How to Say "Existential Crisis" in French

crise existentielle

/kʁiz ɛɡ.zis.tɑ̃.sjɛl/feminine

The French phrase for "existential crisis" is crise existentielle.

crise existentielle refers to a state of panic.

Meaning: state of panic (noun)

How does it change in a sentence?

The noun crise is feminine.

In French, the same word crise used in an existential context is also used to describe a sudden physical outburst, such as une crise de foie which literally translates to a 'crisis of the liver' to mean a painful bout of indigestion.
French literature, particularly works by Jean-Paul Sartre, frequently explores the concept of 'l'existence', which provides the philosophical weight behind the phrase crise existentielle.
The word crise comes from the Ancient Greek word krísis, which originally meant the act of judging or deciding a case.

Tom a une crise existentielle.
Tom is having an existential crisis.
This sentence is useful for describing someone currently experiencing a crise existentielle.
Tatoeba #6048029 by Fabimoto, translation #6047442 by zumley
Penser à l'univers provoque toujours chez moi une crise existentielle.
Thinking about the universe always gives me an existential crisis.
This sentence shows how thinking about the universe can trigger a crise existentielle.
Tatoeba #6048032 by Fabimoto, translation #6047443 by zumley
Au cours de ma vie, j'ai traversé plusieurs crises existentielles qui m'ont poussé à réfléchir profondément sur le sens de la vie.
Throughout my life, I have experienced several existential crises that pushed me to deeply reflect on the meaning of life.
Je suis actuellement en période de remise en question profonde et je cherche à trouver un sens plus profond à ma vie.
I am currently going through a period of deep questioning, trying to find a deeper meaning to my life.
En ce moment, je traverse une période de remise en question de l'existence, et je me demande vraiment quel est le but de tout ça.
Right now, I'm going through a period of questioning existence, and I'm really wondering what the purpose of it all is.
Cette question me plonge dans une crise existentielle.
This question plunges me into an existential crisis.

Gabriel and Léa are talking about their future careers.

Gabriel

Je ne sais plus quoi faire de ma vie.
I don't know what to do with my life anymore.
Léa

Tu fais juste une petite crise existentielle, Gabriel.
You're just having a little existential crisis, Gabriel.
Gabriel

Peut-être, mais c'est très stressant.
Maybe, but it's very stressful.
Léa

Tout ira bien, ne t'inquiète pas.
Everything will be fine, don't worry.

Sources

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