Meaning
Used to express the emotion of anger.
Cultural Background
The French often value 'le droit de râler' (the right to grumble). Expressing anger is seen as a sign of critical thinking and not just being a 'sheep'. In Quebec, anger might be expressed using 'sacres' (religious-based swear words), but 'être en colère' remains the standard formal way to describe the emotion. Belgians might use the word 'fâché' more frequently than 'en colère' in daily speech, but both are perfectly understood. In many West African countries, expressing anger towards elders is highly discouraged. 'Je suis en colère' would be used mostly among peers.
Use 'contre'
Always use 'contre' to point your anger at someone. 'Je suis en colère contre toi.'
Avoid 'avoir'
Never say 'J'ai en colère'. It's a top 5 mistake for beginners!
Meaning
Used to express the emotion of anger.
Use 'contre'
Always use 'contre' to point your anger at someone. 'Je suis en colère contre toi.'
Avoid 'avoir'
Never say 'J'ai en colère'. It's a top 5 mistake for beginners!
Add 'vraiment'
To sound more natural when you're really mad, say 'Je suis VRAIMENT en colère'.
Be direct
In France, it's okay to say you're angry. It's better than being passive-aggressive.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing verb and preposition.
Je ___ ___ colère contre mon frère.
We use 'être' (suis) and the preposition 'en' for this expression.
Which sentence is correct?
Select the correct way to say 'She is angry'.
The accent must be grave (è) and the preposition 'en' must be present.
Match the French phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are different levels of anger and irritation.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Pourquoi est-ce que tu cries ? B: Parce que mon chat a mangé mon sandwich ! ___ ___ ___ ___ !
If a cat eats your sandwich, anger is the logical response!
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are at a restaurant and the waiter is very rude.
Anger is the appropriate response to a rude service encounter.
🎉 Score: /5
Visual Learning Aids
Être vs Avoir
Practice Bank
5 exercisesJe ___ ___ colère contre mon frère.
We use 'être' (suis) and the preposition 'en' for this expression.
Select the correct way to say 'She is angry'.
The accent must be grave (è) and the preposition 'en' must be present.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are different levels of anger and irritation.
A: Pourquoi est-ce que tu cries ? B: Parce que mon chat a mangé mon sandwich ! ___ ___ ___ ___ !
If a cat eats your sandwich, anger is the logical response!
You are at a restaurant and the waiter is very rude.
Anger is the appropriate response to a rude service encounter.
🎉 Score: /5
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsYes, it is neutral and polite enough for most situations, as long as you don't shout it.
No, you must include the preposition 'en'.
'En colère' is slightly more formal/neutral, while 'fâché' is more common in casual or family settings.
Use 'Je me mets en colère'.
It is feminine: {la|f} colère.
Yes, but use it sparingly to show that a situation is truly serious.
'J'ai le seum' or 'J'ai les boules'.
No, it stays 'en colère' even for 'Nous sommes...'.
Je ne suis pas en colère.
'Calme' or 'Content'.
Yes, very frequently in literature to describe a character's state.
No, use 'contre toi'. 'Avec' is a common mistake from English speakers.
Related Phrases
se mettre en colère
builds onTo get angry / To lose one's temper
être fâché
synonymTo be mad/cross
être énervé
similarTo be annoyed/irritated
sortir de ses gonds
specialized formTo fly off the handle
voir rouge
specialized formTo see red
