moins-que-rien
What does “moins-que-rien” mean in English?
It insults someone by calling them worthless, suggesting they have no value at all. The literal translation is 'less than nothing,' which adds to the sting.
Literally “less than nothing”
It's a direct insult aimed at someone, similar to calling someone a 'piece of shit' in English. The tone is contemptuous and dehumanizing.
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Related French words
à la con
3/5 · VulgarThis phrase is used to describe something as stupid, idiotic, or worthless. It's often used to belittle or criticize.
abruti
3/5 · VulgarIt's an insult for someone considered to be a complete fool. Literally, it refers to a 'stupefied person.'
branleur
3/5 · VulgarIt's an insult for someone perceived as lazy or contemptible. Literally, it means 'a person who masturbates.'
bâtard
3/5 · VulgarIt's an insult aimed at someone considered nasty or unscrupulous. The literal translation refers to a person born outside of marriage, but that's less relevant in modern use.
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.