French Conversation · Level 127
45 words
French word
gaffe
Pronunciation
IPA/gaf/
Meaning
- feminine nounblunder
Example
Il a fait une gaffe hier.
He made a blunder yesterday.
More examples
Sa gaffe a gêné tout le monde.
His blunder embarrassed everyone.
Core concept
A minor social misstep suddenly turns an ordinary moment into an embarrassing one.
Common phrases
faire une gaffe
make a blunder
commettre une gaffe
commit a blunder
éviter une gaffe
avoid a blunder
Similar words
erreur: An error caused by incorrect facts, calculations, or judgment.
faute: A culpable mistake or act that goes against rules or moral standards.
faux pas: A social misstep that causes awkwardness by breaking accepted etiquette.
lapsus: An unintended verbal mistake involving the wrong word or expression.
Definition in French
Manque d'attention ou maladresse qui entraîne une erreur embarrassante, souvent utilisé pour un geste ou une parole involontaire.
Word origin
French gaffe is recorded from the nineteenth century, but its ultimate source is uncertain and may involve Italian or regional Mediterranean forms.
Usage tips
- The colloquial expression faire gaffe à means 'watch out for', whereas faire une gaffe means 'make a blunder'.