Last night at the French conversation group we were discussing how to say rascal in French, because one of the beers being served last night is called rascal. I found quite a few possible translations, each of which has slightly different meanings:
- vaurien = good-for-nothing, scoundrel; (to child) petit vaurien ! = you little devil!
- fripon = [n] rogue; [adj] mischievous, roguish; (to child) petit fripon ! = you little scamp/rogue!
- polisson = [adj] mischievous, cheeky; saucy, naughty – une chanson polissonne = a racy saucy song; [n] little devil / rogue / scamp
- gredin = rascal, rogue
- maraud = rascal, rapscallion
- chenapan = rascal, rogue, scoundrel (humourous)
- bélître = rascal; dandy
- canaille = [adj] roguish; coarse, vulgar; [n] scoundrel, crook – petite canaille ! = you little devil / rascal!
The English word rascal, which I particularly like the sound of, comes from the Anglo-Norman word rascaile, from the Middle French rascaille (rabble, common people), possibly from the unattested verb *rasquer (to scrape).
Children are often the ones called rascals or little rascals in English. Is it the same in other languages, if they have similar words?
