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B1 noun 10 Min. Lesezeit

veulerie

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At the A1 level, 'veulerie' is quite an advanced word. You can think of it as a very strong way to say someone is 'not brave' or 'very soft'. In simple English, it is like being a 'scaredy-cat' but in a more serious, adult way. Imagine someone who never wants to do anything difficult and always lets others decide for them because they are too lazy or afraid to choose. You might not use this word yourself yet, but it is good to know it describes a person who has no energy in their character. It is the opposite of being a hero or a strong leader. If a character in a story is very weak and always says 'I don't know, you choose' because they are lazy, they are showing 'veulerie'.

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At the A2 level, you can start to understand that 'veulerie' is a noun that describes a type of personality. It is a negative word. It means a lack of willpower. If you have a friend who never helps you when things get difficult because they are too 'mou' (soft), you could describe their behavior as 'veulerie'. It is more than just being tired; it is about being weak on the inside. In English, we might say 'spinelessness'. It is useful to recognize this word in books or on the news when people are complaining about leaders who don't do anything to solve problems. It is a feminine noun, so we say 'la veulerie'.

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As a B1 learner, you should recognize 'veulerie' as a term for moral weakness or lack of determination. It is often used to criticize someone's character. Unlike 'lâcheté', which is specifically about being afraid, 'veulerie' suggests a more general state of being 'deflated' or lacking 'ressort' (internal spring). You might use it in an essay to describe a character in a novel who fails to act when they should. For example, 'Sa veulerie l'empêche de dire la vérité.' (His spinelessness prevents him from telling the truth). It is a literary word, so using it correctly will make your French sound much more sophisticated and precise.

At the B2 level, 'veulerie' becomes a useful tool for nuanced social and psychological analysis. It describes a pathological passivity or a shameful lack of resolve. You will encounter it in political commentary and high-level literature. It implies a moral failing—a choice to be weak because it is easier than being strong. You should be able to distinguish it from 'apathie' (which is a lack of feeling) and 'mollesse' (which is more about physical or general laziness). In a debate, calling an argument 'veule' suggests it lacks conviction and courage. It is a powerful word for expressing intellectual or moral disappointment.

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At the C1 level, you should appreciate the historical and literary weight of 'veulerie'. It is a word that appears frequently in 19th and 20th-century French literature to describe the decadence of certain social classes. It suggests an existential failure—a refusal to exercise one's freedom or will. You can use it to discuss complex themes like collaboration during wartime, where 'veulerie' is often contrasted with 'résistance'. It is also a key term in certain philosophical contexts regarding the 'volonté' (will). Your mastery of this word involves using it in the right register (formal/literary) and pairing it with appropriate adjectives like 'crasse', 'abjecte', or 'profonde'.

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For the C2 learner, 'veulerie' is a precision instrument for critiquing the human condition. It represents the 'degré zéro' of moral agency. In a C2 context, you might analyze 'la veulerie' as a collective sociological phenomenon—the way societies can fall into a state of passive acceptance of injustice. You should be able to use it in highly formal oratory or academic writing to describe a systemic lack of fortitude. It is the antithesis of the 'élan vital' or the 'volonté de puissance'. Understanding the subtle derogatory shades—how it strips a person of their dignity by suggesting they have become 'unsubstantial'—is crucial at this level.

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veulerie in 30 Sekunden

Veulerie means a total lack of willpower or moral courage.
It is a feminine noun, often used as a harsh character critique.
It differs from cowardice by implying a general 'softness' of character.
Commonly found in French literature and formal political commentary.

The French word veulerie is a powerful and somewhat literary noun used to describe a profound lack of energy, will, or moral courage. At its core, it refers to a state of being 'veule'—spineless, weak-willed, or pathologically passive. While English words like 'spinelessness' or 'feebleness' capture the essence, veulerie often carries a heavier moral judgment, suggesting a person who has completely abandoned their principles or their drive out of sheer laziness or cowardice. It is not just a temporary lapse in bravery; it is often perceived as a character flaw where one becomes soft, malleable, and incapable of taking a stand. In French culture, which values intellectual rigor and the 'engagement' (commitment) of the individual, veulerie is a particularly biting insult. It suggests a person who is 'mou' (soft) to a fault, someone who allows themselves to be pushed around by circumstances or by others because they lack the internal backbone to resist.

