Language/French/Vocabulary/Express-Surprise

When something unusual happens, French have their own casual and fun expressions like in the examples below:

Popular Expressions

Oh la la !

• Meaning: Oh my God!, wow!

It is an interjection meaning surprise, admiration.

Examples of use:

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

Oh là là, mais qu'est-ce qui t'es arrivé ?

Oh là là, qu'est-ce qu'il fait chaud ici !

Ça, alors !

• Meaning: My goodness!

C'est pas possible !

• Meaning: I can't believe this!

The correct sentense would be: "CE N'est pas possible" but French often omit the "N" in the spoken and familiar language.

C'est magnifique !

• Meaning: Magnificent!

Génial !

• Meaning: Great!

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

Impressionnant !

• Meaning: Awesome!

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

Incroyable !

• Meaning: Amazing!

Mon Dieu !

• Meaning: Oh my God!

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

Quel malheur !

• Meaning: What a disgrace!

Comme c’est beau !

• Meaning: How beautiful!

Quel travail !

• Meaning: What work!
• Example: Quel travail ! Il a nettoyé toute la maison (what work! He has cleaned the whole house)

Quelle chance !

• Meaning: What a Luck!

• Example: Quelle chance ! tu as décroché le poste (What a luck! You got the job)

Quoi ?

• Meaning: What?
• Example: Quoi ? Il a fait ça? (What? He did that?)

C'est pas vrai ?

• Meaning: No way!

N'importe quoi!

• 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 !

• Meaning: I can’t 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.

Slang Expressions

Putain !

• 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: C'est un putain d’artiste! (it's a f****ing artist)

Merde !

• Meaning: f**k!

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!)