Learning French: when and why do we say être dur de la feuille?

You might assume this expression has something to do with the season’s falling leaves, however if a French person describes someone as being dur de la feuille, it actually means they have difficulty hearing.

We look at the origins behind the saying and explain how and when to use it. 

What does être dur de la feuille mean?

It literally translates as: to be hard of the leaf. 

You would use this phrase to describe a person who is a bit deaf, just like you might say someone is ‘hard of hearing.’ 

A related expression is tomber dans l’oreille d’un sourd (literally: to fall into a deaf person’s ear), and it is similar to the English phrase: to fall upon deaf ears. 

What are the origins of être dur de la feuille?

It stems from the phrase: être dur d'oreille (to have a hard ear).

Some theories argue that the leaf-themed version of the saying functions in a similar way to cockney rhyming slang, with feuille replacing oreille.

Furthermore, feuille or feuille de chou (cabbage leaf) can be used in French slang to refer to an ear – due to the visual similarity between the two.

Therefore the connection between leaves, ears, and hearing, gradually led to the creation of this popular expression. 

When do you say être dur de la feuille?

Say this to describe someone who has difficulty hearing:

• Je trouve que mon grand-père vieillit et il est devenu un peu dur de la feuille. - I find that my grandfather is getting old and he has become a bit deaf.

• La femme ne veut pas admettre qu'elle est dure de la feuille, même si elle demande aux gens de répéter les choses trois fois. - The woman does not want to admit that she is hard of hearing, even though she asks people to repeat things three times.

Note that when referring to someone female, you must add an ‘e’ at the end of dur. 

To whom do you say être dur de la feuille?

It is considered slang language that should only really be used with friends and close family members.

The phrase is not rude or impolite per se, but it is not appropriate for use in formal situations.

A more neutral way of describing someone as being hard of hearing would be to say: il/elle est malentendant(e).

Read also:  Learning French: avoir l’oreille fine and other ear-related expressions

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