impossible n'est pas français

French

Etymology

Literally, “[the word] 'impossible' is not French”. According to the traditional account, this saying derives from a statement by Napoleon, when told by General Le Marois during the German Campaign of 1813 that he could no longer hold Magdeburg. Napoleon's response was:

Ce n’est pas possible, m’écrivez-vous : cela n’est pas français.
You tell me, "it is not possible"; that is not French.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɛ̃.pɔ.si.blə n‿ɛ pa fʁɑ̃.sɛ/ ~ /ɛ̃.pɔ.si.blə n‿ɛ pɑ fʁɑ̃.sɛ/

Proverb

impossible n'est pas français

  1. there's no such word as can't; nothing is impossible
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