Learning French: what does j'en ai marre mean and when to say it

J'en ai marre is a very common expression in France that you will often hear in public when voices are raised. 

The expression has no word-for-word translation but essentially means 'I have had enough'.

Other English equivalents would be 'I'm fed up' or 'I've had it up to here'.

What is marre?

The adverb marre is actually only used in the phrasal expression:

En avoir marre

J'en ai marre

T'en as marre

Il en a marre

Nous en avons marre

Vous en avez marre

Ils en ont marre

 The precise meaning and origin of marre are widely debated.

Some linguists have linked the word marre to marrement, a word used in the 11-13th Centuries to mean unhappiness.

Others claim it could also have devolved from marence, which meant suffering in the 14th and 15th Centuries, or marrissement, used to mean displeasure in the 16th Century.

A fourth theory, put forward by linguist Alain Rey, one of the major original creators of the iconic dictionary Le Robert, suggested that the origins lie in the slang term mar or maré.

Read more: French linguist Alain Rey dies aged 92

This word first emerged in the 15th Century, meaning a token or chip, then evolved to mean profit or share.

By the 19th Century, to have your share – avoir son mar – meant to have what you deserved or needed.

Take this one step further and you have not the right amount, but too much: j’en ai marre – I’ve had enough.