I’m French. Pétard is a very minor swear word, on par with “great Scott!”
It’s not meant as an insult at all. The most common French swear word is probably “putain” (used like “fuck” is) and pétard is used as an attenuated version, (like saying “fudge”).
(As a frenchman, I also admit to the existence of a writhing snake inside my gut telling me to downvote this heretical post which dares! compare French cuisine with German cuisine. Luckily, I have learned enough rationality to override my primal instincts.)
I’m French. Pétard is a very minor swear word, on par with “great Scott!”
It’s not meant as an insult at all. The most common French swear word is probably “putain” (used like “fuck” is) and pétard is used as an attenuated version, (like saying “fudge”).
(As a frenchman, I also admit to the existence of a writhing snake inside my gut telling me to downvote this heretical post which dares! compare French cuisine with German cuisine. Luckily, I have learned enough rationality to override my primal instincts.)
It’s also very old-fashioned. Can’t say I’ve ever heard anyone below 60 say “pétard” unironically.