Oublier is the most common way to say “to forget” in French. But did you know there are several other options?

As you continue your French learning journey, you might find yourself wanting to express different nuances of forgetting, or simply to vary your vocabulary.

Knowing these alternatives will help you sound more natural and precise! Let’s explore 9 common ways to say “to forget” in French!

The standard 'to forget' – oublier

The standard 'to forget' – oublier

Oublier is the most common and direct verb in French for 'to forget'.

As a regular -ER verb, oublier follows a predictable conjugation pattern, making it relatively straightforward to learn in various tenses.

Most commonly, oublier is used transitively to mean 'to forget something' or 'to forget someone'. It directly takes a direct object without a preposition.

The pronominal form, s'oublier, means 'to forget oneself' or 'to neglect oneself', often in the sense of being selfless or losing track of one's own needs.

When you forget to perform an action, oublier is followed by the preposition de and an infinitive verb (e.g., oublier de faire - to forget to do).

Be careful not to confuse oublier with laisser. While laisser can mean 'to leave behind' (which might imply forgetting an item somewhere), oublier specifically refers to the mental act of forgetting.

In the passé composé (and other compound tenses), oublier uses the auxiliary verb avoir. For example, J'ai oublié (I forgot).

Like many verbs, the precise nuance of oublier can be influenced by context, but its core meaning of 'to forget' remains consistent across situations.

💡 * J'ai oublié mes clés à la maison. (I forgot my keys at home.)

N'oublie pas de m'appeler ce soir. (Don't forget to call me tonight.)

Elle s'oublie souvent pour le bien de sa famille. (She often forgets herself for the good of her family.)

Nous n'oublierons jamais ce beau moment. (We will never forget this beautiful moment.)

Il a oublié son portefeuille au restaurant. (He forgot his wallet at the restaurant.)

The 'to not remember' – ne pas se souvenir de

The 'to not remember' – ne pas se souvenir de

When you want to express the idea of 'to not remember' or 'to forget' in French, especially when referring to a memory or an event, the reflexive verb phrase ne pas se souvenir de is your go-to option. It literally translates to 'not to remember oneself of'.

This phrase is composed of several key elements: the negation ne...pas, the reflexive pronoun se (which changes to me, te, nous, vous depending on the subject), the verb souvenir (used reflexively as se souvenir meaning 'to remember'), and the preposition de (meaning 'of' or 'about'). The de contracts with articles, forming du, de la, de l', des.

As a reflexive verb, se souvenir conjugates with the auxiliary verb être in compound tenses. For example, in the passé composé, you would say je ne me suis pas souvenu(e) de.... The negation ne...pas always surrounds the conjugated verb (or the auxiliary verb in compound tenses).

While oublier also means 'to forget', ne pas se souvenir de often implies a failure to recall a memory or an event. Oublier can be used for things you simply don't remember to do (e.g., J'ai oublié mes clés - I forgot my keys), whereas ne pas se souvenir de is more about the act of recalling from memory. Think of it as 'to not have a memory of' versus 'to misplace from memory'.

You'll frequently hear ne pas se souvenir de when someone is trying to recall details from the past, like a conversation, a name, a date, or an experience. It emphasizes the active process of trying to remember and failing.

Using ne pas se souvenir de can add a subtle emphasis on the absence of a memory, rather than just the act of forgetting. It suggests a mental blank or an inability to access stored information, highlighting the struggle to bring something back to mind.

💡 * Je ne me souviens pas de son nom. (I don't remember her name.)

Elle ne se souvient pas de ce qui s'est passé hier soir. (She doesn't remember what happened last night.)

Nous ne nous souvenons pas de notre premier voyage ensemble. (We don't remember our first trip together.)

Vous ne vous souvenez pas de cette conversation ? (You don't remember that conversation?)

Ils ne se sont pas souvenus de fermer la porte à clé. (They didn't remember to lock the door.)

The 'to have a memory lapse' – avoir un trou de mémoire

When you can't quite recall something, perhaps a name, a word, or an event, the French have a vivid expression for it: avoir un trou de mémoire.

Literally, avoir un trou de mémoire translates to 'to have a hole of memory' or 'to have a memory hole'. This imagery perfectly captures the feeling of a blank space where information should be.

This idiomatic expression is used to describe a temporary inability to remember something, a sudden blank in one's mind, or what English speakers might call a 'memory lapse' or 'brain fog'.

The phrase uses the verb avoir (to have), which will be conjugated according to the subject. Un trou is masculine for 'a hole', and mémoire is feminine for 'memory'. So, you'll say J'ai un trou de mémoire (I have a memory lapse), Tu as un trou de mémoire (You have a memory lapse), etc.

