The French are known for their laid-back lifestyle, where simple pleasures readily take precedence over mundane obligations. This outlook is summed up well in the French expression joie de vivre, meaning literally joy of living.

On the flipside, a high proportion of French people still have a predictable work routine that fills their days and weeks. So while one perspective is certainly this French joie de vivre, another common expression people use on themselves to describe their daily grind is métro, boulot, dodo.

In today’s post we’ll take a closer look at both of these French expressions on life. We’ll start with joie de vivre, then we’ll see métro, boulot, dodo, and we’ll conclude by comparing the two. We’ll provide several other French expressions that have similar meanings to each of them, and as always, we’ll provide a few examples to see them used in context.

Now let’s dive in and learn more about these French expressions about our attitude to life!

Joie de vivre

Joie de vivre is a French expression that refers to the joy of living or the appreciation of life. It’s a celebratory attitude, characterized by a sense of delight, enthusiasm, and contentment. The phrase encompasses the idea of finding joy in the simple pleasures of life, and savoring the beauty of the present moment.

Joie de vivre can also be interpreted as a zest for life, a carefree spirit, and a general love of existence. It is a positive, optimistic view that emphasizes living fully, embracing experiences, and embracing each day with joy and passion.

The sentiments implied by this expression are universal across languages and cultures. It’s even common to hear people use joie de vivre in English rather than any translated expression, since the French version has such depth to its meanings. Let’s explore some of the main sentiments it conveys.

Pleasure and happiness: From simple joys like walking in nature, savoring a delicious meal, or spending time with friends, joie de vivre is intrinsically linked to a capacity to find pleasure and happiness in the little things in life.

• Avec vous, mes amis, j’adore que la clé de notre bonheur réside dans la capacité à cultiver la joie de vivre au quotidien, à apprécier les petites choses et à trouver du plaisir dans chaque instant. – With you, my friends, I love that the key to our happiness is found in our capacity to cultivate la joie de vivre every day, to appreciate the little things, and to find pleasure in each moment.

Gratitude and appreciation: By invoking la joie de vivre, we’re expressing a sense of gratitude for life itself. Likewise, we can use it to show an appreciation for the beauty and richness of the world around us, and for all the wonderful opportunities it offers us.

• Notre grand-père a toujours eu une incroyable joie de vivre, même dans les moments les plus sombres. C’était inspirant de le voir ainsi. – Our grandfather always had an incredible joie de vivre, even in the darkest times. It was an inspiration to see him like that.

Optimism and enthusiasm: Finally, we have an optimistic perspective when we think about someone enjoying la joie de vivre, with enthusiasm for the great possibilities that life is bringing our way. It’s about believing in joyful moments with a positive mindset, regardless of any obstacles that may inevitably arise.

• J’espère que vous vous portez bien et que vous continuez à profiter de la joie de vivre malgré les difficultés. – I hope you’re doing well, and that you continue to make the most of your joie de vivre, even when faced with difficulties.

Joie de vivre synonyms

Now that we’ve explored our joie de vivre meaning, let’s look at a few other French expressions that express similar sentiments.

Avoir le cœur léger

This expression translates literally as to have a light heart. A related expression in English is light-hearted, though avoir le cœur léger is more about an intrinsic feeling of happiness and contentment. This French expression is used to describe when someone is free of worry, in contrast to if they were weighted down by obligations. Like joie de vivre, it’s always taken in a very positive light.

Carpe diem

This Latin expression is used in French just like it’s used in English, with a meaning along the lines of seize the day. Carpe diem is used as an encouragement to live in the present, and make the most of every moment. It’s a good expression to justify accepting some unexpected opportunity that you’re presented with, which you probably wouldn’t have planned on doing ahead of time. As such, people who seize the day are often also described as embracing la joie de vivre!

