Tu te fous de ma gueule ?
The English phrase "are you kidding me" can be translated into French as Tu te fous de ma gueule ?
Tu te fous de ma gueule ? is an expression used to express disbelief or anger when you feel that someone is lying to you or mocking you.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "Are you making fun of my mouth?", where gueule is a slang term for mouth or face.
Which one should you use?
While Tu te fous de ma gueule ? implies that you feel insulted or angry, the phrase Tu plaisantes ? is a much milder way to express surprise or disbelief, similar to asking "Are you joking?"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Tu te fous de ma gueule ? is highly informal and uses vulgar slang. Because of this, it is not suitable for use in professional or polite settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you want to use this expression with a group of people, you must change the subject to Vous and the verb becomes Vous vous foutez de ma gueule ?
Did you know?
- The word gueule specifically refers to the mouth or jaws of an animal. Using it for a human is a deliberate way to dehumanize the person you are accusing of lying.
- While Tu te fous de ma gueule ? expresses anger, the verb se foutre is also used in the phrase Je m'en fous, which means 'I don't care'.
- The word gueule is a doublet of the French word goulet, which refers to a narrow passage or the neck of a bottle.
Examples in context
- Vous plaisantez ?Are you joking?
- Est-ce une plaisanterie ?Is this a joke?
- Vous ne pouvez pas être sérieux/sérieuse.You can't be serious.
- Tu déconnes ?Are you kidding?
- Tu te fous de moi ?Are you messing with me?
- Tu te moques de moi !You're making fun of me!
Example conversation
Nathan tells Emma that he accidentally lost her favorite book.
- NathanEmma, j'ai perdu ton livre préféré.Emma, I lost your favorite book.
- EmmaQuoi ? Tu te fous de ma gueule ?What? Are you kidding me?
- NathanJe te jure que c'est vrai.I swear it is true.
- EmmaJe n'arrive pas à le croire.I can't believe it.
