oh mon Dieu
The English phrase 'omg' can be translated into French as oh mon Dieu.
You may also encounter mon Dieu, which is a common way to say 'My God' or 'Oh my God' to convey surprise.
Which one should you use?
While oh mon Dieu is a direct translation of the English 'oh my God', the shorter version mon Dieu is often used as a standalone exclamation of surprise or frustration.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The informal expression Bordel ! is used in some regions, particularly in France.
When do people say it?
To demonstrate surprise or amazement, a classic French alternative to these expressions is Oh là là.
Did you know?
- If you want to express extreme shock in a more modern, slang-heavy way, young French speakers often use Jure ! which means 'Swear!' to express 'No way!' or 'OMG!'
- Using Bordel ! as a substitute for oh mon Dieu is highly informal and refers to a 'brothel', making it much more vulgar than the English 'omg'.
- The word Dieu shares an ancient linguistic root with the English word 'deity', both tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European root for 'to shine'.
Examples in context
- Oh mon Dieu, c'est magnifique !Oh my God, it's magnificent!
- Oh mon Dieu, j'ai oublié mes clés.Oh my God, I forgot my keys.
- Oh mon Dieu, regarde ça !Oh my God, look at that!
Example conversation
Manon and Lucas are watching a sudden thunderstorm outside.
- LucasOh mon Dieu, quel énorme éclair !Oh my God, what a huge lightning bolt!
- ManonC'est impressionnant, Lucas.It is impressive, Lucas.
- LucasJ'ai eu très peur.I was very scared.
- ManonNe t'inquiète pas, tout va bien.Don't worry, everything is fine.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Dieu, dieu, mon, oh, CC BY-SA 4.0.
