How To Say Oh In French

Learning how to say “oh” in French can help you express surprise, excitement, or other emotions in different situations. Just like in English, “oh” is often used to show a reaction, but in French, there are several ways to say it depending on the context. Whether you’re surprised, impressed, or even frustrated, French has different expressions to match your feelings.

In this article, we will explore various ways to say “oh” in French. We’ll also take a look at common phrases like “oh la la,” “oh no,” and “oh my god.” Knowing these expressions will make you sound more natural when speaking French, and help you connect better with native speakers. Let’s dive into these useful phrases!

Ways to Say “Oh” in French

Here are several ways to say “oh” in French, along with their pronunciation and examples of how they are used. These expressions can help you show surprise, excitement, or other emotions just like you would in English.

1. Oh (pronounced: oh)

• Meaning: This is the most basic and simple way to say “oh” in French. It’s used to express surprise or shock.
• In a Sentence:
  • Oh, c’est incroyable! (Oh, that’s amazing!)
  • Oh, je n’avais pas vu ça! (Oh, I didn’t see that!)

2. Oh là là (pronounced: oh lah lah)

• Meaning: This expression shows amazement or disbelief. It can also be used to express something bad or shocking.
• In a Sentence:
  • Oh là là, j’ai oublié mon téléphone! (Oh my, I forgot my phone!)
  • Oh là là, tu as vraiment fait ça ? (Oh wow, did you really do that?)

3. Oh non (pronounced: oh noh)

• Meaning: Used to express disappointment or sadness, similar to “oh no” in English.
• In a Sentence:
  • Oh non, il pleut encore! (Oh no, it’s raining again!)
  • Oh non, j’ai perdu mes clés! (Oh no, I lost my keys!)

4. Oh mon Dieu (pronounced: oh mon dyuh)

• Meaning: This is the French version of “oh my god,” expressing shock, surprise, or disbelief.
• In a Sentence:
  • Oh mon Dieu, tu as vu ce film ? (Oh my god, did you see that movie?)
  • Oh mon Dieu, je suis en retard! (Oh my god, I’m late!)

5. Ah (pronounced: ah)

• Meaning: While similar to “oh,” “ah” is often used when something becomes clear or when you are relieved.
• In a Sentence:
  • Ah, maintenant je comprends! (Ah, now I understand!)
  • Ah, tu as enfin terminé! (Ah, you’ve finally finished!)

6. Ohlala (pronounced: oh-la-la)

• Meaning: This is an excited or exaggerated form of “oh là là,” often used for both good and bad situations.
• In a Sentence:
  • Ohlala, c’est tellement beau! (Wow, it’s so beautiful!)
  • Ohlala, ça va être difficile. (Oh my, this is going to be difficult.)

7. Eh bien (pronounced: eh byan)

• Meaning: This can be used to express surprise or to show you’re thinking about something.
• In a Sentence:
  • Eh bien, c’est une bonne idée! (Well, that’s a good idea!)
  • Eh bien, je ne savais pas ça. (Well, I didn’t know that.)

8. Zut (pronounced: zoot)

• Meaning: This is an informal way to say “oh no” or express frustration when something goes wrong.
• In a Sentence:
  • Zut, j’ai encore oublié mon portefeuille! (Darn, I forgot my wallet again!)
  • Zut, je suis trop tard! (Oh no, I’m too late!)

9. Vraiment ? (pronounced: vrah-mahn)

• Meaning: It means “really?” and is used when you are surprised or questioning something.
• In a Sentence:
  • Vraiment ? Tu as gagné à la loterie ? (Really? You won the lottery?)
  • Vraiment ? Tu veux partir déjà ? (Really? You want to leave already?)

10. Ben voyons (pronounced: ben vwah-yohn)

• Meaning: This is used to express disbelief or irony, similar to saying “well, of course!” in English.
• In a Sentence:
  • Ben voyons, tu ne savais pas ça ? (Well, of course, you didn’t know that?)
  • Ben voyons, c’est évident! (Well, obviously, it’s clear!)

