femme de petite vertu

French

Etymology

femme (“woman”) + de petite vertu (“of easy virtue”, literally “of small virtue”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fa.m(ə) də p(ə).tit vɛʁ.ty/

• Audio

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Noun

femme de petite vertu f (plural femmes de petite vertu)

1. (euphemistic) loose woman, strumpet (promiscuous woman)

   Synonyms: fille facile, femme facile

2. (euphemistic) woman of easy virtue, prostitute (woman having sex for profit)

   Synonym: prostituée

Usage notes

In addition to the usual plural femmes de petite vertu, which preserves the set form of the locution de petite vertu, the alternative femmes de petites vertus is attested, but significantly less common.