French Idiom · Native
C'est grave
It's awesome / It's terrible (slang)
Pronunciation: say GRAHV
Meaning
A highly informal expression with a double meaning. It can be used ironically to mean 'it's awesome' or 'really good,' or genuinely to mean 'it's terrible' or 'really bad,' depending heavily on context and tone.
Example
Cette chanson, elle est grave ! (meaning 'awesome') / J'ai cassé mon téléphone, c'est grave ! (meaning 'terrible')
This song, it's awesome! / I broke my phone, that's terrible!
Common mistakes & tips
- Practice C'est grave 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.