j'ai envie de vomir
To say "I feel like throwing up" in French, use j'ai envie de vomir.
The phrase is used to express that one feels nauseous and believes they might vomit.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase j'ai envie de vomir literally translates to "I have the desire to vomit".
Which one should you use?
While j'ai envie de vomir is a common way to express the sensation, you can also use j'ai la nausée to be more clinical or descriptive of the feeling of nausea. For a different nuance, Je me sens barbouillé(e) can be used to say "I feel queasy".
Did you know?
- To describe the act of vomiting in a very polite or euphemistic way, French speakers may use the phrase avoir le cœur au bord des lèvres, meaning 'to have the heart at the edge of the lips'.
- French speakers may use the colloquial verb rendre to describe the act of throwing up, which usually means 'to give back' or 'to return'.
- The word envie in j'ai envie de vomir shares a root with the English word 'envy'. It comes from the Latin invidia, which originally meant looking upon someone with jealousy.
Examples in context
- J'ai envie de vomir.I feel like throwing up.This sentence is useful for expressing that you feel like throwing up using the form j'ai envie de vomir.Tatoeba #501139 by sacredceltic, translation #279379 by CK
- J'ai envie de vomir après ce repas.I feel like throwing up after this meal.
Example conversation
Hugo and Manon are sitting in a restaurant.
- ManonHugo, je ne me sens pas bien.Hugo, I don't feel well.
- HugoQu'est-ce qu'il y a, Manon ?What is the matter, Manon?
- ManonJ'ai envie de vomir.I feel like throwing up.
- HugoOn devrait sortir tout de suite.We should go outside right away.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, envie, j'ai, vomir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
