When someone ricane, it means they are laughing in a way that isn't very nice. It's not a happy, friendly laugh.
Imagine someone making a little, mean laugh, maybe under their breath. That's ricaner.
It's often used when someone is being disrespectful or making fun of something or someone.
So, if you hear someone ricaner, it usually means they are snickering or sneering.
ricaner in 30 Seconds
- disrespectful laugh
- sneer
- snicker
Examples by Level
Les enfants ont commencé à ricaner quand l'enseignant a trébuché.
The children started to snicker when the teacher tripped.
Past tense (passé composé) of 'ricaner'.
Il ne faut pas ricaner des malheurs des autres.
One should not sneer at the misfortunes of others.
Negative imperative with 'il ne faut pas'.
Son rire n'était pas joyeux, c'était plutôt un ricanement.
His laugh was not joyful, it was more a snicker.
Noun form: 'ricanement' (a snicker/sneer).
J'ai entendu quelqu'un ricaner derrière mon dos.
I heard someone snickering behind my back.
Past tense (passé composé) with infinitive verb after verb of perception.
Elle a ricané à ses blagues, même si elles n'étaient pas drôles.
She snickered at his jokes, even if they weren't funny.
Past tense (passé composé) with preposition 'à'.
Arrête de ricaner, ce n'est pas poli.
Stop snickering, it's not polite.
Imperative form of 'arrêter' followed by 'de' + infinitive.
Le public a commencé à ricaner pendant son discours ennuyeux.
The audience started to sneer during his boring speech.
Past tense (passé composé) of 'ricaner'.
Pourquoi ricanes-tu ? Y a-t-il quelque chose d'amusant ?
Why are you snickering? Is there something funny?
Present tense, inverted question form.
Les enfants ont ricané quand leur camarade est tombé, ce qui n'était pas très gentil.
The children snickered when their classmate fell, which wasn't very kind.
Past tense, 'passé composé', with 'avoir'.
Il avait l'habitude de ricaner chaque fois que quelqu'un faisait une erreur.
He used to sneer every time someone made a mistake.
Imperfect tense, 'l'imparfait', indicating a habitual action.
Ses ennemis ne pouvaient s'empêcher de ricaner de ses malheurs.
His enemies couldn't help but snicker at his misfortunes.
Using 'ne pouvaient s'empêcher de' (couldn't help but) with an infinitive.
Elle a entendu un ricane discret venant du fond de la salle.
She heard a discreet snicker coming from the back of the room.
Note the noun form 'un ricane' (a snicker/sneer), though less common than the verb.
Le politicien a ricané à la question du journaliste, montrant son mépris.
The politician sneered at the journalist's question, showing his contempt.
Past tense, 'passé composé', emphasizing a specific completed action.
Ne ricanons pas des efforts des autres, même s'ils semblent maladroits.
Let's not snicker at others' efforts, even if they seem clumsy.
Imperative mood, encouraging a specific action (or lack thereof).
Malgré ses paroles blessantes, il continuait de ricaner, aggravant la situation.
Despite his hurtful words, he kept sneering, worsening the situation.
Using 'continuer de' (to continue to) with an infinitive, and the present participle 'aggravant'.
J'ai ricané en voyant sa réaction exagérée, mais je me suis vite arrêté.
I snickered when I saw his exaggerated reaction, but I quickly stopped.
Past tense, 'passé composé', with a sequence of actions.
Test Yourself 12 questions
Choose the best synonym for 'ricaner':
'Ricaner' and 'rigoler' both involve laughing, but 'ricaner' specifically implies a scornful or disrespectful laugh, while 'rigoler' is more general.
Which of these situations might make someone 'ricaner'?
'Ricaner' implies a laugh with a hint of scorn or disrespect, which might happen when witnessing someone else's misfortune.
The boy started to ______ when his friend made a mistake.
If the boy is laughing at his friend's mistake, 'ricaner' is the most appropriate verb as it suggests a mocking laugh.
If you 'ricaner', you are probably very happy and joyful.
'Ricaner' implies a scornful or disrespectful laugh, not a joyful one.
You can 'ricaner' at a very serious and sad event.
'Ricaner' is typically a scornful or disrespectful laugh, which would be inappropriate at a serious or sad event.
When someone tells a good joke, you often 'ricaner'.
When someone tells a good joke, you usually laugh in a positive way, not with scorn or disrespect, so 'ricaner' is not the right word.
Which of these situations best describes someone who might 'ricaner'?
'Ricaner' implies a scornful or disrespectful laugh, often at someone else's expense.
What is the primary emotion associated with 'ricaner'?
'Ricaner' typically suggests a feeling of contempt or disrespect.
Choose the best English translation for 'ricaner'.
'To sneer' captures the scornful and disrespectful nature of 'ricaner' more accurately than other options.
If you 'ricaner', you are probably showing approval.
'Ricaner' usually expresses disapproval, scorn, or disrespect, not approval.
'Ricaner' is a synonym for 'rire' (to laugh) in all contexts.
While both involve laughter, 'ricaner' specifically implies a negative, scornful, or disrespectful laugh, whereas 'rire' is a general term for laughing.
You might 'ricaner' if someone tells a very amusing and innocent joke.
'Ricaner' is used for scornful or disrespectful laughter, not for an innocent, amusing joke.
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Summary
Ricaner describes a short, scornful laugh, implying disrespect or derision.
- disrespectful laugh
- sneer
- snicker
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