15 Common French Exclamations You’ll Hear Every Day 🇫🇷
One of the best ways to sound natural in French is to use exclamations – those little words and phrases French people throw into conversations to express emotions like surprise, joy, frustration, or disbelief.
From the famous “oh là là” to the playful “zut”, these expressions are part of everyday life in France.
Let’s explore 15 common French exclamations you’ll definitely hear if you spend time with native speakers.
1. Oh là là !
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Meaning: Wow! Oh dear!
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Usage: To express surprise, shock, or even admiration.
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Example: Oh là là, c’est magnifique !
2. Zut !
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Meaning: Darn! Shoot!
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Usage: A mild, family-friendly way to show annoyance.
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Example: Zut, j’ai oublié mes clés !
3. Mince !
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Meaning: Darn! Oh no!
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Usage: A polite alternative to stronger words like putain.
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Example: Mince, il pleut encore.
4. Putain ! (⚠️ slang)
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Meaning: Damn! / F***!
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Usage: Very common but very informal. Expresses frustration, anger, or surprise.
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Example: Putain, j’ai raté mon train !
5. Chouette !
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Meaning: Great! Cool!
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Usage: Positive exclamation, often used for something pleasant.
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Example: Chouette, on va à la plage demain !
6. Super !
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Meaning: Great! Awesome!
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Usage: Common for showing approval or excitement.
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Example: Super, tu as réussi ton examen !
7. Génial !
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Meaning: Brilliant! Awesome!
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Usage: Stronger than super, very enthusiastic.
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Example: Génial, j’adore cette chanson !
8. Nickel !
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Meaning: Perfect! Spotless!
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Usage: Slang for “everything’s fine” or “that’s perfect.”
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Example: Ton travail est nickel !
9. Allez !
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Meaning: Come on! Let’s go!
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Usage: Encouragement, motivation, or impatience.
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Example: Allez, dépêche-toi !
10. Bon sang !
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Meaning: Good grief! Darn it!
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Usage: Mild exclamation of surprise or frustration.
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Example: Bon sang, quelle chaleur aujourd’hui !
11. Ça alors !
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Meaning: Well, I’ll be! No way!
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Usage: Expresses astonishment.
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Example: Ça alors, tu parles français !
12. Bof !
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Meaning: Meh. Whatever.
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Usage: To show indifference or lack of enthusiasm.
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Example: Tu aimes ce film ? — Bof, pas trop.
13. Hein ?
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Meaning: Huh? Right?
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Usage: Can mean “What?” (if you didn’t hear) or “Right?” at the end of a sentence.
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Example: C’est sympa, hein ?
14. Pfff !
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Meaning: Pffft! (sigh of frustration or boredom)
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Usage: Very common sound, expresses annoyance, fatigue, or disinterest.
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Example: Pfff, encore des devoirs…
15. Oh purée !
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Meaning: Holy cow! Oh my gosh!
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Usage: A kid-friendly or softer replacement for putain.
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Example: Oh purée, j’ai gagné !
Quick Recap
French exclamations make your speech sound natural and expressive. Here’s how they group:
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Positive: Chouette, super, génial, nickel
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Surprise: Oh là là, ça alors, oh purée
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Frustration: Zut, mince, putain, bon sang, pfff
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Neutral / filler: Bof, hein, allez
Conclusion
If you want to sound more like a native speaker, start sprinkling these 15 common French exclamations into your conversations. They’ll help you react naturally in everyday situations and connect more easily with French speakers.
👉 Practice tip: Pick 3 of these expressions and use them today in your French practice — whether in class, online, or even when talking to yourself!
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