Moral Weight: The term is frequently used in political and social criticism to denounce a perceived lack of resolve in leaders or the public. It implies a shameful surrender of the will.

Face à l'injustice, son silence n'était pas de la prudence, mais de la pure veulerie.

Historically, the word gained significant traction in 19th-century literature, where authors like Flaubert or Zola used it to describe the moral decay of the bourgeoisie or the crushing effect of social environments on the individual spirit. When you call something veulerie, you are highlighting a lack of 'ressort' (spring/resilience). It is the characteristic of someone who has given up. In modern contexts, it might describe a friend who refuses to stand up for themselves in a toxic relationship or a colleague who never voices an opinion for fear of conflict.

Etymological Link: It stems from the Old French 'veule', meaning 'light' or 'unsubstantial', related to the Latin 'volatilis' (flying/fleeting). It describes a person who has no 'weight' or substance to their convictions.

Il a accepté toutes les conditions sans broncher, faisant preuve d'une veulerie déconcertante.

Psychological Aspect: In psychology, it might be used to describe an extreme form of 'aboulie' (inability to make decisions), though it is more of a literary and social descriptor than a clinical one.

La veulerie ambiante empêche toute réforme sérieuse dans cette institution.

On lui reproche sa veulerie face aux pressions de son entourage.

Rien n'est plus irritant que la veulerie de ceux qui attendent que les autres agissent à leur place.

Using veulerie correctly requires understanding its role as an abstract noun that describes a quality of character or a specific behavior. It is almost always used with a negative connotation. You will often find it preceded by possessive adjectives (ma, ta, sa veulerie) or used in prepositional phrases like 'avec veulerie' (with spinelessness) or 'par veulerie' (out of spinelessness). Because it describes a lack of something, it is frequently contrasted with nouns like 'courage', 'volonté' (willpower), or 'fermeté' (firmness). For example, you might say, 'C'est un homme d'une grande intelligence, mais d'une veulerie sans nom' (He is a man of great intelligence, but of nameless spinelessness). This highlights the disconnect between his mental capacity and his moral strength.

Syntactic Patterns: Commonly follows verbs of manifestation like 'montrer' (to show), 'faire preuve de' (to demonstrate), or 'tomber dans' (to fall into).

Il a sombré dans une veulerie totale après son échec professionnel.

In more formal writing, veulerie can be used to describe a collective state, such as 'la veulerie d'une époque' (the spinelessness of an era). This suggests a general atmosphere of apathy and lack of conviction. It is also common in literary descriptions to paint a portrait of a character who is easily manipulated. 'Sa veulerie le rendait vulnérable à toutes les flatteries' (His spinelessness made him vulnerable to all flatteries). Note that veulerie is a feminine noun, so adjectives must agree: 'une veulerie crasse' (a gross spinelessness), 'une veulerie méprisable' (a contemptible spinelessness).

Collocations with Adjectives: Often paired with 'incroyable', 'insupportable', 'profonde', or 'lâche'.

Je ne supporte plus ta veulerie ; prends enfin une décision !

Contextual Nuance: It is rarely used in casual, everyday conversation among young people unless they are being intentionally dramatic or intellectual. It is more at home in a serious debate or a novel.

Elle détestait la veulerie de son mari qui n'osait jamais contredire sa mère.

Le film illustre parfaitement la veulerie humaine face à la tentation du pouvoir.

Il y a une certaine veulerie à se plaindre sans jamais essayer de changer les choses.

While you won't hear veulerie in a typical pop song or a casual chat at a bar, it is a staple of French intellectual life. You will encounter it frequently in the pages of 'Le Monde' or 'Le Figaro' when columnists are critiquing political inertia or the lack of moral fiber in public figures. It is a word of the 'élite intellectuelle', used to express a sophisticated form of disdain. In television debates, especially those involving philosophers (like Bernard-Henri Lévy or Michel Onfray), the word is used to attack an opponent's lack of conviction or their perceived 'mollasson' (soft) nature.

Literary Contexts: French literature is rife with 'veule' characters. From the weak-willed husbands in Madame Bovary to the passive observers in existentialist novels like 'L'Étranger' (though Meursault is more indifferent than 'veule'), the concept is a recurring theme.

