C1 Umgangssprache Umgangssprache

Frimer

Show off, brag

Bedeutung

To boast or display one's possessions or abilities to impress others.

🌍

Kultureller Hintergrund

The term 'Bling-bling' was famously associated with President Nicolas Sarkozy in the 2000s, who was often accused of 'frimer' with his expensive watches and celebrity friends, contrasting with the traditional 'discrétion' expected of a French leader. In Quebec, while 'frimer' is understood, you might more often hear 'faire le smatte' (acting smart/tough) or 'se péter les bretelles' (snapping one's suspenders) to describe someone showing off. In Abidjan, 'la frime' is elevated to an art form called 'Le Boucan.' Members of the 'Sapélogie' movement (Sapeurs) 'friment' with high-end designer clothes as a form of social protest and identity. During the summer, members of the diaspora returning from Europe are sometimes accused of 'frimer' with their European cars and clothes, a phenomenon sometimes called 'le zbeul' or 'la frime du bled.'

🎯

Use it with 'un max'

To sound very native, say 'Il frime un max' (He's showing off a ton).

⚠️

Don't use with bosses

Even if your boss is showing off, use 'se mettre en avant' to avoid sounding disrespectful.

Bedeutung

To boast or display one's possessions or abilities to impress others.

🎯

Use it with 'un max'

To sound very native, say 'Il frime un max' (He's showing off a ton).

⚠️

Don't use with bosses

Even if your boss is showing off, use 'se mettre en avant' to avoid sounding disrespectful.

💬

The 'M'as-tu-vu'

This is the perfect noun to describe the person who 'frime' constantly. It's a bit more old-fashioned but very descriptive.

Teste dich selbst

Conjugate 'frimer' in the correct form.

Hier, il ________ (passé composé) toute la soirée avec sa nouvelle Rolex.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: a frimé

The sentence requires the passé composé because it describes a completed action in the past ('Hier').

Which sentence uses 'frimer' correctly?

Select the grammatically correct option:

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Il frime avec son intelligence.

'Frimer' requires the preposition 'avec' when followed by the thing being shown off.

Match the person to the description.

Who is 'un frimeur'?

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Someone who buys a Ferrari just to park it in front of a cafe.

A 'frimeur' is someone who performs actions specifically for the gaze and envy of others.

Complete the dialogue with the most natural slang expression.

A: 'Regarde Marc, il a encore mis ses lunettes de soleil à l'intérieur.' B: 'Laisse tomber, il adore ________.'

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: frimer

While 'se pavaner' works, 'frimer' is the most common and natural slang choice for this specific behavior.

🎉 Ergebnis: /4

Visuelle Lernhilfen

Bragging Registers

Formal
Se targuer To pride oneself
Slang
Frimer To show off

Aufgabensammlung

4 Aufgaben
Conjugate 'frimer' in the correct form. Fill Blank A2

Hier, il ________ (passé composé) toute la soirée avec sa nouvelle Rolex.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: a frimé

The sentence requires the passé composé because it describes a completed action in the past ('Hier').

Which sentence uses 'frimer' correctly? Choose B1

Select the grammatically correct option:

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Il frime avec son intelligence.

'Frimer' requires the preposition 'avec' when followed by the thing being shown off.

Match the person to the description. situation_matching A1

Who is 'un frimeur'?

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Someone who buys a Ferrari just to park it in front of a cafe.

A 'frimeur' is someone who performs actions specifically for the gaze and envy of others.

Complete the dialogue with the most natural slang expression. dialogue_completion B2

A: 'Regarde Marc, il a encore mis ses lunettes de soleil à l'intérieur.' B: 'Laisse tomber, il adore ________.'

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: frimer

While 'se pavaner' works, 'frimer' is the most common and natural slang choice for this specific behavior.

🎉 Ergebnis: /4

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

It's not a swear word, but it is a criticism. Calling someone a 'frimeur' is like calling them a 'show-off'—it's not a compliment.

Rarely. It almost always implies that the person is being annoying or superficial. If you want to be positive, use 'être fier de'.

'Se vanter' is mostly verbal (bragging), while 'frimer' is often visual (showing off objects or status).

No, it's too informal. Use 'faire étalage de ses compétences' instead.

You can say 'C'est un grand frimeur' or 'C'est un frimeur de première'.

No, it's a coincidence! It comes from the old French word for face.

No, use 'frimer avec' or 'se vanter de'.

Yes, 'la frime' refers to the act or the culture of showing off.

It means 'no nonsense' or 'without trying to impress'.

Extremely. It's a core theme in many French rap lyrics.

Verwandte Redewendungen

🔄

Se la jouer

synonym

To act like a big deal

🔗

Crâner

similar

To show off (often used by kids)

🔗

Faire le malin

similar

To act smart/tough

🔗

Se pavaner

similar

To strut like a peacock

🔄

Se la raconter

synonym

To talk oneself up

War das hilfreich?
Noch keine Kommentare. Sei der Erste, der seine Gedanken teilt!