Definition of gauche

The word "gauche" originally comes from the French language, where it means clumsy, clunky, awkward, or socially inept. The word has its roots in the Old French word "gauche" which referred to the left side of the body, as the right hand was considered more dexterous and therefore preferable. Over time, the meaning of the word shifted to describe a person's manners or social skills, as left-handedness was once associated with sinister, unlucky, or evil connotations. Being gauche became synonymous with poor table manners, failing to use the correct utensils in the proper order, and generally lacking social graces. The French word "gauche" has evolved into several related words in other languages. The Spanish word "guacho" and the Portuguese word "guaxe" both come from the French word "gauche" but have developed separate meanings in their respective languages. The Catalan and Italian words "grossolan" and "grossolano," respectively, are also derived from the French "gauche." Though the meanings of these words have evolved over time, they still carry a sense of clumsiness or social awkwardness in their respective languages. However, outside of European languages, the meaning of "gauche" is less commonly used or known.