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

  • installer

    The French verb “installer” is a versatile verb that serves multiple purposes in everyday French. Its meanings and uses can change significantly depending on whether it is used in its non-reflexive form or in its reflexive counterpart, “s’installer.” Meanings of “installer” The Reflexive Form: “s’installer” The reflexive form “s’installer” shifts the focus to the subject…

  • enseigner

    The French Verb “Enseigner” The verb enseigner means “to teach” in French. It is a regular verb from the first group, ending in -er. Depending on the context, it can have different nuances. Meanings of Enseigner Conjugation of Enseigner Present Tense Person Conjugation Je enseigne Tu enseignes Il/Elle/On enseigne Nous enseignons Vous enseignez Ils/Elles enseignent…

  • |

    process

    The english word “process” is a broad term covering a series of actions, a procedure, a method, or a technical operation. There is no single french equivalent. The correct translation depends entirely on the specific context and meaning. The primary options are le processus, la procédure, le procédé, and le traitement. Le processus Use le…

  • six and dix

    In French, the numbers six (6) and dix (10) have pronunciation patterns that often confuse learners. Depending on context, these words can be pronounced with three different sounds: The pronunciation changes depending on: 1. Pronouncing Six and Dix with an “S” Sound This happens when the number is part of a series of numbers being…

  • Subjunctive conjunctions

    The subjunctive mood is one of the most distinctive and sometimes challenging aspects of French grammar. It is used to express doubt, necessity, emotion, purpose, uncertainty, and hypothetical situations. One of the key triggers for the subjunctive is a set of subordinating conjunctions – commonly referred to as subjunctive conjunctions – which introduce dependent clauses…

  • Plural of “un” or “une” is “des”

    In French, the words “un” and “une” mean “a” or “an.” They are singular indefinite articles used before nouns. When making a noun plural, “un” and “une” change to “des.” This is the plural indefinite article, which means “some.” Examples: Understanding Articles An article is a small word that comes before a noun. In English,…