Rayonner de bonheur

The French verb rayonner has a few meanings, all along the lines of glowing, shining, or radiating. Bonheur means happiness, so when we use rayonner de bonheur to describe someone, they’re clearly brimming with happiness. It’s a suitable description when someone’s joy is really obvious in the way they appear, like when they can’t stop smiling or they’re totally unfazed by little things that other people might find annoying. Oh là la! Whereas la joie de vivre is more subtle, rayonner de bonheur is suitable when someone seems to just glow with lightness from within.

Sauter de joie

This expression translates as jumping for joy. Though it can indeed describe someone who physically jumps, it’s usually used figuratively to illustrate something that causes great excitement. Whereas joie de vivre is more of a general feeling that can permeate someone’s mood for a long period, we normally think of a specific joyful event that leads someone to jump for joy.

Être heureux comme un poisson dans l’eau

We’ll end with this one that’s a bit cheesy, but still pretty common. Its English translation should make it clear enough: to be happy like a fish in water. This expression can be used when someone just seems to be in their element, giving off a sense of satisfaction and well-being thanks to the harmony they have with their surroundings.

Être heureux comme un poisson dans l’eau is a description that relies on a person’s situation, however. This contrasts it with joie de vivre, which relies less on a person’s exterior circumstances, and more on their internal approach to life.

So what is Joie de vivre?

Through our explanations above, and the other French expressions that express similar sentiments, we’ve seen that la joie de vivre in French is all about keeping a positive attitude. Whether faced with a big challenge or some mundane task, or just through taking pleasure in little everyday moments, it’s a great personality trait to always maintain some joie de vivre through it all.

But even though we French pride ourselves on our joy for life, we can’t deny that we still feel overwhelmed sometimes. To give some balance to all this positivity we’ve been looking at so far, it’s time to move on to another common French expression for our attitude about everyday life.

Métro, boulot, dodo

This succinct little phrase is rich in meaning, encapsulating how so many people tend to sum up their everyday. Métro refers to the commute to and from work, whether crammed into a subway or a bus, or stuck in traffic. Boulot is the job, with no romance to it. And dodo is a childish word for sleep.

Métro, boulot, dodo sums up the frenetic rhythm of the daily routine, where the days seem to repeat themselves over and over in an endless cycle of commutes, work, and sleep. Emblematic of contemporary society, this expression really reflects sentiments of monotony, fatigue, and disillusionment with the daily grind.

Even the sound of these three words, stated with a certain rhyming cadence, evokes a sense of depressing repetition: Métro, boulot, dodo. Métro, boulot, dodo. Say them a few times in a row, and you just can’t help but feel depressed!

So what are the key sentiments we’re evoking when we bring up métro, boulot, dodo?

Monotony and routine: On the light end of the spectrum, métro, boulot, dodo is just an acknowledgment that every day seems to be a repetition of the day before. The commutes to and from work are just a means to an end, the work itself is just a place to spend so many hours of the day, and the night of sleep is the only real point of transition between one day and the next. There’s not a whole lot else to report.

• Comment ça se passe ta semaine ? / Tu sais, rien de nouveau, juste le même vieux métro, boulot, dodo. – How’s your week going? / Oh you know, nothing new. Just the same old métro, boulot, dodo.

Fatigue and exhaustion: Going deeper, métro, boulot, dodo hints at this seemingly interminable string of obligations that never let up. Keeping this grind up day in and day out can take its toll, especially with long hours spent at work and on the commute. Again, sleep may offer some respite, but only so the cycle can start again in the morning. Thus, métro, boulot, dodo is often an implied lament of fatigue and exhaustion, both physical and mental, while also just acknowledging that this is the way things are.

• Vive le week-end, j’en ai marre de cette routine métro, boulot, dodo ! – Thank goodness it’s the weekend! I’m so sick of this routine of métro, boulot, dodo.

Disillusionment and alienation: On the darker end of the spectrum, this expression can sometimes really signal someone’s overall disillusionment with how their life seems to be panning out. In this extreme, the French concept of métro, boulot, dodo is synonymous with being trapped in an overly-predictable routine, where you’re tired out by it all at the end of each day and questioning what it’s all for, but you’re still destined to repeat it again the next morning. In this sense, people often cite their disillusionment with métro, boulot, dodo as a rationale for making big changes in their life, like moving to a smaller town or embarking on an entirely new career.

