déconner
What does “déconner” mean in English?
It means to talk nonsense or mess around, and can also refer to something malfunctioning. The context usually clarifies whether it's joking or something going awry.
It's similar to saying 'screw around' in English, often used in informal settings. The tone can be lighthearted or slightly annoyed, depending on the context.
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Related French words
déconnade
2/5 · CoarseIt refers to joking around or engaging in silly behavior, often in a light-hearted way.
connerie
3/5 · VulgarIt refers to nonsense, a stupid act, or a mistake. Literally, it translates to 'stupid thing.'
cochonneries
2/5 · CoarseIt refers to filth, dirty talk, or rubbish, depending on the context. It can also mean harmless junk rather than anything sexual.
connard
4/5 · StrongIt's a vulgar insult aimed at an obnoxious man or person. It carries a sharper sting than just calling someone a 'jerk.'
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.
“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 (CC-BY-4.0, MIT, MIT AND CC-BY-4.0). Editorial content © Swear Atlas.