oh mon Dieu
The English phrase "oh God" can be translated into French as oh mon Dieu.
Like in English, oh mon Dieu is used to express a wide range of emotions including shock, fear, dismay or even excitement.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase oh mon Dieu literally translates to "oh my God".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Canada, the expression Jésus is commonly used to express surprise or exclamation. Additionally, the expression Jésus Marie Joseph is also used in Quebec to express surprise or exclamation.
When do people say it?
While oh mon Dieu is a standard way to express these emotions, other informal options include Oh là là, which is a versatile phrase that can convey surprise, exasperation or admiration. To add an extra level of emphasis to surprise or exasperation, speakers may repeat the phrase as Mon Dieu, mon Dieu.
Did you know?
- In some parts of the French-speaking world, particularly in North Africa, you might hear religious exclamations using 'Allah' instead of 'Dieu' to express the exact same sense of shock or dismay.
- In many French-speaking households, particularly in France, saying mon Dieu can be seen as slightly too religious or dramatic, so people often use Mince or Purée to express the same shock without invoking a deity.
- The root of Dieu comes from the Proto-Indo-European word *deywós, which is also the ancestor of the English word 'divine'.
Examples in context
- Oh mon dieu ! J'ai tué une femme enceinte !Oh God, I killed a pregnant woman.This sentence is useful for seeing oh mon Dieu used to express shock or dismay.Tatoeba #2263130 by sysko, translation #7859743 by corvard
- Mon Dieu, je ne peux pas croire à quel point j'ai de la chance!Oh God, I can't believe how lucky I am!
- Mon Dieu, mon Dieu, qu'est-ce qui se passe ici?Oh God, oh God, what's happening here?
- Oh bon Dieu, quelle chaleur aujourd'hui!Oh God, it's so hot today!
- Jésus, c'est vraiment un gros gâteau!Oh God, that's really a huge cake!
- Oh mon Dieu, qu'est-ce que j'ai fait ?Oh my god, what have I done?
- Oh mon Dieu, il est déjà minuit !Oh my god, it is already midnight!
Example conversation
Hugo and Emma are looking at a very expensive bill.
- HugoOh mon Dieu, regarde le prix !Oh my God, look at the price!
- EmmaC'est beaucoup trop cher.It is much too expensive.
- HugoOn ne peut pas payer ça.We cannot pay for this.
- EmmaOn doit trouver une solution.We must find a solution.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Dieu, dieu, mon, oh, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
