oups
/ups/
The English phrase "oops" is translated into French as oups. Wiktionary also lists houp!
Meaning: acknowledging a minor mistake (intj)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| oups | /ups/ |
| houp! |
oups is used to acknowledge that a minor mistake has been made. It is the direct equivalent of the English "oops".
Which one should you use?
While oups is used to acknowledge a mistake, houp! is used as an exclamation when lifting something or to prevent someone from falling, similar to the English "whoops" or "up!"
How do you pronounce it?
/ups/
Did you know?
- Although oups is a common way to express a mistake, it is actually an English loanword that has been integrated into the French language.
- If a mistake is slightly more serious than an oups but not a disaster, a French speaker might use zut, which is a polite way of avoiding a stronger swear word.
- While oups is common for mistakes, French speakers use hop as a rhythmic marker when performing a quick action, like jumping over a puddle or handing someone a plate.
Examples in context
- Oups ! Je suis à la mauvaise porte.Oops! Wrong door.This sentence shows how to use oups when realizing you are at the wrong door.Tatoeba #12108408 by Amastan, translation #8239101 by Amastan
- Oups, faux !Oops, wrong!This sentence demonstrates using oups to indicate something is wrong.Tatoeba #9025657 by Micsmithel, translation #8856521 by moxy
- « Tu as apporté le livre ? » « Oups ! J'ai oublié ! »"Did you bring the book?" "Oops! I forgot!"This sentence shows using oups to acknowledge that you have forgotten something.Tatoeba #12730466 by lbdx, translation #3616368 by DostKaplan
- Oups, j'ai fait tomber mon verre.Oops, I dropped my glass
- Mince, j'ai laissé mes clés à la maison.Oops, I left my keys at home
Example conversation
Emma accidentally knocks over a pen on Hugo's desk.
- EmmaOups ! Désolée, Hugo.Oops! Sorry, Hugo.
- HugoCe n'est pas grave, Emma.It's no big deal, Emma.
- EmmaJe vais ramasser le stylo.I'll pick up the pen.
- HugoNe t'inquiète pas pour ça.Don't worry about that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “oops” translations and entries oups, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries oups, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
