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French Language - Blog Posts
Found a mistake in the last post (thank you!) here's edited version
A movie review or something idk
Watched Astérix & Obélix et le Royaume Milieu (or Asterix & Obelix and the Middle Kingdom in English) with my family a few nights ago, with original French audio and subtitles. Even though my sister and I didn't want to watch it at first, as we've only ever seen the animated movies, we were pleasantly surprised.
It was ridiculously funny, and even though most of the French jokes may have fell flat with dubbing, some of them still shone through in any language, like when Obélix ran so fast the cart went over a lake, or the montage where the boat kept hitting the sides of the Red Sea.
And even though most of the movie just looked like cosplayers or LARP-ers with too much budget, they still stuck true to the comic's roots, and kept some of the hilarious cartoon/comic physics.
french: school vocabulary 📚
♡ Basics:
une école - school (in general), grade school
un écolier, une écolière - grade school student
un collège - middle school, junior high
un collégien, une collégienne - middle school student
un lycée - high school
un lycéen, une lycéenne - high school student
une université - college, university
un étudiant, une étudiante - college student
un professeur, un/e prof (informal)* - teacher
*In France, the word professeur is always masculine, even if the teacher is a woman.
♡ School Years and Ages:
Cours Préparatoire (CP) = 6 years old
Cours Elémentaire (CE1) = 7 years old
Cours Elémentaire (CE1) = 8 years old
Cours Moyen (CM1) = 9 years old
Cours Moyen (CM2) = 10 years old
Sixième = 11 years old
Cinquième = 12 years old
Quatrième = 13 years old
Troisième = 14 years old
Seconde = 15 years old
Première = 16 years old
Terminale = 17 years old
♡ Equipment - Le Matériel
un bureau - desk
un pupitre - student desk
un cahier - notebook
une calculatrice - calculator
un carnet - notebook
une carte - map
un classeur - binder
une craie - chalk
un crayon - pencil
des devoirs (m) - homework
un dictionnaire - dictionary
une gomme - eraser
le rétroprojecteur - overhead projector
un livre - book
la trousse - pencil case
le papier - paper
une feuille de papier - piece of paper
recto verso - front and back, both sides
un sac à dos - backpack
un stylo - pen
un tableau - chalkboard
le cartable - school bag
♡ The School:
classroom - une salle de classe
library - la bibliothèque
librarian - le/la documentaliste
hall - le hall
staff room - une salle des profs
cloakroom - le vestiaire
toilets - les toilettes
laboratory - un laboratoire
workshop - un atelier
gym - le gymnase
the playground - la cour de récréation
sports field - le terrain de sports
headmaster - le directeur
headmistress - la directrice
secretary - la secrétaire
dining hall - la cantine
corridor - le couloir
caretaker - le concierge
school yard - la cour
♡ Subjects - Les Matières
English - l'anglais
Mathematics - les mathématiques
Modern Languages - les langues vivantes
French - le français
Spanish - l'espagnol
German - l'allemand
Greek - le grec
Latin - le latin
Physical Science - les sciences physiques
Physics - la physique
Chemistry - la chimie
Biologie - la biologie
Technology - le travail manuel éducatif (TME)
Woodwork - le travail sur bois
Art - le dessin
Computing (IT) - l'informatique
Music - la musique
Geography - la géographie
History - l'histoire
Physical Education (PE) - l'éducation physique et sportive (EPS)
Religious Education (RE) - l'instruction religieuse
♡ School Life
lesson - un cours
pupil - une élève
to spell - épeler
to learn - apprendre
to discuss - discuter
essay - la rédaction
school uniform - l’uniforme
bell - le sonnerie
homework - les devoirs
timetable - un emploi de temps
to take notes - prendre des notes
term/semester - un trimestre
detention - le retenue
study period - l'étude
un examen - test
♡ Classroom activities and instructions
lever la main - to put one’s hand up
poser une question - to ask a question
écrivez - write down
écoutez - listen to
regardez - look at
regardez attentivement - look closely
lisez - read
lisez attentivement - read carefully
…le texte - the text
…l'enregistrement - the recording
…la conversation - the conversation
…la vidéo - the video
…l'écran - the screen
ouvrez - open
…votre cahier - your workbooks
…votre livre - your (text) books
…le manuel - the textbook
cochez la bonne réponse - tick the right answer
je vais vous donner un devoir - I’m going to give you some homework
c'est pour - it’s for
il faut le rendre - you’ve to hand it in
…demain - tomorrow
…la semaine prochaine - next week
…après les vacances - after the holidays
allez, c'est parti! - come on, let’s start!
faites moins de bruit, s'il vous plaît! - quieten down, please!
taisez-vous! - be quiet!
