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<div class="pg_page_title">🇫🇷 How to Express Surprise in French 😲</div>
[[File:exprimer-la-surprise-en-français.png]]
[[File:How to express Surprise in French PolyglotClub Wiki2.jpg|thumb]]
Bonjour French learners! In this lesson, you will learn how the French like to express their '''feelings of SURPRISE & astonishment'''. 😮


<youtube>9LZfLmAlEXM</youtube>
Dear friends,


When something unusual happens, the French have their own casual and fun expressions. Enjoy your learning journey! 😊
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.


After mastering this lesson, you can also explore other related pages such as [[Language/French/Vocabulary/Tools|French vocabulary tools]], [[Language/French/Vocabulary/Clothes|French clothing vocabulary]], and [[Language/French/Vocabulary/Cardinal-and-Ordinal-Numbers|French numbers and time vocabulary]] to further enhance your language skills.
Good learning!


Remember, you can edit this page if you think it can be improved (this is a wiki page...). Bonne chance! 🇫🇷
==Popular Expressions ==
==Most common expressions ==
===Oh la la !===
<blockquote>NB : these expressions always end with an exclamation mark.</blockquote>
*Meaning: Oh my God!, Oh dear!, wow!  
===Oh la la ! / Oh là là ! / Oh !===
[[File:oh_la_la_french.mp3]]
*Meaning: Oh my God! / Oh dear! / Wow!  


It is an interjection which expresses surprise / amazement.
It is an interjection meaning surprise, admiration.


Examples of use:
Examples of use:
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<blockquote>Oh dear ! It's so hot here!</blockquote>
<blockquote>Oh dear ! It's so hot here!</blockquote>


===Ça alors !===
===Ça, alors !===
[[File:ça_alors_french.mp3]]
*Meaning: My goodness!, good grief!
*Meaning: My goodness!, good grief!
This exclamation can express a whole range of reactions, from delight to surprise or indignation. 
This exclamation can express a whole range of reactions, from delight to surprise to indignation. 
* Examples:  
* Examples:  
''Ça alors ! Je n'aurais jamais imaginé cela !''<blockquote>My goodness! I'd never have imagined that.</blockquote>
''Ça alors ! Je n'aurais jamais imaginé cela !''<blockquote>My goodness! I'd never have imagined that.</blockquote>


===Whaou !===
===Whaou !===
[[File:wahou_french.mp3]]
*Meaning: Wow
*Meaning: Wow!
*Example: Whaou, tu as vu ce qu'il est capable de faire ?  
*Example: Whaou ! Tu as vu ce qu'il est capable de faire ?  
<blockquote>Wow, have you seen what he can do?</blockquote>
<blockquote>Wow, have you seen what he can do?</blockquote>


===C'est pas possible ! / C'est pas vrai ! / C'est pas croyable !===
===C'est pas possible !===
[[File:cest_pas_possible_french.mp3]]
*Meaning: I can't believe this!
*Meaning: I can't believe it! / No way!
The correct spelling would be: "C'''E''' '''N''''est pas possible" but French often omit the "N'/NE" in the spoken language for negative sentences.


The standard (full) form reads: "C'''E''' '''N''''est pas possible/vrai" but in oral discourse the "N'/NE" negation particle is often omitted.
===Je n'y crois pas !===
*Meaning: I can't believe it!


===Je n'y crois pas ! / J'y crois pas===
[[File:je_ny_crois_pas_french.mp3]]
*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!
*Example: Je n'y crois pas, elle a osé!
<blockquote>I can't believe this, she dared to do that!</blockquote>
<blockquote>I can't believe this, she dared to do that!</blockquote>


===C'est magnifique !===
===C'est magnifique !===
[[File:cest_magnifique_french.mp3]]
*Meaning: Magnificent!
*Meaning: Awesome!
*Example: Je rentre de l'exposition: C'est vraiment magnifique !
<blockquote>I come back from the exhibition: It's really beautiful/awesome!</blockquote>


===Génial !===
===Génial !===
[[File:genial_french.mp3]]
*Meaning: Great!
*Meaning: Great!
This adjective which means super, great, something which is deemed brilliant and/or fantastic.  
This adjective which means super, great, something which is brilliant & fantastic according to you.  


===Impressionnant !===
===Impressionnant !===
[[File:impressionnant_french.mp3]]
*Meaning: Awesome!
*Meaning: That's stunning/impressive!


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


===Incroyable !===
===Incroyable !===
[[File:incroyable_french.mp3]]
*Meaning: Amazing!
*Meaning: Incredible/I can't believe it!
*Example: Incroyable, il l'a fait !
<blockquote>How incredible/I can't believe it, he did it!</blockquote>


===Mon Dieu !===
===Mon Dieu !===
[[File:mon_dieu_french.mp3]]
*Meaning: Oh my God!
*Meaning: Oh my God!
It's similar to the English locution "OH MY GOD" or "oh my gosh".
It's similar to the English locution "OH MY GOD" or "oh my gosh".
* Example: Mon dieu, ce n'est pas possible !
<blockquote>Oh my God, it's not possible!</blockquote>


===Quel malheur !===
===Quel malheur !===
*Meaning: What a disgrace!
*Meaning: What a disgrace!
*Example: Tu as vu l'article dans le journal? Quel malheur !
<blockquote>Did you see the article in the newspaper? What a disgrace!</blockquote>


