bézef

See also: bezef

French

Alternative forms

• bésef
• besef, bezef (nonstandard)

Etymology

Borrowed from Moroccan Arabic بالزاف (bizzāf), from Arabic بِالْجُزَاف (bi-l-juzāf), ultimately from Classical Persian گَزَاف (gazāf, “extravagant, excessive, exorbitant”); cognate with Italian bizzeffe.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /be.zɛf/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛf

Adverb

bézef

1. (informal, slang, often preceded by pas) (not) much, a lot

   Synonym: beaucoup

Usage notes

• Especially used in negative clauses.

References

• Lutz, Edzard (2011) “Language Contact between Arabic and Modern European Languages”, in Weninger, Stefan, editor, The Semitic Languages. An International Handbook (Handbücher zur Sprach- und Kommunikationswissenschaft – Handbooks of Linguistics and Communication Science; 36), Berlin: De Gruyter, →ISBN, page 1029.