The Evolving French Term 'Beauf': From Class Mockery to Questioned Slur
The term 'beauf', coined in France around the 1970s, originally served to ridicule the tastes and behaviors of the working class. Over the past fifty years, its usage has shifted, and it is now increasingly challenged as a form of class contempt. The expression reflects changing social attitudes and is being reexamined in contemporary discourse.
Key facts
- The term 'beauf' emerged around the 1970s in France.
- It was initially used to mock working-class people and their habits.
- The expression has evolved over the past fifty years.
- Today, the term is increasingly questioned and criticized.
- The term is seen as a form of class contempt.
- The evolution of 'beauf' reflects changing social attitudes.
- The article is from Le Monde, published July 1, 2026.
- The article is part of the 'Idées' section.
Entities
Institutions
- Le Monde
Locations
- France