aliéné

lunatic, insane person

noun ah-lyeh-NEH Rare

Origin: Latin alienatus, past participle of alienare (to estrange, to make other)

Also means

alienated person (formal/dated)

Usage Note

Aliéné (feminine aliénée) is both a noun ('a lunatic') and an adjective ('alienated'). In older psychiatric language, aliéné mental was the clinical term for someone considered insane; the word now sounds dated and slightly derogatory. The modern psychiatric term is patient psychiatrique. The abstract sense of aliéner ('to alienate') remains current in sociology and Marxist discourse.

Examples

"L'aliéné errait seul dans les rues la nuit."

Natural Translation

The lunatic wandered alone in the streets at night.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

French Object Pronouns: le, la, lui, leur Order

Le lui or lui le? Use the à-name test to pick le/la vs lui/leur, then one slot chart to order two French object pronouns — plus the command exception.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

Ordering Food in French: Restaurant Phrases That Work

Order food in French with confidence: greet first, say je voudrais not je veux, ask for a carafe d'eau, answer quelle cuisson, and request the bill yourself.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

French Silent Letters: The CaReFuL Rule

Final consonants in French are silent by default — except C, R, F, L. The CaReFuL rule, the silent -e, the plural-s trap, and liaison, explained simply.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

Passé Composé vs Imparfait: When to Use Each

Passé composé tells the story; imparfait paints the scene. Use this 2-second flowchart, trigger words, and paired examples to pick the right French tense.

June 3, 2026 6 min read