The French idiom "Je suis fauché" explained

You are going to discover everything you ever wanted to know about the basic French expression “Je suis fauché”.

Including a detailed guide of what it is and how to use it in a casual conversation with an audio example. Not to mention the cool informations we sprinkled like synonyms, dialogue example, slow pronunciation audio and more!

Oh and before I forget, you can find more expressions guides like this one on this page plus all our pages about French words on this page. Enjoy!

Table of Contents

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French to English translation

Pronunciation guide

Slow pronunciation

Normal pronunciation

Je suis fauché meaning

Definition

The literal meaning is:

  • Je → I
  • Suis → Am
  • Fauché → Mowed

This is an informal way to say “I’m broke” in French.

To understand this idiom, try to picture a field of wheat that had been recently mowed: nothing is left except mud and rocks, right? Well, that’s the same thing in your wallet when you are broke, nothing is left except papers and gums… it has been completely mowed!

For more ways to say “I am broke” or “I am rich” in French check the “Synonyms” section below.

How to use

Example: a friend asks you: “On part au Canada ?” (Let’s go to Canada?) but you are broke, so might say: “Je ne peux pas, je suis fauché” (I can’t, I’m mowed).

If you want a more formal way to say it, you can use instead “Je n’ai pas d’argent” → I don’t have silver (Money).

Synonyms and similarities

  • Je n’ai pas d’argent. (“I don’t have any silver“)
  • Je suis fauché comme les blés. (“I am mowed like the wheat“)(Informal)
  • Je suis ruiné. (“I am ruined“)
  • Je suis pauvre. (“I am poor“)
  • Je suis à sec. (“I am dried up“)(Informal)
  • J’ai pas un rond. (“I don’t have a circle“)(Informal)

Antonyms:

  • Je suis riche. (“I am rich“)
  • Je suis blindé. (“I am armored / bulletproof“)
  • Je suis plein aux as. (“I am full of aces“)
  • Je suis pété de thunes. (“I am full of money“)(Slang)
  • Je suis riche comme Crésus. (“I am as rich as Croesus“)

Example with audio dialogue

Audio dialogue from French people

Dialogue audio

Dialogue transcription

” Je vais au restaurant, ça te dit ? “
” I’m going to the restaurant, up for it? “
” Je ne peux pas, je suis fauché “
” I can’t, I’m broke “
Oh mince ! “
” Oh darn! “
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