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1

“It serves you right” is used when what you get is a result of your actions. How can I say it in French?

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6 Answers

up vote 14 down vote

I think there are several ways to translate this, with different levels of language:

  • Bien fait pour toi ! (probably the most commonly used)
  • Ça t'apprendra ! (also quite common)
  • Ça te fera les pieds ! (seems a bit outdated)
  • Bien fait pour ta gueule ! (vulgar, but still used)
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Instead of "Ça te fera les pieds !", and not necessarily outdated: "Ça te fera les pattes !" (un peu familier, cependant). – Bruno May 10 '12 at 21:55
@Bruno I have never heard this expression before, but it seems after searching indeed that it is used. Thanks for adding this ! I'm curious, how familiar is this compared to the 4th element in my list? – Charles Menguy May 10 '12 at 22:08
I'd say it's familiar but not vulgar, at least it doesn't have the same offensive connotations as "Bien fait pour ta gueule !". – Bruno May 10 '12 at 22:14
up vote 7 down vote

Je traduirais par :

Ça t'apprendra.

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up vote 6 down vote

Tu l'as bien mérité est aussi très à la mode en ce moment.

Tu l'as bien mérité is also very simple. It translates to "you deserved it" and is used as such on the french version of the popular FML website.

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up vote 4 down vote

You could translate this expression by :

Cela te servira de leçon.

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up vote 2 down vote

Autre proposition :

Tu ne l'as pas volé (celui là).

ou

Tu l'as bien cherché.

Par exemple : un enfant taquine son frère sans relâche. Ce dernier finit par lui donner un coup de poing dans les côtes. Le parent à l'enfant qui pleure : « Arrêtes de pleurnicher, tu l'avais bien cherché ! ».

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up vote 1 down vote

J'ai trouvé qu'on peut aussi dire :

C'est bien fait pour vous/toi !

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