The French verb ressasser means to go over something repeatedly in one’s mind or to keep bringing it up. It describes a mental or verbal repetition, often obsessive or negative. It can refer to thoughts, memories, worries, or conversations that someone cannot let go of.

It is a regular -er verb: je ressasse, tu ressasses, il ressasse, nous ressassons, vous ressassez, ils ressassent. The past participle is ressassé.

1. To dwell on something mentally

Ressasser most often means to keep thinking about something, especially something unpleasant. It conveys a sense of mental rumination or replaying an event again and again.

• Elle ressasse sans cesse sa dispute avec sa sœur. – She keeps going over her argument with her sister.
• Il ressasse les erreurs de son passé. – He keeps dwelling on his past mistakes.
• Arrête de ressasser ce qui s’est passé ! – Stop going over what happened!
• Depuis la rupture, il ressasse les mêmes idées noires. – Since the breakup, he keeps turning over the same dark thoughts.

This usage often implies an inability to move on or stop thinking about something painful or frustrating.

2. To repeat something verbally

Ressasser can also describe repeating the same topic or story in speech, often to the annoyance of others. In this sense, it means “to keep bringing up” or “to harp on.”

• Il ressasse toujours les mêmes plaintes. – He always goes over the same complaints.
• Tu nous ressasses ton voyage en Inde depuis un an ! – You’ve been harping on about your trip to India for a year!
• Elle ressasse sans fin ses malheurs. – She keeps talking endlessly about her misfortunes.

This sense carries a mildly critical tone, suggesting tedious or obsessive repetition.

3. Figurative and literary use

In literature or formal speech, ressasser can be used more figuratively to mean to turn over or chew on ideas repeatedly, similar to “to ruminate.” It may refer to philosophical reflection, self-reproach, or the endless reconsideration of events.

• Le héros ressasse ses doutes et ses remords. – The hero broods over his doubts and regrets.
• Il ressasse les mêmes pensées jusqu’à l’épuisement. – He turns over the same thoughts until exhaustion.

The word itself comes from the root sasser (to sift), with the prefix re- indicating repetition—literally, “to sift again.” This imagery of repetition underlines the idea of mentally reworking the same material.

Related expressions

• Ressasser le passé – to dwell on the past
• Ressasser une idée – to keep going over an idea
• Toujours ressasser la même chose – to keep repeating the same thing
• C’est un sujet qu’elle aime ressasser – It’s a subject she likes to bring up again and again

Summary

• Ressasser means to repeat something mentally or verbally, often in a tiresome or obsessive way.
• It can refer to internal thoughts (ressasser ses regrets) or spoken repetition (ressasser les mêmes histoires).
• The word usually implies negativity or lack of emotional resolution.