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I learnt some French today (thanks, Twitter)
Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2015 7:22 am
by Wildeblood
Obama est un #bouffon.
Obama is a clown. This might be quite useful.
Re: I learnt some French today (thanks, Twitter)
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2015 3:35 pm
by Day
Bouffon is not as neutral as clown. It's used by young (now older) inhabitants of the ghettos.
But you can use "clown" if you wish! Just pronounce it klewn :-p
Re: I learnt some French today (thanks, Twitter)
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2015 3:44 pm
by Wildeblood
Google says it means "...is a joker", but that doesn't sound as natural as clown in Australian.
Have I misunderstood the usage? Is Obama plain dumb - a clown - or playing dumb - a joker - or something else?
Re: I learnt some French today (thanks, Twitter)
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 10:43 am
by Day
Well, in fact, it's an old word "buffoon", "joker", the role of the guy in stupid clothes making jokes for the king.
It has known a new youth recently due to it being used by youngsters from the ghettos, then went into local pop culture.
It's currently used in quite the same meaning as in Obama is a clown; derisive, derigatory, pitiable. You would not trust a "bouffon"*.
So, the usage is right, it's just it's only that 10% of the youngs use it, so 10% of 20% of the population, so 2% of the population using it, and then only when speaking.
I'm quite sure my parents would be baffled at this usage of the word
*: ps: ironically, people whose trust is worth something wouldn't trust people using this word.
Said another way, for 98% of french, only buffoons use the word buffoon.