The Colors in French – Quick Pronunciation Guide
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Master 27 Popular French Sayings & Idioms to Sound Fluent
Do you want to sound like a true French speaker? Master these 27 essential French idioms and expressions to add flair and authenticity to your conversations!
A French accent is not everything. Sure, the correct pronunciation of the notorious French “r” can make you sound more like a native. But what use is that if you can’t actually speak French fluently? This is why you should always work on expanding your vocabulary with practical notions such as French phrases and expressions.
What Are French Sayings and Idioms?
French sayings and idioms are short, memorable expressions that convey wisdom or cultural insights. They reflect everyday life, offering phrases like “Vouloir, c’est pouvoir” (Where there’s a will, there’s a way) to “Ce n’est pas la mer à boire” (It’s not a big deal). Mastering these expressions not only enhances fluency but also helps speakers sound more natural and authentic. Commonly used in conversations, they are key to understanding French culture and history.
These can add substance and even humor to your discourse and can make you sound like you have been living in France your whole life. Add a bit of joie de vivre to that and people will think you were born and raised in Paris. So let’s dive in and see what French sayings, expressions, and idioms you can use to sound as if you were French-born.
Popular General French Sayings Explained
So what is a French saying? A saying is a short, pithy, and commonly known expression that offers wisdom or a piece of advice. You probably heard the English expression “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” meaning that a child has similar qualities to his parents. Well, this is the perfect example of what we could call a saying.
And French, like any other language, is full of such witty insights. Let’s look at some of the most common them.
1. Battre le fer pendant qu’il est chaud.
- Translation: “Strike the iron while it is hot.”
- Actual meaning: Since we have the same saying in English, this one’s easy. When the blacksmith is forging the iron, the metal must be red-hot so its shape can be changed. This means you have to take advantage of favorable situations.
Example Usage
– J’ai trouvé une très bonne application pour pratiquer mon français. Ça s’appelle Mondly et son prix pour une année est très raisonable. (“I found a very good app to practice my French. It’s called Mondly and its price for one year is very good.”)
– Qu’est-ce que tu attends ? Il faut battre le fer pendant qu’il est chaud ! (“What are you waiting for? Strike the iron while it’s hot!”)
2. Ce n’est pas la mer à boire.
- Translation: “It’s not as if you have to drink the sea.”
- Actual meaning: “It’s not that difficult” or “it’s not a big deal”. You can use it when someone complains about doing something.
Example Usage
– Je dois faire quatre rapports cette semaine. (“I have to do four reports this week.”)
– Oh là là, ce n’est pas la mer à boire ! (“Come on, it’s not the end of the world!”)
3. La nuit porte conseil.
- Translation: “The night brings advice.”
- Actual meaning: This is the equivalent of “sleep on it”. Or, in other words, take your time before making a decision.
How to use it
– Je ne sais pas si je dois accepter ou pas. (“I don’t know if I should accept or not.”)
– La nuit porte conseil. (“Sleep on it.”)
4. Comme on fait son lit, on se couche.
- Translation: “You’ve made your bed, now lie on it.”
- Actual meaning: There’s a very funny Italian expression that says Hai voluto la bicicletta? E adesso pedala! (“Did you want the bicycle? Now ride it.”) and it has the exact same meaning as Comme on fait son lit, on se couche. Isn’t fascinating how different cultures approach a similar situation? The same as the biblical version “you reap what you sow”, this French saying warns that you suffer the consequences of your actions or that you must accept the unpleasant results of something you’ve done. On the other hand, the opposite is also possible! Make a nice bed and you shall sleep soundly.
How to use it
– Je me suis endormi et j’ai brûlé les côtelettes de porc. (“I fell asleep and burned the pork chops.”)
– Comme on fait son lit, on se couche. (“You’ve made your bed, now lie on it.”)
Famous French Phrases for Everyday Use
5. Vouloir, c’est pouvoir.
- Translation: “To want to is to be able to.”
- Actual meaning: “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” You can use this saying to encourage someone who doubts themselves.