L'éditorial dénonçait la veulerie des dirigeants européens face à la crise.

In the world of theater, directors might use the word to describe how a character should be played—with a lack of posture, a drooping head, and a hesitant voice. It is a physicalized state of moral collapse. You might also hear it in academic settings, particularly in sociology or political science, when discussing 'social apathy'.

Cinematic Use: In French cinema, particularly 'cinéma d'auteur', characters often grapple with their own veulerie. It provides a rich source of internal conflict.

Le critique a fustigé la veulerie du scénario, incapable de prendre des risques.

Modern Nuance: Today, it might be used to describe 'slacktivism' or the tendency to express outrage online without ever taking real-world action.

On ne peut pas construire un avenir sur la veulerie et le renoncement.

Sa veulerie était telle qu'il a laissé son ami se faire accuser à sa place.

La veulerie est souvent le premier pas vers la trahison.

One of the most frequent mistakes for English speakers is confusing veulerie with words that sound similar or have related but distinct meanings. For instance, beginners might confuse it with 'vilenie' (villainy/baseness). While both are negative, 'vilenie' implies an active, malicious act, whereas veulerie is defined by a *lack* of action or will. Another common confusion is with 'vulgarité' (vulgarity). There is no connection between being 'veule' and being 'vulgaire', though a person could certainly be both.

Veulerie vs. Lâcheté: 'Lâcheté' (cowardice) is often a reaction to fear. 'Veulerie' is more about a general state of being 'soft' or having no willpower. You are 'lâche' when you run away; you are 'veule' when you don't even bother to stand up.

Il ne faut pas confondre la fatigue physique avec la veulerie morale.

Another mistake is using it as an adjective. Remember that veulerie is the noun; the adjective is 'veule'. You cannot say 'Il est très veulerie', but rather 'Il est d'une grande veulerie' or 'Il est très veule'. Furthermore, some learners try to use it to mean 'laziness' in a physical sense (like not wanting to clean the house). While there is an element of laziness in veulerie, it is specifically *moral* or *spiritual* laziness. For simple chores, use 'paresse'.

Register Errors: Using veulerie in a very casual text message might seem out of place. It's like using 'pusillanimity' in English while texting about where to eat dinner.

Sa veulerie l'empêche de s'engager dans une cause noble.

Confusion with 'Valeur': Ironically, it sounds vaguely like 'valeur' (value), but it is essentially the absence of value in one's character.

La veulerie n'est pas une fatalité, c'est un choix de facilité.

Il a honte de sa propre veulerie passée.

On ne peut pardonner une telle veulerie de la part d'un expert.

If veulerie feels too formal or doesn't quite fit the context, there are several alternatives.

Lâcheté: This is the most direct synonym for 'cowardice'. Use it when the person is actively avoiding a scary situation. Veulerie is more about a general lack of energy or backbone.

Mollesse: Literally 'softness'. It is more common in everyday speech. 'Il est d'une mollesse...' means he has no drive or energy. It's less of a moral condemnation than veulerie.

Pusillanimité: An even more formal word than veulerie. It refers to a smallness of soul, a fear of taking risks. It's very academic.

Sa mollesse au travail finit par agacer tout le monde.

Apathie: Apathy refers to a lack of interest or emotion. A person with veulerie might care, but they just don't have the will to act.

Il a fait preuve d'une pusillanimité exemplaire en refusant le poste.

Comparaison Table: Veulerie: Moral spinelessness. Lâcheté: Fear-based cowardice. Mollesse: General lack of energy. Pusillanimité: Timidity/Soul-smallness.

C'est la lâcheté qui l'a poussé à mentir, non la méchanceté.

La veulerie est le terreau fertile du totalitarisme.

Son apathie est le résultat d'une longue dépression.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

The word is a 'false friend' to no common English word, but its evolution from 'flying/light' to 'spineless' shows how French often uses physical lightness to imply a lack of moral gravity.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /vø.lʁi/

US /vø.lʁi/

In French, the stress is evenly distributed, but with a slight emphasis on the final syllable 'rie'.