You can use avoir un trou de mémoire in various situations, whether you're forgetting a person's name, a date, a specific word during a conversation, or even what you were about to say.

It's important to note that avoir un trou de mémoire refers to a temporary, usually harmless lapse, not a serious medical condition like amnesia. It's the common experience of forgetting something for a moment.

💡 * J'ai un trou de mémoire, je ne me souviens plus de son nom. (I have a memory lapse, I can't remember her name anymore.)

Pendant l'examen, j'ai eu un trou de mémoire complet. (During the exam, I had a complete memory lapse.)

Il a souvent des trous de mémoire quand il est stressé. (He often has memory lapses when he's stressed.)

Excusez-moi, j'ai un trou de mémoire, quel était votre nom déjà ? (Excuse me, I have a memory lapse, what was your name again?)

The 'to slip one's mind' – sortir de l'esprit

The expression "sortir de l'esprit" literally translates to "to leave the mind" or "to exit the spirit."

However, idiomatically, it's the most common and natural way to say "to slip one's mind" or "to forget unintentionally" in French. It implies that something that should have been remembered has unexpectedly left one's memory.

This expression is typically used with an indirect object pronoun (e.g., me, te, lui, nous, vous, leur) to indicate whose mind the information slipped from. The structure often follows: [subject] + [indirect object pronoun] + est/sont + sorti(e)(s) de l'esprit (using être as the auxiliary verb).

It's a versatile phrase for acknowledging an honest oversight or an unintentional act of forgetting, making it a very useful phrase in everyday French conversations.

💡 * Ça m'est complètement sorti de l'esprit. (It completely slipped my mind.)

La date de notre rendez-vous lui est sortie de l'esprit. (The date of our appointment slipped his/her mind.)

Ne laissez pas cette information vous sortir de l'esprit. (Don't let this information slip your mind.)

Désolé, ton nom m'était sorti de l'esprit. (Sorry, your name had slipped my mind.)

Comment a-t-il pu leur sortir de l'esprit ? (How could it have slipped their minds?)

The 'to lose track of' – perdre le fil de

The 'to lose track of' – perdre le fil de

The French expression perdre le fil de literally translates to “to lose the thread of.” It’s used to mean “to lose track of,” “to lose the thread of,” or “to get lost in” something, usually a conversation, an idea, or a narrative.

While fil means “thread,” this phrase is almost exclusively used figuratively. It describes a mental state where one can no longer follow the progression of an argument, a story, or a series of thoughts.

You would use perdre le fil de when you’ve lost the logical sequence or coherence of something. It's common in discussions, lectures, or when trying to follow complex instructions.

The preposition de (or d') is crucial and connects the action of losing the thread to the specific thing you've lost track of. For example, perdre le fil de la conversation (to lose track of the conversation) or perdre le fil des événements (to lose track of the events).

This phrase is a very natural and frequently used way to express mental disengagement or confusion in French, especially when information overload or distraction occurs.

💡 * J'ai perdu le fil de la conversation. (I lost track of the conversation.)

Le professeur a perdu le fil de son explication. (The professor lost the thread of his explanation.)

Quand je lis un livre compliqué, je perds souvent le fil de l'histoire. (When I read a complicated book, I often lose track of the story.)

Ne perds pas le fil de tes idées. (Don't lose track of your ideas.)

Il a perdu le fil de son raisonnement. (He lost the thread of his reasoning.)

The 'to let go of' (a past event or person) – laisser derrière soi

The French phrase laisser derrière soi literally translates to 'to leave behind oneself'. While it can refer to physically leaving something or someone in a location, its most common and evocative use is metaphorical: to let go of a past event, a person, or a feeling, and move forward.

This idiom is frequently employed when discussing the act of overcoming past hardships, relationships, or regrets. It signifies a conscious decision to not dwell on what has happened and instead, to embrace the future. Think of it as the emotional equivalent of 'turning the page' or 'moving on'.

You can laisser derrière soi a bad experience (une mauvaise expérience), a difficult period (une période difficile), an ex-partner (un(e) ex-partenaire), or even old habits (de vieilles habitudes). The key is the sense of actively choosing to detach from something that was once part of your life.

The reflexive pronoun soi (oneself) is crucial here, emphasizing that this act of letting go is a personal and internal process. It's not just about leaving something, but about leaving it behind you, in your past, as you progress.

Laisser derrière soi is often used in contexts of personal growth, resilience, and recovery. It conveys a strong message of self-empowerment and the ability to overcome adversity. It's a powerful phrase for expressing emotional liberation.

💡 * Il est temps de laisser derrière soi le passé et d'avancer. (It's time to let go of the past and move forward.)

Elle a décidé de laisser derrière elle ses peurs. (She decided to leave her fears behind her / let go of her fears.)

