French Idiom · Native
Avoir la gueule de bois
To have a hangover
Pronunciation: ah-VWAHR lah guhl duh BWAH
Meaning
To experience the unpleasant physical effects following excessive alcohol consumption, such as headache and nausea.
Example
Après la fête, j'avais une terrible gueule de bois.
After the party, I had a terrible hangover.
Common mistakes & tips
- Practice Avoir la gueule de bois out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this is a native-level French idiom.