French word

scélérat

Pronunciation

IPA/seleʁa/

Meaning

  • masculine nounscoundrel

Example

Cet scélérat a volé mon portefeuille.

That scoundrel stole my wallet.

Illustration for scélérat (scoundrel)

More examples

Espèce de scélérat, rends-moi mon portefeuille.

You scoundrel, give me back my wallet.

Core concept

A deliberate wrongdoer who harms other people for selfish or cruel ends.

Common phrases

  • espèce de scélérat

    you scoundrel

  • sale scélérat

    dirty scoundrel

  • ce scélérat

    this scoundrel

Similar words

voyou: A thug who often intimidates others with violence or rough behavior.
malfrat: A wrongdoer who profits from criminal activity.
criminel: A person who has committed a criminal act.
escroc: A fraudster who tricks people out of money or property.

Definition in French

Personne qui commet des actes immoraux ou illégaux et qui nuit délibérément aux autres.

Word origin

French scélérat comes through Old French from Latin sceleratus, meaning criminal or wicked, formed from scelus, crime.

Usage tips

  • Scélérat is a literary and strongly condemnatory word; everyday French more often uses terms such as voyou or malfrat.

Other meanings

  • villainnoun
  • roguenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word