Learning French
Learning French: what does faire grise mine mean and when should it be used?
A phrase to use when someone is down in the dumps
The phrase can apply not only to humans but also to animals and worse-for-wear objects
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English speakers often use the colour blue to describe someone who looks and feels a bit sad. In French, this colour fades to grey.
We look at how to correctly pronounce this expression and explain ways you can use it to sound just like a native speaker.
What does faire grise mine mean?
The word mine has several definitions in French, one of which refers to a person’s face - specifically their appearance or complexion.
Faire grise mine therefore literally translates as: to make a grey face.
It is generally used to describe wearing a glum expression and looking sorry for yourself.
The word grise can also be replaced by other adjectives to reflect the appropriate mood. For example, having a bonne (good) or mauvaise (bad) mine can sometimes be said to suggest that someone appears unwell, or is recovering from illness.
The phrase can apply not only to humans but also to animals and worse-for-wear objects.
How do you say faire grise mine?
While mine may look familiar, as it also exists in English, the word is pronounced slightly differently in French.
The letter ‘I’ changes from a diphthong (sliding vowel sound) to an elongated ‘ee’ sound [m-ee-n], just like in the word grise [gr-ee-ze].
The ‘I’ in faire however, as it follows the letter ‘A’, is shorter and pronounced more like a lower case ‘E’: [f-eh-re].
When do you say faire grise mine?
Use the saying to refer to someone who appears to be down in the dumps:
It does not exclusively have to be used to describe a person:
Je suis allé chercher un bouquet de fleurs pour égayer ma cuisine, mais elles avaient toutes grises mines. - I went looking for a bunch of flowers to brighten up my kitchen, but they all looked a bit sad.
To whom do you say faire grise mine?
This phrase comes across as being quite formal but can nevertheless be said to a range of people - from friends to strangers.
You are more likely to hear it being said by older generations.
An alternative, more neutral expression, would be: avoir l’air triste (to seem down).
A more informal phrase: faire la tête (to be in a mood).
If you would like us to explain a particular word or expression, or if you have any other Learning French suggestions, let us know at: feedback@connexionfrance.com