11. Ah bon ? (pronounced: ah boh?)

• Meaning: Used to show surprise or interest, similar to “Really?” in English.
• In a Sentence:
  • Ah bon ? Tu as vu ce film ? (Really? Did you see that movie?)
  • Ah bon, c’est ça ! (Oh, really, that’s it!)

12. Bah oui (pronounced: bah wee)

• Meaning: Similar to “well, yes” or “of course,” used to express mild surprise or agreement.
• In a Sentence:
  • Bah oui, je l’ai vu hier. (Well, yes, I saw it yesterday.)
  • Bah oui, c’est évident. (Well, of course, it’s obvious.)

13. Oh là là, mais alors ! (pronounced: oh lah lah, meh ah-lohr)

• Meaning: An expression of amazement, usually when something is extremely surprising or unexpected.
• In a Sentence:
  • Oh là là, mais alors, quel scandale! (Oh wow, what a scandal!)
  • Oh là là, mais alors, c’est incroyable ! (Wow, that’s incredible!)

14. Oups (pronounced: oops)

• Meaning: Used to show surprise or when something goes wrong, similar to “oops” in English.
• In a Sentence:
  • Oups, je suis tombé ! (Oops, I fell!)
  • Oups, j’ai oublié de fermer la porte. (Oops, I forgot to close the door.)

15. Mon dieu ! (pronounced: mon dyuh)

• Meaning: Equivalent to “Oh my god!” used to express shock or surprise.
• In a Sentence:
  • Mon dieu, c’est vraiment toi ? (Oh my god, is it really you?)
  • Mon dieu, je ne m’y attendais pas! (Oh my god, I didn’t expect that!)

16. C’est pas vrai ! (pronounced: seh pah vrah)

• Meaning: Means “It’s not true!” or “No way!” often used to show disbelief.
• In a Sentence:
  • C’est pas vrai ! Tu as gagné ? (No way! You won?)
  • C’est pas vrai, il est déjà parti ? (No way, is he already gone?)

17. Eh oh ! (pronounced: eh oh)

• Meaning: Used to get someone’s attention or express surprise, almost like “Hey!” in English.
• In a Sentence:
  • Eh oh, tu m’écoutes ? (Hey, are you listening to me?)
  • Eh oh, ça va ? (Hey, are you okay?)

18. Oh purée ! (pronounced: oh poo-ray)

• Meaning: An informal way to express surprise or frustration, similar to “oh man!”
• In a Sentence:
  • Oh purée, j’ai encore raté le bus ! (Oh man, I missed the bus again!)
  • Oh purée, c’est vraiment difficile. (Oh man, this is really hard.)

19. Oh la la, c’est trop ! (pronounced: oh lah lah, seh troh)

• Meaning: Used to express that something is overwhelming or too much to handle.
• In a Sentence:
  • Oh la la, c’est trop de travail! (Oh my, this is too much work!)
  • Oh la la, c’est trop drôle ! (Oh my, this is too funny!)

20. Alors là (pronounced: ah-lohr lah)

• Meaning: Used when something surprises or astonishes you, similar to saying “Well, that’s something!” in English.
• In a Sentence:
  • Alors là, je ne m’y attendais pas ! (Well, I didn’t expect that!)
  • Alors là, c’est incroyable ! (Well, that’s unbelievable!)

21. Hé bien ! (pronounced: eh byan)

• Meaning: Means “Well then!” and can show surprise, agreement, or even sarcasm.
• In a Sentence:
  • Hé bien, ça c’est surprenant! (Well then, that’s surprising!)
  • Hé bien, tu m’as bien eu ! (Well, you got me there!)

22. Tant pis ! (pronounced: tahn pee)

• Meaning: Used to show that something is too bad or disappointing but there’s nothing to be done.
• In a Sentence:
  • Tant pis, on reviendra demain. (Oh well, we’ll come back tomorrow.)
  • Tant pis, il a manqué le train. (Too bad, he missed the train.)

