How do you say "Oh dear!" in French?

"Oh dear!" in French is "Oh là là !". This phrase is commonly used in France.

What does "Oh là là !" mean in English?

"Oh là là !" means "Oh dear!" in English.

😧

How to Say ‘Oh dear!’ in French

Oh là là !

oh lah lah

[oh lah lah]

🇫🇷 In France: [Oh là là !] can show surprise, admiration, or dismay — the feeling comes from tone and the situation. After a goal, it often sounds like amazed excitement.

Phrase Breakdown

[oh]

An opening exclamation showing immediate emotion or surprise.

Example

Oh, là là, quel retourné !

Oh, wow, what a bicycle kick!

Là là

lah lah

Words in this phrase

là

[lah]

wow

The repeated là increases the emotional force of the expression oh là là.

Example

Après ce but, tout le monde répète là là avec surprise.

After that goal, everyone repeats wow wow in surprise.

là

[lah]

wow

The repeated là increases the emotional force of the expression oh là là.

Example

Après ce but, tout le monde répète là là avec surprise.

After that goal, everyone repeats wow wow in surprise.

Guides for French learners

The Best App to Learn French: An Honest ComparisonDuolingo, Babbel, Pimsleur, Busuu, italki and PrettyFluent compared for learning French: what each is best at, how you pay, and which fits your goal.French Conversation for Beginners: 5 Everyday Dialogues You'll Actually UseFive short French conversations for beginners, from greeting a neighbour to booking a restaurant, with translations, native audio and the phrases that keep them going.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Custom Scenarios

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Moved to Lyon for a culinary apprenticeship. The food and restaurant scenarios were exactly what I needed — my French colleagues were genuinely impressed.”

Tom H., 38, Chef

“Studying in Paris and the academic French I learned in school was useless for daily life. This app filled the gap in weeks, not months.”

Nina W., 29, Graduate Student

“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”

Alex M., 42, Software Engineer