Cet emploi de vachement paraît aujourd'hui vieilli.
This use of vachement sounds dated today.
Merci, ça m'a vachement aidée.
Thanks, that really helped me.
Il y avait vachement de monde au concert.
There were a lot of people at the concert.
On a vachement progressé depuis janvier.
We have really improved since January.
Ta nouvelle veste te va vachement bien.
Your new jacket looks really good on you.
Similar words
très
brutalement
rudement
sacrément
durement
vraiment
cruellement
foutrement
méchamment
drôlement
Meanings
A very high degree
adverb
everyday
informal
Used in familiar speech before an adjective or adverb, with a verb, or before de plus a noun to mean “very,” “really,” or “a lot.” Its casual force can sound warm, surprised, or emphatic, but it is usually avoided in formal writing.
Examples
Ce film est vachement drôle.
This film is really funny.
On a vachement progressé depuis janvier.
We have really improved since January.
Il y avait vachement de monde au concert.
There were a lot of people at the concert.
Ta nouvelle veste te va vachement bien.
Your new jacket looks really good on you.
Merci, ça m'a vachement aidée.
Thanks, that really helped me.
Le mot est familier, donc elle a remplacé vachement par très dans son rapport.
The word is informal, so she replaced vachement with très in her report.
Similar words
très
vraiment
drôlement
rudement
sacrément
énormément
foutrement
Harshly or meanly
adverb
behaviour
archaic
In older use, in a harsh, cruel, or mean way. This meaning reflects the negative adjective vache and is now uncommon outside historical or deliberately old-fashioned writing.
Examples
Dans ce vieux récit, le patron traite ses ouvriers vachement.
In this old story, the boss treats his workers harshly.
Il lui répondit vachement, sans la moindre douceur.
He answered her harshly, without the slightest kindness.
Le personnage se conduit vachement avec les plus faibles.
The character behaves cruelly toward weaker people.
Ils furent vachement punis par un maître cruel.
They were punished harshly by a cruel master.
Cet emploi de vachement paraît aujourd'hui vieilli.
This use of vachement sounds dated today.
Similar words
méchamment
durement
cruellement
brutalement
rudement
Etymology
Built from French vache with the adverbial suffix -ment. The older sense “harshly” is recorded from 1906, while the intensifying sense “really” or “absolutely” is recorded from 1930.
FAQ
What does vachement mean in everyday French?
It usually means really, very, or a lot in familiar conversation.
Is vachement formal?
No. Vachement is familiar and expressive, so très or beaucoup is safer in formal writing.
How is vachement used with a noun?
Use vachement de before a noun, as in vachement de monde, meaning “a lot of people.”
Does vachement have anything to do with cows?
It is formed from vache, “cow,” but its common modern use is simply an informal intensifier.
How do you pronounce vachement?
Vachement is pronounced /vaʃ.mɑ̃/.
Can vachement mean “harshly”?
Yes, that older sense is attested, but it sounds archaic today.
Comments & contributions
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