French

Noun

bête f ‎(plural bêtes)

1. beast, animal

Synonyms

• (beast): animal

Derived terms

Adjective

bête m, f ‎(plural bêtes)

1. Not very bright and lacking in judgement; stupid; inept.
2. Which could have been easily averted; silly.
3. (Canada, informal) Having a bad character or in a bad mood; showing great displeasure in interacting with people; ill-tempered.
   • 1999, Chrystine Brouillet, Les Fiancées de l'Enfer, ISBN 2-89021-363-3, page 69:

     Je dis ça, mais depuis quelques semaines elle est moins bête. Même avec moi — I say that, but these last few weeks she hasn't been as nasty. Even with me.

Synonyms

• (stupid): idiot

Related terms

References

• “bête” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Norman

Alternative forms

• baête (continental Normandy)
• beet (Sark)

Etymology

From Old French beste, from Latin bēstia.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /beit/, /bøit/
• (Saint Ouen) IPA^(key): /bɛːt/
• (Sark) IPA^(key): /bwɛːt/

Noun

bête f ‎(plural bêtes)

1. (Jersey, Guernsey) beast, animal

Adjective

bête m, f

1. (Jersey) stupid