Reimt sich auf

galerie boulangerie connerie flatterie moquerie tromperie tuerie vie

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing 'eu' like 'oo' (as in 'fool').
Pronouncing the final 'e' as a separate syllable.
Making the 'r' too harsh or like an English 'r'.
Confusing the 'eu' sound with 'u' (as in 'tu').
Stress on the first syllable.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 4/5

Found in literature and high-level journalism. Requires understanding of abstract concepts.

Schreiben 5/5

Difficult to use correctly without sounding overly dramatic or pretentious.

Sprechen 5/5

Rarely used in daily speech; requires precise pronunciation.

Hören 4/5

Must be distinguished from similar-sounding words like 'vilenie'.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

faible courage volonté peur mou

Als Nächstes lernen

pusillanimité aboulie compromission lâcheté inertie

Fortgeschritten

engagement résilience intégrité abnégation

Wichtige Grammatik

Abstract nouns are usually feminine in French when they end in -erie.

La boulangerie, la tromperie, la veulerie.

The preposition 'par' is used to express the motive or cause of an action.

Il l'a fait par peur, par amour, par veulerie.

Adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun 'veulerie'.

Une veulerie profonde (feminine singular).

The structure 'faire preuve de' requires a partitive or indefinite article with abstract nouns.

Il fait preuve de courage. Il fait preuve d'une grande veulerie.

The restrictive 'ne... que' highlights that veulerie is the only factor.

Il n'agit que par veulerie.

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Beispiele nach Niveau

Sa veulerie est triste.

His spinelessness is sad.

Simple noun-adjective agreement.

Il n'a pas de courage, c'est de la veulerie.

He has no courage, it is spinelessness.

Use of 'c'est de la' for an abstract noun.

La veulerie n'est pas bien.

Spinelessness is not good.

Basic negation.

Elle déteste la veulerie.

She hates spinelessness.

Direct object after a verb of emotion.

C'est un homme plein de veulerie.

He is a man full of spinelessness.

'Plein de' + noun.

Pourquoi tant de veulerie ?

Why so much spinelessness?

'Tant de' expresses quantity/intensity.

Sa veulerie me fait peur.

His spinelessness scares me.

Subject-verb-object structure.

La veulerie est un défaut.

Spinelessness is a flaw.

Identifying a quality.

Il a montré sa veulerie en partant.

He showed his spinelessness by leaving.

Passé composé with 'montrer'.

Sa veulerie empêche tout progrès.

His spinelessness prevents all progress.

Third person singular present.

Je ne comprends pas sa veulerie.

I don't understand his spinelessness.

Negative sentence with 'comprendre'.

La veulerie de cet enfant est rare.

The spinelessness of this child is rare.

Possessive 'de'.

C'est une veulerie que je n'aime pas.

It's a spinelessness that I don't like.

Relative clause with 'que'.

Sa veulerie est devenue un problème.

His spinelessness has become a problem.

Passé composé with 'devenir'.

Il agit avec une grande veulerie.

He acts with great spinelessness.

Preposition 'avec' + noun phrase.

La veulerie n'aide personne.

Spinelessness helps no one.

Negation 'ne... personne'.

Il a cédé par pure veulerie.

He gave in out of pure spinelessness.

'Par' indicating cause.

Sa veulerie est le signe d'un manque de caractère.

His spinelessness is the sign of a lack of character.

Noun phrase as subject.

On lui reproche souvent sa veulerie.

He is often criticized for his spinelessness.

Passive-like structure with 'on'.

La veulerie ne mène à rien de bon.

Spinelessness leads to nothing good.

'Ne... rien de' + adjective.

Malgré son talent, sa veulerie le freine.

Despite his talent, his spinelessness holds him back.

'Malgré' + noun.

C'est une veulerie qui me déçoit profondément.

It is a spinelessness that disappoints me deeply.

Relative pronoun 'qui'.

Il a sombré dans la veulerie après son divorce.

He sank into spinelessness after his divorce.

Metaphorical use of 'sombrer dans'.

Sa veulerie est devenue insupportable pour ses amis.

His spinelessness has become unbearable for his friends.

Adjective 'insupportable' agreeing with feminine 'veulerie'.

La veulerie des dirigeants a causé la perte du pays.

The spinelessness of the leaders caused the loss of the country.

Complex noun phrase.

Il fait preuve d'une veulerie déconcertante face à l'adversité.

