French Word of the Day: Bahut

Why do I need to know bahut?

You might hear this French word used by teenagers today but it actually dates back to the Middle Ages. 

What does it mean?

The French word bahut, roughly pronounced bah-U – the t is silent, (listen here), has several different meanings. 

In the Middle Ages, a bahut was a sturdy wooden chest used by travellers to store clothes and personal belongings while on the move. According to the Dictionnaire de l’Académie française, the word first appeared in the 13th century to describe this type of travel chest.

As travelling trunks became less common, the bahut evolved into a piece of household furniture used to store dishes and other belongings, similar to a sideboard or cupboard.

Then, in the 19th century, the word acquired a new meaning. Perhaps because of the idea of a large, enclosed space, bahut came to refer first to a bedroom, then to a military school, and eventually to an educational institution more generally, such as middle school or high school. This usage is definitely considered informal. 

If you hear a young French person say mon bahut, they’re almost certainly talking about their school and not a piece of furniture. 

Use it like this

Tu fais quoi après le bahut ? – What are you doing after school?

On a récupéré un vieux bahut chez mes grands-parents. – We got an old sideboard from my grandparents’ home. 

C’est un beau bahut en bois massif. – It’s a beautiful wooden trunk.