How to Say “I Feel Blue” in French

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j'ai le cafard
To say "I feel blue" in French, use j'ai le cafard.
The phrase is an idiomatic way to express that you feel sad or melancholy.

What does it mean word for word?

The expression literally translates to "I have the cockroach".

Which one should you use?

While j'ai le cafard is a common idiomatic way to express sadness, other forms exist depending on the nuance of your feeling. J'ai le bourdon is another informal way to say you are feeling downcast, while Je suis morose means "I am gloomy". If you want to convey nostalgia or a sense of melancholy, you can use the formal phrase Je me sens mélancolique. For expressing a deeper sense of depression, the formal Je suis déprimé(e) is appropriate.

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

j'ai le cafard is an informal, idiomatic expression. For more formal situations, you may use Je suis morose, Je me sens mélancolique or Je suis déprimé(e). In casual settings, you might also hear the informal J'ai le bourdon.

How does it change in a sentence?

The phrase is built on the verb avoir (to have). To say "I feel blue," you use the first person singular form j'ai le cafard.

Did you know?

  • The term cafard was used in 19th century French slang to describe a police spy or an informer before it became a common idiom for depression.
  • The word cafard in this expression stems from the Arabic word kāfir, meaning 'unbeliever'.
  • Beyond sadness, cafarder is a verb meaning to tattle or snitch on someone, linking the insect to the act of betrayal.

Examples in context

  • J'ai le bourdon en ce moment.
    I'm feeling down right now.
  • Depuis ce matin, j'ai le cafard.
    Since this morning, I feel blue.
  • Je ne sais pas pourquoi, mais j'ai le cafard.
    I don't know why, but I feel blue.
  • Dès qu'il pleut, j'ai le cafard.
    As soon as it rains, I feel blue.

Example conversation

Chloé and Hugo are talking on the phone.

  1. Chloé

    Salut Hugo, ça va ?
    Hi Hugo, how are you?
  2. Hugo

    Pas vraiment, j'ai le cafard aujourd'hui.
    Not really, I feel blue today.
  3. Chloé

    Oh mince, qu'est-ce qui se passe ?
    Oh dear, what's going on?
  4. Hugo

    C'est juste une mauvaise journée.
    It's just a bad day.

Sources

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Joan Sara
Joan SaraHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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