Meaning
Feeling calm, untroubled, and at ease.
Cultural Background
The 'dimanche peinard' is a sacred institution. Most shops are closed, and the day is dedicated to family, long meals, and doing absolutely nothing productive. In Paris, finding a 'coin peinard' is a survival skill. The city is so dense and noisy that a quiet courtyard or a hidden park is highly valued. The 'peinard' character is a trope—often a man in his 50s, wearing a beret or a simple jacket, fishing by a river, representing the 'old France' that resists modernization. While used in Quebec, 'peinard' is less common than 'tranquille' or 'relax'. Quebecers might find 'peinard' sounds very 'European French'.
The 'Laisse-moi' Rule
Use 'Laisse-moi peinard' when you are genuinely relaxing and someone interrupts you. It's softer than 'Dégage' but firmer than 'Laisse-moi seul'.
Gender Matters
Don't forget to add the 'e' for 'peinarde' when writing about a woman, even if you don't hear it clearly in speech.
Meaning
Feeling calm, untroubled, and at ease.
The 'Laisse-moi' Rule
Use 'Laisse-moi peinard' when you are genuinely relaxing and someone interrupts you. It's softer than 'Dégage' but firmer than 'Laisse-moi seul'.
Gender Matters
Don't forget to add the 'e' for 'peinarde' when writing about a woman, even if you don't hear it clearly in speech.
The Renaud Connection
Listen to the singer Renaud to hear 'peinard' used in its natural habitat (1970s/80s Parisian slang).
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'peinard'.
Ma sœur adore passer ses soirées ________ sur son balcon.
The subject is 'Ma sœur' (feminine singular), so the adjective must be 'peinarde'.
Which situation best describes being 'peinard'?
Situation check:
'Peinard' implies a lack of stress and a quiet environment.
Fill in the missing line.
A: Tu viens à la fête ce soir ? B: Non, j'ai eu une grosse semaine, je vais ________.
After a big week, one wants to relax ('rester peinard').
Match the slang to its neutral equivalent.
Matching:
These are all correct slang-to-neutral mappings.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
When to be Peinard
Places
- • Jardin
- • Plage
- • Canapé
Times
- • Dimanche
- • Vacances
- • Soirée
Activities
- • Lire
- • Dormir
- • Boire un café
Practice Bank
4 exercisesMa sœur adore passer ses soirées ________ sur son balcon.
The subject is 'Ma sœur' (feminine singular), so the adjective must be 'peinarde'.
Situation check:
'Peinard' implies a lack of stress and a quiet environment.
A: Tu viens à la fête ce soir ? B: Non, j'ai eu une grosse semaine, je vais ________.
After a big week, one wants to relax ('rester peinard').
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are all correct slang-to-neutral mappings.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
14 questionsNo, it's just informal. It's like saying 'chill' in English. It's not a swear word.
Only if you have a very close, informal relationship. Otherwise, stick to 'tranquille'.
It is 'peinarde'. Example: 'Elle est peinarde'.
It can imply laziness if used by someone else to describe you, but usually, it just means relaxed.
Yes, both 'peinard' and 'pénard' are accepted, but 'peinard' is more common.
You can say 'vraiment peinard' or 'super peinard'.
It's mostly a France-specific slang term, though understood elsewhere.
Yes! 'Un coin peinard' is a very common expression for a quiet spot.
'Calme' is a fact; 'peinard' is a feeling of satisfaction and informal comfort.
Yes, though they might prefer 'pépouze' or 'au calme' (OKLM).
No, it's for people, situations, or places. You can't have a 'peinard' chair.
Not really, though you can say 'se la couler douce' for the action of being peinard.
It's used everywhere in France.
Depending on context, 'chill', 'easy-going', or 'cushy'.
Related Phrases
tranquille
synonymQuiet/calm
pépère
similarGrandpa-like/comfy
une planque
specialized formA cushy job
pépouze
builds onUltra-chill
foutre la paix
contrastTo leave someone alone
