folle

Folle is the feminine form of the French adjective fou, meaning crazy or mad. It is used to describe people, actions, ideas, or situations that are irrational, extreme, or unconventional. In everyday speech, folle can carry either a mildly affectionate connotation or a stronger critical tone, depending on context.

The masculine counterpart is fou; the adverb is follement; the noun form for madness or folly is folie. Examples include une idée folle (a crazy idea) or elle est folle (she is crazy). When describing a feminine noun, folle agrees in gender and number with the noun.

Origin and related terms: Folle derives from Old French forms of fou, related to the noun folie, meaning madness or folly. The word has cognates in other Romance languages that express excess, irrationality, or enthusiasm.

Other uses: Folle also appears as a surname in some cultures and as part of place names in French-speaking regions. In literature and media, the word appears in titles and descriptions to convey intensity, whimsy, or aberrant behavior, distinct from folie (the concept of madness).

See also: folie; fou; follement.