s’en aller, s’en faire, s’en vouloir

These three French expressions are frequently used. They combine a reflexive pronoun (“se”) with the adverbial pronoun “en,” which can mean a variety of things, including “of it,” “of them,” “some of them,” “any of them,” “any of it,” “some of it,” “from it,” “from them,” etc.

s’en aller

Meaning: to leave, to go away

  • “se” is the reflexive pronoun that changes to the appropriate person (me, te, se, nous, vous or se).
  • “en” means “from here.”
  • “aller” is “to go”

Examples:

  • je m’en vais – I’m leaving
  • tu t’en vas ? – you’re leaving?
  • va t’en ! – go away! (informal)
  • allez-vous en ! – go away! (formal or plural)

s’en faire

Meaning: to worry

  • “se” is the reflexive pronoun that changes to the appropriate person (me, te, se, nous, vous or se).
  • “en” means “of it.”
  • “faire” is “to make” or “to do”

Examples:

  • Ne t’en fais pas – Don’t worry
  • Ne t’en fais pas pour ton ami – Don’t worry about your friend
  • Ma mère s’en fait pour moi. My mother worries about me

s’en vouloir

Meaning: to be annoyed with, to be mad at, to be annoyed with yourself, to hold a grudge

  • “se” is the reflexive pronoun that changes to the appropriate person (me, te, se, nous, vous or se).
  • “en” means “of it.”
  • “vouloir” is “to want”
  • This expression is followed by the preposition “à” if you’re annoyed with a specific person.

Examples:

  • Alice s’en veut de son frère – Alice is annoyed with her brother
  • Tu m’en veux ? – You’re angry with me?
  • Julie s’en veut d’avoir oublié l’anniversaire de son père – Julie is annoyed with herself for having forgotten her father’s birthday

Don’t miss new articles!

Get 1 email a week with new articles about French

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy

Similar Posts

  • ça tombe bien

    Understanding “Ça tombe bien” in French The French phrase “ça tombe bien” might seem a little puzzling if translated literally. Word-for-word, it means “that falls well.” However, this literal translation doesn’t convey the true meaning of the phrase. Instead, “ça tombe bien” is used to express that something happens at a convenient time or that…

  • enfin vs finalement

    Both enfin and finalement can mean “finally” or “at last” in English. French speakers use them daily, often without thinking. But they do not always mean the same thing, and swapping one for the other can change the feel of a sentence. This article breaks down how each word works, where they overlap, and where…

  • sur-le-champ

    Sur-le-champ is a common French adverbial expression meaning “immediately” or “at once.” It appears in both spoken and written French and conveys urgency, expectation of quick compliance, or a prompt reaction. It is slightly formal but remains widely used. Meaning and register Sur-le-champ expresses the idea of doing something without delay. In tone, it is…

  • Verb: Avoir

    The French verb “avoir” is a fundamental verb that holds great importance in the French language. Translated as “to have” in English, “avoir” is an irregular verb that appears in various contexts and is used in a multitude of expressions. Let’s explore the verb “avoir” and its significance in French. Firstly, let’s look at its…

  • questions

    Asking questions in French can be done in several ways, ranging from very formal to very informal. The choice of structure depends on the context, the level of formality, and the degree of emphasis or clarity desired. There are three main structures for forming a question when no interrogative pronoun or adverb is involved. Subject-verb…