bof
/bɔf/
The French phrase for "meh" is bof.
bof is a slang interjection used to express indifference, a lack of enthusiasm or to indicate that something is mediocre or unimpressive. It is often used as a standalone response to a question.
Meaning: slang: expressing indifference or lack of enthusiasm (intj)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
bof is a slang term. Other informal ways to express similar sentiments include Mouais. to show skepticism or lack of enthusiasm, and Pas terrible. to express disappointment or a lack of excitement.
How do you pronounce it?
/bɔf/
Did you know?
- The phrase pas terrible literally means 'not terrible', but in common usage, it actually means 'quite bad' or 'unimpressive'.
- The word mouais is a contraction of oui and mais and literally translates to 'yes but', reflecting a culturally ingrained habit of hesitant agreement.
- When saying bof, French speakers often accompany the word with a physical gesture: a shrug of the shoulders combined with a quick pout or a slight lifting of the hands.
Examples in context
- Cette fille est mignonne, hein ? Bof !That girl's cute, eh? Meh, she's OK.This sentence shows how to use bof as a response to a comment about someone's appearance.
- Bof, je ne sais pas trop.Meh, I don't really know.
- Le nouveau film ? Bof.The new movie? Meh.
Example conversation
Chloé and Lucas are discussing a restaurant they recently visited.
- ChloéC'était bien, le restaurant ?Was the restaurant good?
- LucasBof, c'était très moyen.Meh, it was very average.
- ChloéTu n'as pas aimé la cuisine ?You didn't like the food?
- LucasNon, pas vraiment.No, not really.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “meh” translations and entries bof, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
