Do you have a favorite French expression, in that language full of colorful expressions?
Ron and I don’t speak French to each other, but there are a few common French expressions that now pepper our English because they're' better than the English version, or don’t have an English equivalent. The ones that come immediately to mind are voila, oh la la, bon courage, en principe, faire dodo (to take a little nap), c’est normal (that’s no surprise), and santé (to your health), for a toast.
The ones I really love though, are the quirky ones. There are a gazillion idioms related to food, of course, in French. But I can’t begin to cover them all here. Example: tomber dans les pommes (literally, to fall in the apples, but it means to faint).
So here are a few unique expressions that I love. I hope you have some to share too!
metro boulot dodo: this is their rhyming way of saying “the rat race”, or “working to live”. You take the metro to work (boulot) then you sleep (dodo is a little baby nap), then you do it all again.
chic-ouf! I love this one, which my French friend Betty taught me recently. Its purpose it to express the feeling when long-staying out of town guests arrive and depart: Yay, our company has arrived! Yay, they've finally departed! In this case chic means great, or super (though it can also mean stylish), and ouf is how the French say, phew!
Belle mère, beau frère, etc. Put beau or belle in front of a relative, and it makes them a step-relative, or an in-law. How nice, instead of being the wicked step-mother, to be the beautfiful-mother!
èpoustouflant! The first time our châtelin Pierre wowed me with this long, amazing word, I started laughing. Whatever could it mean? Well, it means sort of what it sounds like: flabberghasting, breath-taking.
Cinq à sept: the hours 5 to 7, the "cinq à sept" in Canadian French are what they seem: happy hour. But In France it’s a different kind of happy hour: cinq à sept means the time right after work that you have a romantic tryst with your lover.
bisous: this cute little word means a kiss. It was useful during Covid, when you couldn’t do the cheek smooches as a greeting, so one just sort of leaned in and said, bisous! The word is cute enough that we have friends who named their little dog Bisous.
Now how about you? Do you have a favorite French expression to share?
In the COMMENTS: Anne-Marie, glad to hear you've stayed at St. Sabine, we've only just visited. Page, there is nothing more fun than happening across one of the great French village fêtes. I love to see them cook the old way, in those bread ovens that some villages still have. Bonnie and Suzanne, you've been to some of the modern guingettes–we have been to only one, that was on a barge on the banks of the Rhône in Lyon. Great fun.
Favorite READS & VIEWS: Natalia, who always has something wonderfully French for us, suggests a beautiful book worthy of display on your table basse, called Extraordinary Collections: French Interiors Flea Markets, and Ateliers. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of this one. Madeline suggests watching Astrid on PBS Passport. In French with subtitles, it looks like a unique sort of crime drama, and I look forward to checking this one out. Speaking of crime, I'm reading The Last Devil to Die, another one of the Thursday Murder Club series. Hard to belive a mystery can be so funny!
57 thoughts on “Here Are My Favorite French Expressions–What Are Yours?”
Great idea Lynn to investigate those funny French expressions often intraduisibles!
I know a lot of those expressions intraduisibles but I have two.
Yaourter : speak or sing in a foreign language, usually English, without really knowing the words. I do this often with Beatles or Elton John songs!
Avoir l’esprit d’escalier: think of a repartee in a discussion way too late after the discussion is over and the other interlocutor has left. It happens more and more as you age!!
Voila!
And in French:
Yaouter : chanter ou parler dans une langue étrangère sans vraiment connaitre les mots. Je fais souvent ça avec des chansons des Beatles ou d’Elton John quand je ne connais pas les paroles par cœur.
Avoir l’esprit d’escalier: penser à une répartie dans une discussion un peu trop tard quand la discussion est terminée!!
Great idea Lynn to investigate those funny French expressions often intraduisibles!
I know a lot of those expressions intraduisibles but I have two.
Yaourter : speak or sing in a foreign language, usually English, without really knowing the words. I do this often with Beatles or Elton John songs!
Avoir l’esprit d’escalier: think of a repartee in a discussion way too late after the discussion is over and the other interlocutor has left. It happens more and more as you age!!
Voila!
And in French:
Yaouter : chanter ou parler dans une langue étrangère sans vraiment connaitre les mots. Je fais souvent ça avec des chansons des Beatles ou d’Elton John quand je ne connais pas les paroles par cœur.
Avoir l’esprit d’escalier: penser à une répartie dans une discussion un peu trop tard quand la discussion est terminée!!
Great idea Lynn to investigate those funny French expressions often intraduisibles!
I know a lot of those expressions intraduisibles but I have two.
Yaourter : speak or sing in a foreign language, usually English, without really knowing the words. I do this often with Beatles or Elton John songs!
