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French · At the Bar

Gueule de bois

guhl duh BWAH · /gœl də bwa/

Hangover

1/5 Grandma-safe

mild, playful; fine on daytime TV

Literally

"Wooden mouth/snout"

Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.

How to use it

The morning after, when your mouth feels like wood — "avoir la gueule de bois" is to be hungover. Mild, universal, faintly funny. Note "gueule" is coarse on its own (animal mouth), but in this fixed phrase it's harmless and said by everyone.

Heard in the wild

J'ai une gueule de bois pas possible ce matin.

I've got a killer hangover this morning.

Where it lands

France (universal)

Quick answers

What does "Gueule de bois" mean?
In French, "Gueule de bois" means "Hangover". Literally it's "Wooden mouth/snout". The morning after, when your mouth feels like wood — "avoir la gueule de bois" is to be hungover. Mild, universal, faintly funny. Note "gueule" is coarse on its own (animal mouth), but in this fixed phrase it's harmless and said by everyone.
Is "Gueule de bois" offensive?
It's on the mild end — 1/5 (Grandma-safe) on the Punch-o-Meter. mild, playful; fine on daytime TV.
How do you pronounce "Gueule de bois"?
Say it "guhl duh BWAH" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: gœl də bwa.

Related in French

Prendre une cuite prahndr oon KWEET To get hammered / go on a bender Être bourré etr boo-RAY To be wasted / plastered Picoler pee-ko-LAY To booze / knock 'em back Cul sec ! koo SEK Bottoms up! / Down it in one! Gerber zhehr-BAY To puke / barf Tchin-tchin ! chin CHIN Cheers! / Clink!

The same idea, elsewhere

Via concepts like "Hungover".

how to say "Hungover" →

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