French · Words You'll Hear But Must Never Say
Bougnoule
boo-NYOOL · /bu.ɲul/
Racial slur for North African / Arab people
nuclear/taboo — comprehension only, never recommended
Literally
"(colonial-era slur, no clean literal)"
Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.
How to use it
We are telling you this exists so you recognise it, not so you use it. A vicious colonial-era racial slur against people of North African or Arab origin — one of the ugliest words in the language, legally actionable as hate speech. You may hear it from the worst kind of person or see it quoted in reporting; never, under any circumstances, say it yourself.
Heard in the wild
(quoted only in reporting on racism; never used conversationally by decent people)
(comprehension only — do not repeat)
Where it lands
France; a criminal racial slur — comprehension only
Quick answers
- What does "Bougnoule" mean?
- In French, "Bougnoule" means "Racial slur for North African / Arab people". Literally it's "(colonial-era slur, no clean literal)". We are telling you this exists so you recognise it, not so you use it. A vicious colonial-era racial slur against people of North African or Arab origin — one of the ugliest words in the language, legally actionable as hate speech. You may hear it from the worst kind of person or see it quoted in reporting; never, under any circumstances, say it yourself.
- Is "Bougnoule" offensive?
- Yes — very. It rates 5/5 on the Punch-o-Meter (Do not deploy). nuclear/taboo — comprehension only, never recommended. Read the usage note before you even think about it.
- How do you pronounce "Bougnoule"?
- Say it "boo-NYOOL" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: bu.ɲul.
Related in French
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