How to Say Go Away in French: 5 Natural Phrases
This quick quiz is for the phrases textbooks avoid but real conversations absolutely use: the annoyed little sentences you need when someone is pushing too far. They are useful, but they carry tone, so learn the meaning and the situation before you throw them around.
The 5 phrases from the quiz
- Va-t'en — Go away (va ton)
- Sors — Get out (sor)
- Laisse-moi — Leave me alone (less mwa)
- Arrête — Stop it (ah-ret)
- Je m'en fiche — I don't care (zhuh mon feesh)
What each phrase really sounds like
Va-t'en is the clean, direct version of "go away". It comes from va + t'en, literally "go yourself from here". It is not polite. It is something you say when you genuinely want distance.
Sors means "get out". It is the command form of sortir. In a room, a house, or a situation where someone should leave immediately, this is short and sharp.
Laisse-moi means "leave me alone". If you want the full natural phrase, say laisse-moi tranquille. That version means "leave me in peace" and is very common.
Arrête is "stop it". French learners often know stop, but arrête is what you need when someone is teasing, touching something, repeating a joke, or doing something annoying.
Je m'en fiche means "I don't care". It is casual, but not as vulgar as je m'en fous. Use je m'en fiche when you want natural spoken French without sounding too aggressive.
How to practise the quiz
Play the Short once normally. Then replay it and pause on the English prompt. Say the French answer out loud before the text appears. On the final round, add the tone: Va-t'en should feel direct, arrête should sound like a clear boundary, and je m'en fiche should sound detached rather than angry.
For more everyday spoken French, read Tu me prends la tête and C'est dommage. If you want the full word-list library, start with my French vocabulary hub.
Want feedback on pronunciation and tone? You can book a free 30-minute trial lesson and I'll correct you live.