He demonstrates a disconcerting spinelessness in the face of adversity.

Idiom 'faire preuve de'.

Sa veulerie n'a d'égale que sa paresse.

His spinelessness is only equaled by his laziness.

Comparison structure 'n'a d'égale que'.

On ne peut que déplorer une telle veulerie.

One can only deplore such spinelessness.

Restricive 'ne... que'.

Sa veulerie le pousse à accepter l'inacceptable.

His spinelessness pushes him to accept the unacceptable.

Verb 'pousser à' + infinitive.

La veulerie est le refuge des esprits faibles.

Spinelessness is the refuge of weak minds.

Abstract philosophical statement.

Elle a surmonté sa veulerie pour enfin agir.

She overcame her spinelessness to finally act.

Verb 'surmonter'.

Rien n'est plus méprisable que la veulerie intellectuelle.

Nothing is more contemptible than intellectual spinelessness.

Comparative 'plus... que'.

Le roman explore la veulerie d'une bourgeoisie en déclin.

The novel explores the spinelessness of a declining bourgeoisie.

Literary analysis context.

Sa veulerie l'a conduit à une compromission honteuse.

His spinelessness led him to a shameful compromise.

Cause and effect with 'conduire à'.

L'auteur fustige la veulerie de ses contemporains.

The author lambasts the spinelessness of his contemporaries.

High-level verb 'fustiger'.

Il y a une certaine veulerie à se complaire dans le malheur.

There is a certain spinelessness in indulging in misery.

Gerund-like structure 'à se complaire'.

La veulerie est souvent masquée par une fausse modestie.

Spinelessness is often masked by false modesty.

Passive voice with 'par'.

Elle a dénoncé la veulerie ambiante avec force.

She denounced the surrounding spinelessness with strength.

Adjective 'ambiant' used figuratively.

Sa veulerie est le produit d'une éducation trop protectrice.

His spinelessness is the product of an overly protective upbringing.

Sociological explanation.

On ne saurait pardonner une telle veulerie morale.

One cannot forgive such moral spinelessness.

Formal 'ne saurait' for impossibility.

L'œuvre dissèque la veulerie humaine avec une précision chirurgicale.

The work dissects human spinelessness with surgical precision.

Advanced metaphor.

Sa veulerie n'est que le revers d'un narcissisme exacerbé.

His spinelessness is but the flip side of an exacerbated narcissism.

Complex psychological link.

La veulerie s'insinue là où la conviction fait défaut.

Spinelessness creeps in where conviction is lacking.

Pronominal verb 's'insinuer'.

Il a érigé la veulerie en système de survie.

He has turned spinelessness into a survival system.

Idiom 'ériger en'.

La veulerie collective peut mener aux pires atrocités par omission.

Collective spinelessness can lead to the worst atrocities by omission.

Prepositional phrase 'par omission'.

Sa veulerie est le symptôme d'une vacuité spirituelle profonde.

His spinelessness is the symptom of a profound spiritual emptiness.

Abstract noun 'vacuité'.

Il fustigeait sans relâche la veulerie de l'appareil d'État.

He relentlessly lambasted the spinelessness of the state apparatus.

Imperfect tense for habitual action.

La veulerie n'est point une excuse pour la trahison.

Spinelessness is by no means an excuse for betrayal.

Archaic/Formal 'point' instead of 'pas'.

Häufige Kollokationen

faire preuve de veulerie

une veulerie crasse

tomber dans la veulerie

sombrer dans la veulerie

reprocher sa veulerie

veulerie morale

veulerie intellectuelle

combattre la veulerie

une telle veulerie

veulerie et lâcheté

Häufige Phrasen

C'est de la pure veulerie.

— Used to dismiss an action as having no moral basis. It is a strong condemnation.

Refuser de témoigner ? C'est de la pure veulerie.

Quelle veulerie !

— An exclamation of disgust at someone's lack of spine.

Il a encore changé d'avis. Quelle veulerie !

Sortir de sa veulerie.

— To stop being passive and finally take action or make a stand.

Il est temps qu'il sorte de sa veulerie.

La veulerie nous guette.

— A warning that we are in danger of becoming passive or lazy in our principles.

Soyons vigilants, la veulerie nous guette tous.

