French Conversation · Level 175
15 words
French word
louche
Pronunciation
IPA/luʃ/
Meaning
- adjectiveshady
Example
Ce type est louche.
That guy is shady.
More examples
Il y a quelque chose de louche dans ce dossier.
There is something suspicious in this file.
Core concept
A person, action, or situation that seems not quite straight and therefore difficult to trust.
Common phrases
avoir l'air louche
look suspicious
quelque chose de louche
something suspicious
Similar words
étrange: Strange because it is unfamiliar or unlike what is normally seen.
suspect: Raising suspicion of criminal activity or other wrongdoing.
douteux: Appearing questionable and difficult to trust.
mystérieux: Mysterious because the facts or reasons remain unclear.
Definition in French
Qui inspire la méfiance, qui paraît suspect pour une personne, un comportement ou une situation.
Word origin
The adjective louche developed from French loucher, meaning to squint or look askance, which comes from Latin luscus, meaning one-eyed.
Usage tips
- Louche is informal and often corresponds to 'shady' or 'dodgy', while suspect is more neutral in formal English.