Mon petit doigt m’a dit

Mon petit doigt m'a dit
Share / Tweet / Pin Me!

Informal French Expression

Meaning A little bird told me, a little birdie told me
Literally My pinky / little finger told me
Register informal, baby talk
Pronunciation French sound files [mo(n) peu tee dwah ma dee]
IPA   [mɔ̃ pə ti dwa ma di]

Usage notes: The French expression mon petit doigt m’a dit is a playful way of announcing that you know something when you don’t want to specify who told you or how you found out. Even more so than its English equivalent "a little bird told me," mon petit doigt m’a dit tends to be reserved for talking to children.

Par exemple…

Mon petit doigt m’a dit que tu n’as pas fait ton lit.   A little birdie told me that you didn’t make your bed.
– Comment tu le sais ?
– Mon petit doigt me l’a dit.
*
  – How do you know (that)?
– A little bird told me.

 It can also mean "to have a feeling" or "to suspect" something without having been told by anyone, similar to "by the pricking of my thumbs" found in Macbeth (Act 4, Scene 1).

Somewhat synonymous: Entendre dire

* Grammar note: Why l’a dit? It’s the neuter object pronoun.

 Related lessons

 Share / Tweet / Pin Me!

Mon petit doigt m'a dit

  Lawless French Files:  

Stay up to date with Lawless French

Questions about French?

 Visit the Progress with Lawless French Q+A forum to get help from native French speakers and fellow learners.

More Lawless French

 Subscribe to my twice-weekly newsletter.

Support Lawless French

  This free website is created with love and a great deal of work.

If you love it, please consider making a one-time or monthly donation.

Your support is entirely optional but tremendously appreciated.

Leave a Reply