faire l' enfant
to faire a child
Wörtlich: to do/make the child
Use it to playfully or firmly tell someone to stop sulking and act their age.
In 15 Sekunden
- Used to call out immature or pouting behavior in adults.
- Commonly used with the verb 'arrêter' (to stop).
- Direct, slightly patronizing, but very common in friendships.
Bedeutung
This phrase is used to tell someone they are acting immaturely or being childish. It is the French equivalent of saying 'Don't be a baby' or 'Stop acting like a child.'
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6A friend is pouting because they lost a board game
Arrête de faire l'enfant, c'est juste un jeu !
Stop acting like a child, it's just a game!
A partner refuses to eat vegetables
Tu fais l'enfant avec ton assiette de brocolis.
You're acting like a child with your plate of broccoli.
A colleague is being petty about a desk assignment
Il ne faut pas faire l'enfant pour une histoire de bureau.
You shouldn't act like a child over a desk issue.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In France, there is a strong cultural emphasis on 'la tenue' (proper conduct). Calling someone a child is a way to remind them of their social responsibility to remain composed. It became a staple of the French lexicon as a gentle but firm way to police social behavior in cafes and family dinners.
The 'Arrête' Combo
90% of the time, you'll use this with 'Arrête de...' (Stop...). It's the most natural way to deploy the phrase.
Watch the Tone
If said with a smile, it's teasing. If said with a flat face, it's a genuine insult. Choose your facial expression wisely!
In 15 Sekunden
- Used to call out immature or pouting behavior in adults.
- Commonly used with the verb 'arrêter' (to stop).
- Direct, slightly patronizing, but very common in friendships.
What It Means
Faire l'enfant is a very common way to call out immaturity. It describes someone who is sulking, throwing a tantrum, or being difficult for no good reason. You aren't literally saying they are a child. You are saying their behavior matches that of a five-year-old. It is punchy, direct, and very effective.
How To Use It
You use it just like the verb faire (to do/make). You conjugate faire based on who you are talking to. If your friend is pouting because they didn't get their way, you say Arrête de faire l'enfant ! (Stop acting like a child!). It works for any gender because l'enfant is a fixed noun here. You don't change it to a feminine version.
When To Use It
Use this when someone is being stubborn about something small. It’s perfect for a partner who refuses to pick a restaurant. It’s great for a friend who is overreacting to a minor inconvenience. You can even use it at work if a colleague is being particularly petty. Just make sure you have a good relationship with them first!
When NOT To Use It
Never use this with your boss unless you want a very awkward meeting. It is inherently a bit patronizing. Avoid using it in truly serious or tragic situations. If someone is crying because they are genuinely hurt, telling them they are faisant l'enfant will make you the villain. It’s for petty behavior, not real emotions.
Cultural Background
French culture values 'l'esprit critique' (critical thinking) and maturity. Being called a child is a specific sting to a French adult's pride. Historically, French parenting has often focused on bringing children into the adult world quickly. Therefore, acting like a child as an adult is seen as a failure of social etiquette. It’s a classic 'remise à l'ordre' (putting someone back in their place).
Common Variations
You might hear faire le bébé (to act like a baby) which is even more insulting. There is also faire des caprices, which refers specifically to throwing a tantrum. If you want to be more formal, you could say manquer de maturité. But for daily life, faire l'enfant is the undisputed king of calling out silliness.
Nutzungshinweise
This is an informal collocation. It is primarily used in spoken French or informal writing (texts/emails to friends). The verb `faire` must be conjugated to match the subject.
The 'Arrête' Combo
90% of the time, you'll use this with 'Arrête de...' (Stop...). It's the most natural way to deploy the phrase.
Watch the Tone
If said with a smile, it's teasing. If said with a flat face, it's a genuine insult. Choose your facial expression wisely!
Gender Neutrality
Even if you are talking to a woman, you say 'l'enfant'. You never say 'la fille' or 'la femme' in this specific expression.
Beispiele
6Arrête de faire l'enfant, c'est juste un jeu !
Stop acting like a child, it's just a game!
A classic use for minor competitive frustration.
Tu fais l'enfant avec ton assiette de brocolis.
You're acting like a child with your plate of broccoli.
Used here to highlight picky eating habits.
Il ne faut pas faire l'enfant pour une histoire de bureau.
You shouldn't act like a child over a desk issue.
Slightly more professional but still firm.
Réponds-moi et arrête de faire l'enfant !
Answer me and stop being such a baby!
Common in texting when someone is 'ghosting' or sulking.
On ne peut pas discuter si tu fais l'enfant.
We can't talk if you're going to act like a child.
Used to point out that communication is failing due to immaturity.
Mais quel gamin, il fait encore l'enfant !
What a kid, he's acting like a child again!
Using 'gamin' (kid) alongside the phrase for extra emphasis.
Teste dich selbst
Complete the sentence to tell your friend to stop acting immaturely.
Arrête de ___ l'enfant !
In French, you 'do' (faire) the child, you don't 'are' (être) the child in this idiomatic expression.
Which person is most likely to hear 'Tu fais l'enfant'?
___ fait l'enfant parce qu'il a perdu ses clés.
This phrase is most appropriate for friends or peers like 'Marc' rather than authority figures.
🎉 Ergebnis: /2
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formality of 'Faire l'enfant'
Used with siblings or very close friends.
Arrête de faire le bébé !
The standard way to use the phrase with peers.
Tu fais l'enfant.
Describing behavior to a third party.
Il a tendance à faire l'enfant.
When to say 'Faire l'enfant'
Board Games
Losing and pouting
Dinner
Refusing to try new food
Arguments
Giving the silent treatment
Shopping
Wanting something too expensive
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenTechnically yes, but it sounds redundant. You'd usually say Arrête tes caprices to a real child.
It's moderately rude. It's fine among friends, but it's definitely a 'call-out' phrase.
Only with colleagues you are close to. Don't say it to a client or a superior.
Faire le bébé is much stronger and more insulting, implying total helplessness or extreme pouting.
Yes, always. For example: Je fais, tu fais, il fait, etc.
Not exactly, but you could say Vous vous comportez de manière puérile (You are behaving puerilely).
Yes! Il a fait l'enfant toute la soirée means 'He acted like a child all evening.'
Yes, it is universally understood in France, Canada, Belgium, and Switzerland.
Don't use this! Use avoir une âme d'enfant (to have a child's soul) instead.
In this phrase, yes. It refers to the concept of 'a child' generally, so it doesn't change gender.
Verwandte Redewendungen
faire le bébé
faire des caprices
être gamin
manquer de maturité
avoir une âme d'enfant
Kommentare (0)
Zum Kommentieren AnmeldenStarte kostenlos mit dem Sprachenlernen
Kostenlos Loslegen