23. Aïe (pronounced: aye)

• Meaning: Used to express pain or discomfort, similar to saying “ouch” in English.
• In a Sentence:
  • Aïe, ça fait mal ! (Ouch, that hurts!)
  • Aïe, j’ai pris un coup ! (Ouch, I got hit!)

24. C’est fou ! (pronounced: seh foo)

• Meaning: Means “That’s crazy!” and is used when something is unbelievable or shocking.
• In a Sentence:
  • C’est fou, il a réussi ! (That’s crazy, he succeeded!)
  • C’est fou comme ça va vite ! (It’s crazy how fast that went!)

25. Oh zut alors ! (pronounced: oh zoot ah-lohr)

• Meaning: An informal way to express frustration or disappointment, similar to saying “Oh shoot!” in English.
• In a Sentence:
  • Oh zut alors, j’ai oublié de signer ! (Oh shoot, I forgot to sign!)
  • Oh zut alors, encore une erreur ! (Oh shoot, another mistake!)

26. Quoi ? (pronounced: kwah)

• Meaning: This can be used to show confusion or surprise, similar to “What?” in English.
• In a Sentence:
  • Quoi ? Il part déjà ? (What? He’s leaving already?)
  • Quoi ? Tu veux vraiment partir ? (What? You really want to leave?)

27. Vraiment incroyable ! (pronounced: vrah-mahn an-kwa-ree-ah-bluh)

• Meaning: Means “Really incredible!” and is used when something is amazing or unbelievable.
• In a Sentence:
  • Vraiment incroyable, tu as terminé ! (Really incredible, you finished!)
  • Vraiment incroyable, quel talent ! (Really incredible, what talent!)

28. N’importe quoi ! (pronounced: naym-port kwee)

• Meaning: Means “Nonsense!” or “That’s ridiculous!” used to show disbelief.
• In a Sentence:
  • N’importe quoi, ce n’est pas possible ! (Ridiculous, that’s not possible!)
  • N’importe quoi, il ne peut pas faire ça. (Nonsense, he can’t do that.)

29. Tiens ! (pronounced: tee-ahn)

• Meaning: This is used when you’re surprised, similar to saying “Hey!” or “Look!” in English.
• In a Sentence:
  • Tiens, c’est toi ! (Hey, it’s you!)
  • Tiens, regarde ce qui est arrivé ! (Look, look at what happened!)

30. Eh bien alors ! (pronounced: eh byan ah-lohr)

• Meaning: Used to show surprise or disbelief, like saying “Well, well!” in English.
• In a Sentence:
  • Eh bien alors, tu as réussi! (Well, well, you succeeded!)
  • Eh bien alors, c’est incroyable ! (Well, well, that’s unbelievable!)

Other Ways to Say “Oh” in French

Here is a markdown table with more ways to say “oh” in French. Each expression has its own pronunciation, meaning, and example sentences. These alternatives can help you vary your expressions and sound more natural when speaking French.

