paperasserie
paperwork, red tape
noun pa-pe-ras-REE Rare
Origin: from paperasse, old paper
Usage Note
Paperasserie is a collective, pejorative noun for excessive bureaucratic documentation — the French equivalent of 'red tape'. It is always used in the singular and carries a tone of frustration. The source word paperasse (scrap of paper, useless document) is also used informally.
Examples
"Ce projet croule sous la paperasserie."
Natural Translation
This project is drowning in paperwork.

Free starter pack
Building your French vocabulary?
Get the 100 most common French words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.
Related Words
Explore French by topic