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!, 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.)
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.
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: 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!)