Agir par veulerie.

— To do something (or fail to do something) because one is too weak to resist.

Il a accepté le pot-de-vin par veulerie.

Une veulerie sans nom.

— Spinelessness so extreme it cannot be described.

Son comportement est d'une veulerie sans nom.

Masquer sa veulerie.

— To try to hide one's lack of courage behind excuses.

Il masque sa veulerie derrière de grands discours.

S'enfoncer dans la veulerie.

— To become increasingly passive and weak-willed over time.

Il s'enfonce dans la veulerie depuis des années.

La veulerie du quotidien.

— The small, daily acts of giving in or not standing up for oneself.

Il faut lutter contre la veulerie du quotidien.

Dénoncer la veulerie.

— To publicly call out someone's or a group's lack of resolve.

Le journaliste a dénoncé la veulerie du gouvernement.

Wird oft verwechselt mit

veulerie vs vilenie

Vilenie is an active bad deed; veulerie is a passive lack of will.

veulerie vs vulgarité

Vulgarité is about being crude or common; veulerie is about being spineless.

veulerie vs valeur

They sound vaguely similar, but have opposite moral meanings.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"être mou comme une chiffe"

— To be as limp as a rag. Describes extreme physical or moral weakness.

Il ne prend jamais de décision, il est mou comme une chiffe.

Informal

"n'avoir aucune colonne vertébrale"

— To have no backbone. A direct equivalent to 'spinelessness'.

Ce politicien n'a aucune colonne vertébrale.

Neutral

"être une mauviette"

— To be a wimp or a weakling.

Ne sois pas une mauviette, dis-lui la vérité !

Informal

"baisser les bras"

— To give up or surrender without a fight.

Il a baissé les bras dès la première difficulté.

Neutral

"suivre le courant"

— To go with the flow, often implying a lack of personal conviction.

Par veulerie, il se contente de suivre le courant.

Neutral

"être un ventre mou"

— To be a 'soft underbelly' or a weak point in a group.

Il est le ventre mou de notre équipe.

Informal

"faire le mort"

— To play dead or stay quiet to avoid taking a stand.

Pendant la dispute, il a fait le mort par veulerie.

Informal

"filer doux"

— To keep a low profile or obey submissively out of fear or weakness.

Devant son patron, il file doux.

Neutral

"ne pas avoir de couilles"

— Vulgar way to say someone lacks courage/balls.

Il n'a pas de couilles pour lui faire face.

Slang

"être un béni-oui-oui"

— A 'yes-man'; someone who agrees with everything out of weakness.

Le directeur ne s'entoure que de béni-oui-oui.

Informal

Leicht verwechselbar

veulerie vs lâcheté

Both mean a lack of courage.

Lâcheté is the act of being a coward (often due to fear). Veulerie is the state of being weak-willed and soft (often due to laziness or lack of character).

Sa lâcheté l'a fait fuir le combat, mais sa veulerie l'empêche même de s'entraîner.

veulerie vs mollesse

Both describe a lack of firmness.

Mollesse is more general and can be physical or mental. Veulerie is specifically a moral and character defect.

La mollesse du matelas est agréable, mais la veulerie de son mari est insupportable.

veulerie vs apathie

Both involve not doing anything.

Apathie is a lack of emotion or interest. Veulerie is a lack of willpower to act on what one might actually believe.

L'apathie le rend indifférent à tout, tandis que sa veulerie le rend incapable d'agir malgré ses remords.

veulerie vs timidité

Both can lead to inaction.

Timidité is a social fear or shyness. Veulerie is a moral failing of the will. A shy person can be very brave; a 'veule' person cannot.

Sa timidité l'empêche de parler en public, mais sa veulerie l'empêche de défendre ses propres enfants.

veulerie vs paresse

Both involve a lack of effort.

Paresse is about not wanting to work or move. Veulerie is about not having the internal strength to maintain principles.

Par paresse, il n'a pas fait le ménage. Par veulerie, il a laissé son collègue se faire renvoyer injustement.

Satzmuster

C'est de la [adjective] veulerie.

C'est de la pure veulerie.

[Person] fait preuve de veulerie.

Jean fait preuve de veulerie.

Agir par [adjective] veulerie.