===Comme c’est beau !===
===Comme c’est beau !===
*Meaning: How beautiful! / it's beautiful
*Meaning: How beautiful!
*Example: Tu as vu ce qu'ils ont fait? Comme c'est beau !
<blockquote>Did you see what they did? It's beautiful!</blockquote>


===Quel travail !===
===Quel travail !===
*Meaning: What work!
*Meaning: What work!
*Example: Quel travail ! Il a nettoyé toute la maison
*Example: Quel travail ! Il a nettoyé toute la maison
<blockquote>Good job! He has cleaned the whole house</blockquote>
<blockquote>What work! He has cleaned the whole house</blockquote>


===Quelle chance !===
===Quelle chance !===
*Meaning: What luck!
*Meaning: What a Luck!


*Example: Quelle chance ! tu as décroché le poste.
*Example: Quelle chance ! tu as décroché le poste
<blockquote>How lucky you are! You got the job.</blockquote>
<blockquote>How lucky you are! You got the job</blockquote>


===Quoi ?===
===Quoi ?===
*Meaning: What? / Say what?
*Meaning: What?
*Example: Quoi ? Il a fait ça?
*Example: Quoi ? Il a fait ça?
<blockquote>What? He did that?</blockquote>
<blockquote>What? He did that?</blockquote>
===C'est pas vrai !===
*Meaning: No way!


===N'importe quoi !===
===N'importe quoi !===
*Meaning: "Nonsense!" (US) / "BS" / "Rubbish!" (UK)
*Meaning: "Nonsense!" (US) or "Rubbish!" (UK)


*Example: Il a osé faire ça ? N'importe quoi !
*Example: Il a osé faire ça ? N'importe quoi !
<blockquote>He dared to do that? Nonsense!</blockquote>
<blockquote>He dared to do that? Nonsense!</blockquote>


===Je (n’)en crois pas mes yeux !===
===Je n’en crois pas mes yeux !===
*Meaning: I can’t believe my eyes!
*Meaning: I can’t believe my eyes!


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*Meaning: Awesome!
*Meaning: Awesome!
===Oh la vache !===
===Oh la vache !===
*Meaning: holy cow, Wow, Good heavens!  
*Meaning: holy cow, Wow, Good heavens!
Use "oh la vache!", or simply "la vache!", to express surprise or admiration.
Use "oh la vache!", or simply "la vache!", to express surprise or admiration.


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Surprise with a certain degree of disappointment.
Surprise with a certain degree of disappointment.


===Je reste sans voix / Je reste bouche bée===
==Slang Expressions==
*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 !===
===Putain !===


*Meaning: fuck!
*Meaning: f**k!
Among young French people, "putain" is a common interjection which is rarely expressed to harm someone. Its nearest equivalent in English is probably “Fuck!” / "For fuck's sake".  
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 is usually used as an interjection or an adjective to express anger, but it can also be used to convey surprise (positively or negatively) :  
It can be used to express anger, but can also be used to describe something amazing :  
*Example: Wahou ! c'est un putain d’artiste !
*Example: Wahou ! c'est un putain d’artiste!
<blockquote>He is some fucking artist!</blockquote>
<blockquote>it's a f****ing artist</blockquote>
*Example: Putain ! arrête tes conneries !
<blockquote>Cut the crap/bullshit, for fuck's sake!</blockquote>


===Merde !===
===Merde !===
*Meaning: shit!
*Meaning: f**k!
It has the same meaning as "Putain !".
It has the same meaning as "Putain !".


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


*Example: Putain, merde ! C'est pas possible.
*Example: Putain, merde ! C'est pas possible
<blockquote>Fuck! I can't believe it!</blockquote>
<blockquote>f**k! I can't believe this!</blockquote>
 
==Videos==
 
<youtube>2t_U6CzJpSk</youtube>




{{#seo:
{{#seo:
|title=😲 How to Express Surprise in French 🇫🇷
|title=Popular Expressions to Express Surprise in French
|keywords=oh, mon dieu, words, expression, slang, casual, conversations.
|keywords=oh, mon dieu, words, expression, slang, casual, conversations.
|description=How to express our astonishment in French. Here are some popular expressions your can use.
|description=How to express our astonishment in French. Here are some popular expressions your can use.
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}}
}}
[[Category:French/Beginner]]
[[Category:French/Beginner]]
==Other Lessons==
* [[Language/French/Vocabulary/Music|Music]]
* [[Language/French/Vocabulary/Gage-Gager|Gage Gager]]
* [[Language/French/Vocabulary/Feelings-and-Emotions|Feelings and Emotions]]
* [[Language/French/Vocabulary/When-use-"Mets",-"Met",-"Mes"-or-"Mais"-in-French|When use "Mets", "Met", "Mes" or "Mais" in French]]
* [[Language/French/Vocabulary/Count-from-1-to-10|Count from 1 to 10]]
* [[Language/French/Vocabulary/Education|Education]]
* [[Language/French/Vocabulary/Election|Election]]
* [[Language/French/Vocabulary/Personnes-VS-Gens|Personnes VS Gens]]
* [[Language/French/Vocabulary/School|School]]
* [[Language/French/Vocabulary/Body|Body]]
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