What does fou in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word fou in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use fou in French.

The word fou in French means insane, mad, crazy, mad, crazy, wild, absurd, ridiculous, extreme, excessive, crazy, insane, mad about , crazy about, crazy about , mad about, madman, madwoman, mad person, fanatic, enthusiast, fool, jester, runaway, mad, gannet, bishop, lunatic asylum, have a fit of the giggles, find it incredibly difficult to do, be a great success, have the giggles, get the giggles, it's nuts, How time flies!, like a madman/madwoman, like crazy, like mad, madly, cost a ridiculous amount, fit of laughter, amazing, go mad, go crazy, make you feel great, poof, poofter, tangle net, stark raving mad, northern gannet, overjoyed, thrilled, absolutely furious, court jester, fool, car buff, raving lunatic, hysterical laughter, guardrail, handrail, crash barrier, safeguard, fanatic, big dope, daft idiot, loose cannon, incredible story, unbelievable story, young idiot, young fool, take ages to do something, take ages over , take ages over doing, waste time like no-one's business, take ages to do, drive mad, drive mad, drive crazy, make crazy about, pipe dream, far-fetched dream, wild dream, mad scientist, rush around like a madman, run around like a madman, roaring success, quite mad, a bit wild, crazy, crazy stuff, a huge crowd, crazy thing. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word fou

insane, mad, crazy

adjectif (dérangé)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Ne fais pas attention, il est un peu fou.

Pay no attention; he's a bit mad.

mad, crazy, wild

adjectif (qui montre la folie)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Son regard fou m'inquiétait.

His wild look worried me.

absurd, ridiculous

adjectif (déraisonnable)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Cet homme politique nourrit de folles ambitions. C'est fou de vouloir traverser le désert sans gourde.

That politician is nursing unrealistic ambitions.

extreme, excessive

adjectif (intense)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Ma sœur a une peur folle des araignées. Cet homme a un charme fou.

That man is possessed of inordinate charm.

crazy, insane

adjectif (figuré (prix : très élevé) (figurative)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Ce dernier téléphone portable coûte un prix fou.

The price of this latest mobile phone is crazy.

mad about , crazy about

(passionné de)

Pierre est fou de modélisme.

Peter is crazy about modelling.

crazy about , mad about

(passionnément amoureux)

Romain est fou de sa belle Juliette.

Romeo is crazy about his beautiful Juliet.

madman, madwoman, mad person

(aliéné, malade de folie)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Les fous finissent souvent à l'asile.

Mad people often end up in asylums.

fanatic, enthusiast

(familier (passionné)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Pierre est un fou de modélisme.

Peter is crazy about modelling.

fool, jester

nom masculin (bouffon)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Le fou du Roi était censé le divertir.

The king's fool was supposed to amuse him.

runaway

adjectif (incontrôlable)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Privée de ses freins, la voiture folle finit sa course dans un champ.

With no brakes, the runaway car ended up in a field.

mad

adjectif (familier (furieux)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Le nouvel écart de son fils l'a rendue folle.

His son's latest misdemeanor made him mad.

gannet

nom masculin (grand oiseau marin) (Old World and Australasia)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Les fous de bassan nichent sur des îlots désertiques.

The Bass Rock gannets nest on small barren islands.

bishop

nom masculin (Échecs : pièce) (Chess)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Le fou se déplace en diagonale.

Bishops move diagonally.

lunatic asylum

nom masculin (hôpital psychiatrique) (dated, now offensive)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

have a fit of the giggles

locution verbale (rire pendant longtemps)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

find it incredibly difficult to do

locution verbale (familier (avoir beaucoup de difficultés)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

J'ai eu un mal fou à la convaincre de rester.

ⓘCette phrase n'est pas une traduction de la phrase originale. I had a hell of a job persuading her to stay.

be a great success

locution verbale (avoir beaucoup de succès)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

ⓘCette phrase n'est pas une traduction de la phrase originale. The new film is wowing audiences up and down the country.

have the giggles, get the giggles

locution verbale (rire sans pouvoir s'arrêter) (informal)

Quand le professeur commence à répéter le même mot, les élèves ont une crise de fou rire.

it's nuts

(c'est extraordinaire) (informal)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Je n'avais jamais imaginé un voyage pareil, c'est fou.

How time flies!

(comme les temps changent)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Il est déjà minuit ? C'est fou comme le temps passe vite ! De jeune mariée à bientôt jeune grand-mère, c'est fou comme le temps passe vite !

