French Conversation · Level 55
73 words
French word
folie
Pronunciation
IPA/foli/
Meaning
- feminine nounmadness
Example
C'est de la folie de conduire si vite.
It's madness to drive so fast.
More examples
Il a fait une folie en vendant sa maison.
He did something crazy when he sold his house.
Core concept
A burst of reckless energy overwhelms judgment, whether it drives a dangerous act or an excessive passion.
Common phrases
faire une folie
do something crazy
à la folie
passionately
Similar words
délire: A mental disturbance involving baseless thoughts and behavior detached from reality.
démence: A mental illness causing severe, long-term loss of judgment and memory.
imprudence: Reckless behavior that disregards possible danger.
caprice: A sudden whim to do something without much thought.
Definition in French
Comportement ou acte irréfléchi et dangereux, ou enthousiasme excessif qui dépasse la raison.
Word origin
The noun folie developed in Old French from fol, the predecessor of modern fou, plus -ie; fol traces back to Latin follis, whose sense of a bellows or inflated bag came to suggest foolishness.
Usage tips
- In faire une folie, folie often means a splurge or a daring indulgence rather than a mental illness.