Nous devons apprendre à laisser derrière nous les rancœurs. (We must learn to let go of grudges.)

Pour être heureux, il faut parfois laisser derrière soi ce qui nous pèse. (To be happy, you sometimes have to leave behind what weighs you down / let go of what burdens you.)

The 'to no longer think about' – ne plus penser à

The phrase ne plus penser à directly translates to 'to no longer think about' something or someone. It signifies a cessation of thought or concern regarding a particular subject.

This construction utilizes the negative adverbial pair ne...plus, meaning 'no longer' or 'not anymore'. The preposition à is essential here, indicating the object of the thought, similar to 'about' in English when thinking about something.

You'll use ne plus penser à when someone has moved on from a past event, stopped worrying about a problem, or simply ceased to recall a person or thing. It often carries a connotation of resolution or emotional detachment.

💡 * Il ne pense plus à son ex. (He no longer thinks about his ex.)

J'essaie de ne plus penser à mes soucis. (I'm trying to no longer think about my worries.)

Après ses vacances, elle ne pensait plus au travail. (After her vacation, she no longer thought about work.)

Nous devrions ne plus penser à ce problème et avancer. (We should no longer think about this problem and move forward.)

The 'to fall into oblivion' – tomber dans l'oubli

The French phrase tomber dans l'oubli literally translates to 'to fall into oblivion.' It's an idiomatic expression that carries significant meaning.

This idiom is used to describe something or someone that is completely forgotten, disappearing from collective memory, or simply fading away into obscurity. It signifies a loss of remembrance or recognition.

It can apply to people, events, ideas, or even objects that are no longer remembered or acknowledged. It conveys a sense of loss or disappearance from public consciousness, often implying a gradual process.

While être oublié (to be forgotten) is a direct equivalent, tomber dans l'oubli adds a poetic, almost dramatic, flair, suggesting a descent into obscurity rather than just a state of being forgotten.

💡 * Son nom est tombé dans l'oubli. (His name has fallen into oblivion.)

Cette vieille chanson est tombée dans l'oubli. (This old song has fallen into oblivion.)

Après sa mort, son œuvre est tombée dans l'oubli pendant des décennies. (After his death, his work fell into oblivion for decades.)

Beaucoup de traditions locales sont tombées dans l'oubli avec le temps. (Many local traditions have fallen into oblivion over time.)

The 'to erase from memory' – effacer de sa mémoire

The French phrase effacer de sa mémoire translates directly to 'to erase from one's memory'. It's used to describe the act of deliberately trying to forget something, often something unpleasant or painful.

Let's break it down: effacer means 'to erase' or 'to wipe out', and de sa mémoire means 'from one's memory'. The possessive pronoun sa (one's) is crucial here, indicating that the act of erasing is personal and internal.

While it literally means to erase, effacer de sa mémoire carries a stronger connotation than simply oublier (to forget). It implies a conscious effort or a strong desire to remove a memory, especially one that causes distress or regret. It's often used in a figurative sense when someone wishes they could completely forget an event or a person.

You would typically use effacer de sa mémoire when talking about traumatic events, embarrassing moments, or anything one wishes they could unremember. It highlights the emotional weight associated with the memory and the desire for its complete removal from one's mind.

💡 *Elle voulait effacer de sa mémoire ce terrible accident. (She wanted to erase that terrible accident from her memory.)
*J'aimerais effacer ces paroles blessantes de ma mémoire. (I would like to erase those hurtful words from my memory.)
*Il n'a jamais pu effacer cette trahison de sa mémoire. (He could never erase that betrayal from his memory.)
*C'est un souvenir que je préférerais effacer de ma mémoire. (It's a memory I would prefer to erase from my memory.)
*Comment faire pour effacer un tel événement de sa mémoire ? (How can one erase such an event from one's memory?)

Are there other ways to say 'to forget' in French?

Our list featured the most common ways to say 'to forget' in French. But the French language, like any other, is rich with nuances and variations, from old-fashioned terms to regional expressions, and even new slang that might be emerging.

For a deeper dive, you could also do an online search for 'comment dire oublier en ___' followed by a specific Francophone country or region to discover local idioms and expressions.

You might find some interesting synonyms for oublier on this list or through your own research. As always, make sure to check a word’s precise definition and try to see it used in context before incorporating it into your vocabulary.

Pay close attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different, more nuanced ways to talk about forgetting things or people.

And if you’re looking for more ways to talk about different nuances of forgetting, or words related to memory and forgetfulness in French, the WordReference entry for oublier is an excellent place to start!

I hope this article has helped you navigate the various ways to express 'to forget' in French. To conclude, here's a thought from the French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau: L'oubli est le seul vengeur des injures. (Forgetting is the only avenger of injuries.)

9 ways to say "to forget" in French