Learning French: the origins and meaning of avoir le cœur qui bat la chamade

This popular French expression gives a whole new meaning to the idea that ‘love is a battlefield.’ 

Avoir le cœur qui bat la chamade, refers to a pounding heartbeat and stems from military terminology. 

We look at the precise meaning behind it and give tips on how to use this phrase to describe your most exhilarating experiences. 

What does avoir le cœur qui bat la chamade mean?

It literally translates as: to have a pounding heart. 

It describes when your heart is racing as a result of being overwhelmed by a strong emotion such as love, excitement or fear. 

Synonyms include:

• Avoir le cœur qui s’emballe - To have a racing heart

• Avoir le cœur qui palpite - To have heart palpitations

Read also: Learning French: when and why do we say avoir un coup de cœur?

What are the origins of avoir le cœur qui bat la chamade?

La chamade comes from the old Italian word ciamada meaning ‘calling.’ 

It was used to refer to a military procedure where a drumroll would bring the fighting to a halt or signal a desire to surrender, allowing time to remove the injured or deceased soldiers from the battlefield.

This image of a beating drum, echoing over a landscape of horror, evolved to evoke the image of a pounding heartbeat. This led to the popular expression: avoir le cœur qui bat la chamade.

Read also: Learning French: when and why do we say faire contre mauvaise fortune bon cœur?

When do you say avoir le cœur qui bat la chamade?

Say this to describe experiencing different intense emotions, such as:

Fear:

• Ne me faites pas peur comme ça ! Mon cœur bat la chamade. - Don’t scare me like that! My heart is racing. 

Love:

• Quand je suis près de lui, j'ai le cœur qui bat la chamade. - When I am near him, my heart goes crazy.

Shock/surprise:

• Je n'arrive pas à croire que tu sois là ! Touche mon cœur… il bat la chamade. - I cannot believe you are here! Feel my heart… it is pounding.

Exhilaration:

• Son cœur battait la chamade en attendant de sauter de l'avion. - His heart was thumping as he waited to jump out of the plane. 

Read also: a me gonfle!: How to express your irritation (or love) in French

To whom do you say avoir le cœur qui bat la chamade?

It is neutral language and can be used in a range of situations. 

You will most likely find yourself saying it to friends or family, as intense experiences are usually discussed with intimate relations.

Read also: Avoir du coeur au ventre and more French heart phrases