Summary

A casual French way to say "to be running late" — literally about being in the soil compacting! This expression comes from agricultural roots and is perfect for intermediate learners who want to express urgency naturally.

Être à la bourre

Difficulty & Formality

Difficulty

40% - Intermediate

Formality

20% - Very casual, but very informal

Usage Context

Daily conversation, apologizing for lateness

Meaning

Literal translation:

To be in the compacting (of soil)

Real meaning:

To be running late / to be in a rush

This expression captures the frantic energy of someone who's behind schedule and needs to hurry up to catch up with everyone else.

Example

French:

Désolé, je suis à la bourre ! J'arrive dans 5 minutes !

English:

Sorry, I'm running late! I'll be there in 5 minutes!

Origin / Fun Fact

This expression comes from "bourrer la terre" — the agricultural practice of compacting soil in the fields. Farmers who fell behind on this task had to work later than others, rushing to finish before nightfall. Over time, "être à la bourre" became a popular way to say someone is running late or in a hurry, keeping that sense of urgency from its farming origins.

Variations Based on Formality

Phrase
Meaning
Formality Level

Je suis grave en retard.

I'm freaking late.

Very informal / slang

Je suis à la bourre.

I am running late.

Casual / common use

Je suis en retard.

I am late.

Semi-formal / formal

Your Turn

Are you always "à la bourre" or do you manage to arrive on time? What's your worst "running late" story?

Share your chaotic morning tales in the comments below — we've all been there!

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