What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is built from tu (you), pues (stink/smell bad), de (from/of), la (the) and bouche (mouth).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more polite way to say someone has bad breath, use the expression tu as mauvaise haleine. If you need to be formal, you can use phrases like Veuillez m'excuser, mais votre haleine n'est pas très fraîche, Excusez-moi, votre haleine est plutôt désagréable or Je suis désolé(e) de vous le dire, mais votre haleine laisse à désirer. In an informal setting, you might say Excuse-moi, mais t'as une haleine pas très fraîche or Désolé(e), mais t'as mauvaise haleine.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are speaking to more than one person or using the formal vous to be distance-oriented, the verb changes to vous puez de la bouche.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Using avoir mauvaise haleine is a much more polite and less aggressive way to describe bad breath than using the verb puer (to stink).
Did you know?
- The word bouche comes from the Latin bucca, which originally referred to the 'cheek' rather than the 'mouth'.
- The blunt verb puer is a direct relative of the English word 'putrid', as both derive from the Latin root for rotting.
- In French, the verb puer is so strong that it can be used as a general slang term to describe something of very poor quality or a situation that is 'stinky' in a figurative sense.
Examples in context
- Marc, je m'excuse, mais votre haleine est plutôt désagréable. Si vous le souhaitez, j'ai des bonbons à la menthe que vous pouvez prendre.Marc, I apologize, but your breath is rather unpleasant. If you'd like, I have some mints you can take.
- Marie, désolé(e) mais t'as mauvaise haleine. Tu devrais peut-être prendre un chewing-gum.Marie, sorry, but you have bad breath. You might want to have a piece of gum.
- Tu pues de la bouche, c'est gênant.Your breath stinks, it is embarrassing.
- Sérieusement, tu pues de la bouche là.Seriously, your breath stinks right now.
- Désolé, mais tu pues de la bouche.Sorry, but your breath stinks.
Example conversation
Lucas and Manon are talking closely.
- LucasManon, recule un peu, tu pues de la bouche.Manon, step back a bit, your breath stinks.
- ManonC'est vrai ? C'est à cause de l'ail.Really? It's because of the garlic.
- LucasOui, c'est vraiment très fort.Yes, it's really very strong.
- ManonJe vais aller me brosser les dents.I'm going to go brush my teeth.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bouche, de, la, tu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
