le mégot

The French word "mégot" refers to the butt or stub of a cigarette after it has been smoked.

Meaning:

• It is the small remnant of a cigarette that remains once most of it has been smoked.
• Figuratively, it can sometimes be used to denote something small and leftover or discarded.

Usage:

• Typically used when talking about litter or disposing of cigarette butts: "Jette ton mégot à la poubelle !" ("Throw your cigarette butt in the trash!")
• It often comes up in discussions about pollution or cleanliness since cigarette butts are a common form of litter.

Synonyms and differences:

• Cendre: Means "ash," the powdery residue left after something is burned. Different from "mégot," which is the solid stub.
• Clope (slang): Means "cigarette" itself, often informally or slang for a regular cigarette, not just the residual butt.
• Filtre: The filter part of a cigarette, which is still present in a mégot but refers specifically to the filtering material.

Summary

• Mégot = cigarette butt or stub (smoked remainder).
• Not to be confused with "cendre" (ash) or "clope" (a whole cigarette, slang).

The word "mégot" often carries a slightly negative connotation because of its association with litter and pollution.