fat

conceited person, vain fool

noun adjective FAT Rare

Origin: Latin fatuus (foolish, insipid)

Also means

conceited (adjective)

Usage Note

Fat (the final t is pronounced, rhyming with French mat) describes a person who is smugly self-satisfied and insufferably vain — think a pompous braggart rather than someone merely proud. It is a somewhat literary or old-fashioned word; modern speakers might use prétentieux instead, but fat still appears in literary criticism and elevated prose.

Examples

"Cet homme fat ne parlait que de lui-même."

Natural Translation

That conceited man talked only about himself.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

Passé Composé vs Imparfait: When to Use Each

Passé composé tells the story; imparfait paints the scene. Use this 2-second flowchart, trigger words, and paired examples to pick the right French tense.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

How to Pronounce the French R (Step by Step)

The French R is a back-of-the-throat sound, not a rolled R. Learn the exact tongue position and a step-by-step drill to build it from sounds you already make.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

Avoir or Être? Picking the Right Past-Tense Helper

Use avoir for the passé composé unless the verb is reflexive or one of ~16 DR MRS VANDERTRAMP motion verbs, which take être and force agreement.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

French False Friends: 25 Faux Amis to Avoid

French false friends look like English words but mean something else: actuellement is not actually, sensible means sensitive. Here are 25 faux amis to avoid.

June 3, 2026 5 min read