oh là là
/o la la/
The English phrase "oh my gosh" can be translated into French as oh là là.
oh là là is a classic expression used to express surprise, astonishment or admiration.
Meaning: oh my God (intj)
Which one should you use?
Unlike the English 'oh my gosh' which is often used for positive or neutral surprise, oh là là in French can frequently signal that something is wrong or that a situation is problematic.
How do you pronounce it?
/o la la/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use oh là là to express admiration or being impressed (like 'oh la la' in English), but in French, it is more commonly used to express surprise, dismay or concern.
Did you know?
- The word là in the phrase originally meant 'there', making the literal meaning of the expression something like 'oh there there'.
- If you are truly shocked or exasperated, a French speaker might lengthen the phrase to oh là là là là, adding extra là sounds to signal the intensity of the problem.
- In French, oh là là is considered gender-neutral and is used equally by men and women across all age groups.
Examples in context
- Oh là là ! Tu vois cette vue magnifique ?Oh my gosh! Do you see that magnificent view?
- Oh là là, quel beau paysage !Oh my gosh, what a beautiful landscape!
- Oh là là, j'ai encore oublié mes clés.Oh my gosh, I forgot my keys again.
- Oh là là, regarde cette énorme pâtisserie !Oh my gosh, look at that huge pastry!
Example conversation
Emma and Hugo are walking through a street market.
- HugoOh là là, tout ce monde !Oh my gosh, so many people!
- EmmaC'est vrai, c'est très impressionnant.It's true, it is very impressive.
- HugoEmma, regarde ce stand de fleurs !Emma, look at this flower stall!
- EmmaElles sont magnifiques, Hugo.They are magnificent, Hugo.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry oh là là, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
