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Bonjour à toutes et à tous,



In this lesson, you will learn how French like to express their feelings of suprise.

When something unusual happens, French have their own casual and fun expressions.

Good learning!

Popular Expressions [ edit | edit source ]

Oh la la ! [ edit | edit source ]

Meaning: Oh my God!, Oh dear!, wow!

It is an interjection meaning surprise, admiration.

Examples of use:

Oh la la ! il est déjà 20h30, je vais rater mon train !

Oh dear ! It's already 8:30 pm, I'll miss my train!

Oh la la ! mais qu'est-ce qui t'es arrivé ?

Oh dear ! But what happened to you?

Oh la la ! qu'est-ce qu'il fait chaud ici !

Oh dear ! It's so hot here!

Meaning: My goodness!, good grief!

This exclamation can express a whole range of reactions, from delight to surprise to indignation.

Examples:

My goodness! I'd never have imagined that.

Meaning: Wow!

Example: Whaou ! Tu as vu ce qu'il est capable de faire ?

Wow, have you seen what he can do?

C'est pas possible ! [ edit | edit source ]

Meaning: I can't believe this!

The correct spelling would be: "CE N'est pas possible" but French often omit the "N'/NE" in the spoken language for negative sentences.

Je n'y crois pas ! / J'y crois pas [ edit | edit source ]

Meaning: I can't believe it!

Note : "J'y crois pas" is more familiar than "Je n'y crois pas".

Example: Je n'y crois pas, elle a osé!

I can't believe this, she dared to do that!

Meaning: Magnificent!

Example: Je rentre de l'exposition: C'est vraiment magnifique !

I come back from the exhibition: It's really beautiful!

Meaning: Great!

This adjective which means super, great, something which is brilliant & fantastic according to you.

Meaning: Awesome!

Example: Wahou ! C'est impressionnant, très beau travail !

Meaning: Amazing!

Example: Incroyable, il l'a fait !

Amazing, he did it!

Mon Dieu ! [ edit | edit source ]

Meaning: Oh my God!

It's similar to the English locution "OH MY GOD" or "oh my gosh".

Example: Mon dieu, ce n'est pas possible !

Oh my God, it's not possible!

Quel malheur ! [ edit | edit source ]

Meaning: What a disgrace!

Example: Tu as vu l'article dans le journal? Quel malheur !

Did you see the article in the newspaper? What a disgrace!

Comme c’est beau ! [ edit | edit source ]

Meaning: How beautiful! / it's beautiful

Example: Tu as vu ce qu'ils ont fait? Comme c'est beau !

Did you see what they did? It's beautiful!

Quel travail ! [ edit | edit source ]

Meaning: What work!

Example: Quel travail ! Il a nettoyé toute la maison

What work! He has cleaned the whole house

Quelle chance ! [ edit | edit source ]

Meaning: What a Luck!

Example: Quelle chance ! tu as décroché le poste

How lucky you are! You got the job

Meaning: What?

Example: Quoi ? Il a fait ça?

What? He did that?

C'est pas vrai ! [ edit | edit source ]

Meaning: No way!

Meaning: "Nonsense!" (US) or "Rubbish!" (UK)

Example: Il a osé faire ça ? N'importe quoi !

He dared to do that? Nonsense!

Je n’en crois pas mes yeux ! [ edit | edit source ]

Meaning: I can’t believe my eyes!

Trop bien ! [ edit | edit source ]

Meaning: Awesome!

Oh la vache ! [ edit | edit source ]

Meaning: holy cow, Wow, Good heavens!

Use "oh la vache!", or simply "la vache!", to express surprise or admiration.

Mince alors ! / zut alors ! [ edit | edit source ]

Meaning: Ah, heck!

Surprise with a certain degree of disappointment.

Slang Expressions [ edit | edit source ]

Meaning: f**k!

Among young French people, "putain" is so common, it may even be used as often as the word "oui". Its nearest equivalent in English is probably “f**k!”.

It can be used to express anger, but can also be used to describe something amazing :

Example: Wahou ! c'est un putain d’artiste!

it's a f****ing artist

Meaning: s**t!

It has the same meaning as "Putain !".

A combination of the two words and often used as in "Putain, merde !".

Example: Putain, merde ! C'est pas possible

f**k! I can't believe this!



