Some examples of positive uses of “Espèce de...”
It could be teasing rather than insulting while addressing people we like/love/appreciate:
To a kid who just played a cunning practical joke:
- Espèce de petit garnement / sacripant !
- Espèce de petite fripouille !
Positive or neutral, showing respect to some extent at least: To someone who just spent ten minutes exposing some freakishly out-of-this-world maths to people who are not into that so much:
- Mon espèce de givré des chiffres, toi !
Or as the previous would likely be heard in Quebec:
- Mon espèce de capoté des chiffres, toi !
It could also be used as an antiphrasis, as a way to express thankfulness, surprise (usually, we’ll be using Mon espèce de):
To a friend who just showed up with an unexpected and large gift:
Between lovers, as a false insult and a real way of showing true appreciation:
Espèce de coquin(e) !
Another case that I did use at some point in reality, when a fox showed some interest in what I was doing and kept exploring around what I was laying out:
Espèce de petite bête curieuse, toi !
It’s been noted in a comment here below that all the propositions I made were ironically using insults, and that from this standpoint, any bad word or expression could be used this way.
I believe otherwise. All the so-called insults I presented are either benign (coquin, bête curieuse) or mitigated (PETITE fripouille, givré DES CHIFFRES, i.e. from an academic matter), and a harder insult would be rude and aggressive, no matter how much irony or antiphrasis you put into it (Espèce d’écrivaillon; Espèce de vieux schnock; Espèce de gros niaiseux).
Also, there is no such thing as “Espèce de généreux donnateur !” used as a thanks to a philantrope or a volunteer. It is just not part of the habits or usage of French at any level.
Furthermore, I would even go as far as to say that when a compliment is used following “Espèce de...”, it is actually also ironic, and it carries a bit of reproach along with the compliment: a husband who would say “Mon espèce de sauveuse de l’humanité” to his wife would either:
- acknowledge the hard work she’s putting into whatever she does to help people, but also hint that he doesn’t see enough of her;
... or, in other circumstances...
- point out that despite her great views and values, her work might not be as effective as she thinks or would hope (for whatever reason: humanity doesn’t want it, or others do it better, or more money would be required to make things more efficient, ...).