Interjections

Common interjections express basic reactions such as surprise, anger, or hesitation. They are easy to remember because they sound similar across languages.

Interjections of surprise often come from short sounds like ah or oh and can be strengthened with an exclamation mark. They signal that something unexpected has happened.

Interjections of pain or annoyance are quick exclamations uttered when something goes wrong. They include sounds like aïe for pain and mince or zut for frustration.

Interjections of hesitation give the speaker time to think and soften a response. They include sounds like euh, ben, and bah and often appear at the start of a sentence.

Interjections of joy or approval express delight, satisfaction, or praise. They include cheerful sounds like youpi, wow, and bravo and are often used in celebratory contexts.

Market interjections are colorful exclamations used by street vendors or performers to attract attention. They include rhythmical or loud cries like hé, allez, and ohé.

In writing, interjections are usually set off by commas or exclamation points to show their force and tone. They can appear alone or at the start of a line to mimic natural speech.

Interjections are brief verbal punches that convey emotion instantly. Learning a handful of common interjections like ah, zut, euh and youpi will make spoken French sound more natural and expressive.