Avoir l’esprit d’escalier: think of a repartee in a discussion way too late after the discussion is over and the other interlocutor has left. It happens more and more as you age!!
Voila!
And in French:
Yaouter : chanter ou parler dans une langue étrangère sans vraiment connaitre les mots. Je fais souvent ça avec des chansons des Beatles ou d’Elton John quand je ne connais pas les paroles par cœur.
Avoir l’esprit d’escalier: penser à une répartie dans une discussion un peu trop tard quand la discussion est terminée!!
A useful little word is truc which translates into UK English as thingymajig.
So if you don’t know the French word for something, you can point to it and say, “Comment s’appel ce truc ci?”
I’ve got a wonderful book called “The Complete Merde”, written by a woman called Geneviève, who’s French but lives in the UK.
As well as teaching some quite rude words it’s full of useful idioms.
Available on Amazon and highly recommended!
A useful little word is truc which translates into UK English as thingymajig.
So if you don’t know the French word for something, you can point to it and say, “Comment s’appel ce truc ci?”
I’ve got a wonderful book called “The Complete Merde”, written by a woman called Geneviève, who’s French but lives in the UK.
As well as teaching some quite rude words it’s full of useful idioms.
Available on Amazon and highly recommended!
A useful little word is truc which translates into UK English as thingymajig.
So if you don’t know the French word for something, you can point to it and say, “Comment s’appel ce truc ci?”
I’ve got a wonderful book called “The Complete Merde”, written by a woman called Geneviève, who’s French but lives in the UK.
As well as teaching some quite rude words it’s full of useful idioms.
Available on Amazon and highly recommended!
Profitez du soleil… carpe diem… make the most of the day!
Profitez du soleil… carpe diem… make the most of the day!
Profitez du soleil… carpe diem… make the most of the day!
This has always been my favorite: Ca met toujours un peu de beurre dans les epinards. (It gives one a little extra money, as in an odd job or side hustle.)
This has always been my favorite: Ca met toujours un peu de beurre dans les epinards. (It gives one a little extra money, as in an odd job or side hustle.)
This has always been my favorite: Ca met toujours un peu de beurre dans les epinards. (It gives one a little extra money, as in an odd job or side hustle.)
Lynn -My idiom préferré is- Ce n’est pas la mer à boire. In English, it means no big deal or you are giving confidence to someone that a task is manageable.
Lynn -My idiom préferré is- Ce n’est pas la mer à boire. In English, it means no big deal or you are giving confidence to someone that a task is manageable.
Lynn -My idiom préferré is- Ce n’est pas la mer à boire. In English, it means no big deal or you are giving confidence to someone that a task is manageable.
That’s a great summary Lynn ! My neighbor in Hyères often says “zut alors” and my five year old grandson comes out with “ zut alors” every once in awhile.
For anyone interested in reading a very informative French book I would suggest Gabrielle by Anne and Claire Brest. It takes place iat the beginning of the 1900’s and is a fascinating look into the precursors of abstract art and how the social codes of behavior and beauty evolved.
That’s a great summary Lynn ! My neighbor in Hyères often says “zut alors” and my five year old grandson comes out with “ zut alors” every once in awhile.
For anyone interested in reading a very informative French book I would suggest Gabrielle by Anne and Claire Brest. It takes place iat the beginning of the 1900’s and is a fascinating look into the precursors of abstract art and how the social codes of behavior and beauty evolved.
That’s a great summary Lynn ! My neighbor in Hyères often says “zut alors” and my five year old grandson comes out with “ zut alors” every once in awhile.
For anyone interested in reading a very informative French book I would suggest Gabrielle by Anne and Claire Brest. It takes place iat the beginning of the 1900’s and is a fascinating look into the precursors of abstract art and how the social codes of behavior and beauty evolved.
I have a very simple one: tant pis. Of course, most of the people I mutter it too have no idea what it means! It can be said in frustration, sympathy, resignation; covers a lot!
I have a very simple one: tant pis. Of course, most of the people I mutter it too have no idea what it means! It can be said in frustration, sympathy, resignation; covers a lot!
I have a very simple one: tant pis. Of course, most of the people I mutter it too have no idea what it means! It can be said in frustration, sympathy, resignation; covers a lot!
Fais gaffe!
Look out! Careful!
Fais gaffe!
Look out! Careful!
Fais gaffe!
Look out! Careful!
If you haven’t already read it, you should check out Sky My Husband which gives French expressions with their English equivalent and the meaning, or derivation, of each.
If you haven’t already read it, you should check out Sky My Husband which gives French expressions with their English equivalent and the meaning, or derivation, of each.
