Language/French/Vocabulary/Express-Surprise

Dear Polyglots,

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.

Popular Expressions

Oh la la !

• 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!)

Ça, alors !

• Meaning: My goodness!, good grief!

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

Exemple: 

• Ça alors ! Je n'aurais jamais imaginé 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 !

• 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 !

• Meaning: I can't believe it!

• Example: Je n'y crois pas, elle a osé! (I can't believe this, she dared to do that!)

C'est magnifique !

• Meaning: Magnificent!

Génial !

• Meaning: Great!

This 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 (How lucky you are! 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: Wahou ! 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!)