufferie de faire croire qu’appliquer la Constitution est une atteinte à la démocratie - For the opposition everything is a scandal. What hypocrisy to make out that applying the constitution is an attack on democracy
On est au bal total des tartuffes en Macronie - We are totally fed up with the hypocrisy of Macronism
La campagne électorale, c’est une grande tartufferie! - The electoral campaign is a big exercise in hypocrisy
Synonyms
Duplicité - duplicity
Hypocrisie - hypocrisy
Tromperie - skullduggery
Faire passer pour - to pass off as
Mascarade - mascarade
Fausseté - falsehood
Comments
See Also
Why do I need to know tartufferie?
Because 400 years since the birth of Molière, people in France are still insulting each other with reference to one of his plays.
What does it mean?
Tartufferie, pronounced "tar-toof-erry" and sometimes spelt tartuferie, is a French way of saying "hypocrisy".
It comes from the work of famed playwright Molière, widely considered the French Shakespeare.
READ MORE France marks 400 years of Molière, master of stage and satire
Probably his best-known play is Tartuffe, in which the title character presents himself as a pious man, while sneakily attempting to seduce the lady of the household where he is staying as a guest.
Since then, the word tartuffe has become shorthand for "hypocrite" or someone who feigns religious or other virtue.
It follows that tartufferie means "hypocrisy".
You often hear politicians in France accusing each other of tartufferie.
Examples
Pour les oppositions tout est scandale. Quelle tartufferie de faire croire qu’appliquer la Constitution est une atteinte à la démocratie - For the opposition everything is a scandal. What hypocrisy to make out that applying the constitution is an attack on democracy
On est au bal total des tartuffes en Macronie - We are totally fed up with the hypocrisy of Macronism
La campagne électorale, c’est une grande tartufferie! - The electoral campaign is a big exercise in hypocrisy
Synonyms
Duplicité - duplicity
Hypocrisie - hypocrisy
Tromperie - skullduggery
Faire passer pour - to pass off as
Mascarade - mascarade
Fausseté - falsehood
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.