nature in french 🌿
le paysage landscape
la plaine plane
le désert desert
le bois woods
la forêt forest/woods
la forêt tropicale rainforest
le pré meadow
le marais swamp
la prairie grassland
le ruiseau stream
le lac lake
la cascade waterfall
le geyser geyser
la falaise cliff
la côte coast
le récif de corail coral reef
l’esturaire estuary
la montagne mountain
la rivière river
la colline hill
la gorge gorge
le plateau plateau
la caverne cave
la vallée valley
la terre the world/land
le monde the world
l’arbre tree
la feuille leaf
l’océan ocean
la mer sea
le fleuve river
le glacier the glacier
l’étang pond
la plage beach
la marée tide
la jungle jungle
la baie bay
un arbuste a bush
la nature nature
l'envrionnement the environment
le climat climate
fondre to melt
geler to freeze
réduire to reduce
réutiliser to reuse
recycler to recycle
le recyclage recycling
une ressource a resource
naturel/naturelle natural
renouvelable renewable
l'atmosphère (m.) the atmosphere
la pollution pollution
polluer to pollute
la couche d'ozone the ozone layer
l'eau (f.) water
le sol soil
semer to plant
un nuage a cloud
une tempête a storm
gaspiller to waste
l'oxygène (f.) oxygen
how to sound more like a french native speaker 🌿
The following points are 5 classic French conversational techniques and mannerisms to help you sound just a bit more truly français:
1. The tactical use of bah
Fairly difficult to translate, the French bah is used rather regularly and can make your speech pattern sound very authentic.
In answer to an obvious question perhaps:
“Tu aimes bien la pizza?” (Do you like pizza?)
“Bah oui, bien sur!” (Well, yes, of course!)
Or something like the following:
“Tu adores le brocoli?” (Do you love broccoli?)
“Bah non! Je déteste!” (No, I hate it!)
Or as a deep, elongated syllable to fill gaps while you think:
“Qu’est-ce que tu fais le weekend?” (What are you doing on the weekend?)
“Baaaaaahh, en fait je ne sais pas encore.” (Well…actually I don’t know yet)
2. Add quoi to the ends of sentences
This one is also not easy to translate, but it would be the French equivalent of “whatever” or “innit.” So, you might imagine that it shouldn’t be used when talking formally, but it’s used often in casual conversation and can perfectly round off a sentence.
“C’est quoi, ça?” (What is that?)
“Euuh, je ne sais pas exactement mais je pense que c’est une sorte de nourriture, quoi.” (Um, I’m not really sure but I think it’s a type of food or whatever.)
3. Using eh, ah and hein like there’s no tomorrow
Whether it’s to fill space while you think or to provoke a response, these elongated vowels are very useful when speaking French. They can be heard very often in conversation.
For example, in English we add “don’t you?”/ “aren’t you?”/ “isn’t it?” to the end of statements to toss the conversational ball back into the other person’s court. The French will simply say “hein?”
“Il fait beau aujourd’hui hein?” (It’s nice weather today isn’t it?)
Try it with raised eyebrows for added French effect.
4. Sufficient use of voilà here, there and everywhere
The slangy English phrases “so, yeah” or “so, there you go” would probably be best translated into French as “voilà.”
When you can’t think of anything else to say at the end of a sentence, you can’t go wrong with a voilà. Sometimes even two. Voilà voilà.
5. Not forgetting the classic French shrug
In response to a question to which you don’t know the answer, respond the French way with an exaggerated shrug, raised eyebrows and add a “baaah, je sais pas, moi!” for good measure.
Le Petit Prince - quotes 🌠
Le Petit Prince (1943) is a novel by Antoine de Saint Exupéry, translated into English as The Little Prince.
🌟 1. Les grandes personnes ne comprennent jamais rien toutes seules, et c’est fatigant, pour les enfants, de toujours et toujours leur donner des explications.
Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them.
🌟 2. Quand le mystère est trop impressionnant, on n’ose pas désobéir.
When a mystery is too overpowering, one dare not disobey.
🌟 3. La preuve que le petit prince a existé c’est qu’il était ravissant, qu’il riait, et qu’il voulait un mouton. Quand on veut un mouton, c’est la preuve qu’on existe.
The proof that the little prince existed is that he was charming, that he laughed, and that he was looking for a sheep. If anybody wants a sheep, that is a proof that he exists.
🌟 4. Mais les graines sont invisibles. Elles dorment dans le secret de la terre jusqu’à ce qu’il prenne fantaisie à l’une d’elles de se réveiller…
But seeds are invisible. They sleep deep in the heart of the earth’s darkness, until some one among them is seized with the desire to awaken.
🌟 5. Il ne faut jamais écouter les fleures. Il faut les regarder et les respirer. La mienne embaumait ma planète, mais je ne savais pas m’en réjouir.
One never ought to listen to the flowers. One should simply look at them and breathe their fragrance. Mine perfumed all my planet. But I did not know how to take pleasure in all her grace.