How to use it
– Je pense que je ne parviendrai jamais à parler français comme un natif. (“I don’t think I will ever manage to speak French like a native.”)
– Vouloir, c’est pouvoir. (“Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”)
6. Impossible n’est pas français.
- Translation: “Impossible isn’t French.”
- Actual meaning: Famously attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte, impossible n’est pas français is the French equivalent of “nothing is impossible”. While it may seem very patriotic, français here doesn’t refer to the French people, but rather to the French language. As in “impossible is not a French word”.
How to use it
– Je ne peux pas le faire, c’est impossible ! (“I can’t do it, it’s impossible!) – Impossible n’est pas français. (”Nothing is impossible.“)
7. Il ne faut rien laisser au hasard.
- Translation: “Nothing should be left to chance.”
- Actual meaning: “Leave nothing to chance” or, in other words, plan ahead.
How to use it
– Je pense que je vais passer ce chapitre. Ce ne ressemble pas à quelque chose que monsieur Dubois inclura dans l’examen final. (“I think I’m gonna skip this chapter. It doesn’t look like something mister Dubois will include in the final exam.”)
– Comme vous voulez. Mais il ne faut rien laisser au hasard. (“Suit yourself. But nothing should be left to chance.”)
8. L’habit ne fait pas le moine.
- Translation: “The outfit doesn’t make the monk.”
- Actual meaning: “Don’t judge a book by its cover” or “don’t judge a person by their appearance”. This saying is also very popular in English so you probably already know in what contexts you can safely include it. Just don’t forget that you can use it for both positive and negative comments.
How to use it
– Notre nouveau collègue semble être une personne très calme. (“Our new colleague seems like a very quiet person.”)
– L’habit ne fait pas le moine. (“Don’t judge a book by its cover.”)
9. Mieux vaut tard que jamais.
- Translation: “Late is worth more than never.”
- Actual meaning: “Better late than never.” This is another French saying that is also very common in English. You can use it to tell someone that is better to do something late than not to do it at all.
How to use it
– J’ai 20 minutes de retard au gymnase. Mais mieux vaut tard que jamais. (“I’m 20 minutes late to the gym. But it’s better to be there late than never.”)
10. Aux innocents les mains pleines.
- Translation: “Full hands for the innocents.”
- Actual meaning: “Beginner’s luck” or “fortune favors fools”. You’ll love this one! Every time you go out with your new French friends and try a new activity like bowling or karting, you can use this French expression to invoke “beginner’s luck”.
How to use it
– Comment est-ce possible? Sadie a gagné encore une fois ! (“How is this possible? Sadie won again!”)
– Aux innocents les mains pleines. (“Beginner’s luck”)
11. Mieux vaut être seul que mal accompagné.
- Translation: “Better alone than in a bad company.”
- Actual meaning: It’s better to be alone than to be accompanied badly or by someone who isn’t good company. This can apply to all kinds of relationships and even to other unfortunate situations in someone’s life.
How to use it
– La copine de Jacques vient de le quitter. (“Jacques’s girlfriend just left him.”)
– Mieux vaut être seul que mal accompagné. (“Better alone than in a bad company.”)
12. Après la pluie, le beau temps.
- Translation: “After the rain, good weather.”
- Actual meaning: This is a way of encouraging someone to “hang in there”. Even if things are bad now, everything will eventually get better.
How to use it
– Je viens de perdre mon emploi mais je ne vais pas perdre l’espoir. Après la pluie, le beau temps. (“I’ve just lost my job but I won’t lose hope. After all, after the rain, good weather evetually comes.”)
13. Les murs ont des oreilles.
- Translation: “The walls have ears.”
- Actual meaning: Pay attention to what you say because there’s a chance you could be overheard.
How to use it
– Voulez-vous savoir ce que j’ai acheté pour l’anniversaire de maman? (“Do you want to know what I bought for mom’s birthday?”)
– Shhh ! Les murs ont des oreilles. (“Shhh! The walls have ears.)
14. Tout est bien qui finit bien.
- Translation: “All’s well that ends well.”
