bagnole

fr
en
Change language
Translating...
car, ride, wheels, cart, handcart
Find language
/baɲɔl/
Add to My Dictionary
In My Dictionary
+1
An informal car word descended from older names for rough vehicles and, regionally, poor shelters.

Examples

  • Dans le parler ancien de la région, une cabane pouvait s'appeler une bagnole.
    In old regional speech, a cabin could be called a hut by this name.
  • Le vieux texte décrit la chambre sale comme une bagnole.
    The old text describes the dirty room as a hovel.
  • Il louait une bagnole sombre sous les toits.
    He rented a dark garret under the roof.
  • Cette bagnole ferroviaire transportait autrefois des chevaux.
    This railway wagon once carried horses.
  • Cette bagnole consomme beaucoup d'essence.
    This car uses a lot of petrol.

Similar words

chariot
taudis
bouge
tire
charrette
mansarde
voiture à bras
cabane
carriole
auto

Meanings

Car

noun
transport
informal
A car in familiar French, whether admired or criticised, with a more casual tone than the neutral voiture.

Examples

  • Il vient d'acheter une nouvelle bagnole.
    He has just bought a new car.
  • Ma bagnole est garée au coin de la rue.
    My car is parked on the street corner.
  • Elle adore parler de vieilles bagnoles.
    She loves talking about old cars.
  • Cette bagnole consomme beaucoup d'essence.
    This car uses a lot of petrol.
  • Dans un rapport officiel, bagnole paraîtrait trop familier.
    In an official report, this slangy word for car would sound too informal.

Similar words

Cart or horse-drawn vehicle

noun
transport
archaic
An obsolete name for a cart, handcart, horse-drawn vehicle, or specialised railway wagon.

Examples

  • Le marchand poussait sa bagnole à bras pleine de fleurs.
    The seller pushed his flower-filled handcart.
  • Ils ont chargé les caisses dans une vieille bagnole.
    They loaded the crates into an old cart.
  • La bagnole tirée par un cheval avançait lentement.
    The horse-drawn carriage moved slowly.
  • Cette bagnole ferroviaire transportait autrefois des chevaux.
    This railway wagon once carried horses.
  • La bâche de la bagnole claquait dans le vent.
    The cover of the cart flapped in the wind.

Similar words

Poor hut or room

noun
housing
archaic
In obsolete regional and slang use, a small poor house, hut, attic room, or dirty lodging.

Examples

  • La famille vivait dans une pauvre bagnole au bord du village.
    The family lived in a poor hut at the edge of the village.
  • Cette bagnole n'avait qu'une seule petite fenêtre.
    This hovel had only one small window.
  • Dans le parler ancien de la région, une cabane pouvait s'appeler une bagnole.
    In old regional speech, a cabin could be called a hut by this name.
  • Il louait une bagnole sombre sous les toits.
    He rented a dark garret under the roof.
  • Le vieux texte décrit la chambre sale comme une bagnole.
    The old text describes the dirty room as a hovel.

Similar words

Etymology

Probably formed from banne, an old word for a cart or tipper wagon, on the model of carriole, “small cart.” Earlier spellings included banniole and bagniole.

FAQ

What does bagnole mean?

Bagnole usually means a car in familiar French. Older sources also use it for carts, horse-drawn vehicles, and poor shelters.

How do you pronounce bagnole?

Bagnole is pronounced /baɲɔl/.

Is bagnole rude?

It is informal, not automatically rude. Tone and context can make it affectionate, neutral, or dismissive.

What is the difference between bagnole and voiture?

Voiture is the neutral everyday word for a car. Bagnole is more casual and can sound fond, slangy, or mildly dismissive.

Does bagnole always mean a bad car?

No. It can refer to any car, including a beautiful or expensive one. Words such as tacot or chiotte are more clearly negative.

Where does bagnole come from?

It probably developed from banne, an old cart word, under the influence of carriole.

Comments & contributions

Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
Posting as a guest · Sign in
No comments yet. Be the first to add one.
Look up word or phrase...