Learning French: avoir l’oreille fine and other ear-related expressions

Have you ever heard the phrase, avoir l’oreille fine? 

If you listen closely, you might catch someone saying it during an orchestra concert, a guided tour of a religious temple, or a hearing test.

We will take a look at how to use it in everyday French and teach you even more ear-related expressions. 

What does avoir l’oreille fine mean?

Fin(e) has several meanings in French: end, thin, light, dainty, astute, totally.

You could say this phrase literally translates as: to have a fine ear.

It is used to describe someone who has very good hearing or a situation which requires you to listen closely. In English we might say that a person has a sharp or well-trained ear.

You might also hear a variation of this expression, which is: avoir l'ouïe fine - to have keen hearing, or to have a fine-tuned sense of hearing. 

Read also: France's 100% santé reform boosts hearing aid sales and enhances healthcare accessibility

A similar but unrelated expression is: faire la fine bouche, literally, to do the thin mouth. Originally, the expression was faire la petite bouche (to do the small mouth) and meant to be picky with food. It evolved to fine bouche and today, generally means: to be picky.

How do you say avoir l’oreille fine?

Oreille can be tricky to pronounce for English speakers but it could be broken down phonetically as: aw-rae-yeu.

The combination of -ille usually creates a sort of Y sound in French, like in the words une paille (a straw), or la veille (the day before). 

Once you have mastered oreille, you can then try oreiller (pillow).

The pronunciation of fin(e) changes depending on whether it is masculine or feminine. 

In this case, the feminine adjective (fine) is agreeing with the feminine noun (une oreille), so it is pronounced: fee-n. 

When do you say avoir l’oreille fine?

This phrase can describe someone’s outstanding sense of hearing:

• Waouh bravo ! Vous avez l'oreille fine pour entendre mon téléphone sonner au milieu de tout ce bruit. - Wow, well done! You have a sharp ear to hear my phone ringing over all this noise. 

It can also be said in any situation that requires someone to listen closely:

• Il faut avoir l'oreille fine pour entendre ce qu'elle nous murmure. - You need to have a keen ear to hear what she is whispering to us. 

It is often used in a musical context, to describe someone who can detect fine aural details:

• La cheffe d'orchestre a l'oreille fine. Elle a pu identifier la personne qui a joué la fausse note. - The conductor has a well-trained ear. She was able to identify who played the wrong note.

Read also: ‘Chanter comme une casserole’: our French expression of the week

To whom do you say avoir l’oreille fine?

It is considered neutral language and can be used with friends, colleagues and strangers.

More ear-related French expressions?

Listen out for these other related phrases:

• Avoir l'oreille basse - To be sad and disappointed

• Se faire tirer l’oreille - To take a lot of persuading

• Tendre l’oreille - To prick up one’s ears

• Prêter l’oreille à quelqu’un/quelque chose - To listen to/lend an ear to someone or something

• Avoir l'oreille de quelqu'un - To have someone’s attention - be a confident

• Avoir l’oreille musicale - To have an ear for music

• Avoir l’oreille absolue - To have perfect pitch

• Être tout ouïe - To be all ears

• Être à l'écoute - To listen out for/keep an ear to the ground

Read also: 11 French expressions using the word mouth