branler
What does “branler” mean in English?
It refers to masturbation, but in negative constructions, it means not doing anything at all. It's a versatile term that can imply laziness or inaction.
Literally “shake”
It's similar to saying 'to wank' in English, often used in a casual or dismissive tone. In phrases like 'ne rien branler', it expresses a lack of activity rather than a sexual context.
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Related French words
branleur
3/5 · VulgarIt's an insult for someone perceived as lazy or contemptible. Literally, it means 'a person who masturbates.'
branlée
3/5 · VulgarIt refers to a significant defeat or crushing loss, often used in a sports context. It can also imply a physical beating in more violent situations.
foutre
3/5 · VulgarIt primarily means to do, put, or give, often in a vulgar context. Literally, it translates to 'semen,' but that’s not how it’s usually used in conversation.
baiser
4/5 · StrongThis is a vulgar term for having sex, but it can also mean to cheat someone. It literally translates to 'kiss', which is a much softer meaning.
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 LDNOOBW, Viddexa SafeText, FlacSy/BadWords, washyourmouthoutwithsoap (CC-BY-4.0, MIT, MIT AND CC-BY-4.0). Editorial content © Swear Atlas.