fouiner
to snoop
verb fwee-NEH Rare
Origin: French 'fouine' (stone marten), known for its sneaky behaviour
Also means
to nose around
Usage Note
Fouiner comes from fouine, a weasel-like animal known for sneaking into henhouses, giving the verb its sense of nosing about or prying. It implies mild but unwelcome curiosity: il fouine dans mes affaires = he snoops through my things. The noun fouineur/fouineuse describes a nosy person. The verb is informal and slightly pejorative.
Examples
"Arrête de fouiner dans mes tiroirs!"
Natural Translation
Stop snooping through my drawers!
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