Gauche
/ɡoʊʃ/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Gauche describes a person or their behavior when they are socially awkward or not smooth in how they act. It often means someone says or does things that seem strange or make others feel uncomfortable. It is usually about manners or social skills, not physical clumsiness.
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See It in Action
Socially awkward or lacking grace in manners
- •His gauche comment made the meeting uncomfortable.
- •She felt gauche at the formal dinner because she didn’t know the proper etiquette.
- •The new student’s gauche behavior made it hard for him to make friends.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'gauche' like 'awkward' (A1 word), but more about social manners, not just physical clumsiness
- ✓Picture someone at a party who doesn’t know how to join conversations and says things that feel strange or out of place
- ✓It’s the feeling you get when you say something wrong and everyone looks at you quietly
- ✓Sounds like 'gosh' → imagine someone saying 'Gosh!' because they feel embarrassed after a social mistake
- ✓Think of a character in a movie who tries to be polite but keeps making small social errors that make others uncomfortable
- ✓NOT like 'clumsy' (physical awkwardness), 'gauche' is about social or emotional awkwardness
- ✓NOT like 'rude' (intentionally impolite), 'gauche' is usually unintentional and comes from lack of social skill
- ✓NOT like 'shy' (quiet or nervous), 'gauche' means making mistakes in social behavior, not just being quiet
Try Other Words
- •Awkward: lacking ease or grace (Use when the situation is general discomfort or clumsiness)
- •Clumsy: physically uncoordinated (Use when talking about physical movements, not social behavior)
- •Uncouth: lacking good manners (Use when behavior is rude or rough, more negative than gauche)
- •Inelegant: not graceful or stylish (Use when describing style or behavior lacking smoothness)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (No clear prefix or suffix; single adjective)
- •Etymology: From French 'gauche' meaning 'left' or 'awkward,' originally meaning left-handed or clumsy
- •Historical development: In English since the 19th century, used figuratively for socially awkward or tactless behavior
- •Modern usage: Used to describe people or actions that are socially uncomfortable or lacking polish, often politely or humorously
Reflect & Connect
•Can being gauche sometimes be charming or make a person more relatable? Why or why not?
•How do different cultures view gauche behavior—what is awkward in one culture may be normal in another?
Fill in the blanks
1.He made a gauche comment that ___ the mood of the conversation and made everyone feel ___.
2.Feeling gauche often happens when someone is ___ with social rules or customs.
3.Unlike being rude, gauche behavior is usually ___ and not meant to offend.
4.She tried to avoid a gauche mistake by ___ before speaking in the formal meeting.
5.People often describe someone as gauche when they ___ social cues or signals.
6.The word gauche sounds like "gosh," which can be a ___ reaction to embarrassment.
7.When someone feels gauche, they may ___ their words or avoid eye contact to hide discomfort.