pudeur

Pudeur is a French noun that denotes modesty, propriety, and decency in dress and behavior, as well as a sense of shame in the presence of nudity or impropriety. It describes the social restraint expected in public life and private interactions, and can refer to a person’s virtue or to a cultural norm.

Etymology: from Latin pudor, pudoris, meaning a sense of shame or modesty; Old French pudeur evolved into modern French. The word carries both personal virtue and social expectation, and is closely linked to religious and moral concepts of chastity and decorum.

Usage and scope: In contemporary French, "avoir de la pudeur" implies modesty or shyness about exposing oneself or discussing sexual matters; "sans pudeur" means shameless or immodest. Pudeur influences dress codes, public conduct, media censorship, and etiquette; it is distinct from privacy but can intersect with it in debates about decency and propriety.

Cultural and historical variation: norms of pudeur differ across eras and societies. Victorian-era or Catholic contexts often emphasized stricter pudeur, while other periods or cultures may permit greater openness. In secular modern societies, pudeur remains a variable standard shaped by gender, age, and subculture.

See also: modesty, decency, propriety, discretion, reserve.