French Conversation · Level 58
75 words
French word
bêtise
Pronunciation
IPA/betiz/
Meaning
- feminine nounsilly thing
Example
Il a dit une bêtise pendant la réunion.
He said something silly during the meeting.
More examples
Il a reconnu sa bêtise et s'est excusé.
He admitted his foolishness and apologized.
Core concept
A thoughtless comment or harmless mistake that reveals poor judgment.
Common phrases
faire une bêtise
do something foolish
dire une bêtise
say something stupid
Similar words
sottise: A foolish, trivial remark, action, or idea.
erreur: An error in facts, judgment, or calculation.
gaffe: A social blunder caused by careless words or actions.
bévue: A conspicuous blunder caused by a misjudgment.
Definition in French
Propos ou acte jugé stupide ou peu réfléchi, souvent évoqué pour une erreur légère.
Word origin
French built bêtise on bête, from Old French beste and Latin bestia, adding the suffix -ise to name a foolish quality or act.
Usage tips
- Dire une bêtise refers to saying something foolish, while faire une bêtise refers to doing something foolish or making a minor mistake.