Other Ways to Say	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentences
Ah bon ?	ah boh?	Really? Used for surprise or interest.	Ah bon ? Tu viens avec nous ? (Really? You’re coming with us?)
Bah oui	bah wee	Of course, agreement or mild surprise.	Bah oui, j’ai vu ce film. (Of course, I saw that movie.)
Oups	oops	Oops, used when something goes wrong.	Oups, j’ai renversé mon café. (Oops, I spilled my coffee.)
C’est pas vrai !	seh pah vrah	No way! Expresses disbelief.	C’est pas vrai ! Il a gagné ! (No way! He won!)
Eh oh !	eh oh	Hey! Used for attention or surprise.	Eh oh, tu m’écoutes ? (Hey, are you listening to me?)
Oh purée !	oh poo-ray	Oh man! Expresses frustration.	Oh purée, j’ai encore oublié mes clés ! (Oh man, I forgot my keys again!)
Oh la la, c’est trop !	oh lah lah, seh troh	Wow, it’s too much! Used for something overwhelming.	Oh la la, c’est trop mignon ! (Wow, it’s so cute!)
Mon dieu !	mon dyuh	Oh my god! Used for shock or surprise.	Mon dieu, tu as vu ça ? (Oh my god, did you see that?)
Alors là	ah-lohr lah	Well, that’s something! Used for astonishment.	Alors là, c’est incroyable ! (Well, that’s unbelievable!)
Hé bien !	eh byan	Well then! Used to show surprise or sarcasm.	Hé bien, voilà une surprise ! (Well then, here’s a surprise!)
Tiens !	tee-ahn	Hey, look! Used when something is surprising.	Tiens, regarde ça ! (Hey, look at this!)
N’importe quoi !	naym-port kwee	Ridiculous! Used to express disbelief.	N’importe quoi ! Il ne peut pas dire ça. (Ridiculous! He can’t say that.)
Vraiment ?	vrah-mahn	Really? Used to show interest or disbelief.	Vraiment ? Tu as trouvé ça ? (Really? You found it?)
Zut alors !	zoot ah-lohr	Oh shoot! Used for mild frustration.	Zut alors, j’ai perdu mes lunettes ! (Oh shoot, I lost my glasses!)
Ah, d’accord !	ah, dah-kor	Oh, I see! Used when you understand something.	Ah, d’accord, je comprends maintenant. (Oh, I see, I understand now.)
C’est fou !	seh foo	That’s crazy! Used when something is unbelievable.	C’est fou, ils ont tout gagné ! (That’s crazy, they won everything!)
Oh là là, mais alors !	oh lah lah, meh ah-lohr	Wow, that’s shocking! Used for big surprises.	Oh là là, mais alors, c’est incroyable ! (Wow, that’s unbelievable!)
Eh bien alors !	eh byan ah-lohr	Well, well! Used to express surprise or sarcasm.	Eh bien alors, tu as fini ! (Well, well, you finished!)
Aïe	aye	Ouch! Used to express pain.	Aïe, ça fait mal ! (Ouch, that hurts!)
Quoi ?	kwah	What? Used to express confusion or surprise.	Quoi ? Tu veux partir déjà ? (What? You want to leave already?)
Ohlala	oh-lah-lah	Oh wow! Used to express surprise or admiration.	Ohlala, c’est magnifique ! (Oh wow, that’s magnificent!)
Vraiment incroyable !	vrah-mahn an-kwa-ree-ah-bluh	Really incredible! Used when something is amazing.	Vraiment incroyable, tu as gagné ! (Really incredible, you won!)

Response to “Oh” in French

When someone says “oh” in French, there are various ways you can respond depending on the context. Below are some common French responses to different expressions of surprise, shock, or amazement. These responses will help you engage more naturally in a conversation and make it sound as if you are really participating in the moment.

1. C’est incroyable ! (pronounced: seh an-kree-ah-bluh)

• Meaning: That’s incredible!
• Response Example:
  • Oh mon dieu, tu as vu ce film ? (Oh my god, did you see that movie?)
  • C’est incroyable ! (That’s incredible!)

2. Vraiment ? (pronounced: vrah-mahn?)

• Meaning: Really? Used to show that you are interested or surprised.
• Response Example:
  • Oh purée, il a gagné ! (Oh man, he won!)
  • Vraiment ? (Really?)

3. C’est pas possible ! (pronounced: seh pah poh-see-bluh)

• Meaning: It’s not possible! Used when something is hard to believe.
• Response Example:
  • Oh non, il pleut encore ! (Oh no, it’s raining again!)
  • C’est pas possible ! (It’s not possible!)

4. Mais non ! (pronounced: meh noh)

• Meaning: No way! Expresses disbelief or surprise.
• Response Example:
  • Oh là là, tu as encore cassé ton téléphone ! (Oh wow, you broke your phone again!)
  • Mais non ! (No way!)

