Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| contrarié | /kɔ̃.tʁa.ʁje/ |
| fâché | /fa.ʃe/ /fɑ.ʃe/ |
When describing these emotions, French speakers often use the verb être (to be). If you want to specify that you are upset with someone, you can use the phrasing Énervé(e) contre quelqu'un. For related actions, you might use the verb bouleverser to mean to disturb, disrupt, unfavorably alter or énerver to mean to make (a person) angry, distressed or unhappy.
Which one should you use?
The pack provides two main adjectives: fâché and contrarié.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
If the person being described is female, add an extra 'e' to the end of the adjective: fâchée or contrariée. If describing a group of men or a mixed group, add an 's' to the end: fâchés or contrariés.
How do you pronounce it?
The word contrarié has 3 syllables and is pronounced /kɔ̃.tʁa.ʁje/.
Did you know?
- When a person is extremely upset and loses their temper, they are described as péter un plomb, which means 'to blow a lead pipe'.
- While contrarié describes being upset, French speakers may use the phrase avoir le cafard to describe a deeper, more depressive state of being upset, meaning 'to have the cockroach'.
- A person who is very upset might be described as hors de lui, which literally translates to 'outside of himself'.
Examples in context
- Je me suis fâché.I got upset.This sentence shows how to express that you became upset using fâché.Tatoeba #2426398 by sacredceltic, translation #2245804 by CK
- Tu as l'air fâché.You look upset.This sentence is used to say that someone looks upset using fâché.Tatoeba #960158 by sacredceltic, translation #954770 by CK
- Ne sois pas fâché !Don't be upset.This sentence is a command telling someone not to be upset using fâché.Tatoeba #1846251 by sacredceltic, translation #1844223 by CK
- Je suis contrarié(e) par cette situationI am upset about this situation
- Je suis déçu(e) par les résultatsI am upset about the results
- Je suis fâché(e) contre lui/elleI am upset with him/her
- Ça m'énerve !It's really annoying me!
- Je suis contrarié(e) par cette décisionI am upset about this decision
- 156 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Emma are talking about a misunderstanding with a friend.
- HugoEst-ce que Marc est encore contrarié ?Is Marc still upset?
- EmmaOui, il est très contrarié par ce problème.Yes, he is very upset about this problem.
- HugoJe ne voulais pas le rendre contrarié.I didn't want to make him upset.
- EmmaJe sais, Hugo, il va passer à autre chose.I know, Hugo, he will move on.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “upset” translations and entries contrarié, fâché, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
