Why do I need to know chauffard?

Because whether you’re driving, walking, or cycling, sometimes you just have to let out your anger.

What does it mean?

A chauffard is a reckless driver. It comes from the word chauffeur (driver), combined with the suffix -ard, which often signifies that a term is pejorative. For example:

–          Ringard (unfashionable)

–          Connard (jerk/arsehole)

–          Bâtard (bastard)

–          Flemmard (lazy)

–          Vantard (bragger)

You may be used to coming across chauffards in France – dangerous drivers who don’t pay attention to other people.

It can be used more or less formally depending on the context. When a woman died earlier this week after a car crashed into a café terrace in Paris, the mayor of the 17th arrondissement tweeted that she had been “percutée par un chauffard” (hit by a reckless driver).

😩🔴 Tragique accident de la route rue Sauffroy avec une femme décédée percutée sur le trottoir protégé par des potelets par un chauffard.
Plusieurs blessés graves.
Sur place avec le Préfet @prefpolice @PompiersParis et mes adjoints @GuerrePhil @LoulouGauthey @AtanasePerifan pic.twitter.com/09H872pRn6

— Geoffroy Boulard (@geoffroyboulard) July 29, 2021

On the more informal end of the spectrum, it can also be used as an exclamation. If a car cuts you off or skips a red light, you can yell, “Chauffard !”.

Use it like this

Chauffard ! C’est un passage piéton ! – Arsehole! It’s a pedestrian crossing!

Conduire à Paris, c’est dangereux, il n’y a que des chauffards – Driving in Paris is dangerous, there’s nothing but reckless drivers

Un chauffard a été arrêté après avoir percuté un cycliste – A reckless driver was arrested after hitting a cyclist