The interjection is an onomatopoeia for a forceful breath, attested in older spellings such as hauf, of and ouff before the modern form. The slang adjective and noun have a separate formation: they are the verlan reversal of fou.
The interjection is an onomatopoeia for a forceful breath, attested in older spellings such as hauf, of and ouff before the modern form. The slang adjective and noun have a separate formation: they are the verlan reversal of fou.
What does ouf mean in French?
As an interjection it means phew or whew. In slang it is the verlan form of fou and can mean crazy, wild, or amazing, or name a crazy person.
Is ouf always slang?
No. The breath-like interjection expressing relief is ordinary French. The adjective and person noun are familiar slang.
What is the difference between ouf and fou?
The slang word ouf comes from reversing the sounds of fou in verlan. It is more informal and can add a youthful or emphatic tone.
What does de ouf mean?
The familiar phrase de ouf intensifies a description and often means incredible, enormous, or like crazy, as in une chance de ouf.
Does the adjective ouf change for gender or number?
It has the same form for masculine and feminine and is generally left unchanged, though the written plural oufs is also attested, especially for the noun.
How is ouf pronounced?
It is pronounced /uf/, like the vowel sound in French tout followed by f.
What does ne pas avoir le temps de dire ouf mean?
It means having no time to breathe, react, or recover before events continue.