How do you say “A bun in the oven” in French?
The closest natural French equivalent is attendre un bébé, which literally means “to expect a baby”. English speakers use a bun in the oven to mean a baby developing during pregnancy. Warm everyday wording, without the English phrase's joking tone. Register: neutral. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural French
attendre un bébé
/atɑ̃dʁ œ̃ bebe/
- Literal meaning
- “to expect a baby”
- Register
- neutral
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Close equivalent
87 out of 100
What a native French speaker would actually say
“Attendre un bébé” suits a pregnancy announcement in most ordinary settings. It focuses on the news rather than a comparison with food.
“Être enceinte” is the direct way to say someone is pregnant. Use that when clarity matters more than a warm announcement.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone3 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity1 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
What are other ways to say it in French?
être enceinte
Literally: “to be pregnant”
The direct, neutral wording for pregnancy.
In context
English
At dinner, Jo announced she had a bun in the oven.
French
Au dîner, Jo a annoncé qu'elle attendait un bébé.
English
My sister has a bun in the oven; the baby is due in May.
French
Ma sœur attend un bébé ; la naissance est prévue en mai.
Related expressions
Last updated 2026-09-19