5. C’est fou ! (pronounced: seh foo)

• Meaning: That’s crazy! Used to express shock or amazement.
• Response Example:
  • Oh là là, elle a terminé le projet en une journée ! (Wow, she finished the project in one day!)
  • C’est fou ! (That’s crazy!)

6. C’est incroyable, n’est-ce pas ? (pronounced: seh an-kree-ah-bluh, neh-suh pah?)

• Meaning: It’s incredible, isn’t it? Used to confirm or seek agreement.
• Response Example:
  • Oh mon dieu, elle a sauté en parachute ! (Oh my god, she skydived!)
  • C’est incroyable, n’est-ce pas ? (It’s incredible, isn’t it?)

7. Ah, je vois. (pronounced: ah, juh vwah)

• Meaning: Ah, I see. Used when you understand something or are acknowledging the situation.
• Response Example:
  • Oh là là, je n’avais pas vu ça ! (Oh wow, I didn’t see that!)
  • Ah, je vois. (Ah, I see.)

8. Ah, d’accord ! (pronounced: ah, dah-kor)

• Meaning: Ah, okay! Acknowledging and agreeing with the situation.
• Response Example:
  • Oh non, tu as oublié ton sac à la maison. (Oh no, you forgot your bag at home.)
  • Ah, d’accord ! (Ah, okay!)

9. Quoi ? (pronounced: kwah)

• Meaning: What? Used to show confusion or ask for clarification.
• Response Example:
  • Oh purée, il a pris le dernier morceau de gâteau ! (Oh man, he took the last piece of cake!)
  • Quoi ? (What?)

10. Tu rigoles ! (pronounced: too ree-gohl)

• Meaning: You’re kidding! Used when something is too unbelievable to be true.
• Response Example:
  • Oh là là, tu as acheté une nouvelle voiture ? (Wow, you bought a new car?)
  • Tu rigoles ! (You’re kidding!)

11. C’est dommage. (pronounced: seh doh-mahzh)

• Meaning: That’s a shame. Used when something unfortunate happens.
• Response Example:
  • Oh non, ils ont annulé le concert. (Oh no, they canceled the concert.)
  • C’est dommage. (That’s a shame.)

12. C’est rien ! (pronounced: seh ree-ahn)

• Meaning: It’s nothing. Used when you want to downplay a situation.
• Response Example:
  • Oh non, je suis tombé ! (Oh no, I fell!)
  • C’est rien ! (It’s nothing!)

13. Tant mieux ! (pronounced: tahn myuh)

• Meaning: That’s great! Used when something positive happens.
• Response Example:
  • Oh, tu as réussi ton examen ! (Oh, you passed your exam!)
  • Tant mieux ! (That’s great!)

14. C’est dommage pour toi. (pronounced: seh doh-mahzh poor twah)

• Meaning: That’s too bad for you. Used for expressing sympathy.
• Response Example:
  • Oh non, tu as perdu ton porte-monnaie ? (Oh no, you lost your wallet?)
  • C’est dommage pour toi. (That’s too bad for you.)

15. Ça alors ! (pronounced: sah ah-lohr)

• Meaning: Well, I’ll be! Used to express surprise or disbelief.
• Response Example:
  • Oh purée, il a vraiment réussi ! (Oh man, he really made it!)
  • Ça alors ! (Well, I’ll be!)

16. Mais c’est génial ! (pronounced: meh seh zhay-nee-al)

• Meaning: But that’s great! Used when something impressive happens.
• Response Example:
  • Oh là là, elle a gagné un voyage à Paris ! (Wow, she won a trip to Paris!)
  • Mais c’est génial ! (But that’s great!)

17. Ah, c’est bien ! (pronounced: ah, seh byan)

• Meaning: Ah, that’s good! Used to acknowledge something positive.
• Response Example:
  • Oh, tu as fini tes devoirs ? (Oh, you finished your homework?)
  • Ah, c’est bien ! (Ah, that’s good!)

