niais

French

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /njɛ/, /ni.ɛ/

Etymology 1

Inherited from Old French niés, from a Vulgar Latin *nīdācem, derived from nīdus (nest) +‎ -āx.

Adjective

niais (feminine niaise, masculine plural niais, feminine plural niaises)

  1. (obsolete, falconry, of a bird) caught in the nest
  2. inexperienced, green
    Synonyms: inexpérimenté, novice
  3. silly, vacuous, stupid
    Synonyms: sot, nigaud, idiot, zozo
Derived terms

Noun

niais m (plural niais)

  1. buffoon, fool

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

niais

  1. first/second-person singular imperfect indicative of nier

Further reading

Anagrams

Norman

Etymology

From Latin *nidax, from nidus (nest).

Adjective

niais m

  1. (Jersey) stupid
    • 1903, Edgar MacCulloch, “Proverbs, Weather Sayings, etc.”, in Guernsey Folk Lore[1], page 517:
      Il est niais coume Dadais qui se couachait dans l'iaue d'paeur d'être mouailli.
      He is as foolish as Dadais who lay down in the water to avoid getting wet in a shower.