Published July 22, 2020 • Updated October 12, 2026 — By French teacher David Issokson with native audio by Marie Assel Cambier
Avoir la flemme meaning
Avoir la flemme is an informal French expression meaning “to feel too lazy” or “to not feel like doing something.” Its literal meaning is “to have phlegm,” reflecting an old belief that bodily fluids influenced energy levels. Common in everyday spoken French, it describes a lack of motivation or simply not wanting to make an effort.
Avoir la flemme pronunciation
The IPA pronunciation of avoir la flemme is /a.vwaʁ la flɛm/, which sounds approximately like “ah-vwahr lah flem.”
Avoir la flemme example sentences
Je devrais apprendre tous ces nouveaux verbes que le prof m’a donnés mais j’ai la flemme.
I should learn all these verbs that the teacher gave me but I can’t be bothered.
J’ai la flemme de travailler aujourd’hui. Je reste sur le canapé devant la télévision.
I can’t be bothered to work today. I’ll stay on the sofa in front of the TV.
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🪶 Expression origin
The expression avoir la flemme comes from the ancient Greek word phlegma (phlegm). In medieval medicine, phlegm was one of four bodily humors believed to influence mood and behavior. Excess phlegm was associated with sluggishness and a lack of energy.
🔗 Related words and expressions
- paresseux / paresseuse — lazy
- feignant — lazy
- avoir un poil dans la main — to be extremely lazy
- la paresse — laziness
- manquer d’énergie — to lack energy
- ne pas avoir envie de — to not feel like
- se la couler douce — to take it easy
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