bébête

French

Etymology

Hypocoristic formed from bête (“stupid / beast”) via reduplication.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /be.bɛt/

• Audio:

  (file)

Adjective

bébête (plural bébêtes)

1. silly, juvenile

Noun

bébête f (plural bébêtes)

1. fool, idiot
2. (childish, colloquial) animal, beastie, critter
3. (childish, colloquial) willy, wee-wee (penis)
   • 1974, Pierre Perret, Le Zizi:

     On apprend la vie secrète
     Des angoissés d’ la bébête
     Ou de ceux qui trouvent dégourdi
     De montrer leur bigoudi

     You learn about the secret life
     Of people who are self-conscious about their willy
     Or those who think it's smart
     To show off their schlong

Further reading

• “bébête”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.