- Actual meaning: The same as its English counterpart, Tout est bien qui finit bien is suitable after a period in which one experiences hardship and struggle.
How to use it
– Je suis tellement content que nous soyons arrivés en France en toute sécurité ! Tout est bien qui finit bien. (“I’m so glad we got to France safely! All’s well that ends well.”)
French Sayings About Food and Wine
The French are famous for their love for exquisite food and wine. French cuisine is probably one of the most notorious cuisines in the world. So it’s only natural for some of this love to find its way into everyday French sayings.
15. L’appétit vient en mangeant.
Meaning: “Appetite comes with eating.” This expression can be used both literally and figuratively and it refers to how the desire increases as an activity proceeds (to eat, to own, etc.).
Try to use it:
– Je n’avais pas faim mais cette ratatouille est incroyable ! (“I was not hungry but this ratatouille is amazing!”)
– L’appétit vient en mangeant. (“Appetite comes with eating.”)
16. Mangez bien, riez souvent, aimez beaucoup.
Meaning: “Eat well, laugh often, love a lot.” “Live life to the fullest” or carpe diem (“seize the day”). Use this positive French saying to console a friend that is having a hard time.
17. S’occuper de ses oignons.
Meaning: “To take care of your own onions.” This is a funny way of saying “mind your own business”.
How to use it
– Sa façon de gérer cela ne vous concerne pas. Occupe-toi de tes oignons. (“His way of dealing with this isn’t your problem. Mind your own business.”)
18. Raconter des salades.
Meaning: “To tell salads.” “To tell lies”. This is another funny French saying that can also be used when you want to tell someone that everything they think they know is false.
Use it:
– Ça suffit! Tu racontes des salades ! (“Enough with that. What you are saying is false!”)
19. Courir sur le haricot.
Meaning: “To run on the bean.” “To get on someone’s nerves”. Another saying you gotta love that is connected to the story “Jack and the Beanstalk”.
How to use it
– Arrêtes de me courir sur le haricot ! Tu ne gagneras pas ce pari. (“Stop annoying me! You are not winning this bet.”)
20. La vie est trop courte pour boire du mauvais vin.
Meaning: “Life is too short to drink bad wine.” This saying can be used both literally and figuratively. The idea is that life’s too short to do things that you don’t like.
Funny French Expressions About Animals
Sayings about animals are common in any language. After all, they are our co-residents on this planet and we have quite a lot to learn from them. Here are some of the most common French sayings about animals.
21. À bon chat, bon rat.
Translation & Meaning: “To a good cat, a good rat.” Equally matched, tit for tat. To better understand the meaning behind this, think about how cats are experts at catching rats and rats are experts in avoiding being caught. You can use this saying to describe two competitors that improve as they fight against one another or to describe someone meeting an adversary worth his mettle.
How to use it
– Oh là là, Finalement, Andrew a du mal à gagner le match. (“Wow! Andrew is finally having trouble winning the match.”)
– Oui, Xavier est vraiment un adversaire de taille. À bon chat, bon rat. (“Yes, Xavier is a really good match for him. They are equally matched.”)
22. Les chiens ne font pas des chats.
Translation & Meaning: “Dogs don’t make cats.” This is another way of saying “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” or “you inherit the qualities and faults of your parents”.
How to use it
– La petite Eva est tellement créative! (“Little Eva is so creative!”)
– Oui, les chiens ne font pas des chats. Elle a hérité du talent de sa mère. (“Yes, dogs don’t make cats. She inherits her mother’s talent.”)
23. Il n’y a pas de quoi fouetter un chat.
Translation & Meaning: “There’s no reason to whip the cat.” “It’s no big deal” or “it doesn’t matter”. Obviously, once you know this expression, you’ll want to use it all the time.
24. Poser un lapin.
Translation & Meaning: “To place a rabbit.” “To stand someone up”. If the person you were supposed to meet doesn’t show up, you can say il m’a posé un lapin (“he stood me up”).
25. Avoir une araignée au plafond.
Translation & Meaning: “To have a spider on the ceiling.” If you know someone that “has screw loose” or is a bit crazy, weird, or odd, in French, you can say il a une araignée au plafond (“he is a bit crazy”).
