French word

gonflé

Pronunciation

IPA/gɔ̃fle/

Meaning

  • adjectivecheeky

Example

Tu es gonflé !

You're cheeky!

Illustration for gonflé (cheeky)

More examples

Son attitude gonflée m'a surpris.

His brazen attitude surprised me.

Core concept

A bold intrusion that treats other people's limits as obstacles rather than restraints.

Common phrases

  • attitude gonflée

    brazen attitude

  • coup gonflé

    brazen move

Similar words

culotté: Audaciously acting without restraint or concern for others' reactions.
osé: Boldly breaking conventions in pursuit of an adventurous course of action.
impertinent: Lacking respect and behaving in a noticeably rude manner.
effronté: Brazenly ignoring shame or restraint in dealing with others.

Definition in French

Qui ose sans hésitation franchir les limites sociales, montrant une assurance perçue comme excessive.

Word origin

As the past participle of gonfler, gonflé first describes something inflated or swollen before taking on the figurative sense of brazen confidence.

Usage tips

  • The tone of gonflé can range from sharp criticism to playful admiration, so the surrounding context determines its force.

Other meanings

  • boldadjective
  • swollenadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • gonflerinflateverb
  • gonflementswellingnoun

Word lists with this word