Je m'en fous

[Hendrix55]

Please could someone translate this phrase? My French dictionary doesn't have the word 'fous' although I thought it might be part of the verb 'ficher'. Am I way off the mark? Thanks.

[jno]

je m'en fous, je m'en fiche mean the same thing; roughly, I couldn't give an asterisk. (Different verbs, though.)

[maximo]

I don't care, I don't give a s***. It's a very rude expression, and is a  version of " je m'en fiche " , which is more acceptable. "Fous" comes the verb "foutre", which litterally means " to...er...."$hag someone" ( same level of language ).  

[Artful]

Sorry maximo but I don't really agree. 'Je m'en fous' is acceptable everyday language; what is not acceptable is "va te faire fo**re" - there you translate by "sh**", "f*c* off", "pi$$ off"... but there would probably not be quite the same reaction from the person you are saying it to as if using the anglo-saxon expression to an anglo-saxon speaker. 'Je m'en fous' simply means: I'm not interested or I don't care or I don't give a damn etc. More: "foutre" is 'vulgar" as opposed to 'offensive'. I would have thought 'to sh** s.one is much higher up the scale or the English language has changed since my day! Synonymous with "je m'en fous!" is "bof!".
So there you go, Hendrix 55, you were very much on the right track.

[maximo]

Sorry, but "Je m'en fous" isn't something you can say in every social situation ! The fact that it is indeed widely used doesn't make it an acceptable level of language. You wouldn't say that to your boss at work. It is less acceptable than the equivalent I don't care, it's more like "I don't give a s**t" , actually. Hendrix, you were indeed on the right track, I was merely trying to point out the difference in language level. The fact that it comes from the verb " foutre" , which means "sh*g" is not really relevant here, as this origin of the verb tends to be forgotten and doesn't show in this particular use.

[Artful]

Bout time you found out some hard facts - maximo, everyday language has nothing to do w/ talking to your boss and I never mentioned that  or even made reference to it. You are very wrong Maximo as that is not the way French view expression.

[Artful]

Actually, I was just thinking how you'd not say "I don't care" or "I couldn't give a monkey's" or "I'm not interested" or "I..." to your boss, would you? And none of those are 'rude'.  Idiomatic expressions are funny things when you think about it, but they're what reflect a 'culture' I suppose!

[maximo]

You're right, Artful,  maybe it's about time I learned some hard facts about french, as it's after all my native language, and I 've spent about 27 years speaking it. I'm truly sorry, but Je m'en fous IS a rude expression, seeing the original meaning of the word. Maybe the equivalent is not seen as rude in english, I am not an expert on the matter ! It is indeed used in everyday language, I agree. I say it everyday. But that doesn't make it an acceptable level of language in every situation,and work is an everyday situation, at least it is for a lot of people. Anyway, I hope all this clarified things for Hendrix55, since that was of course the whole point !

[Artful]

Well maximo I beat you, I have been doing so regularly for 40 years now and English for quite a bit longer as a native language. As for everyday places and everyday language - I think you fail to see the difference maximo.

[Artful]

But then, quite frankly, *je m'en fous* and Hendrix55, I do hope your ? has been answered.

[maximo]

So much for trying to help. This has become quite ridiculous now. Nevermind, I hope your question has been answered, because that's what matters after all ! Have a nice day Hendrix55 !

[Hendrix55]

Thanks so much for your help with this!

The phrase is actually used as the name of a boat in a novel called Quartet (written in English, set in France) on which I am writing an essay. It looked like a funny name for a boat... The narrator is generally depressed and her motto is Je m'en fichiste, so I suppose the boat is a metaphor for her feelings.

Now I just have to tactfully explain the phrase in my essay!!

[Artful]

Glad to have been of help Hendrix55. I must say you got a lot of feeling in the posts you got back. So the best of luck with the essay.