How to Say ‘Screw you’ in French
Je t'emmerde
zhuh t ah-maird
[zhuh t ah-maird]
💬 Usage Tip: [T'] is short for [te] before a vowel, so [t'emmerde] cannot stand alone. You will see the same thing in [t'adore] or [t'appelle].
🇫🇷 In France: A strong, personal insult aimed directly at someone. It is less common as a casual exclamation than [merde] or [putain] because it targets the other person.
Phrase Breakdown
Je
[zhuh]
I
Subject pronoun meaning I.
Je t'emmerde est une phrase très insultante.
I fuck you / screw you is a very insulting phrase.
t'
[t]
you
Object pronoun meaning you before a vowel.
Dans je t'emmerde, t' veut dire you.
In screw you, t' means you.
emmerde
[ah-maird]
screw / piss off
A vulgar verb meaning to bother or treat with contempt; here roughly screw you.
Il a lancé je t'emmerde avec colère.
He snapped screw you angrily.
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 LessonWhat 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