’Tis the season of feasting — chocolate, biscuits, bubbly champagne, custardy brioche (which, in my case, didn’t quite make it to Christmas week…) and rich, glorious food….meaning it is also the season of needing some very useful French vocabulary for overindulgence!
And while the festive plates are delightful going down, the “after party” in your stomach isn’t always so chic.
So today, let’s talk about French expressions for over-indulgence, feeling unwell after eating, and — just as importantly — the phrases that will make you sound like a true French speaker while clutching your tummy.
If you are learning French for real-life situations, having French vocabulary for overindulgence is a lifesaver during the holidays.
French vocabulary for overindulgence
“J’ai mal au cœur”
Literally: I have pain in my heart
Meaning in French: I feel sick / nauseous
⚠ Not: I’m having a heart attack.
⚠ Not: I’m broken-hearted.
Use this if your stomach is protesting loudly after the cheese course.
“Je trouve ça écœurant”
Meaning: I find that sickening / It’s too rich for me
Use when something is overwhelmingly creamy, buttery, sugary, or… all of the above (welcome to French desserts).
“C’est trop riche pour moi.”
Meaning: It’s too rich for me
A simple, polite way to decline the second slice of bûche de Noël
— even if you secretly want it.
“Une crise de foie”
Literally: a liver crisis
Meaning in everyday French: indigestion caused by overeating
This is not a medical diagnosis — it’s a very French way of blaming the digestive drama on your poor liver.
“J’ai mal aux cheveux”
Literally: my hair hurts
Meaning: I have a hangover (said jokingly or dramatically)
Ideal for the morning after vin chaud and champagne have ganged up on you.
“J’ai une gueule de bois.”
Literally: I have a wooden mug/face/head
Meaning: I have a hangover
This is the standard and most common expression.
So if you wake up feeling like your head is full of splinters — voilà, you know what to say.
Bonus Phrases You’ll Hear in France
- “J’ai trop mangé.” — I ate too much.
- “Je ne peux plus rien avaler.” — I can’t swallow another thing.
- “Je vais rouler jusqu’au lit.” — I’m going to roll to bed. (A fun, informal one!)
- “Je n’en peux plus.” — I can’t take anymore / I’m done.
French Medications You Might Hear Mentioned
If you’re travelling in France or have French friends, here are some common names of things people reach for after festive excess:
- Rennie — yes! They exist in France and are widely used for acid/heartburn.
- Spasfon — for stomach cramps or digestive spasms.
- Doliprane — France’s favourite paracetamol.
- Nurofen /Advil — widely available for headaches/body aches.
- Citrate de bétaïne – For when your digestion slows to a crawl or you feel a bit balloon-like after too much festive food.
And of course… the timeless French remedy:
“Une tisane” — a herbal tea.
(Particularly verveine, menthe, or fenouil for digestion.)
What French People Often Do Instead of taking Medication
- Take herbal tea
- Eat very lightly
- Drink sparkling water
- Rest
- Fresh air (even if it feels like a personal attack)
A Final thought
Christmas and New Year are about gathering, celebrating, and sometimes eating as though the laws of physics don’t apply. If you need these expressions, it means you’ve lived the season to the full — and now you can complain about it in French.
This little collection of French vocabulary for overindulgence will help you survive Christmas and New Year with a smile, even if your stomach is staging a protest.
Bonnes fêtes et bonne digestion !
(“Happy holidays and good digestion !” — yes, we do say this.)
Frannie x
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