If you haven’t already read it, you should check out Sky My Husband which gives French expressions with their English equivalent and the meaning, or derivation, of each.
Love bon chic, bon genre–sounds cool and somewhat melodic. When I lived in France, I attended an abstract art class. The women in the class, used ça roule a lot. When I used it with a neighbor, she said I shouldn’t say it. I think she didn’t like the slang. And I really like ça roule, ma poule.
Love bon chic, bon genre–sounds cool and somewhat melodic. When I lived in France, I attended an abstract art class. The women in the class, used ça roule a lot. When I used it with a neighbor, she said I shouldn’t say it. I think she didn’t like the slang. And I really like ça roule, ma poule.
Love bon chic, bon genre–sounds cool and somewhat melodic. When I lived in France, I attended an abstract art class. The women in the class, used ça roule a lot. When I used it with a neighbor, she said I shouldn’t say it. I think she didn’t like the slang. And I really like ça roule, ma poule.
Hi dear Lynn,
Once again you have filled my morning with smiles(and with interest!)
These expressions are wonderful! I particularly enjoy them because sometimes,it is impossible to otherwise guess the meaning!
One of my favorites has to be “avoir le beurre et l’argent du beurre”–(paraphrased)you can’t have it both ways!(more smiles just thinking about this one) !
My book suggestion this time is by one our treasured chefs,Julia Child:”People Who Love To Eat Are Always The Best People”. This features many of her quotes/wisdoms and is just truly delightful.
I had the privilege of meeting her in our local super marche(both of us shopping for goodies),and I really have to say that her book title is a perfect description of the woman herself.
Hi dear Lynn,
Once again you have filled my morning with smiles(and with interest!)
These expressions are wonderful! I particularly enjoy them because sometimes,it is impossible to otherwise guess the meaning!
One of my favorites has to be “avoir le beurre et l’argent du beurre”–(paraphrased)you can’t have it both ways!(more smiles just thinking about this one) !
My book suggestion this time is by one our treasured chefs,Julia Child:”People Who Love To Eat Are Always The Best People”. This features many of her quotes/wisdoms and is just truly delightful.
I had the privilege of meeting her in our local super marche(both of us shopping for goodies),and I really have to say that her book title is a perfect description of the woman herself.
Hi dear Lynn,
Once again you have filled my morning with smiles(and with interest!)
These expressions are wonderful! I particularly enjoy them because sometimes,it is impossible to otherwise guess the meaning!
One of my favorites has to be “avoir le beurre et l’argent du beurre”–(paraphrased)you can’t have it both ways!(more smiles just thinking about this one) !
My book suggestion this time is by one our treasured chefs,Julia Child:”People Who Love To Eat Are Always The Best People”. This features many of her quotes/wisdoms and is just truly delightful.
I had the privilege of meeting her in our local super marche(both of us shopping for goodies),and I really have to say that her book title is a perfect description of the woman herself.
Dear Lynn, It’s interesting that you mention the tv program “Astrid”. I have watched it here in California on PBS. I find it entertaining and intriguing. Astrid, the title character, identifies along the autism spectrum and has some strange behaviors. I do hope you enjoy it.
Barbara Bottini
Gilroy, California
Dear Lynn, It’s interesting that you mention the tv program “Astrid”. I have watched it here in California on PBS. I find it entertaining and intriguing. Astrid, the title character, identifies along the autism spectrum and has some strange behaviors. I do hope you enjoy it.
Barbara Bottini
Gilroy, California
Dear Lynn, It’s interesting that you mention the tv program “Astrid”. I have watched it here in California on PBS. I find it entertaining and intriguing. Astrid, the title character, identifies along the autism spectrum and has some strange behaviors. I do hope you enjoy it.
Barbara Bottini
Gilroy, California
Chic alors! WOW!
Chic alors! WOW!
Chic alors! WOW!
Chercher la petite bête (to split hairs)
Chercher la petite bête (to split hairs)
Chercher la petite bête (to split hairs)
Love all the comments.
For right now my favorite word is–‘hallucinant’
because what isn’t hallucinating in our world right now!?
Love all the comments.
For right now my favorite word is–‘hallucinant’
because what isn’t hallucinating in our world right now!?
Love all the comments.
For right now my favorite word is–‘hallucinant’
because what isn’t hallucinating in our world right now!?
Chic Alors!
a Big WOW! It is fun to say and makes me smile!
Chic Alors!
a Big WOW! It is fun to say and makes me smile!
Chic Alors!
a Big WOW! It is fun to say and makes me smile!
Thanks Lynn!
Idioms are such fun and teach us a little about the culture.
Thanks Lynn!
Idioms are such fun and teach us a little about the culture.