When you want to express feeling fearful or anxious in French, it helps to know some common phrases beyond just “I’m scared.” Here are useful French expressions for conveying fear:
Basic Phrases
- J’ai peur – The simplest way to say “I’m scared” in French. This translates literally to “I have fear.”
- Je suis effrayé(e) – “I’m frightened” is another straightforward way to say you’re scared.
- Je suis terrifié(e) – An intensified version is “I’m terrified,” implying you’re very or extremely scared.
- J’ai la chair de poule – Literally meaning “I have goosebumps,” this idiom communicates fear or unease rather than cold.
Idioms and Slang Expressions
- J’ai la trouille – This informal term means “I’m afraid” or “I’m scared.” It’s often used in slang or casual speech.
- Je flippe! – The word “flipper” translates to freaking out or panicking, so this phrase conveys “I’m freaking out!”
- J’ai les chocottes! – “Having the chokey-chokeys” expresses being scared or worried about something.
- J’ai les jetons! – This slang phrase means “I’ve got the jitters,” implying nervousness or anxiety.
- Je panique! – Say “I’m panicking!” when feeling sudden fright or anxiety. Often said during a crisis.
- J’ai la frousse! – “I’ve got the creeps!” expresses feeling chilled or spooked by something.
- Ça me file la trouille. – “It gives me the chills” implies something is deeply unsettling.
- J’en ai gros sur la patate. – Literally “I’ve got a big one on the potato.” Means very anxious.
- J’ai la pétoche. – “I’m freaked out” indicates you’re very unnerved.
- C’est flippant! – “That’s creepy!” is used to describe something scary or eerie.
Exaggerated Exclamations
- J’ai une peur bleue! – Literally “I have blue fear,” this expresses being “scared stiff” or “petrified with fear.”
- J’ai la trouille de ma vie! – “I’m scared to death!” or “I’m scared out of my mind!” are dramatic ways to emphasize your intense fear.
- Je tremble de peur! – “I’m trembling with fear!” describes shaking or quivering from being so frightened.
- Ça me fout les jetons. – “It gives me the jitters” implies something makes you very nervous.
- Je suis mort(e) de trouille. – “I’m scared to death” exaggerates that you’re terrified.
- Je suis tétanisé(e) par la peur. – “I’m paralyzed with fear” exaggerates that you cannot move due to fear.
- Je tremble comme une feuille. – “I’m trembling like a leaf” compares your shaking to a quivering leaf.
- J’en perds mes moyens. – “It makes me lose my head” conveys you’re so frightened you cannot think straight.
- C’est à faire dresser les cheveux sur la tête. – “It makes your hair stand on end” implies something is terrifying enough to make your hair stand up.
With this wide vocabulary of expressions, you can express varying intensities of fear and anxiety in vivid, colloquial French. Just take a deep breath and have courage to speak French, even when afraid!
