French word

fouiner

Pronunciation

IPA/fwine/

Meaning

  • verbsnoop

Example

Pourquoi est-ce que tu fouines dans mon sac ?

Why are you snooping around in my bag?

Illustration for fouiner (snoop)

More examples

On l'a vu en train de fouiner dans un tiroir.

We saw him snooping through a drawer.

Core concept

A nosy search that rummages through private belongings or corners to uncover something concealed.

Common phrases

  • fouiner dans un sac

    snoop through a bag

  • fouiner dans les affaires

    snoop through the belongings

  • fouiner dans le tiroir

    snoop through the drawer

Similar words

fouiller: Search closely through a box or bag for an item or clue.
fureter: Poke around in various places for a missing item or information.

Definition in French

Fouiner signifie chercher ou examiner, souvent de façon indiscrète, dans les affaires d'autrui ou dans des endroits privés pour obtenir des informations ou des objets.

Word origin

The verb derives from fouine, meaning marten, and transfers the animal's habit of poking around hidden places to human snooping.

Usage tips

  • Fouiner is colloquial and implies nosiness, whereas fouiller can neutrally mean to search or rummage.

Other meanings

  • sniff aroundverb
  • rummageverb
  • poke aroundverb

Opposites

Related words

  • fouineursnoopernoun
  • fouineusesnoopernoun
  • fouinagesnoopingnoun

Word lists with this word