French Phrase
Ça me trotte dans la tête.
Meaning
Literally, “That runs in my head.” Figuratively, it means that a thought, idea, or worry keeps replaying in your mind and you can’t stop thinking about it.
When to use
Use this informal expression when something is stuck in your mind—whether it’s a catchy song, a worry, a funny anecdote, or a sudden flash of inspiration. It’s common in everyday conversation, not in formal writing.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Çametrottedanslatête
Ça
Demonstrative pronoun meaning “that/it”. It can refer to an idea, a feeling, or a situation previously mentioned.
me
First‑person indirect object pronoun (to me). Here it marks the person affected by the mental action.
trotte
Third‑person singular present of the verb *trotter* used figuratively: “to run through” (a thought runs through the mind).
dans
Preposition meaning “in/inside”. Combined with *la tête* it creates the idiomatic location of a thought.
la tête
Noun meaning “head”. In this expression it stands for the mind or mental space.
🗨In Conversation
Ça me trotte dans la tête depuis ce matin, je n’arrive pas à me concentrer.
It’s been running through my head since this morning; I can’t concentrate.
Tu veux en parler? Peut-être que ça t’aidera à le sortir de ta tête.
Do you want to talk about it? Maybe that will help get it out of your head.
✕Common Mistakes
Je trotte dans la tête.
Do not conjugate it as *je trotte* when the subject is *ça*; the correct form is third‑person singular *trotte*.
Le stylo me trotte dans la tête.
Avoid using *dans la tête* with a literal meaning (e.g., a physical object). The phrase is idiomatic and only refers to thoughts.
Dans mon rapport, ça me trotte dans la tête.
Do not use it in formal writing; opt for a more neutral construction.
↔Alternatives
Je n'arrive pas à me sortir ça de la tête.
I can’t get it out of my head.
Ça me tourne en boucle dans la tête.
It goes round and round in my head.
Je n'arrête pas d'y penser.
I keep thinking about it.
Cultural Tip
The expression is colloquial and typical of spoken French. It’s often heard in casual chats, TV series, and podcasts. In more formal contexts you would replace it with a neutral phrase like *cela me préoccupe* or *cette idée me revient sans cesse*. Regional variations exist – in Québec you might hear *ça me tourne dans la tête* instead of *trotte*.