Learning French: tohu-bohu and more ways of expressing chaos

Former French Prime Minister, François Bayrou, addressed MPs of the Assemblée nationale prior to yesterday’s (September 8) vote of confidence, asking them to vote “responsibly” to help deal with France’s “life-threatening” debt crisis. He described the country’s ongoing political turmoil as “un tohu-bohu qui se prépare pour la France” (a storm brewing over France).

Since the announcement that Bayrou will resign from his post, international media are also using creative linguistic terms to describe the situation. The Spanish press referred to “a Parliament resembling a Rubik's Cube”, and used the phrase “political hara-kiri” (Japanese ritualistic suicide also known as Seppuku). The New York Times opted for the word “paralysis”, while The Guardian chose “instability”. 

We look at seven different ways of talking about chaos in French and explain when and how to use them.

1. Le chaos

While the French word for ‘chaos’ is spelled in the same way as English, its pronunciation is slightly different. 

Rather than using the long ‘ay’ vowel sound, you need to use a short ‘ah’ before sliding onto the ‘oh’ sound. Make sure you do not pronounce the ‘s’ at the end. You could also think of it as saying the French capital letters K and O: [kah-oh].

2. Un tohu-bohu 

Tohu-bohu is used to describe a commotion, in a similar way to terms used in English such as: ‘hurly-burly’, ‘hullabaloo’, or ‘brouhaha’.

The word comes from the Hebrew expression, tohou va-yohou, that appeared in the Bible’s Book of Genesis to describe the state of the world immediately after it was formed, before the creation of light. From this context, the term was understood to refer to something confusing and chaotic - a meaning that is still used today. 

3. Le bazar

You could also hear people use the phrase c’est le bazar to describe something as being a chaotic mess.

Bazar literally translates as bazaar - a bric-a-brac shop or jumble sale where a variety of random items can be found and purchased. This idea of disorder leads to the metaphoric use of un bazar in French, not only describing literal untidiness but also senseless behaviour or decision making. 

4. Une pagaille 

The word pagaille (which can also be spelled as pagaïe and pagaye), can be used to describe something as being in disarray or a complete shambles. 

You could also hear people referring to une pagaille générale, with générale (general) simply reinforcing the phrase’s intensity. Similar English examples include: ‘utter disorder’ or ‘complete mayhem’. 

Read also: Learning French: when and why do we say c'est la cour des miracles

5. Un bordel

Bordel is an informal term that should only be used with friends and close family members. Some people consider it a swear word. 

It literally translates as ‘brothel’ however it is more commonly used to refer to a messy, complicated, or confusing place or situation. Adjectives such as sacré (sacred) or noir (black) can also be used to emphasise the strength of the word.

You could hear people say, "c'est un/le bordel" or "mais quel bordel".

6. La chienlit

In June 2024, Emmanuel Macron decided to dissolve parliament, citing the need to avoid “la chienlit”. 

This word was made famous by Charles de Gaulle when he used it to describe the growing momentum behind student protests in May 1968. It stems from the name of a character in the Paris carnival, Chie-en-lit (literally: shit in bed), which was reportedly mistranslated by anglophone media outlets as ‘dog’s bed’ (‘chien-lit’). Rather than alluding to a ‘circus’, the protests were framed as a ‘dog’s dinner,’ both of which capture the chaotic connotations behind De Gaulle’s sentiment.

7. C’est le Bronx

This saying is slightly less common but is generally used to refer to a chaotic, uncontrollable environment. The expression stems from The Bronx, one of five districts of New York, back when it used to be considered one of the most dangerous places in America.