Idiom Translator

How do you say “Hear something through the grapevine” in French?

The closest natural French equivalent is apprendre quelque chose par le bouche-à-oreille, which literally means “to learn something by mouth-to-ear”. English speakers use hear something through the grapevine to mean to learn news through informal conversations rather than from an official or direct source. It also describes recommendations spreading between people, not just rumours. Register: informal. Usage frequency: common.

Closest natural French

apprendre quelque chose par le bouche-à-oreille

/apʁɑ̃dʁ kɛlkə ʃoz paʁ lə buʃ a ɔʁɛj/

Literal meaning
“to learn something by mouth-to-ear”
Register
informal
How often it's used
common
Equivalence

Near-exact equivalent

90 out of 100

What a native French speaker would actually say

“Le bouche-à-oreille” describes information passing from person to person. It can spread recommendations as well as rumours, so it doesn't tell you whether the news is true.

“J'ai entendu dire que…” means “I've heard that…” and works well for unconfirmed news. Naming the mutual contacts is another simple option.

How close is the meaning?

  • Meaning5 out of 5
  • Tone4 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?

  • apprendre quelque chose par des connaissances

    Literally: “to learn something through acquaintances”

    Useful when mutual contacts are the important detail.

  • avoir entendu dire que

    Literally: “to have heard it said that”

    A simple way to introduce indirect or unverified news.

In context

  • English

    I heard through the grapevine that the shop was closing.

    French

    J'ai appris par le bouche-à-oreille que le magasin allait fermer.

  • English

    We heard through the grapevine that they were moving.

    French

    Nous avons appris par des connaissances qu'ils déménageaient.

Related expressions

Last updated 2026-09-16