tu me rends fou
The English phrase "you drive me crazy" can be said in French as tu me rends fou.
This expression is used to communicate that someone is making you feel extremely frustrated or overwhelmed. Interestingly, it can be used in both a negative sense to show irritation and a positive sense to express intense attraction or passion.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase tu me rends fou literally translates to "you make me crazy".
Which one should you use?
You can use tu me rends dingue to be more colloquial, as dingue is a slangier way to say "crazy" or "nuts". For a different nuance, tu me tapes sur les nerfs means "you get on my nerves" and tu me fais perdre la boule literally means "you make me lose the ball".
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the adjective must match the gender of the person being driven crazy. If the person is female, use tu me rends folle. If you are addressing more than one person, or if you wish to use the formal "you", use vous me rendez fou.
Did you know?
- In a strange twist of history, the word fou may have been shaped by the Arabic word for 'elephant', through the Spanish 'alfil' used in chess.
Examples in context
- Après toutes ces erreurs dans le rapport, vous me mettez vraiment hors de moi.After all these mistakes in the report, you're really driving me crazy.
- Tes retards constants me rendent dingue !Your constant delays drive me crazy!
- Arrête de crier, tu me rends fou !Stop shouting, you drive me crazy!
- Tu me rends fou avec tes questions.You drive me crazy with your questions.
- Sérieusement, tu me rends fou aujourd'hui.Seriously, you are driving me crazy today.
Example conversation
Nathan and Chloé are arguing in their living room.
- NathanChloé, arrête ce bruit, tu me rends fou !Chloé, stop that noise, you drive me crazy!
- ChloéJe ne fais rien de mal, Nathan.I'm not doing anything wrong, Nathan.
- NathanPourtant, je ne peux plus réfléchir.And yet, I can't think anymore.
- ChloéDésolée, je vais me calmer.Sorry, I will calm down.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fou, me, tu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
