manger vs bouffer
French word comparison
Listen to manger
Listen to bouffer
| manger | bouffer |
|---|---|
/mahn-ZHAY/ verb | //bufe// verb |
| to eat (to consume food) | to eat (colloquial, slang; often implies eating a lot or messily) |
How they differ
Bouffer is a very informal/slang alternative to manger and often carries connotations of eating greedily, quickly, or in an undignified way; it is less neutral and can be coarse compared with manger. While manger is appropriate in any register, bouffer is typically restricted to casual speech and can sound rude in formal contexts.
When to use each
When to use manger: Prefer manger when you want a neutral, standard verb for eating in formal or written contexts.
When to use bouffer: Use bouffer in casual spoken French among friends to emphasize voracious or sloppy eating, or for a deliberately rough tone.
Side-by-side examples
- Je vais manger quelque chose avant de partir.
(I'm going to eat something before leaving.) - J'ai bouffé trois croissants ce matin.
(I gobbled down three croissants this morning.)
Register & nuance: Bouffer is colloquial/slang and can be vulgar; avoid it in formal, professional, or polite situations.