les gueux: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Literary, Historical, Pejorative
Quick answer
What does “les gueux” mean?
The beggars, the poor wretches.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The beggars, the poor wretches; a derogatory French term for people who are poor, destitute, or seen as social outcasts.
Can refer to members of an impoverished, marginalized, or despised social group. Historically, 'Les Gueux' was a nickname adopted by Dutch and Flemish rebels against Spanish rule in the 16th century.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical and rare in both varieties, confined to historical or specialized literary contexts.
Connotations
The historical connotation of the Dutch rebels is more likely to be known in British academic contexts due to European history focus.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. More likely encountered in historical texts than in modern discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “les gueux” in a Sentence
[historical term] 'Les Gueux' [verb]...The [noun] of Les Gueux...referred to as Les GueuxVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical texts discussing the Dutch Revolt (Eighty Years' War).
Everyday
Virtually never used. Might be employed for dramatic or ironic literary effect.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “les gueux”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “les gueux”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “les gueux”
- Mispronouncing 'gueux' as /ɡjuːks/ or /ɡwɛks/.
- Using it in modern contexts to describe homeless people.
- Treating it as an English word with plural 'gueuxes'. It remains a French phrase.
- Capitalizing incorrectly: 'Les Gueux' is correct when referring to the historical group.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a French loan phrase used in specific historical/literary contexts within English texts.
Absolutely not. It is an archaic and highly derogatory term. Using it would be considered offensive and anachronistic.
When capitalised ('Les Gueux'), it specifically refers to the historical group of Dutch and Flemish rebels from the 16th century.
The closest English approximation is /ɡɜː/ (like 'grr' without the 'r' strongly rolled, or 'ger' in 'germ' without the 'm'). The French sound is a soft 'g' followed by a vowel similar to the 'eu' in 'jeopardy'.
The beggars, the poor wretches.
Les gueux is usually literary, historical, pejorative in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No direct English idioms]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'Les Gueux' as 'The Goos' – imagine a historical painting where poor rebels are being chased by geese, a symbol of their low status.
Conceptual Metaphor
PEOPLE BELOW A STANDARD ARE GARBAGE / WRETCHED ANIMALS.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'Les Gueux' most appropriately used in modern English?