mon Dieu
/mɔ̃ djø/
The English phrase 'oh my goodness' is expressed in French as mon Dieu.
mon Dieu is a common way to express surprise, shock or frustration.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'my God'.
Which one should you use?
While mon Dieu expresses shock or exasperation, the phrase Ah bon ? is used more specifically to express mild surprise or to acknowledge new information.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
mon Dieu is an informal way to express emotions. For other informal ways to convey amazement or astonishment, you might hear Oh la vache or the casual Oh la la, which can also denote admiration or playfulness.
How do you pronounce it?
/mɔ̃ djø/
Did you know?
- If you wish to avoid using the name of God in a secular or religious context, you might replace it with mon ciel, which literally translates to 'my sky'.
- The word Dieu shares a distant root with the English word 'day', as both originate from the Proto-Indo-European root *deywós referring to the bright sky.
- Using mon Dieu in a very formal or traditional religious setting in France can sometimes be viewed as 'taking the name in vain' rather than a simple expression of surprise.
Examples in context
- Oh là là, c'est magnifique!Oh my goodness, it's magnificent!
- Mon Dieu, je n'y crois pas!Oh my goodness, I can't believe it!
- Oh la vache, c'est incroyable!Oh my goodness, that's incredible!
- Oh la la, c'est vraiment lui!Oh my goodness, it's really him!
- Purée, c'est grave!Oh my goodness, that's serious!
- Mon Dieu, il fait très chaud aujourd'hui !Oh my goodness, it is very hot today!
- Mon Dieu, j'ai encore perdu mes clés.Oh my goodness, I lost my keys again.
- Mon Dieu, quelle surprise !Oh my goodness, what a surprise!
Example conversation
Chloé and Lucas are looking at a very expensive-looking cake in a bakery window.
- ChloéMon Dieu, ce gâteau est magnifique !Oh my goodness, this cake is magnificent!
- LucasOui, mais il est vraiment très cher.Yes, but it is really very expensive.
- ChloéMon Dieu, c'est vrai, c'est incroyable.Oh my goodness, it's true, it's incredible.
- LucasOn devrait peut-être juste regarder, Chloé.Maybe we should just look, Chloé.
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.