26. Ce n’est pas la vache qui crie le plus fort qui fait le plus de lait.
Translation & Meaning: “It’s not the cow that moos the loudest who gives the most milk.” Talkers are not always doers. The one who talks the most is not always the smartest or the most resourceful.
27. Peigner la girafe.
Translation & Meaning: “To comb the giraffe.” “To do unnecessary and very long work, to do nothing effective”. Because why on Earth would you comb a giraffe?
Try to use it
– J’ai peigné la girafe aujourd’hui au travail. J’ai fait de très longs rapports que personne n’utilisera. (“I combed the giraffe today at work. I did some very long reports that no one will use.”)
How to Use French Idioms to Sound Fluent
How can I effectively learn French idioms and sayings?
Practice regularly by incorporating them into conversations and using language apps like Mondly to hear their correct pronunciation.
What is the best way to use French idioms in conversation?
Use idioms in appropriate social or cultural contexts, focusing on when native speakers typically apply them in daily life.
Do idioms and sayings differ across French-speaking countries?
Yes, idioms may vary in meaning and usage between regions like France, Quebec, and other Francophone countries.
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What is the proper French to English idiom, “j’enes se qua”? Sorry if I butchered that. Mea culpa 🤗
The expression you are looking for is je ne sais quoi literally meaning “I don’t know what”. This refers to an intangible quality that makes something distinctive or attractive. Here’s an example: “She has a certain je ne sais quoi about her”. This could translate to “She has a certain something about her”. Hope it helps! ❤️
If you want to learn even more interesting and useful French expressions, get Mondly here and enjoy your ride to French fluency 🤗
How to spell “comme ci, comme ca”?
Hi Patty! Your version is actually really close to the correct spelling which is “comme ci, comme ça”. Don’t forget that the last “c” has a cedilla. Bonne chance! 🇫🇷
Diana je ne said quoi 😀
There is a French saying that I’m struggling to remember that means something like “full of gusto,” in relation to someone who is enjoying life. Do you know by chance what that is? Thank you!
I was just looking for the same phrase and it came to mind as I was doing so: joie de vivre. That’s the phrase I was looking for, maybe it was the same for you.
Esprit de corps ? Peut-être aussi ?
I liked all of the sayings a lot.
I need help! I am creating a new brand and I need a new name. It’s a 3 pack of Oysters. A bundle (Trio pack) The only thing that comes to mind is Menage a trois. I’m looking for a french racey name. Ideas welcome!
Jamais deux sans trois
My ex used to translate a phrase into English that sounded something like “I hear you with your big shoes” Can someone tell me the phrase in french with the correct English translation? Thank you!
Je te vois venir avec tes grands sabots
“Je te vois venir avec tes gros sabots.”
Literally: “I see you coming with your big clogs.”
What would be french saying for “We will always have each other” or something similar? Thank you! ☺
Hi Ira! ☺️
The only thing that comes to mind is “On sera toujours là l’un pour l’autre”. This is not necessarily a saying, but it is the closet translation to “We will always have each other”.
Hope this helps ☺️
Tu fais pas de cadeaux comme on dit
Was recently said to me. I know the literal interpretation but would love to know what is meant by it please?
Hi Andrea 👋
What was the context of this interaction? Did you offer someone a present?
Depending of the context, It could mean the following:
“You are treating or judging “someone” a bit to harshly”
“You are to strict or not willing to forgive”
“You follow the rules and not willing to adapt regardless of the situation and it’s consequences”
This saying can also be used jokingly, with a bit a sarcasm. Let say, if you are playing a board game with someone and the other person is losing, he/she may say “tu me fais pas de cadeau!!”
Meaning “You really are crushing me” not offering the chance to the other player to come back.
Hope this helps
Under what circumstances might one say to an acquaintance “C’est mon coeur qui te parle” ? Is this an intimate avowal for a really close friend? Or is it a synonym for “I seriously mean what I’m saying about (insert Subject)” ?
