French Phrase
Toujours les mêmes galères.
Meaning
A short, informal way to complain that you keep encountering the same problems or annoyances. It conveys a sense of exasperation and resignation.
When to use
Use this phrase in casual conversation with friends, family, or coworkers when you want to vent about recurring difficulties—e.g., a broken printer, a traffic jam you face every day, or a habit you can’t break.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Toujourslesmêmesgalères
Toujours
Adverb of frequency meaning ‘always’; placed at the beginning or before the verb it modifies.
les mêmes
Demonstrative adjective ‘the same’ agreeing in gender and number with the noun that follows.
galères
Colloquial noun meaning ‘hassles, troubles, difficulties’; plural form is common in everyday speech.
🗨In Conversation
Toujours les mêmes galères avec le métro : retard, foule, et aucune place assise.
Always the same hassles with the subway: delays, crowds, and never a seat.
Je sais, on dirait que la ville adore nous tester !
I know, it’s like the city loves to test us!
✕Common Mistakes
Toujours le même galère.
‘Galère’ is feminine plural; you need the plural form *les mêmes galères*.
Toujours les même galère.
Both the adjective *même* and the noun *galère* must agree in number and gender.
Toujours les mêmes galère.
The noun stays plural: *galères*.
↔Alternatives
C’est toujours la même galère.
It’s always the same hassle.
Encore les mêmes problèmes.
Again the same problems.
Les mêmes soucis, comme d’habitude.
The same worries, as usual.
Cultural Tip
The word *galère* originally referred to a type of rowing ship. In modern French it became slang for any difficult or unpleasant situation, much like the English ‘a pain in the neck’. It’s informal, so avoid it in formal writing or business presentations.