18. Tant pis ! (pronounced: tahn pee)

• Meaning: Too bad! Used when something unfortunate happens, but there’s nothing that can be done.
• Response Example:
  • Oh non, tu as raté le film ! (Oh no, you missed the movie!)
  • Tant pis ! (Too bad!)

19. Pas de souci ! (pronounced: pah duh soo-see)

• Meaning: No problem! Used to reassure someone.
• Response Example:
  • Oh, tu as renversé mon verre ! (Oh, you spilled my drink!)
  • Pas de souci ! (No problem!)

20. C’est génial, n’est-ce pas ? (pronounced: seh zhay-nee-al, neh-suh pah?)

• Meaning: It’s awesome, isn’t it? Used when you want to confirm something is great.
• Response Example:
  • Oh, c’est la meilleure chanson ! (Oh, this is the best song!)
  • C’est génial, n’est-ce pas ? (It’s awesome, isn’t it?)

Exercise to Practice Saying “Oh” in French

Below are 12 fill-in-the-blank sentences using the French expressions for “oh” and their different meanings. Complete the sentences with the appropriate response from the list provided earlier. Afterward, the answers are given to check your progress.

Fill-in-the-Blanks:

1. ______! J’ai oublié mon livre à la maison.
   (Oh no! I forgot my book at home.)
2. ______! Il a cassé son téléphone encore une fois.
   (Oh man! He broke his phone again.)
3. ______! Tu as vu ce film ? Il est incroyable !
   (Oh my god! Did you see that movie? It’s amazing!)
4. ______! J’ai gagné un prix !
   (Well, I’ll be! I won a prize!)
5. ______! Ce gâteau est délicieux.
   (Wow! This cake is delicious.)
6. ______! Il a fait cela tout seul ?
   (No way! He did that all by himself?)
7. ______! J’ai enfin terminé mon projet.
   (Oh wow! I finally finished my project.)
8. ______! Il a vraiment dit cela ?
   (You’re kidding! He really said that?)
9. ______! Tu as trouvé la clé ?
   (Really? You found the key?)
10. ______! Elle a couru un marathon !
    (That’s crazy! She ran a marathon!)
11. ______! Ça c’est génial !
    (Well then, that’s awesome!)
12. ______! Il pleut déjà ?
    (Oh no! It’s raining already?)

Answers:

1. Oh non ! (Oh no! I forgot my book at home.)
2. Oh purée ! (Oh man! He broke his phone again.)
3. Oh mon Dieu ! (Oh my god! Did you see that movie? It’s amazing!)
4. Ça alors ! (Well, I’ll be! I won a prize!)
5. Oh là là ! (Wow! This cake is delicious.)
6. Mais non ! (No way! He did that all by himself?)
7. Oh là là ! (Oh wow! I finally finished my project.)
8. Tu rigoles ! (You’re kidding! He really said that?)
9. Vraiment ? (Really? You found the key?)
10. C’est fou ! (That’s crazy! She ran a marathon!)
11. Eh bien alors ! (Well then, that’s awesome!)
12. Oh non ! (Oh no! It’s raining already?)

Conclusion

Learning how to say “oh” in French is not only fun but also important for expressing emotions in a natural way. Whether you’re surprised, frustrated, or amazed, there are various expressions in French that can help you react just like a native speaker. We explored different ways to say “oh,” from the simple “oh” to more colorful phrases like “oh là là” and “oh mon dieu.”

By practicing these expressions and using them in real-life situations, you can improve your French communication skills and sound more fluent. Don’t forget to also pay attention to how others respond when they hear “oh” — this will help you understand the nuances of the language better.

Now that you know how to express your feelings with “oh” in French, it’s time to practice! Keep using these phrases in your conversations, and soon you’ll feel more confident in your French-speaking abilities. Happy learning!