French word

escroc

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛskʁo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounscammer

Example

Ne fais pas confiance à cet escroc.

Don't trust that scammer.

Illustration for escroc (scammer)

More examples

La police a arrêté un escroc hier.

The police arrested a con artist yesterday.

Core concept

A deceiver who turns another person's trust into money or goods for personal gain.

Common phrases

  • un escroc

    a con artist

  • victime d'un escroc

    victim of a con artist

Similar words

arnaqueur: A person who uses clever lies or schemes to obtain money by deception.
imposteur: A person who pretends to be someone else to gain trust or profit.

Definition in French

Personne qui use de tromperie ou d'escroquerie pour soutirer de l'argent ou des biens à quelqu'un.

Word origin

Escroc developed alongside escroquer and probably comes from Italian scrocco, a term for fraud or obtaining benefits dishonestly; its deeper origin remains uncertain.

Usage tips

  • Escroc is a blunt, accusatory term, so fraudeur or auteur d'une escroquerie can sound more neutral in formal reporting.

Other meanings

  • con artistnoun

Opposites

  • personne honnêtehonest personnoun

Related words

  • escroquerdefraudverb
  • escroqueriefraudnoun
  • escroquédefraudedadjective

Word lists with this word