I learned "être paresseux" to mean "to be lazy." However, I've recently learned two other ways to say that:
1. être flemmard
2. avoir la flemme
Is there any difference in meaning between "être paresseux," "être flemmard," or "avoir la flemme"?

Is one of these expressions more formal than the others? I know in English to call someone lazy, you could also say, "He's a slacker." It's much less formal than saying, "He's lazy."

Question

I learned "être paresseux" to mean "to be lazy."  However, I've recently learned two other ways to say that: 
1. être flemmard
2. avoir la flemme
Is there any difference in meaning between "être paresseux," "être flemmard," or  "avoir la flemme"?

Is one of these expressions more formal than the others?  I know in English to call someone lazy, you could also say, "He's a slacker."  It's much less formal than saying, "He's lazy."

Answer

1. "Être paresseux" is a more formal or standard way to say "to be lazy." It might be used in more formal or academic contexts or writing.

2. "Être flemmard" is more informal and is akin to saying "to be a slacker" in English. It carries a slightly more negative connotation than "être paresseux."

3. "Avoir la flemme" is a very colloquial expression. It means to not feel like doing something because of laziness. It's similar to saying "I can't be bothered" or "I don't feel like it" in English.

In terms of usage, "être paresseux" and "être flemmard" describe a person's character or habitual behavior, whereas "avoir la flemme" refers to a temporary state or feeling.

For example:
- Il est paresseux. / Il est flemmard. (He is lazy. / He is a slacker.)
- J'ai la flemme de faire mes devoirs. (I can't be bothered to do my homework. / I don't feel like doing my homework.)

Answer

"être paresseux" and "être flemmard" are synonymous but belong to different registers ("être flemmard" is familiar altough not vulgar).

"avoir la flemme" can be synonymous as well but it is mostly used to express that one is too lazy to do a specific task (and not just a trait of character). It also belongs to the familiar register.

Ex: J'ai la flemme de sortir les poubelles ce soir ; je le ferai demain matin.
Ex: Je suis un gros flemmard. Je fais tout à la dernière minute.

Answer

Bonjour, est ce que tu connais l'expression «avoir un poil dans la main »
On dit qu'une personne à un poil dans la main, qu'elle ne travaille pas beaucoup, souvent volontairement. Cette expression est synonyme de, être paresseux, fainéant.
Mon fils a vraiment un poil dans la main : il ne fait strictement rien de ses journées.

Answer

Être paresseux is more formal than être flemmard - avoir la flemme, yes.

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