Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| tant pis | /tɑ̃ pi/ |
| dommage | /dɔ.maʒ/ |
| quel dommage | /kɛl dɔ.maʒ/ |
In French, there are different ways to express that something is a pity or a shame. You can use dommage to express genuine regret or sympathy about a situation. If you want to express a sense of resignation, such as 'oh well' when something cannot be changed, use tant pis.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase tant pis literally translates to 'so much bad', where tant means 'so much' and pis is an archaic comparative form meaning 'bad' or 'worse'.
Which one should you use?
While dommage is used to express regret, tant pis often carries a more dismissive or indifferent tone, similar to saying 'oh well'. Additionally, quel dommage is an exclamatory form used to emphasize the degree of regret, translating to 'what a pity'.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the phrase dommage que to mean 'too bad that', you must follow it with a verb in the subjunctive mood.
How do you pronounce it?
/tɑ̃ pi/
Did you know?
- The word pis is a homonym in French. Besides meaning 'worse' in tant pis, it can also refer to an animal's udder.
- In French, saying tant pis can be a way of showing strength or resilience. It signals that the speaker has accepted a loss and is moving on without complaint.
- Using dommage is often accompanied by a shrug of the shoulders or a slight tilt of the head to signal sympathy.
Examples in context
- C'est dommage que tu partes.It's too bad you're leaving.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use dommage to express regret about someone leaving.Tatoeba #12017738 by lbdx, translation #5924744 by mailohilohi
- Quel dommage que tu doives déjà partir.Too bad you have to leave already.This sentence shows how to use dommage in an exclamatory way regarding a departure.Tatoeba #1439061 by Aiji, translation #1439027 by CS
- Dommage que j'ai gaspillé tant d'argent.Too bad I wasted so much money.This sentence demonstrates the use of dommage when expressing regret about a past action.Tatoeba #7811540 by Aiji, translation #3421826 by AlanF_US
- C'est dommage.It's a shame.
- C'est vraiment dommage.It's really too bad.
- C'est trop bête.That's too bad.
- 23 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Manon are discussing a sold-out concert.
- GabrielLe concert est complet, je n'ai pas de billets.The concert is sold out, I don't have tickets.
- ManonTant pis, on ira un autre jour.Too bad, we'll go another day.
- GabrielC'est vraiment regrettable.It's really regrettable.
- ManonOui, mais tant pis, on ne peut rien faire.Yes, but too bad, there's nothing we can do.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “too bad” translations and entries tant pis, dommage, quel dommage, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dommage, pis, quel, tant, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
