French word

blaguer

Pronunciation

IPA/blage/

Meaning

  • verbjoke

Example

Je blague pour détendre l'atmosphère.

I joke to lighten the mood.

Illustration for blaguer (joke)

More examples

Il blague souvent avec ses amis.

He often jokes with his friends.

Core concept

A light joke or playful gesture used to loosen a tense atmosphere.

Common phrases

  • blaguer avec quelqu'un

    joke around with someone

  • blaguer sur quelque chose

    joke about something

Similar words

plaisanter: To joke with someone to amuse them.
taquiner: To playfully tease someone to draw out a laugh or response.

Definition in French

Employer des propos ou des gestes pour plaisanter, de façon informelle, afin de détendre ou divertir.

Word origin

Blaguer is formed from blague, meaning a joke, with the verb ending -er; blague appeared in nineteenth-century French slang.

Usage tips

  • Blaguer is informal, while plaisanter is usually safer in formal or neutral contexts.

Other meanings

  • teaseverb

Opposites

  • prendre au sérieuxtake seriouslyverb
  • être sérieuxbe seriousverb

Related words

  • blaguejokenoun
  • blagueurjokesternoun

Word lists with this word