• Je suis tellement fatigué de cette routine métro, boulot, dodo. J’ai l’impression de passer ma vie à travailler sans vraiment vivre. – I’m so tired of this routine of métro, boulot, dodo. I get the impression that I’m spending my life working, without really living.

Métro, boulot, dodo synonyms

In French society these days, métro, boulot, dodo is definitely the most common expression we use to describe the daily grind in a negative light. We have a couple of other options with their own nuances though, so let’s see them each here.

La routine quotidienne

This expression is way more neutral, meaning simply the daily routine. Sure, it still makes reference to the predictable elements that repeat each day, but without the negative connotations of métro, boulot, dodo. By referring to our activities as la routine quotidienne, we’re a lot more accepting of the fact that the things we do each day aren’t necessarily exciting.  C’est la vie, it’s just our routine.

La rat race

Yes, this English expression is sometimes used in French to describe the competitive struggle involved in modern society. It really underlines the constant pressure people feel in their careers, frequently to the detriment of other elements of their lives like fun, friends, or family. Trying to make it in la rat race is one of the reasons people get caught up in the cycle of métro, boulot, dodo.

Vivre pour travailler, travailler pour vivre

This last expression reflects a sense of resignation, putting into question one’s order of priorities. It’s a bit poetic, inversing the infinitives of the two verbs to live – vivre and to work – travailler, essentially asking the question of which one we do for the other: live to work, or work to live?

It reminds us of how one’s job is frequently the dominant activity in many people’s lives, while also recognizing that having a job is a necessity in order to meet their needs. When we question ourselves with vivre pour travailler, travailler pour vivre, we’re really searching for a better balance between our work life and our need for personal satisfaction outside the grind of métro, boulot, dodo.

So what is métro, boulot, dodo?

Between the different expressions we’ve looked at here, we’ve considered the fact that many people in French society really find themselves caught up in an endless cycle through their work routines.

Going beyond the simple appearance of the term, which we can translate essentially as the daily grind, métro, boulot, dodo can take a whole spectrum of additional connotations. From a sentiment of monotony, to physical and mental fatigue, to a general disillusionment with one’s life, this expression can be an important indicator for how people perceive their existence!

As we see it used more and more in French society, perhaps it’s a good reminder for us all to reflect on our lifestyles and our priorities, and to support the people around us who could use some positive encouragement.

Joie de vivre vs Métro, boulot, dodo

Joie de vivre and métro, boulot, dodo are two distinct and contrasting French expressions that represent different attitudes towards life. Both of the sentiments these expressions evoke are prevalent across French society, so it’s important to be familiar with them both.

Joie de vivre refers to a joyful and enthusiastic appreciation of life, while métro, boulot, dodo refers to a more routine and monotonous existence.

People with une joie de vivre come across as happy and cheerful, making the most of whatever situation comes their way. Even if life means going to work every day, joy can be had in the little details. Even routines can be fun if you make them interesting!

People describing their lives as métro, boulot, dodo may feel dissatisfaction with this same routine, evoking a lack of excitement or fulfillment. It’s an outlook where they see their lives spent commuting, working, and sleeping, without much time for leisure or enjoyment.

But isn’t this all just a matter of perspective then?

So perhaps métro, boulot, dodo puts the emphasis on the predictable nature of the everyday routines, invoking monotony, fatigue, and disillusionment. Well joie de vivre does the exact opposite, invoking optimism, gratitude, and happiness! It’s a good thing this is such a strong trait in our society today!

So even when faced with challenges, try to embrace the French joie de vivre to celebrate the beauty and richness of life, finding happiness and pleasure in every moment. This positive attitude is clearly more satisfying than lamenting the grind of métro, boulot, dodo, and often the easiest to apply in even the simplest moments.