French Expression · Native
Mettre la pagaille
To make a mess / To create chaos (informal)
Pronunciation: metr la pa-GAHY
Meaning
To create a state of disorder, confusion, or messiness.
Example
Les enfants ont mis la pagaille dans le salon avec leurs jouets.
The children made a mess in the living room with their toys.
Common mistakes & tips
- Practice Mettre la pagaille 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 expression.