French Conversation · Level 58
75 words
French word
débraillé
Pronunciation
IPA/debʁaje/
Meaning
- adjectivescruffy
Example
Il est débraillé ce matin.
He looks scruffy this morning.
More examples
Après la fête, il était encore débraillé.
After the party, he was still disheveled.
Core concept
A person appears rumpled and unkempt, with clothing or grooming lacking a final touch of order rather than cleanliness.
Common phrases
être débraillé
be disheveled
avoir l'air débraillé
look disheveled
Similar words
négligé: Neglected-looking, especially in dress and general personal appearance.
mal habillé: Badly dressed, with poor clothing choices or an awkward way of wearing them.
décoiffé: Hair left tousled and untidy, giving a careless appearance.
Definition in French
Qui montre un manque de soin dans l'habillement ou l'apparence, sans forcément être sale.
Word origin
The adjective derives from débrailler, which is built from dé- and Old French braies, a word for breeches related to Latin bracae.
Usage tips
- French can use débraillé for an intentionally relaxed fashion style, so the context determines whether the appearance is criticized or presented positively.