All about the French expression "C'est bête comme chou"

You are going to learn all the things you have to know about the funny idiom “C’est bête comme chou”.

This include a full definition of what it is and how to use it in everyday life with an audio example. As well as the cool informations we sprinkled like slow pronunciation audio, synonym, dialogue example and more!

Finally, you will also find more of these idioms guides like this one on this page and the directory of all our French words tutorials on this page. Wishing you a good learning!

Table of Contents

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Translation in English

Pronunciation example

Slow pronunciation

Normal pronunciation

What does it mean exactly?

Definition

  • C’est → It is
  • bête → stupid
  • comme → like
  • chou → cabbage

Let me clarify this: we don’t have any personal problem with cabbage. But a very long time ago “chou” (cabbage) used to mean “ass“.

That’s why we use this comparison when talking about something very simple, easy or obvious. Because even an ass can understand it.

Poetic, isn’t it?

How to use

Well, when it comes to using this expression: “C’est bête comme chou !” (It’s super easy!).

Simply replace any mention of “It’s super easy” or “It’s really simple/obvious” by “C’est bête comme chou” and you are done.

N.B: this expression isn’t vulgar and actually sounds cute for a French native. Why? Because (almost) nobody knows anymore that “chou” used to mean ass, so everybody thinks it means “cabbage“…

Synonyms

  • C’est simple comme bonjour. (“It’s simple like hello“)
  • C’est enfantin. (“It’s childish“)
  • C’est simple comme tout. (“It’s as simple as everything“)
  • C’est simple comme Baptiste. (“It’s as simple as Baptiste“)(French name)
  • C’est du gâteau. (“It’s cake“)

Audio dialogue example

Audio dialogue from French people

Dialogue audio

Dialogue text

” C’est dur d’apprendre le Français ? “
” Is it hard to learn French? “
” Non. C’est bête comme chou ! “
” No. It’s stupid like cabbage!* “
” Je commence aujourd’hui alors ! “
” I’m starting right now then! “
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