French Conversation · Level 191
16 words
French word
cochonnerie
Pronunciation
IPA/koʃɔnəʁi/
Meaning
- feminine nounjunk
Example
Il vend des cochonneries au marché.
He sells junk at the market.
More examples
J'ai acheté des cochonneries au supermarché.
I bought junk at the supermarket.
Core concept
A useless piece of junk with a dirty or cheaply made feel.
Common phrases
acheter des cochonneries
buy junk
vendre des cochonneries
sell junk
manger des cochonneries
eat junk food
Similar words
ordure: Waste from households or streets that should be thrown away.
déchet: Discarded material that is no longer wanted.
camelote: Flimsy, cheap goods with little value.
Definition in French
Objet sans valeur, souvent sale ou de mauvaise qualité ; mot familier pour quelque chose d'inutile ou de peu sérieux.
Word origin
The noun cochonnerie derives from cochon and -erie, and its meaning developed toward something dirty, poor-quality, or contemptible.
Usage tips
- Cochonnerie is familiar and pejorative, so produits de mauvaise qualité is safer in formal or neutral writing.