From young bride to soon-to-be young grandmother; Where does the time go?

like a madman/madwoman, like crazy, like mad

locution adverbiale (familier (de façon déraisonnable)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

madly

locution adverbiale (figuré, familier (énormément)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

cost a ridiculous amount

verbe intransitif (familier (être très cher)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Je ne peux pas m'offrir cette petite robe parce qu'elle coûte un prix fou !

fit of laughter

nom féminin (rire qu'on n'arrive pas à arrêter)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

amazing

locution adjectivale (familier (incroyable)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Ses parents ont une maison de fou avec deux piscines, une salle de cinéma et deux terrains de tennis.

go mad, go crazy

locution verbale (être dissipé, s'amuser.)

Les chiots font souvent les fous.

make you feel great

locution verbale (être très appréciable)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Une bonne douche après une séance de sport fait un bien fou.

poof, poofter

nom féminin (familier, péjoratif (homosexuel) (slang, pejorative, offensive)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

On l'a traité de « folle » au bureau, il en était dépité.

He was called a poof at the office, which vexed him.

tangle net

nom féminin (filet de pêche) (fishing)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

La folle est un filet à larges mailles pour les gros poissons.

A tangle net is a large mesh net for big fish.

stark raving mad

locution adjectivale (très dérangé)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Ce type est fou à lier : il faut l'enfermer !

northern gannet

nom masculin (oiseau)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

overjoyed, thrilled

locution adjectivale (très heureux)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Sabrina est folle de joie, elle a eu son permis !

absolutely furious

locution adjectivale (très en colère)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Pierre a appris que sa femme le trompait et il est fou de rage.

court jester, fool

nom masculin (bouffon)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

car buff

nom masculin (chauffard)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

raving lunatic

(délirant agressif)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

hysterical laughter

nom masculin (rire nerveux irrépressible)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Un fou rire devient vite communicatif.

Hysterical laughter quickly becomes contagious.

guardrail, handrail

nom masculin (balustrade, garde-corps)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Chaque navire possède un garde-fou pour empêcher de basculer à l'eau.

Every ship has a guardrail (or: handrail) to prevent anyone from toppling into the water.

crash barrier

nom masculin (talus le long d'un précipice) (road)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Ce garde-fou protège les voitures du précipice lors de leur montée.

This crash barrier keeps cars safe from the cliff edge on their way up.

safeguard

nom masculin (figuré (chose qui préserve de [qch])

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Ce règlement est un garde-fou contre les abus de pouvoir.

This regulation is a safeguard against an abuse of power.

fanatic

(figuré (personne exaltée) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

big dope, daft idiot

(figuré (petit nom affectif) (informal)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

loose cannon

(personne dangereuse) (person: figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

incredible story, unbelievable story

nom féminin (chose sidérante)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

young idiot, young fool

nom masculin (jeune intrépide) (pejorative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

take ages to do something, take ages over , take ages over doing

locution verbale (familier (prendre trop de temps pour faire [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

waste time like no-one's business

(familier, péjoratif (sembler très long à faire [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

take ages to do

locution verbale (être très lent)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Ça m'a pris un temps fou pour trouver son cadeau de Noël.

drive mad

locution verbale (aliéner [qqn])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

drive mad, drive crazy

locution verbale (figuré (faire craquer [qqn]) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

À force de changer d'avis toutes les 5 minutes, tu vas me rendre fou !

make crazy about

locution verbale (figuré (rendre très amoureux) (informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Son côté beau brun ténébreux rend Sandrine folle de Romain. La nouvelle assistante juridique rend Clément fou d'elle.

pipe dream, far-fetched dream, wild dream

nom masculin (quasi-utopie)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

mad scientist

nom masculin (scientifique sans morale)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

rush around like a madman, run around like a madman

(familier (faire tout son possible)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Le bénévole s'est démené comme un fou pour faire aboutir le projet alors que son patron, lui, n'a pas levé le petit doigt.

roaring success

nom masculin (grande réussite)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

quite mad, a bit wild, crazy

locution adjectivale (excité, qui ne se contrôle pas)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Mon chiot est très mignon, mais il est tout fou.

crazy stuff

nom masculin (familier ([qch] d'exceptionnel)

a huge crowd

nom masculin (beaucoup de monde)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Il y avait un monde fou à cette réunion de quartier.

crazy thing

(à peine croyable)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

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