French Conversation · Level 131
45 words
French word
bourré
Pronunciation
IPA/buʁe/
Meaning
- adjectivedrunk
Example
Il est bourré.
He is drunk.
More examples
Il est rentré bourré hier soir.
He came home drunk last night.
Core concept
A person so packed with alcohol that balance and clear speech start to fail.
Common phrases
être complètement bourré
be completely drunk
rentrer bourré
come home drunk
Similar words
ivre: Drunk from alcohol, stated in a neutral way.
saoul: Quite drunk, expressed in a casual way.
pompette: Mildly tipsy and pleasantly light-headed.
Definition in French
Familier : complètement ivre, souvent incapable de garder son équilibre ou de parler clairement.
Word origin
Bourré is the past participle of French bourrer, 'to stuff or pack tightly', from bourre, 'padding or fiber', and it developed a figurative sense of being filled with drink.
Usage tips
- Bourré is familiar and blunt, so more neutral contexts often use ivre instead; the feminine form is bourrée.