Can you list three expressions for fear? - They are:
- Etre mort de trouille
- Etre cloué sur place
- Avoir une peur de malade
They are plenty of them...
...go through the article and you'll know PERFECTLY how to express fear in French. It may not be clear at the moment, but it won't be for much longer 🙂
I'm Thomas, you'll find on this blog +200 articles to learn and improve your French.

Thinking will not overcome fear but action will.
W. Clement Stone
Understanding fear in the French context
- the psychological side of fear
- how it expresses itself in French culture
The psychology of fear
- freeze
- flight
- fight
When we perceive a threat, the brain sends signals to the autonomic nervous system, triggering the release of the hormone 'adrenalin'. The result is an accelerated heart rate, faster breathing, dilated pupils and so on. This enables the body to react quickly to protect itself.
Phobias
Phobias are irrational, excessive fears of specific objects, situations or animals. This can lead to panic attacks. The origin may lie in certain experiences or in genetics. Psychology studies how they can affect psychological structure, and what therapies (e.g. cognitive-behavioural therapy) help.
Anxiety disorders
The most common is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). The person is constantly and excessively preoccupied with events that are often unimportant.
The role of fear in human evolution
It contributes to the survival of the species. Over the course of evolution, individuals able to perceive and respond effectively to threats were more likely to survive and pass on their genes to subsequent generations. Fear is an adaptive response that has contributed to the preservation of human life.
But today's threats are often more complex and abstract, leading to inappropriate responses. The psychology of fear studies this.
Cultural expression of fear in France
Here are some key aspects of the cultural expression of fear in France:
Fear-related idiomas
- avoir peur comme un poulet
This means that a person reacts with intense fear, sometimes comically or exaggeratedly, to benign stimuli. - faire froid dans le dos
When something or some situation arouses a strong negative emotion (fear, horror, anxiety, disgust).
These expressions can be used every day. Fear is part of everyday language.
Literature and cinema as mirrors of society's fears
- Victor Hugo in Les misérables
- Gustave Flaubert in Madame Bovary
- Les diaboliques by Henri-Georges Clouzot’s
- Les yeux sans visage by Georges Franju’s
Collective memory and fear arising from historical events
Revolutions, wars and periods of unrest have left their mark on the collective unconscious of people down the centuries. The French Revolution, for example, is a landmark event.
The 1st and 2nd World Wars engendered deep-seated fears of loss, destruction and occupation.
You might be interested by this article, you'll learn how to express your feeling in French.
- Biological responses triggered by fear
- freeze
- flight
- fight
- Expressions
- avoir peur comme un poulet
- faire froid dans le dos

Il n’y a pas de raison d’avoir peur car il n’y a pas de danger
Craindre pour sa vie
N’ayez crainte
Fear in French linguistics and communication
- What are the fear-related words?
- What’s the social side of fear in France?
Vocabulary of fear
Here are some well-known words and expressions related to fear:
Watch these videos to know more fear-related French expressions.
Social dynamics of fear
Here, we'll look at fear and the French social side:
When we are children we often find refuge in our room, do you want to get more vocabulary about the room in French?
- 2 frequently used French expressions
- Avoir la chair de poule
- Avoir la trouille

I have a fear of being boring.
Christian Bale
Fear and the French educational system
How to reduce fear in school?
Combatting school-related fears
Here are some methods to help reduce a child's fear of school:
Fear of failure in academics
- apprehension before exams
- chronic stress related to academic performance
After a stressful school year, I wish you a wonderful 'summer in French'!

Analyzing fear in French politics and media
Political exploitation of fear
Media representation of fear
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FAQ
What is the French word for 'fear'?
The French word for 'fear' is la peur.
Can you list some French idiomatic expressions that convey fear?
Avoir la chaire de poule
Avoir les jetons
Avoir le trac
Avoir les chocottes
Trembler comme une feuille
Avoir une peur bleue
Avoir peur pour sa vie
How do you say 'I am scared' in French?
'I am scared' in French is j'ai peur, je suis effrayé(e).
How to conjugate the 'fear verb' in the present tense?
J'ai peur
Tu as peur
Il / elle / on a peur
Nous avons peur
Vous avez peur
Ils / elles / ont peur
You've read everything!
Please, let a comment.
Thomas 🙂
Resources
https://www.apa.org/topics/anxiety

Thomas Ricomard specializes in teaching French as a foreign language. He has been providing private lessons since 2015, both in-person and online (via Skype). He taught at the Popular University of the Canton of Geneva (Switzerland) from 2015 to 2018, instructing several groups of 20 students from around the world (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Spain, Brazil, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mexico, etc.), ranging from beginner to intermediate levels (A1 to B2). With a Master’s degree in clinical and cognitive psychology from the University of Geneva, his knowledge of psychology allows him to tailor his teaching methods for optimal learning, taking into account factors such as visual memory versus auditory memory. He expresses his passion for the French language through writing texts, including poetry and songs, which he presents publicly at numerous music and slam events.