In today’s lesson we’ll have a look at one of my all time favorite French expressions: avoir le cafard. The literal translation is “to have the cockroach” and meanings include to be depressed, down in the dumps or to have the blues. Let’s jump right into this fun lesson!
avoir le cafard
to be depressed
Expression origin
The French word “cafard” comes from “kafir” in Arabic, which was used to describe a person who had little faith. The article goes on to say that in the 16th century in France, the word was also used in this sense, meaning that be a cockroach was to live in the dark, far away from the light of God.
Example sentences
In modern French, “avoir le cafard” simply means to be depressed.
Je suis déprimé depuis un bon moment. J’ai le cafard.
I’ve been depressed for a while. “I have the blues”.
Ma petite copine m’a quitée et j’ai le cafard.
My girlfriend left me and I’m depressed.
This example sentence uses the pronoun en, which can be a bit tricky.
Si tu as le cafard, téléphone-moi et on peut en parler.
If you’re depressed, call me and we can talk about it.
French expressions | Lessons by David Issokson
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