tu m'étonnes

/ty metɔn/
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A familiar response that something is obvious or unsurprising.

Examples

  • « Tu viens avec nous ? » « Tu m’étonnes ! »
    “Are you coming with us?” “Of course I am!”
  • « Elle a refusé de payer le double. » « Tu m’étonnes ! »
    “She refused to pay twice as much.” “I’m not surprised!”
  • « Il est furieux après cet échec. » « Tu m’étonnes. »
    “He is furious after that failure.” “No wonder.”
  • « Le café est fermé à minuit. » « Tu m’étonnes. »
    “The café is closed at midnight.” “Obviously.”
  • « Tu veux partir tôt ? » « Tu m’étonnes ! »
    “Do you want to leave early?” “You bet I do!”

Similar words

ça ne m’étonne pas
évidemment
bien sûr

Meanings

Expressing unsurprised agreement

conversation
informal
Responds with emphatic agreement or says a fact is hardly surprising, often with ironic force.

Examples

  • « Tu viens avec nous ? » « Tu m’étonnes ! »
    “Are you coming with us?” “Of course I am!”
  • « Il est furieux après cet échec. » « Tu m’étonnes. »
    “He is furious after that failure.” “No wonder.”
  • « Elle a refusé de payer le double. » « Tu m’étonnes ! »
    “She refused to pay twice as much.” “I’m not surprised!”
  • « Tu veux partir tôt ? » « Tu m’étonnes ! »
    “Do you want to leave early?” “You bet I do!”
  • « Le café est fermé à minuit. » « Tu m’étonnes. »
    “The café is closed at midnight.” “Obviously.”

Similar words

Etymology

Literally “you surprise me”: tu is “you”, m’ is “me”, and étonnes is “surprise”; the response usually means the opposite of its literal words.

FAQ

What does tu m'étonnes mean?

Depending on context, “of course” or “no wonder”.

Is the speaker really surprised?

Usually no; the wording is ironic.

Can it answer a question?

Yes, to give an emphatic “of course”.

Is it formal?

No, it is a familiar expression.

Does the headword include an exclamation mark?

No; punctuation depends on the sentence.

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