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racaille

rabble

noun rah-KAH-yuh Rare

Also means

riffraff

Usage Note

Racaille is a pejorative collective noun for the lowest social elements — troublemakers, lowlifes. It became politically charged in France after being used publicly in 2005 during the banlieue riots. It is feminine and typically used without an article or with a definite article: la racaille. Use with awareness of its loaded register.

Examples

"Le quartier est envahi par la racaille."

Natural Translation

The neighbourhood is overrun by riffraff.

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