Hi Julian 👋
Just like you said, this is more of an intimate avowal for a friend. Literally meaning “it’s my heart that speaks to you”, this phrase can be used when you want to express sincerity.
What is a French term for a predilection for or a love of a certain thing. For instance, “you can tell Sarah chose the furniture, she has a thing for white”.
I love Mondly!
Hi Matt 👋
We’re happy to hear you love Mondly. Mondly loves you too 🧡
I believe the best translation for ‘to have a thing for something’ is ‘avoir un faible pour’. Thus, in French, your phrase would be something like ‘On voit que c’est Sarah qui a choisi les meubles, elle a un faible pour le blanc.’
Happy learning!
Y-a-t’il in idiom en français pour
“More power to you!” mes amis?
Is there a French equivalent for « I’ll eat my hat » ?
Hi,
I heard that there is a French phrase that means rambling around all day doing nothing , what is the French phrase please.
you’re thinking of “flâner”! it means walking around with nowhere to be, ambling and enjoying whatever comes!
You need to add this funny expressions to your list :
“Ca ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard”
Have you heard the expresdion” Liche ta pat”spelling? Literal lick your paw, or go pound sand?
How do you say “I’ll be seeing you”
Steve
Je te verrai – J’espère que ça t’aide
Or, the alternative which is very common àbientôt, see you soon.
This article is awesome! I frequently say… Oh my goodness! Or Oh my gosh! What would be the best French equivalent?
Ah! Mon dieu!
A French phrase that would sum up this scenario:
When in conversation, sharing something that ends the conversation…akwardly and abruptly.
Or perhaps an attraction to someone who then suddenly revels something about themseves that evaporates all that attraction at once?
‘Ça alors ! Décidément !’
Hello, I sure hope you’re writing this ‘columm(?)’. Please help me with the French phrase for (something like) when (say) the husband thinks of a snappy retort AFTER he’s headed down the staircase.
<>
“N’importe quoi !”
L’esprit de l’escalier (literally translated as “the wit of the stairs”)
When the English defeated the French in the battle of Waterloo, the English took the French bear skin hats crying out after them,” Le guarde ….racule! Meaning?
Not ‘”le” guarde’ but surely ‘”la” garde’ ( the word ‘garde’ being of Feminine Gender, its accompanying Article meaning “the” should also be feminine).
Also, not “racule” but “recule”, which translates to “retire” or “move back” !
“La Garde meurt mais ne se rend pas!” => “The regiment dies but does not surrender!”
Good morning and thank you for this opportunity.
I was trying to remember the French phrase that summed up the feeling of making the occasion or the event something that was very special and classy.
Any suggestions, please?
Thank you, Peter
“C’était de la Classe.”
Or less emphatically:
” Ça sortait de l’ordinaire ! ” meaning literally: ” T’was not just an ordinary happening.”
A work colleague and I are in search of a phrase that means “I am as you see me” or something similar that would be used when someone asks you how you are but you don’t want to bore them with details about what a crappy day you’re having.
Hi, do you know what ‘degage!’ means as an expression? I’m having a hard time finding the definition…
lol it’s mean please go away ! Without the please.
Hi, I recently started listening to French music(1880-1950 style) and am looking for a creative title in french for my playlist any suggestions?? (not acquainted with the french language)
“help a dog and end up in a bog”…has been my experience…i love this one
Thats a beaut! No reason why it wouldnt work in french either.
My grandmother use to say to someone who spoke French poorly, “ tu parles français comme une vache espagnole.” It means you speak French like a Spanish cow.
There is one she said about getting better that had something to do with chicken lips. I don’t remember what it is.
What is a French phrase equivalent to telling someone “You rock!” when they’ve done something very helpful or impressive.
Tu as tout déchiré !
Or : ‘Tu as assuré !’
In Spanish there is a maxim which translates, “He who wants a blue sky must pay for it.” Is there a rough equivalent to this sentiment in French?
Jamais deux sans trois. It never rains but it pours.
Excellent instruction to learn French!
I have heard the saying “il traine des casseroles.” Can you tell me what this means please? Is it an expression of procrastination?