Difference between revisions of "Language/French/Vocabulary/Express-Surprise"
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<div class="pg_page_title">How to Express Surprise in French đČ</div> | <div class="pg_page_title">How to Express Surprise in French đČ</div> | ||
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Bonjour French learners, | Bonjour French learners, In this lesson, you will learn how the French like to express their '''feelings of SURPRISE & astonishment'''. When something unusual happens, the French have their own casual and fun expressions. Enjoy your learning journey! đ NB: you can edit this page if you think it can be improved (this is a wiki page...). | ||
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In this lesson, you will learn how the French like to express their '''feelings of SURPRISE & astonishment'''. When something unusual happens, the French have their own casual and fun expressions. Â | |||
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Enjoy your learning journey! đ | |||
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==Most common expressions == | ==Most common expressions == | ||
<blockquote>NB : these expressions always end with an exclamation mark.</blockquote> | <blockquote>NB : these expressions always end with an exclamation mark.</blockquote> |
Revision as of 18:45, 12 February 2023
Bonjour French learners, In this lesson, you will learn how the French like to express their feelings of SURPRISE & astonishment. When something unusual happens, the French have their own casual and fun expressions. Enjoy your learning journey! đ NB: you can edit this page if you think it can be improved (this is a wiki page...).
Most common expressions
NB : these expressions always end with an exclamation mark.
Oh la la ! / Oh lĂ lĂ ! / Oh !
- Meaning: Oh my God! / Oh dear! / Wow!
It is an interjection which expresses surprise / amazement.
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!
Ăa alors !
- Meaning: My goodness!, good grief!
This exclamation can express a whole range of reactions, from delight to surprise or indignation.
- Examples:
Ăa alors ! Je n'aurais jamais imaginĂ© cela !
My goodness! I'd never have imagined that.
Whaou !
- 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 ! / C'est pas vrai ! / C'est pas croyable !
- Meaning: I can't believe it! / No way!
The standard (full) form reads: "CE N'est pas possible/vrai" but in oral discourse the "N'/NE" negation particle is often omitted.
Je n'y crois pas ! / J'y crois pas
- Meaning: I can't believe it!
Note : "J'y crois pas" is more informal 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!
C'est magnifique !
- Meaning: Awesome!
- Example: Je rentre de l'exposition: C'est vraiment magnifique !
I come back from the exhibition: It's really beautiful/awesome!
GĂ©nial !
- Meaning: Great!
This adjective which means super, great, something which is deemed brilliant and/or fantastic.
Impressionnant !
- Meaning: That's stunning/impressive!
- Example: Wahou ! C'est impressionnant, trĂšs beau travail !
Incroyable !
- Meaning: Incredible/I can't believe it!
- Example: Incroyable, il l'a fait !
How incredible/I can't believe it, he did it!
Mon Dieu !
- 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 !
- 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 câest beau !
- 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 !
- Meaning: What work!
- Example: Quel travail ! Il a nettoyé toute la maison
Good job! He has cleaned the whole house
Quelle chance !
- Meaning: What luck!
- Example: Quelle chance ! tu as décroché le poste.
How lucky you are! You got the job.
Quoi ?
- Meaning: What? / Say what?
- Example: Quoi ? Il a fait ça?
What? He did that?
N'importe quoi !
- Meaning: "Nonsense!" (US) / "BS" / "Rubbish!" (UK)
- Example: Il a osé faire ça ? N'importe quoi !
He dared to do that? Nonsense!
Je (nâ)en crois pas mes yeux !
- Meaning: I canât believe my eyes!
Trop bien !
- Meaning: Awesome!
Oh la vache !
- Meaning: holy cow, Wow, Good heavens!
Use "oh la vache!", or simply "la vache!", to express surprise or admiration.
Mince alors ! / zut alors !
- Meaning: Ah, heck!
Surprise with a certain degree of disappointment.
Je reste sans voix / Je reste bouche bée
- Literally: I remain speechless
ça m'étonne / ça me surprend
- Literally: that amazes me
Ah bon ? / Vraiment ? / Tiens ?
- Meaning: really?
Non!
- Often followed by: "C'est pas possible !
C'est un truc de fou ! / C'est un truc de ouf !
- Meaning: it's crazy!
Je (n')en reviens pas !
- Meaning: I can't believe it !
Slang Expressions (warning: offensive language!)
Putain !
- Meaning: fuck!
Among young French people, "putain" is a common interjection which is rarely expressed to harm someone. Its nearest equivalent in English is probably âFuck!â / "For fuck's sake".
It is usually used as an interjection or an adjective to express anger, but it can also be used to convey surprise (positively or negatively) :
- Example: Wahou ! c'est un putain dâartiste !
He is some fucking artist!
- Example: Putain ! arrĂȘte tes conneries !
Cut the crap/bullshit, for fuck's sake!
Merde !
- Meaning: shit!
It has the same meaning as "Putain !".
A combination of the two words are often used as in "Putain, merde !" or "Putain de merde".
- Example: Putain, merde ! C'est pas possible.
Fuck! I can't believe it!
Videos
Watch these videos to review some of the expressions listed in the lesson: