foutre
What does “foutre” mean in English?
It 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.
Literally “semen”
You'll encounter it in various expressions, similar to how 'fuck' might be used in English. Its tone can range from casual to quite offensive, depending on the context.
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Related French words
foutre en l'air
3/5 · VulgarIt means to ruin, waste, or wreck something. The literal translation is 'throw in the air.'
foutre la paix
3/5 · VulgarIt means to leave someone alone, expressed in a rough manner. The literal translation is 'give peace,' but that's not how it's used.
foutre le camp
3/5 · VulgarIt means to go away or clear off, said in a rough manner. The literal translation is 'leave the camp.'
branler
3/5 · VulgarIt 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.
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, 4troDev/profanity.csv (CC-BY-4.0, MIT). Editorial content © Swear Atlas.