bordel de merde
What does “bordel de merde” mean in English?
This is a strong expression of frustration or disbelief, akin to saying 'what the hell' or 'for fuck's sake'. While it literally translates to 'brothel of shit', it's not used in a literal sense.
Literally “brothel of shit”
It's often used as an exclamation in moments of annoyance or surprise, similar to English swears like 'goddammit' or 'fucking hell'. It's pretty strong and can convey a lot of emotion.
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Related French words
bordel
3/5 · VulgarIt’s used to express annoyance or frustration, and can also refer to a mess or chaotic situation. Literally, it means 'brothel.'
merde
3/5 · VulgarThis means 'shit' and can express frustration, surprise, or describe something of poor quality. It literally translates to 'excrement.'
tabarnak
4/5 · StrongThis is a strong exclamation in Quebec French, often used to express anger or frustration. It literally means 'tabernacle,' referencing a religious context, but it's used much more for its emotional impact.
mange de la marde
4/5 · StrongThis is a hostile dismissal, essentially telling someone to 'eat shit.' It's not meant to be taken literally but as a strong insult.
About this data
Swear Atlas is a source-attested, AI-curated reference — not a native-speaker-certified dictionary. Meanings and the 1–5 Burn Rating are approximate editorial assessments that vary with context, region, tone and speaker. Inclusion of a word does not constitute endorsement of its use.
The literal gloss is a short editorial translation to show word-for-word sense, not an etymological claim.
“Sounds like” is an English-friendly approximation of how the word sounds, not an authoritative pronunciation. Where shown, the romanisation is a conventional Latin-script transliteration of the original spelling.
Term attested via Viddexa SafeText (MIT). Editorial content © Swear Atlas.