Do you not feel like it, or are you really too tired?
Elle a la flemme de ranger sa chambre.
She cannot be bothered to tidy her room.
Ils ont eu la flemme de finir le travail et l'ont remis au lendemain.
They were too lazy to finish the work and put it off until the next day.
J'ai la flemme de cuisiner ce soir.
I cannot be bothered to cook tonight.
Si tu dis que tu as la flemme de l'aider, cela peut sembler égoïste.
If you say you cannot be bothered to help, it may sound selfish.
Similar words
être trop paresseux pour
ne pas avoir le courage de
ne pas être motivé pour
ne pas avoir envie de
Meanings
Feel too lazy to act
everyday
informal
To lack the desire or energy to do something because the effort feels unappealing, said informally and sometimes sounding dismissive.
Examples
J'ai la flemme de cuisiner ce soir.
I cannot be bothered to cook tonight.
On avait la flemme de sortir sous la pluie.
We did not feel like going out in the rain.
Elle a la flemme de ranger sa chambre.
She cannot be bothered to tidy her room.
Si tu dis que tu as la flemme de l'aider, cela peut sembler égoïste.
If you say you cannot be bothered to help, it may sound selfish.
Ils ont eu la flemme de finir le travail et l'ont remis au lendemain.
They were too lazy to finish the work and put it off until the next day.
Tu as la flemme ou tu es vraiment trop fatigué ?
Do you not feel like it, or are you really too tired?
Similar words
ne pas avoir envie de
ne pas avoir le courage de
être trop paresseux pour
ne pas être motivé pour
Etymology
Literally “to have the flemme.” The noun flemme means laziness or a desire to do nothing and was borrowed from Italian flemma, originally linked to phlegm and sluggishness.
FAQ
What does avoir la flemme mean?
Avoir la flemme means to feel too lazy or unwilling to make the effort to do something.
How do you pronounce avoir la flemme?
Avoir la flemme is pronounced /avwaʁ la flɛm/.
Is avoir la flemme informal?
Yes. Avoir la flemme is common in casual conversation but is usually too relaxed for formal writing.
How do you use avoir la flemme with a verb?
Use avoir la flemme de followed by an infinitive, as in J'ai la flemme de cuisiner.
What is the difference between avoir la flemme and être fatigué?
Être fatigué means to be tired. Avoir la flemme focuses on not wanting to make the effort, whether or not physical tiredness is the cause.
Where does avoir la flemme come from?
The phrase literally means “to have laziness.” Flemme came from Italian flemma, a word linked historically to phlegm and sluggishness.
Comments & contributions
Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.