Il a accepté par simple veulerie.

La veulerie de [noun/person] est [adjective].

La veulerie de ce choix est frappante.

Sombrer / s'enfoncer dans la veulerie.

La société s'enfonce dans la veulerie.

Une veulerie qui [verb].

Une veulerie qui paralyse toute action.

Ériger la veulerie en [noun].

Il a érigé la veulerie en principe de vie.

La veulerie n'a d'égale que [noun].

Sa veulerie n'a d'égale que son arrogance.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

veule (can be used as a noun for a person)

Verben

None (one might use 's'avachir' for the process)

Adjektive

veule

Verwandt

volonté

faiblesse

lâcheté

mollesse

apathie

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So verwendest du es

frequency

Low in daily speech, high in literature and serious journalism.

Häufige Fehler

Using 'veulerie' as an adjective. → Il est veule.
Veulerie is a noun. You cannot say 'Il est veulerie'. You must use the adjective form 'veule' or the phrase 'Il est d'une grande veulerie'.
Confusing it with 'vilenie'. → Sa veulerie l'empêche d'agir.
Vilenie means a base or wicked act. Veulerie means a lack of will. They are both bad, but for different reasons. Don't use 'vilenie' when you mean spinelessness.
Pronouncing it like 'voolerie'. → Pronounce the 'eu' sound correctly.
The 'oo' sound doesn't exist in the word. Incorrect pronunciation can make it hard for native speakers to understand you.
Using it for simple physical laziness. → Sa paresse l'empêche de faire le ménage.
Veulerie is a moral and character defect. Using it for simple chores sounds overly dramatic and slightly incorrect contextually.
Thinking it is masculine because it doesn't end in 'e' (in English minds). → La veulerie.
In French, the -erie ending is a strong indicator of a feminine noun. Always use 'la' or 'une'.

Tipps

Learn the Adjective Too

Don't just learn 'veulerie'; learn 'veule'. You'll use the adjective more often to describe people directly. For example, 'Il est trop veule pour dire non.' This makes the concept more versatile in your speech.

Use it in Political Discussion

If you are practicing French for a debate or a formal essay, 'veulerie' is a perfect word to describe political inaction. It sounds much more sophisticated than just saying 'le gouvernement est faible'.

Distinguish from Lâcheté

Remember that 'lâcheté' is about fear, while 'veulerie' is about a lack of will. If someone doesn't act because they are lazy or soft, use 'veulerie'. If they don't act because they are trembling with fear, use 'lâcheté'.

Round Your Lips

The 'eu' sound in 'veulerie' is tricky. Keep your lips rounded as if you're going to whistle, but try to say 'ay'. This will help you hit that specific French vowel correctly.

Pair with 'Moral'

To be very clear, use the phrase 'veulerie morale'. It reinforces that you are talking about a person's character and principles rather than just physical tiredness.

Look for it in 19th Century Novels

When reading Balzac, Flaubert, or Zola, keep an eye out for this word. It's a favorite of theirs to describe the 'weak' characters they often critiqued in society.

Don't Overuse It

Because it's a strong and formal word, using it too much can make you sound unnatural. Reserve it for moments when you really want to emphasize a deep disappointment in someone's character.

The 'Jelly' Mnemonic

Think of 'veulerie' as 'Jelly-rie'. A person with veulerie has a character like jelly—no structure, no strength, and easily squashed.

Remember the Gender

It's always 'la veulerie'. Abstract nouns ending in -erie are almost always feminine. This will help you with adjective agreement and articles.

Watch French News

Listen to editorial segments on channels like France 24 or TV5Monde. You'll hear commentators use 'veulerie' to describe diplomatic or political failures.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of a 'veal' (calf meat)—which is soft and tender—and add 'rie'. A person with 'veulerie' is as soft as veal and won't stand up for anything.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a person made of jelly or a wet noodle trying to stand up but constantly collapsing into a heap.

Word Web

Veule Mou Lâche Sans volonté Passif Faible Inerte Soumis

Herausforderung

Try to write a paragraph describing a 'veule' politician without using the word 'lâche'. Use 'veulerie' at least twice.

Wortherkunft

Derived from the adjective 'veule', which comes from the Old French 'veule' meaning 'light' or 'weak'. This in turn likely stems from the Latin 'volatilis' (flying, fleeting, or light).

