A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "Someone stole my wallet" in French
Someone stole my wallet! Use this urgent phrase to report a theft to police or staff in France.
On m'a volé mon portefeuille !
ohn mah voh-LAY mohn pohr-tuh-FUH-eeneutral
French TTS · 0:01
Say this immediately if you discover your wallet is missing and you suspect it was taken. You'll likely need to report it to the police or to security staff at a venue.
Alternatives
- Mon portefeuille a été volé !Slightly more formal, emphasizes the wallet's passive role.
- Je me suis fait voler mon portefeuille !More personal, emphasizes the victim's experience.
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing 'on' like 'own'
The 'on' in 'on m'a' is a nasal vowel, like the 'on' in 'song' but shorter.
Forgetting the 'm' in 'mon'
The 'mon' means 'my' and is essential; don't just say 'portefeuille' alone.
Mispronouncing 'volé'
The 'é' is like the 'ay' in 'say', not the 'eh' in 'bet'.
A small cultural note
While 'portefeuille' is standard, some might use 'porte-monnaie' for a smaller coin purse, though 'portefeuille' generally covers a wallet.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
What do I say if someone stole my bag?
You would say 'On m'a volé mon sac !' (ohn mah voh-LAY mohn SACK). 'Sac' means bag.
How do I ask the police for help?
You can start by saying 'Excusez-moi, j'ai un problème.' (ex-kew-zay MWA, zhay uhn proh-BLEM) which means 'Excuse me, I have a problem.'
What if I just lost my wallet, not stolen?
You would say 'J'ai perdu mon portefeuille.' (zhay pehr-DEW mohn pohr-tuh-FUH-ee). 'Perdu' means lost.
