poilu

hairy

adjective pwah-LOO Rare

Also means

World War I soldier (noun, historical)

Usage Note

Poilu literally means hairy, from poil (body hair/fur). Its most culturally significant use is as a noun: les Poilus was the affectionate nickname for French infantry soldiers in World War I, evoking their rugged, unshaven appearance in the trenches. Today the word appears on war memorials and in history books across France.

Examples

"Il avait les bras très poilus."

Natural Translation

He had very hairy arms.

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