French equivalent for “really?”

Question

In English one can say 'really?' in a conversation to show interest and to imply 'tell me more'. What word in French could be used for the same thing?

score 10 · Accepted Answer · edited Jun 17 '20 at 09:38

10

Vraiment ?

C'est vrai ?

T'es sérieux ?

Sans blague ?

ah bon ?

hein is not really a word, more of a sound like huh ?

I hear this a lot though. Really can take on several meanings, but Vraiment is the closest literal translation.

edited Jun 17 '20 at 09:38

Community

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answered Apr 20 '16 at 10:54

Mason H. Hatfield

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shouldn't it be "vraiment?", with a "?" ? – Anne Aunyme Apr 20 '16 at 11:54
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I see many differences between the given translations, could you give some details to distinguish them and know when to use one or an other ? – Random Apr 20 '16 at 11:59

guillaume girod-vitouchkina · Answer 2 · 2016-04-21T21:10:28.993

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le plus courant: vraiment ?

un peu moins utilisé: réellement ?

très courant oralement: ah bon ?

très courant oralement, un peu dubitatif: Non ?

très courant oralement, peu stylé: hein ?

edited Apr 21 '16 at 21:10

answered Apr 20 '16 at 10:51

guillaume girod-vitouchkina

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I think "Hein?" convey the idea you did not hear properly what was said and you want them to repeat, not that you want more detail. – Jylo Apr 20 '16 at 11:17
@Pierre.Sassoulas I think it depends the tone. If the person is saying something very surprising, you may use "hein ?" to mean "I can't believe it !" – Random Apr 20 '16 at 11:58
Ho, rigth. "Hein ?! Oo" then :) – Jylo Apr 20 '16 at 12:22
@Pierre.Sassoulas Yeah, the "Oo" part is important for this meaning :D – Random Apr 20 '16 at 12:35
@Graffito , oui, ajouté, merci. – guillaume girod-vitouchkina Apr 21 '16 at 21:10

score 3 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 20 '16 at 22:12

As already stated Vraiment ? is obviously the closest translation but imho slightly formal.

You'll more likely hear answers like:

C'est vrai ? (is it true?)
Pour de vrai ? Colloquial (for real?)
Sans dec' ? / Sans déconner ? Colloquial (no bullshit?)

French equivalent for “really?”

3 Answers3