French word

culot

Pronunciation

IPA/kylo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounnerve

Example

Tu as du culot de partir maintenant.

You've got some nerve leaving now.

Illustration for culot (nerve)

More examples

Montre un peu de culot.

Show a little nerve.

Core concept

A person steps past ordinary restraint and presses ahead despite the discomfort or disapproval of others.

Common phrases

  • faire preuve de culot

    show nerve

  • manquer de culot

    lack nerve

Similar words

sans-gêne: Lack of restraint or consideration for the inconvenience caused to others.
toupet: Audacious nerve and boldness, often in an outrageous situation.
impertinence: Disrespectful behavior that ignores good manners toward others.
effronterie: Shamelessly bold and brazen words or actions.

Definition in French

Disposition à agir sans gêne ni retenue, même quand l'action paraît inconvenante ou choque les autres.

Word origin

Culot derives from French cul with the suffix -ot; its older concrete sense of a bottom or base developed into the figurative idea of brazen boldness.

Usage tips

  • The common pattern avoir du culot means to have the nerve or cheek to do something, as in Tu as du culot de partir maintenant.

Other meanings

  • boldnessnoun

Opposites

  • prudenceprudencenoun
  • timiditétimiditynoun

Related words

  • culottécheekyadjective

Word lists with this word