Summary
A dramatically French way to say "it's a mess" — literally about it being a brothel! This expression captures chaos with typical French flair and is perfect for intermediate learners who want to express frustration naturally.
C'est le bordel !
Difficulty & Formality
40% - Intermediate
10% - Very informal
Expressing frustration, describing chaos
Meaning
Literal translation:
It's the brothel
Real meaning:
It's a mess / it's total chaos / everything's out of control
This expression captures that moment when everything has gone completely wrong and you need a dramatic way to describe the disaster.
Example
Ne rentre pas dans ma chambre, c'est le bordel!
Don't go into my room, it's a complete mess!
Origin / Fun Fact
Originally, "bordel" was slang for a brothel. Since these places were often associated with noise, disorder, and chaos, the word gradually evolved to mean any messy or chaotic situation. Today, "c'est le bordel" is a very common way to describe anything from a messy room to a complicated situation — it's the French way of being dramatic about everyday disasters!
Variations Based on Formality
Phrase
Meaning
Formality Level
C'est le bordel !
It's a mess!
C'est la jungle ici !
It's the jungle here!
C'est le désordre, ici !
It's quite a mess here.
Your Turn
What's the last thing in your life that was "le bordel"? Your room, your schedule, or maybe your entire week?
Share your chaos stories in the comments below — we've all been there!
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About Alexis
Alexis is the creator behind the popular Instagram accounts @french.expressions and @expresiones.francesas, where thousands of language learners discover French idioms through engaging visual content.
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