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: Originally, it described something physically light or lacking substance. Over time, it moved from a physical description to a moral and psychological one.

Romance (Latin root via Old French).

Kultureller Kontext

It is a highly insulting word. Use with caution in personal relationships as it attacks the core of a person's character.

English speakers might use 'spinelessness' or 'wimpiness', but 'veulerie' has a more 'literary' and 'existential' weight that 'wimpiness' lacks.

Gustave Flaubert's characters often exhibit 'veulerie'. Jean-Paul Sartre's concept of 'mauvaise foi' (bad faith) is closely related to 'veulerie'. Albert Camus's 'La Peste' contrasts the 'veulerie' of some citizens with the courage of others.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Political Critique

La veulerie du gouvernement
Dénoncer la veulerie
Incapacité et veulerie
Une politique de veulerie

Literary Analysis

Le personnage fait preuve de veulerie
L'exploration de la veulerie
Un portrait de la veulerie
La veulerie bourgeoise

Personal Relationships

Je ne supporte pas ta veulerie
Sa veulerie m'agace
Agir par veulerie
Sortir de sa veulerie

Moral/Ethical Debates

La veulerie morale
Veulerie vs Courage
Le danger de la veulerie
La veulerie face au mal

Psychological Description

Une forme de veulerie
La veulerie et l'apathie
Symptôme de veulerie
Vaincre sa veulerie

Gesprächseinstiege

"Penses-tu que la veulerie soit le plus grand défaut d'un leader ?"

"As-tu déjà agi par veulerie dans une situation difficile ?"

"Comment peut-on aider quelqu'un à sortir de sa veulerie ?"

"Est-ce que la société moderne encourage la veulerie ?"

"Quelle est la différence entre la prudence et la veulerie selon toi ?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Décrivez un moment où vous avez lutté contre votre propre veulerie.

Analysez un personnage de livre qui illustre parfaitement le concept de veulerie.

Pourquoi la veulerie est-elle considérée comme un défaut si grave en France ?

Réfléchissez à une situation politique actuelle où vous voyez de la veulerie.

Comment la volonté peut-elle triompher de la veulerie au quotidien ?

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

It is common in intellectual, political, and literary circles. You won't hear it every day on the street, but you will see it in newspapers like Le Monde and hear it in serious debates. It is a word used by people who have a good command of the language to express precise moral criticism.

It would be very harsh. 'Paresse' (laziness) is more appropriate for someone who doesn't study. Using 'veulerie' implies the student has no moral backbone and is pathologically weak-willed, which is a much heavier accusation than just being lazy.

'Veule' is the adjective (e.g., 'Un homme veule'), while 'veulerie' is the noun (e.g., 'Sa veulerie est évidente'). They share the same meaning of spinelessness but are used in different grammatical positions.

Yes, it is exclusively negative. It describes a lack of a desirable quality (willpower/courage). There is no context in which 'veulerie' would be considered a positive or even a neutral attribute.

It is a closed 'eu' sound. Imagine the 'u' in the English word 'burn', but round your lips tightly. It is the same sound as in 'bleu' or 'deux'. Make sure not to let it sound like 'oo' (voolerie) or 'ee' (veelerie).

It can be used for institutions, governments, or even pieces of art (like a movie or a book) to describe a lack of risk-taking or firmness. For example, 'la veulerie d'un scénario' means the script is weak and takes no bold steps.

Yes, it belongs to a higher register of French. Using it shows that you have an advanced vocabulary. In casual conversation, people would more likely use 'mollesse' or simply say 'il n'a pas de courage'.

Common adjectives include 'crasse' (gross/thick), 'profonde' (deep), 'insupportable' (unbearable), 'lâche' (cowardly), and 'intellectuelle' (intellectual). These help specify the type or intensity of the spinelessness.

Technically yes ('veuleries'), but as an abstract noun, it is almost always used in the singular. You might use the plural if you are referring to specific instances of spineless behavior: 'Toutes ses veuleries ont fini par le détruire.'

There is no direct verb like 'veuler'. To express the action, you would say 'faire preuve de veulerie' or use a related verb like 's'avachir' (to slump/become soft) or 'céder' (to give in).

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