mince
/mɛ̃s/
The French equivalent for the English expression of exasperation "sheesh" is mince.
mince is used as an interjection to express exasperation.
Meaning: expression of exasperation (intj)
How do you pronounce it?
/mɛ̃s/
Did you know?
- The word mince is what linguists call a 'minced oath', a way of softening a swear word to avoid being offensive. It serves as a polite substitute for the much more vulgar merde.
- In a culinary context, mince is also an adjective meaning 'thin' or 'finely sliced', as in une tranche mince.
- Because it is a 'minced' version of a swear word, using mince can sometimes feel slightly humorous or even ironic in modern French, much like saying 'drats' in English.
Examples in context
- Mince, j'ai encore oublié mes clés !Sheesh, I forgot my keys again!
- Mince, ce trajet est interminable.Sheesh, this commute is endless.
- Mince, il est déjà si tard ?Sheesh, is it already so late?
Example conversation
Hugo and Emma are stuck in a long queue at a bakery.
- EmmaMince, il y a tellement de monde ici.Sheesh, there are so many people here.
- HugoOui, l'attente va être longue, Emma.Yes, the wait is going to be long, Emma.
- EmmaJe n'ai pas beaucoup de patience aujourd'hui.I don't have much patience today.
- HugoCourage, nous y sommes presque.Hang in there, we are almost there.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry mince, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mince, CC BY-SA 4.0.
