French word

bouder

Pronunciation

IPA/bude/

Meaning

  • verbsulk

Example

Arrête de bouder et viens.

Stop sulking and come.

Illustration for bouder (sulk)

More examples

Il a commencé à bouder quand je l'ai ignoré.

He started sulking when I ignored him.

Core concept

A person goes quiet and closed off to show mild annoyance instead of arguing openly.

Common phrases

  • bouder quelqu'un

    sulk at someone

  • bouder ses parents

    sulk at one's parents

Similar words

faire la tête: To act sullen and stop talking for a while to show dissatisfaction.
faire la moue: To purse the lips and make a displeased, pouty face.
se renfrogner: To draw the brows together and look visibly displeased.

Definition in French

Montrer une contrariété légère par une attitude fermée et silencieuse plutôt que par une colère ouverte.

Word origin

Bouder has been used in French since the sixteenth century, but its deeper origin is uncertain.

Usage tips

  • Bouder is commonly intransitive, while bouder quelqu'un means to sulk and refuse to engage with that person.

Other meanings

  • poutverb
  • be sullenverb

Opposites

  • se réconcilierreconcileverb
  • s'excuserapologizeverb

Related words

  • boudeursulkernoun
  • boudeusesulkernoun
  • bouderiesulkingnoun

Word lists with this word