Yap.Town

ouï dire

heard (by hearsay)

→ ouïr
phrase Rare #46,200
heard (by hearsay) A literary or old-fashioned expression meaning to hear something indirectly, rather than witness it yourself.
FR: J’ai ouï dire qu’ils déménagent.
EN: I’ve heard that they’re moving.

J'ai ouï dire que tu l'avais vue hier soir.

I heard tell that you saw her last night.

— Suspiria (1977)

Je suppose que tu as ouï dire ce qui s'est produit ce matin.

I suppose you've heard what happened this morning.

Je suppose que tu as ouï dire ce qui s'est passé ce matin.

I suppose you’ve heard what happened this morning.

Je suppose que vous avez ouï dire ce qui s'est produit ce matin.

I suppose you have heard what happened this morning.

Or, j'ai ouï dire que vous aviez des problèmes pour vous rendre à Chicago ?

I heard that you were having trouble getting to Chicago?

— Maman, j'ai raté l'avion ! (1990)