10 Everyday French Phrases for Expressing Surprise (You’ll Hear Them Everywhere!)

French speakers have a colorful array of phrases to express surprise, astonishment, or amazement, each with its own unique flavor. From the rustic "Oh la vache!" to the more intense "C'est dingue!", these expressions bring a lot of personality to everyday conversations.

Here are 10 lively expressions French speakers use all the time to show surprise!

1. Ça alors !

"Ça alors !" is like saying "Well, I never!" or "Wow, really!". It’s a phrase for when something really surprises you.

"Regarde, j'ai peint ce tableau la semaine dernière !"
"Ça alors ! Je ne savais pas que tu peignais aussi bien !"

A variation is "Ben ça alors !" Adding "Ben" (eh bien) at the beginning adds a bit of extra emphasis and makes the surprise seem a bit stronger or more reflective. It’s similar to saying "Well, wow!" or "Well, would you look at that!".

Another commonly used variant is "Ça alors, c’est fort de café !" . This phrase combines surprise with disbelief or outrage. It’s like saying, "Well, that’s a bit much!" or "That’s going too far!" It's a witty phrase as it compares something unbelievable to overly strong coffee.

For example, if someone tells you they were charged an outrageous fee for something basic, you say "Ça alors, c'est fort de café!", meaning it's really over the top.

2. C’est pas vrai !

"C’est pas vrai !" means "No way!" or "That’s not true!" You use it when you’re in disbelief about something.

"Je viens de gagner un voyage pour deux aux Maldives !"
"C’est pas vrai ! Mais c’est génial !"

3. Mais non !

"Mais non !" another way of saying "No way!". Note that the use of this phrase has changed over the recent years. In the past, it was typically used to strongly deny something or to correct someone, like saying "Of course not!"

Nowadays, it's also often used to express surprise, similar to "c'est pas vrai!". The actual meaning (denying or surprise) depends on the context and tone.

"Je pars demain pour l'Australie !" (I'm leaving for Australia tomorrow)
"Mais non ! Tu plaisantes !" (surprise)

"Elle a pris mon téléphone !" (she took my phone !)
"Mais non !" (denying)

4. Oh la vache !

"Oh la vache!" is like the French way of saying, "Wow!", "Whoa, no way!" or "Holy cow!" It's a fun, playful expression used when something totally unexpected or amazing happens.

"Oh la vache! Tu as vu la taille de ce type!"

Wow! Did you see the size of that guy?

"Je me suis fait voler mon sac!" (I had my bag stolen!)
"Oh la vache !" (wow!)

5. Eh ben dis donc !

"Ben dis donc!" is like saying, "Well, would you look at that!" or "Well, I'll be!" It’s a fun, surprised reaction when something catches you off guard or makes you go, "Wow, really?"

For example, you're showing a friend a magic trick, and you pull a rabbit out of a hat. Your friend might say

"Eh ben dis donc! Tu es fortiche !"

Whoa, I didn’t see that coming! You're good!

Note that some people pronounce the final "c" of "donc", while others don't.

6. C’est dingue !

"C'est dingue!" is like saying, "That’s crazy!" or "This is nuts!". It’s what you’d say when something is wild, unbelievable, or just plain mind-blowing.

For example, if you tell a friend you just ran a marathon with no training, they might respond with "C'est dingue!" - they can’t believe you actually did that!

7. Je n’en reviens pas !

This means "I can't believe it!", it's what you'd say when you're truly shocked or amazed by something.

Like if someone tells you they just won the lottery, you might respond with "Je n’en reviens pas !" - you're completely floored!

It's often pronounced "j'en reviens pas!" or even "j'en r'viens pas!"

8. Mince alors !

"Mince alors !" (or just "Mince !") is a polite way of saying "Darn it!" or "Oh no!". It’s often used when something goes wrong or doesn’t go as planned.

"Isabelle s'est fait virer !" (Isabelle got fired !)
"Ah mince alors !"

This is a mild expression of frustration. A less polite variant is "Merde !" or "Merde alors !", which basically translates to "oh shit!"

9. Hé bé !

"Hé bé !" is a bit like saying "Well, well!" or "Wow!". It's a variant of "Eh bien !" traditionally used in the Southeast region of France, although some people in other parts of the country also use it when they're surprised or when something catches their attention.

For example, someone shows you a huge fish they just caught. You might say, "Hé bé !" to express your amazement.

Note that you can also say "Eh bien!" to express surprise, but it's a bit more formal that the other phrases listed here.

10. Tu plaisantes !

"Tu plaisantes !" translates to "You’re kidding!" or "You’ve got to be joking!" You use it when you think someone is pulling your leg or when something seems too unbelievable to be true.

"J'ai serré la main de Alain Delon!"
"Non! tu plaisantes !"

I shook hands with Alain Delon!
No way! You're kidding!

A very common variation is "Tu rigoles !" (you're kidding). "Rigoler" is an informal version of "Rire" (to laugh).