dingue

See also: dingué

French

Etymology

Probably derived from dinguer (“fall, strike”) or divaguer (“wander, blather”). Under the influence of dengue (“viral disease”) it was reinterpreted to mean “sickness that makes one crazy”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /dɛ̃ɡ/

Adjective

dingue (plural dingues)

1. (slang) mad, crazy, nuts [from c. 1915]

   Synonym: fou

   Ce truc me rend dingue! ― This thing drives me crazy!

Further reading

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