punaise

fr
en
Change language
Translating...
bug, stink bug, bedbug, thumbtack, drawing pin
Find language
/py.nɛz/
Add to My Dictionary
In My Dictionary
+1
A flat-bodied insect, a short broad-headed pin, or a mild outburst of surprise or annoyance.

Examples

  • Oh punaise, tu m'as fait peur !
    Oh damn, you scared me!
  • Nous avons trouvé une punaise de lit sous le matelas.
    We found a bedbug under the mattress.
  • Il ne faut pas utiliser de punaises sur ce mur fragile.
    Do not use thumbtacks on this fragile wall.
  • Elle a planté quatre punaises dans le panneau de liège.
    She pushed four thumbtacks into the corkboard.
  • Cette punaise se nourrit de la sève des plantes.
    This bug feeds on plant sap.

Similar words

bon sang
zut
garce
clou de tapissier
mince
peste
sale type
teigne
hétéroptère
purée

Meanings

Stink bug or bedbug

noun
animals
neutral
Any of several flat-bodied insects, especially a smelly stink bug or a blood-feeding bedbug.

Examples

  • Une punaise s'est posée sur la fenêtre.
    A bug landed on the window.
  • Les punaises dégagent souvent une forte odeur quand elles se sentent menacées.
    Stink bugs often give off a strong smell when threatened.
  • Nous avons trouvé une punaise de lit sous le matelas.
    We found a bedbug under the mattress.
  • Cette punaise se nourrit de la sève des plantes.
    This bug feeds on plant sap.
  • Le traitement a éliminé toutes les punaises de lit de la chambre.
    The treatment removed every bedbug from the room.

Similar words

Thumbtack

noun
office supplies
neutral
A short sharp pin with a broad flat head, used to fasten paper to a surface.

Examples

  • J'ai fixé la photo au mur avec une punaise.
    I pinned the photo to the wall with a thumbtack.
  • Attention, une punaise est tombée par terre.
    Careful, a thumbtack fell on the floor.
  • Elle a planté quatre punaises dans le panneau de liège.
    She pushed four thumbtacks into the corkboard.
  • La pointe de la punaise est très courte.
    The thumbtack has a very short point.
  • Il ne faut pas utiliser de punaises sur ce mur fragile.
    Do not use thumbtacks on this fragile wall.

Similar words

Nasty person

noun
social
informal
An unpleasant or spiteful person, used as a familiar and now somewhat dated insult.

Examples

  • Il m'a encore menti, quelle punaise !
    He lied to me again, what a nasty piece of work!
  • Elle l'a traité de punaise après sa remarque méchante.
    She called him a shrew after his cruel remark.
  • Le roman présente ce personnage comme une vraie punaise.
    The novel portrays this character as a real nasty piece of work.
  • Dire punaise d'une personne est insultant et assez vieilli.
    Calling someone a punaise is insulting and rather dated.
  • Ne la traite pas de punaise, même si tu es en colère.
    Do not call her a punaise, even if you are angry.

Similar words

Mild exclamation

interjection
communication
informal
A mild substitute for a stronger swear word, expressing surprise, annoyance, pain, or disappointment.

Examples

  • Punaise ! J'ai oublié mes clés.
    Damn! I forgot my keys.
  • Punaise, ça fait vraiment mal !
    Darn, that really hurts!
  • Oh punaise, tu m'as fait peur !
    Oh damn, you scared me!
  • Punaise ! Le train vient de partir.
    Shoot! The train has just left.
  • Il a dit punaise plutôt qu'un juron plus grossier.
    He said punaise instead of a stronger swear word.

Similar words

Etymology

From the feminine form of the old adjective punais, meaning foul-smelling. The insect sense is recorded from the thirteenth century, the pin from the nineteenth, and the exclamation from the twentieth.

FAQ

What does punaise mean?

Punaise can name a bug or a thumbtack, insult a nasty person, or work as a mild exclamation.

Is punaise masculine or feminine?

The noun punaise is feminine, so French uses une punaise and la punaise.

What does punaise ! express?

Punaise ! informally expresses surprise, annoyance, pain, or disappointment without using a stronger swear word.

Does punaise mean bedbug?

Yes. Punaise de lit is the usual French term for a bedbug, while punaise also covers other true bugs.

Can punaise mean thumbtack?

Yes. A punaise is also a short broad-headed pin used to fasten paper.

How is punaise pronounced?

Punaise is pronounced /py.nɛz/ in standard metropolitan French.

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...