French Words and Phrases with No English Equivalent

Some French words and phrases have no direct English equivalent. Although their general meaning can usually be explained, there is not always one English word or expression that conveys exactly the same idea, tone or cultural nuance.

Everyday French expressions such as bof, dépaysement and ne t’en fais pas can therefore be difficult to translate naturally. Translating them word for word may produce confusing or unnatural English.

In this guide, you will find common French words and phrases that don’t exist in English, along with their meanings, natural translations and examples. If you would like to practise these expressions in context, my French conversation lessons are adapted to your level and goals.

To start with, let’s consider “bof”. Pronounced like “bohf,” it serves as a casual interjection that reflects a feeling of apathy, a lack of motivation or mild disappointment. You may have learned “comme ci, comme ça” in the past but this expression is now old-fashioned. For instance,

Possible English translations include meh, not really, so-so and I’m not convinced.

• Qu’est-ce que tu as pensé du film ? (Bof, pas terrible.)
• What did you think of the film? (Meh, it wasn’t great.)

• Tu veux sortir ce soir ? (Bof, je suis fatiguée.)
• Do you want to go out tonight? (Not really, I’m tired.)

You can hear bof and many other informal expressions in contemporary French series. For another example of authentic spoken French, you might enjoy watching Bref 2.

Tiens comes from the verb tenir, meaning to hold. In everyday French, however, it can have several meanings that depend on the situation.

When giving something to someone, it can mean here you are or here you go.

• Tu peux me passer le stylo ? — Tiens.
• Can you pass me the pen? — Here you go.

It can also attract someone’s attention or express mild surprise.

• Tiens, voilà Marie ! (Oh, there’s Marie!)
• Tiens, je ne savais pas que tu travaillais ici. (Oh, I didn’t know you worked here.)

Use tenez when speaking formally or addressing more than one person.

The noun dépaysement describes the feeling of being away from your usual surroundings. It is often associated with a change of scenery, a new environment or the impression of having escaped everyday life.

Unlike homesickness or culture shock, dépaysement is not necessarily negative. It can describe the refreshing and enjoyable feeling of being somewhere completely different.

• Ce voyage nous a offert un vrai dépaysement. (This trip gave us a complete change of scenery.)

The adjective dépaysant describes a place or experience that creates this feeling.

• Le paysage est magnifique et vraiment dépaysant. (The landscape is beautiful and feels completely different from home.)

Flâner means walking around slowly without a precise destination, simply enjoying the surroundings. English translations such as to stroll or to wander convey part of the meaning, but not always the same sense of unhurried pleasure.

• Nous avons passé l’après-midi à flâner dans les rues de Paris. (We spent the afternoon wandering leisurely through the streets of Paris.)
• J’aime flâner sur les marchés le dimanche matin. (I enjoy strolling around markets on Sunday mornings).

A person who enjoys observing city life while walking around is sometimes called un flâneur or une flâneuse.

Retrouvailles refers to the moment when people see each other again after a long separation. It does not simply describe a reunion: it often suggests the emotion and happiness associated with being reunited.

The word is normally used in the plural.

• Les retrouvailles avec sa famille ont été très émouvantes. (The reunion with her family was very emotional.)
• Après plusieurs années à l’étranger, ils ont fêté leurs retrouvailles. (After several years abroad, they celebrated being together again.)

The verb profiter can mean to enjoy, to make the most of or to take advantage of, depending on the context.

• Profite bien de tes vacances ! (Enjoy your holiday!)
• Nous avons profité du beau temps pour déjeuner dehors. (We made the most of the good weather and had lunch outside.)
• Il faut profiter de chaque instant. (You have to make the most of every moment.)

However, profiter de quelqu’un usually means to take advantage of someone, so the context is particularly important.
Because profiter does not always mean to profit, it can also behave like a partial false friend. You can find more examples in this guide to French false friends.

La rentrée literally refers to returning, but it has a much broader cultural meaning in France. It describes the period at the end of the summer when schools reopen, people return to work and cultural and political life resumes.

Depending on the context, it may refer to the new school year, the return to work or the beginning of a new cultural season.

• Les enfants préparent leurs affaires pour la rentrée. (The children are getting their things ready for the new school year.)
• Nous lancerons le nouveau projet à la rentrée. (We will launch the new project after the summer break.)
• Quels sont les livres les plus attendus de la rentrée littéraire ? (Which books are the most eagerly awaited releases of the new publishing season?)

