Funny French Phrases

Although we recognize the stereotype of the fussy French waiter muttering funny words like crétin, idiot or imbécile at boorish tourists, there are actually numerous truly funny French phrases.

Learn some gestures to articulate your humor!

French Idioms are often quite humorous to non-French speakers because when translated literally, the meaning is illogical. For example, Ah, la vache! literally translates as Oh, the cow. To the French this is a way of expressing surprise much in the same way that Americans might say wow or Good grief! Here are some more examples of amusing idioms:

Sometimes the French use funny idioms to describe the same types of situations that English speakers do.

• Boire comme un trou literally translates as to drink like a hole but means to get wasted which isn't even grammatically correct in English.

• Poser un lapin literally translates as to leave a rabbit but means to stand someone up which in literal English would mean to put someone in a standing position.

Sometimes idiomatic expressions are based on the same idea, such as with 'beef' below, but are then used differently in French and in English.

Faire un boeuf translates into To make a beef. In French that means to improvise musically -- as in a jam session. Of course in English, to beef means to complain or make a fuss.

Unlike the phrases above, some groups of words simply sound silly when spoken. Sometimes the meaning is silly as well. Tongue twisters are in and of themselves funny because they are absurdly hard to say. Since they are 'alliterative,' meaning they often start with the same letter, it all starts to sound like childish babble, reducing both the listener and speaker to fits of laughter.

The meanings of the following phrases aren't necessarily funny, and might even be considered instructive.

• Poisson sans boisson--c'est poison!.

To each fish without drinking wine is poison!

• Didon dîna, dit-on, du dos d'un dodu dindon.

Didon ate, it is said, from the back of a fat turkey.

• Natacha n'attacha pas son chat qui s'échappa.

Natasha did not tie up her cat, who escaped.

• Tonton, ton thé t'a-t-il ôté ta toux?

Uncle, did your tea take away your cough?

These phrases not only sound funny coming out of the mouth, but are silly when you think about what is being said.

• La pipe au papa du Pape Pie pue.

Pope Pius' dad's pipe stinks.

• Je veux et j'exige du jasmin and des jonquilles

I want and demand jasmine and daffodils.

Finally, some french tongue twisters are nonsensical in their meaning.

• Si mon tonton tond ton tonton, ton tonton sera tondu.

If my uncle shaves your uncle, your uncle will be shaved.

• Si six scies scient six cyprès, six cents scies scient six cent cyprès.

If six saws saw six cypresses, six hundred saws saw six hundred cypresses.

The French are indeed funny as demonstrated by some good examples of funny French movies such as:

• Playtime and Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot(Mr. Hulot's Holiday)-Jaques Tati was a very funny French comedian who starred in these two classics.
• Trois Hommes et un Couffin(Three Men and a Cradle) was turned into Three Men and A Baby with Tom Selleck in the 1980s.
• Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain(Amelie) is a charming film with lots of linguistic funny business.

The following websites provide some funny french phrases as well:

• Shaggy Dog Humor
• Alpha Dictionary

If you can use and understand french humor, it will enhance your understanding of the language and culture.

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