 |
|
| Share / Tweet / Pin Me! | |
French Abbreviation
| Meaning | conservative chic, classy, preppy, posh. Sloaney | |
| Literally | good style good sort | |
| Register | normal | |
| Pronunciation | [bay say bay zhay] | |
| IPA | [be se be ʒe] | |
Usage notes: The French acronym BCBG stands for bon chic, bon genre (good style, good sort [of person]) and is French shorthand for the upper middle class who, stereotypically, share a particular style of dress, attitude, and belief system: conservative chic.
Par exemple…
| Bénoîte a l’air BCBG aujourd’hui. | Bénoîte looks classy / posh today. | |
| Nous allons dîner dans un resto BCBG avec mon patron. | We’re going to eat in a fancy restaurant with my boss. |
Synonyms
- chic
- distingué
- élégant
- guindé
- huppé
- NAP – short for Neuilly, Auteuil, Passy (upper-class areas of Paris)
Variations
- B. C. B. G. – according to Le Petit Robert
- bécébégé – phonetic spelling
Alternative meanings
- beau cadre, bon goût – "good class, good taste"
- bon chic, bon gars – “good style, good guy”
Be careful with BCBG as it can be considered pejorative: a verbal swipe at people who are well-off.
The clothing line BGBC Max Azria was created in 1989 to offer “high-quality, on-trend clothing at contemporary price points.”
Related lessons
Share / Tweet / Pin Me!
This free website is created with love and a great deal of work. If you love it, please consider making a 
Is your French as rusty as an old can? Did you live in France years ago or study it in high school—and promptly forget everything upon leaving? The fact is that language ability fades with lack of practice. If you used to know French but haven’t spoken it in years or decades, the bad news is that it probably won’t come rushing back all at once. But the good news is that you can relearn it much more quickly than if you were starting out without that previous knowledge.
N’importe literally means “no matter” or “(it) doesn’t matter.” This indefinite expression can precede an interrogative adjective, adverb, or pronoun when talking about something indefinite or non-specific.