Skip to content

vaurien

scoundrel, good-for-nothing

noun voh-RYAN Rare
People & Society Values

Origin: French vaut rien (is worth nothing)

Usage Note

Vaurien is a colourful informal word for a rascal or worthless person, formed transparently from vaut (is worth) + rien (nothing). It can be used affectionately of a mischievous child or more harshly of a disreputable adult. The feminine vaurienne exists but is rare; the word is most often applied to men or boys.

Examples

"Ce vaurien a encore causé des problèmes."

Natural Translation

That scoundrel has caused trouble again.

Explore French by topic