J'en peux plus

Expression: J'en peux plus

Pronunciation: [zha(n) peu plu]

Meaning: I can't take (it) any more

Literal translation: I can't [do] any more of it

Register: informal

Notes: The French expression j'en peux plus means that you've had enough of something (complaining, crying, arguing...), that you're at your breaking point and just can't take any more.

Note that there is no verb after peux; the "something"—which should be very obvious from whatever is going on around you—is expressed by en.

The grammatically correct expression is je n'en peux plus, but I can't remember ever hearing it pronounced that way; the situations in which this expression is used are always so informal that the ne is automatically dropped.

Example
   Arrête, je t'en supplie, j'en peux plus !
   Stop, I'm begging you, I can't take any more!

Synonyms: J'en peux plus isn't quite the same thing as ras-le-bol or j'en ai marre which express frustration or anger, whereas j'en peux plus tends to be more indicative of despair.

Post your comments about the French expression j'en peux plus on my French blog - just hit "comments" at the bottom of the post.


More

• Expressions with en
• Expressions with pouvoir
• Expressions with plus
• Most common French phrases