The English phrase “I can’t believe it” can be expressed in French in several ways depending on the context. Some translations are direct, while others are idiomatic.

Je n’arrive pas à y croire

This is one of the most common translations. It conveys the idea of struggling to accept or grasp something.

Examples:

• Je n’arrive pas à y croire qu’il ait gagné à la loterie.
  I can’t believe he won the lottery.
• Je n’arrive pas à y croire, tu pars déjà demain.
  I can’t believe it, you are leaving already tomorrow.

Je ne peux pas y croire

This is a more direct version. It is slightly stronger than “je n’arrive pas à y croire” because it insists on an inability to believe.

Examples:

• Je ne peux pas y croire, il a menti tout ce temps.
  I can’t believe it, he lied all this time.
• Je ne peux pas y croire, tu as vraiment réussi.
  I can’t believe it, you really succeeded.

C’est incroyable

Sometimes French uses an impersonal phrase instead of a personal one. “C’est incroyable” is natural and commonly used when something seems unbelievable.

Examples:

• C’est incroyable, elle a trouvé ses clés après trois semaines.
  It’s unbelievable, she found her keys after three weeks.
• C’est incroyable comme il joue bien du piano.
  It’s unbelievable how well he plays the piano.

Je n’en reviens pas

This is an idiomatic expression often used in speech. Literally, it means “I don’t come back from it.” It conveys astonishment or amazement.

Examples:

• Je n’en reviens pas, tu as tout fait en une heure.
  I can’t believe it, you did everything in one hour.
• Je n’en reviens pas qu’ils aient accepté.
  I can’t believe they agreed.

C’est pas possible

In casual spoken French, people often say “c’est pas possible” instead of “ce n’est pas possible.” It shows surprise or disbelief, sometimes with frustration.

Examples:

• C’est pas possible, il a encore oublié son sac.
  It can’t be true, he forgot his bag again.
• C’est pas possible, vous avez déjà terminé ?
  I can’t believe it, you have already finished?

J’y crois pas

This is very informal and common in everyday speech. It is simply the shortened spoken version of “je n’y crois pas.”

Examples:

• J’y crois pas, elle est revenue.
  I can’t believe it, she came back.
• J’y crois pas, il a enfin réparé la voiture.
  I can’t believe it, he finally fixed the car.

C’est dingue

This is colloquial French. It literally means “it’s crazy” and is used when something seems astonishing.

Examples:

• C’est dingue, il a appris le japonais en deux ans.
  It’s crazy, he learned Japanese in two years.
• C’est dingue comme elle parle vite.
  It’s crazy how fast she speaks.