In 15 Sekunden
- Means to sulk, pout, or give the silent treatment.
- Used when someone is visibly annoyed but staying quiet.
- Very common in daily life with friends and family.
Bedeutung
This phrase actually means to sulk or pout. It describes that specific look someone gives when they are annoyed, silent, and refusing to be cheerful.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6A child didn't get dessert
Léo fait la tête parce qu'il n'a pas eu de glace.
Léo is sulking because he didn't get any ice cream.
Asking a friend why they are quiet
Pourquoi tu fais la tête ? J'ai dit quelque chose de mal ?
Why are you sulking? Did I say something wrong?
Observing a colleague after a meeting
Depuis la réunion, le patron fait la tête.
Since the meeting, the boss has been in a bad mood.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The 'bouderie' is often seen as a legitimate way to express a grievance without words. It is part of the social fabric of French relationships. While 'faire la tête' is common, the verb 'bouder' is often preferred in family settings. Slang terms for the face like 'face' or 'bobette' might appear in very casual speech. Usage is identical to France, but you might hear 'faire la tête' used alongside local expressions for being grumpy like 'être de mauvais poil'. Swiss French speakers use 'faire la tête' in the same way, though they are often stereotyped as being more direct, making the 'silent treatment' less common than in Paris.
Use with 'à'
Remember to use 'à' to say who you are sulking at: 'Il fait la tête à sa sœur.'
Watch the register
Don't use 'faire la gueule' with your teacher or boss; stick to 'faire la tête'.
In 15 Sekunden
- Means to sulk, pout, or give the silent treatment.
- Used when someone is visibly annoyed but staying quiet.
- Very common in daily life with friends and family.
What It Means
Faire la tête is the classic French way to say someone is sulking. It is not about being in legal trouble or a mess. It is about that grumpy, silent treatment we all know. Think of a child who didn't get a toy. Or a partner who is annoyed you forgot the milk. They aren't shouting. They are just 'making the head.' It is a physical expression of internal annoyance. You are wearing your bad mood on your face.
How To Use It
You use it just like any other verb phrase. The verb faire conjugates normally. You can say il fait la tête for 'he is sulking.' You can also ask a question like tu fais la tête ? when someone is unusually quiet. It is very versatile. It works for a five-minute mood or a three-day grudge. It is the perfect way to call out someone's silent protest.
When To Use It
Use it in everyday life with people you know. It fits perfectly at the dinner table. Use it when your friend is being moody at a party. It is great for describing a colleague who is annoyed about a meeting. You can use it in texts when someone sends a one-word reply. It is a very common, lived-in expression. It feels natural and very French.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this in a very formal business pitch. It is a bit too descriptive of emotions for a CEO. Avoid using it if someone is genuinely grieving or depressed. That would be seen as insensitive. It is for 'grumpy' moods, not deep emotional trauma. Also, do not confuse it with se faire une tête, which is not a common phrase. Stick to the classic version for the best results.
Cultural Background
The French are famous for 'le boudage' or sulking. It is almost a national pastime in cinema and literature. The phrase dates back centuries. It implies that your head (your face) is showing your stubbornness. In France, being direct about a bad mood is often preferred over fake smiling. Faire la tête is a way to acknowledge that social tension. It is a very human, very relatable part of French social dynamics.
Common Variations
You will often hear faire la gueule. This is the much more informal, slightly vulgar version. La gueule refers to an animal's mouth. Use that only with very close friends. Another one is bouder, which is the actual verb for 'to sulk.' However, faire la tête is the most common way to say it in daily conversation. It strikes the perfect balance between descriptive and polite.
Nutzungshinweise
This is a neutral-to-informal phrase. It is perfectly fine for friends, family, and casual work environments, but avoid it in high-stakes formal situations.
Use with 'à'
Remember to use 'à' to say who you are sulking at: 'Il fait la tête à sa sœur.'
Watch the register
Don't use 'faire la gueule' with your teacher or boss; stick to 'faire la tête'.
The 'Silent' hint
If someone is 'faisant la tête', the best response in France is often to ask 'Qu'est-ce qui t'arrive ?'
The French Pout
Observe French people in cafés; you'll see 'faire la tête' is a common non-verbal expression!
Beispiele
6Léo fait la tête parce qu'il n'a pas eu de glace.
Léo is sulking because he didn't get any ice cream.
Standard use for a child's tantrum.
Pourquoi tu fais la tête ? J'ai dit quelque chose de mal ?
Why are you sulking? Did I say something wrong?
A gentle way to check in on a friend.
Depuis la réunion, le patron fait la tête.
Since the meeting, the boss has been in a bad mood.
Describes a professional but moody atmosphere.
Arrête de faire la tête, on arrive bientôt !
Stop sulking, we're almost there!
Playful but direct for close relationships.
Regarde le chat, il fait la tête car on a changé ses croquettes.
Look at the cat, he's pouting because we changed his kibble.
Using the phrase for pets adds a funny touch.
Ma sœur fait la tête depuis ce matin.
My sister has been sulking since this morning.
Shows a prolonged state of being annoyed.
Teste dich selbst
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb 'faire'.
Hier, elle ______ la tête toute la journée.
The sentence refers to a completed action in the past ('hier'), so the passé composé 'a fait' is the most natural choice.
Which sentence correctly expresses that someone is sulking at you?
How do you say 'You are sulking at me'?
In French, we use the indirect object pronoun 'me' before the verb 'faire'.
Match the French phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
Each term has a different register or specific meaning related to facial expressions.
Choose the best response for Speaker B.
Speaker A: Pourquoi est-ce que Marc ne nous parle pas ? Speaker B: ________
This correctly uses the idiom to explain Marc's silence.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Ways to express 'Bad Mood'
Informal
- • faire la tête
- • bouder
Slang
- • faire la gueule
- • faire la tronche
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenHier, elle ______ la tête toute la journée.
The sentence refers to a completed action in the past ('hier'), so the passé composé 'a fait' is the most natural choice.
How do you say 'You are sulking at me'?
In French, we use the indirect object pronoun 'me' before the verb 'faire'.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
Each term has a different register or specific meaning related to facial expressions.
Speaker A: Pourquoi est-ce que Marc ne nous parle pas ? Speaker B: ________
This correctly uses the idiom to explain Marc's silence.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenIt's not rude to say, but the behavior it describes is often seen as a bit childish or annoying.
Yes! 'Je fais la tête' is a common way to admit you are grumpy.
'Bouder' is a verb, 'faire la tête' is an idiom. They mean the same thing, but 'faire la tête' is more common in spoken French.
Use the passé composé: 'J'ai fait la tête'.
Rarely. It's too informal for a serious business context.
Yes! French people often use it to describe pets looking grumpy.
Usually, yes. It implies a refusal to engage in cheerful conversation.
Being 'de bonne humeur' (in a good mood) or 'souriant' (smiling).
It's vulgar. Avoid it in polite company, but you'll hear it constantly in movies.
No, that would mean having a big head (literally or figuratively as in being arrogant).
Verwandte Redewendungen
bouder
synonymTo pout or sulk
faire la gueule
synonymTo sulk (slang)
faire la tronche
similarTo pull a face/sulk
être de mauvaise humeur
similarTo be in a bad mood
faire une tête de six pieds de long
specialized formTo look extremely depressed or grumpy
