mon Dieu
/mɔ̃ djø/
The English phrase 'my God' is translated into French as mon Dieu.
Similar to its use in English, mon Dieu can be used as an exclamation to express surprise, shock or distress. It can also be used as a direct address in prayer.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the possessive adjective mon (my) and the noun Dieu (God).
How does it change in a sentence?
When used as a common exclamation rather than a religious address, the 'd' in dieu is often written in lowercase.
How do you pronounce it?
/mɔ̃ djø/
Did you know?
- In Quebec and other French-speaking parts of Canada, mon Dieu is frequently replaced by 'sacres', which are intense swear words derived from Catholic terminology like tabarnak.
- Because the word Dieu descends from the Proto-Indo-European root *deywós, which relates to light or shining, the very origin of the word is tied to the idea of a celestial brightness.
- In French, using mon Dieu can sometimes feel slightly more 'theatrical' or old-fashioned compared to modern slang used by teenagers, who would likely use entirely different sounds to express the same shock.
Examples in context
- Tom ! Oh mon Dieu !Tom! Oh my God!This sentence is useful for seeing mon Dieu used as an exclamation of surprise.Tatoeba #6486747 by GB3, translation #2807639 by Hybrid
- Mon Dieu, aidez-moi !My God, help me!This sentence is useful for seeing mon Dieu used as a plea for help.Tatoeba #788829 by RaspaKrusto, translation #931071 by frankou
- Mon dieu est le plus grand !My god is the greatest!This sentence is useful for seeing mon Dieu used in a religious context.Tatoeba #474789 by sacredceltic, translation #477186 by FeuDRenais
- Mon Dieu, aidez-moi dans cette situation difficile.My God, help me in this difficult situation.
- Mon Dieu, bénissez cette union.My God, bless this union.
- Mon Dieu ! Tu ne devineras jamais ce qui s'est passé hier soir.My god! You'll never guess what happened last night.
- Mon Dieu ! C'est incroyable !My god! That's incredible!
- 19 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Hugo are looking at a massive, broken window.
- HugoMon Dieu, regarde la fenêtre !My god, look at the window!
- LéaC'est un désastre, Hugo.It is a disaster, Hugo.
- HugoComment est-ce arrivé ?How did this happen?
- LéaJe ne sais pas du tout.I have no idea at all.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry mon Dieu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Dieu, dieu, mon, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
