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Ever heard or used the noun va-va-voom? It is labelled informal and I wonder whether most of native speakers understand it if I use it.

Cambridge Dictionary: va-va-voom noun [ U ] informal humorous the quality of being exciting, attractive, or full of energy: He was elegantly dressed but he just did not have that va-va-voom.

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    I don't use it, but it was made famous by an advertising campaign for Renault cars in 2002 (I had to look it up to remember what product the campaign was for!).
    – Kate Bunting
    Commented Feb 19, 2021 at 17:45
  • Sure, it comes from French. Often written without dashes in French.
    – Lambie
    Commented Feb 19, 2021 at 17:55
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    If you want us to comment on your use of it, please give a complete sentence as an example.
    – chasly - supports Monica
    Commented Feb 19, 2021 at 18:11
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    Yes, I have heard of it. It is informal. Yes, we would (probably) understand you, but you do need a sentence to show us how you're using it.
    – FeliniusRex - gone
    Commented Feb 19, 2021 at 18:14

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I have never heard this before, I think most native speakers would think it was odd. However, in the context of the sentence you provided, it would be roughly understood.

I would avoid using it in text though. If you want to use this phrase, it should be accompanied by a tone that indicates its meaning.

Edit

Following from FeliniusRex's comment, I went around and asked several other native English-speakers.

2 said they don't understand what it means.
4 said they hadn't heard it before but could guess what it meant. (One person said it's "very very odd")
1 said they had heard it before, but it "sounds funny".
1 said it was not odd to them.

I think it's totally fair to call this phrase odd.

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  • Uncommon, yes, but odd or wrong -- no.
    – FeliniusRex - gone
    Commented Feb 19, 2021 at 19:54
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    @FeliniusRex I did not say it was wrong. I would be surprised if someone said it, that is why I called it odd.
    – doliphin
    Commented Feb 19, 2021 at 20:27

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