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Les Expressions Pour “Beginners”

Updated: Aug 4, 2020

Easy expressions that we use all the time. They are short, easy to remember and you can use them on a daily basis in various situations. Are you ready?



C’est pas possible, ça !

Literally = "It is not possible, this!"


When you can use this expression:


  • When you are surprised and annoyed about something. Example: at the supermarket, you have been waiting for bananas delivery and you could not find any bananas for weeks. Today, you are going to the same supermarket again, and they still haven’t been delivered. You are annoyed, and say: “C’est pas possible, ça !” ( = I can’t believe it!).

*It is usually associated to a repetitive action or a situation that is annoying. You need to emphasize PO when you say it as it shows you are really annoyed.



J’en ai marre ! = I am tired of it!

When you can use this expression:

When you have built up emotions about a situation and you are tired of it.


  • Example: You have been looking for a job for months and you got no results. You can say : « j’en ai marre, je trouve pas de travail ! » You can say “j’en ai marre” pretty much for any situation that is challenging for you or gets you tired andpushes youout of your limits. “J’en ai marre”, when the bus is too slow and it has been so for a while repetitively. “J’en ai marre”, when your dog never listens to you. “J’en ai marre”, when your neighbour’s music is too loud and it has been so for a while repetitively.

Other ways to say: Ca m’saoule, ca m’gonfle, j’en ai ras le bol (familiar)



J’m en fou = I don’t care

This expression means `No matter what, I will go with my flow


  • Example: There is no banana left at the supermarket, then you can say “j’m’en fou, j’en ai déjà acheté hier (It’s ok, I have some at home). If you are moody about a situation with your brother and he is trying to talk to you, you can say “j’m’en fou” to reject his words and show you are still angry. If your child is not listening to you and is trying to find an excuse for not doing something you asked, you can say “j’m’en fou’ to tell him/her he/she has no choice : “J’m’en fou, range tes affaires”. In his case, it will sounds authoritative.

*You can use this expression with friends and family but not at work or with people you don’t know well.

Other ways to say: J’m en fiche(familiar)



C’est pas mal du tout ! J’suis pas fan. Bof.

This expression is used to talk about your taste or opinion.


  • Example: Your friend is showing you a nice pair of shoes in a shop. If you like it, you can say: “C’est pas mal du tout !” If you don’t like it much, you can say: “J’suis pas fan” or “J’suis pas fan, je préférais les autres” (I don’t like these much, I like the other shoes better). When you say “bof”, it means you are not very enthusiastic about these shoes. “Do you like them?”, “bof” (=not much)


En tout cas

This expression can be used in a situation when you want to draw a conclusion of a situation or make a decision. = no matter what / in any case/anyway


  • Example: The lockdown situation and the closure of schools might cause either a cancellation or a delay of the GCSE exam. Some students might choose not to revise and are hoping the exam will be cancelled. But you still want to prepare in case it will be maintained. You can say: « En tout cas, moi, je vais réviser quand même» (No matter what, I will prepare). If you have just bought a motorbike but you are not fully satisfied because it doesn’t fully match your expectations, the person you are having a conversation with about it can say : “En tout cas, il t’emmènera où tu voudras.”(anyway, it will take you where you need to)

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