The Swiss are generally polite people and they like to observe social niceties such as saying hello to random strangers on the street – a fact which often surprises people from overseas.
Switzerland is also a great place to live: safe, peaceful, clean…and extremely beautiful of course.
Read also: 20 telltale signs you have gone native in Switzerland
That said, as with living anywhere, there are times when people just need to blow off some steam. But if you’ve truly decided that is enough is enough and someone needs to be given a piece of your mind, there is nothing worse than not having the correct vocabulary to express your fury.
So for those of you living in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, we’ve gathered together some of the best phrases for expressing everything from mild disappointment to eye-popping rage.
1. Chiant/e
So let’s start gently with a relatively mild insult.
Chiant/e is the adjective derived from the verb chier which is a vulgar way to say ‘to crap’ or ‘to shit’.
But despite this chiant/e isn’t quite as offensive or distasteful as you might think.
It is frequently used in conversation to describe something as ‘really irritating’, ‘really annoying’, ‘really boring’ or in more extreme slang ‘a pain in the ass’.
For example you could say, Ce film est super chiant, ne va pas le voir. – ‘This film is super annoying, don’t go and see it.’
Or in its feminine form: J’en ai marre de ma petite sœur : elle est chiante! – ‘I’m sick of my little sister: she’s really irritating!’
2. Relou
3. Ta gueule!
This brings us neatly to number three on the list, which is used more directly to a person, rather than about them. If you’re using this, you’ve passed the point of trying to reason politely with someone.
Not exactly an insult as such, but if you want to tell people that you’re really, really angry this is the way to do it.
Vénère is another verlan one and it’s one that you will frequently see in street demos and protests as people describe themselves as well and truly pissed off.
5. Tu m’emmerdes
If your neighbour has kept you awake for the third night in a row partying or arguing with his significant other, that would probably be an appropriate time for this phrase.
Well done. That was a well written, amusing and extremely helpful article.
Thank you for writing it.
I’ve lived almost 40 years here and I could’t have done better myself.
In fact, I’m happy to say, I learned a lot. 😊