donner le vertige

You use it like a standard verb phrase.

The subject is the thing causing the dizzy feeling.

Cette ville me donne le vertige means 'This city makes me dizzy.'

You can use it with people too.

Tu me donnes le vertige is very romantic and intense.

It implies someone is so amazing they make your head spin.

Don't forget to use the indirect object pronoun (me, te, lui).

It works perfectly in the present or past tense.

Use it when you are genuinely impressed or overwhelmed.

Use it at a museum looking at a giant masterpiece.

Use it when discussing the vastness of the universe.

It is perfect for talking about big career moves.

Use it when looking at a very expensive bill.

'The price gives me vertigo' is a classic French complaint.

It adds a poetic touch to your descriptions.

Don't use it for a small surprise.

If you find a five-euro bill, it doesn't give you vertigo.

Avoid it if you are just feeling physically sick.

If you have the flu, just say you are malade.

It is too dramatic for minor inconveniences.

Don't use it in a cold, technical medical report.

Unless, of course, the doctor is a very dramatic poet.

French culture loves a bit of drama and philosophy.

We often connect physical sensations to intellectual concepts.

Vertige isn't just a medical condition; it's an existential state.

Think of French philosophers staring into the 'void'.

It became popular in literature to describe the rush of modern life.

Paris, with its fast pace, is often described this way.

It reflects the French appreciation for things that are 'grand'.

You might hear avoir le vertige for the physical feeling.

Donner le tournis is a lighter, more literal version.

It means 'to make someone's head spin' like a spinning top.

C'est vertigineux is the adjective form for 'breathtaking'.

Use the adjective for statistics or mountain views.

Le vertige de l'amour is a famous song title.

It perfectly captures the dizzying rush of falling in love.