These common French phrases cannot always be translated word for word. Their natural English meaning depends on the context and the speaker’s intention. Using them appropriately will also help you sound more like a native French speaker.

Je vous en prie is commonly translated as you’re welcome, but it can have several other meanings.

As a polite response to thanks:

• Merci beaucoup pour votre aide. — Je vous en prie.
• Thank you very much for your help. — You’re welcome.

To invite someone to do something:

• Je peux entrer ? — Je vous en prie.
• May I come in? — Please do.

To let someone go first:

• Après vous. — Je vous en prie.
• After you. — Please, go ahead.

Je t’en prie is used with someone you address as tu.

Here, en is part of the expression rather than something that should be translated separately. You can find more explanations and examples in my guide to the French pronouns en and y.

Ne t’en fais pas means don’t worry or don’t worry about it. In informal spoken French, people frequently omit ne and simply say t’en fais pas.

• Ne t’en fais pas, tout va bien se passer. (Don’t worry, everything is going to be fine.)
• Je vais m’en occuper, t’en fais pas. (I’ll take care of it, don’t worry.)

When speaking formally or to more than one person, use ne vous en faites pas.

• Ne vous en faites pas, nous avons encore le temps. (Don’t worry, we still have time.)

Confusing en vouloir à quelqu’un with the verb vouloir is a common error among learners. You can find similar examples in my guide to common French mistakes to avoid.

Ne m’en veux pas can mean don’t be angry with me, don’t hold it against me or please forgive me, depending on the context.

It comes from the expression en vouloir à quelqu’un, meaning to be angry with or resent someone.

• Ne m’en veux pas, j’ai complètement oublié ton anniversaire. (Don’t be angry with me; I completely forgot your birthday.)
• Je suis désolée d’avoir annulé. J’espère que tu ne m’en veux pas. (I’m sorry I cancelled. I hope you don’t hold it against me.)

Be careful not to confuse en vouloir à quelqu’un with vouloir quelque chose, which means to want something.

J’en ai ras-le-bol is an informal expression used when someone has had enough of a situation. Natural English translations include I’m fed up, I’ve had enough and I’m sick of it.

• J’en ai ras-le-bol de ces retards. (I’m fed up with these delays.)
• Rien ne fonctionne aujourd’hui. J’en ai ras-le-bol ! (Nothing is working today. I’ve had enough!)

You may also hear the shorter expression ras-le-bol ! used on its own.

J’ai la flemme expresses a lack of energy or motivation to do something. Depending on the context, it can mean I can’t be bothered, I don’t feel like it or I’m feeling lazy.

It is commonly followed by de and an infinitive.

• J’ai la flemme de faire la cuisine ce soir. (I can’t be bothered to cook tonight.)
• On va courir ? — Non, j’ai la flemme. (Shall we go running? — No, I don’t feel like it.)

This is an informal expression, so it is best suited to conversations with friends, relatives or people you know well.

Ça me dit means that an idea or activity appeals to you. Depending on the context, it can be translated as that sounds good, I’d be up for that or I feel like doing that.

• On pourrait aller au cinéma. — Oui, ça me dit bien. (We could go to the cinema. — Yes, that sounds good).

The question ça te dit ? is an informal way of making a suggestion.

• Ça te dit de prendre un café ? (Would you like to go for a coffee?)

With vous, it becomes ça vous dit ?

Ça cartonne is an informal expression used when something is extremely successful or popular.

Depending on the subject, it can mean it’s a huge success, it’s doing really well or it’s a big hit.

• Cette série cartonne en France. (This series is a huge hit in France.)
• Son nouveau restaurant cartonne. (His new restaurant is doing extremely well.)

Although un carton normally means a cardboard box, translating ça cartonne literally would not make sense.

Il s’agit de is one of the most common impersonal verbs in French and has no single English translation. Depending on the context, it can mean it is, this is about, it concerns or the aim is to. It is always used with the impersonal subject il.

• Il s’agit d’un tableau du XVIIIe siècle. (This is an eighteenth-century painting.)
• Dans cet article, il s’agit de comprendre ces expressions. (This article is about understanding these expressions.)
• Il s’agit de terminer le projet avant vendredi. (The aim is to finish the project before Friday.)