🌟 6. Tu as des cheveux couleur d’or. Alors ce sera merveilleux quand tu m’aura apprivoisé! Le blé, qui est doré, me fera souvenir de toi. Et j’aimerai le bruit du vent dans le blé…
You have hair that is the color of gold. Think how wonderful that will be when you have tamed me! The grain, which is also golden, will bring me back the thought of you. And I shall love to listen to the wind in the wheat…
🌟 7. On ne connaît que les choses que l’on apprivoise, dit le renard. Les hommes n’ont plus le temps de rien connaître. Il achètent des choses toutes faites chez les marchands. Mais comme il n’existe point de marchands d’amis, les hommes n’ont plus d’amis. Si tu veux un ami, apprivoise-moi!
“One only understands the things that one tames,” said the fox. “Men have no more time to understand anything. They buy things all ready made at the shops. But there is no shop anywhere where one can buy friendship, and so men have no friends any more. If you want a friend, tame me…”
🌟 8. Le langage est source de malentendus.
Words are the source of misunderstandings.
🌟 9. Voici mon secret. Il est très simple : on ne voit bien qu’avec le coeur. L’essentiel est invisible pour les yeux.
And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.
🌟 10. C’est le temps que tu as perdu pour ta rose qui fait ta rose si importante.
It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.
🌟 11. Tu deviens responsable pour toujours de ce que tu as apprivoisé. Tu es responsable de ta rose…
You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed. You are responsible for your rose…
🌟 12. - Les enfants seuls savent ce qu’ils cherchent, fit le petit prince. Ils perdent du temps pour une poupée de chiffons, et elle devient très importante, et si on la leur enlève, ils pleurent…
“Only the children know what they are looking for,” said the little prince. “They waste their time over a rag doll and it becomes very important to them; and if anybody takes it away from them, they cry…”
🌟 13. Ce qui embellit le désert, dit le petit prince, c’est qu’il cache un puits quelque part…
“What makes the desert beautiful,” said the little prince, “is that somewhere it hides a well…”
🌟 14. Dessine-moi un mouton!
Draw me a sheep!
🌟 15. Quand on a terminé sa toilette du matin, il faut faire soigneusement la toilette de la planète.
When you’ve finished getting yourself ready in the morning, you must go get the planet ready.
🌟 16. J'aime bien les couchers de soleil. Allons voir un coucher de soleil…
I am very fond of sunsets. Come, let us go look at a sunset…
🌟 17. On ne sait jamais!
“One never knows!”
🌟 18. Il faut exiger de chacun ce que chacun peut donner, reprit le roi. L'autorité repose d'abord sur la raison. Si tu ordonnes à ton peuple d'aller se jeter à la mer, il fera la révolution. J'ai le droit d'exiger l'obéissance parce que mes ordres sont raisonnables. Alors mon coucher de soleil ? rappela le petit prince qui jamais n'oubliait une question une fois qu'il l'avait posée. Ton coucher de soleil, tu l'auras. Je l'exigerai. Mais j'attendrai, dans ma science du gouvernement, que les conditions soient favorables.
“One must command from each what each can perform,” the king went on. “Authority is based first of all upon reason. If you command your subjects to jump into the ocean, there will be a revolution. I am entitled to command obedience because my orders are reasonable.” “Then my sunset?” insisted the little prince, who never let go of a question once he had asked it. “You shall have your sunset. I shall command it. But I shall wait, according to my science of government, until conditions are favorable.”
🌟 19. C'est véritablement utile puisque c'est joli.
It is truly useful since it is beautiful.
🌟 20. ‘Où sont les hommes ?’ reprit enfin le petit prince. 'On est un peu seul dans le désert.’ 'On est seul aussi chez les hommes’, dit le serpent.
“Where are the people?” resumed the little prince at last. “It’s a little lonely in the desert…" "It is lonely when you’re among people, too,” said the snake.
🌟 21. Vous êtes belles, mais vous êtes vides…. On ne peut pas mourir pour vous.
You’re beautiful, but you’re empty…. No one could die for you.
🌟 22. Les hommes ont oublié cette vérité, dit le renard. Mais tu ne dois pas l’oublier. Tu deviens responsable pour toujours de ce que tu as apprivoisé.
“Men have forgotten this truth,” said the fox. “But you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.”
🌟 23. Mais les yeux sont aveugles. Il faut chercher avec le cœur.
But the eyes are blind. One must look with the heart…
From Beginner to Intermediate: an intense plan for advancing in language
Introduction
I've studied Spanish at school for 3 years and now I'm at a low B1 level. I can actually understand pretty well while listening or reading but I can't communicate fluently.
This plan will include vocabulary build up, some grammar revision, a lot of listening, reading and writing. And could be used for the most languages, not only Spanish.
Plan
Every day:
Conjugate one verb in present, past and future tenses
Make a list about 10 - 30 words long
Create flashcards with them and start learning them (I use Quizlet for flashcards)
Revise yesterday's set of flashcards
2-3 times a week:
Read an article or a few pages from a book
Write a few sentences about anything in your target language
Listen to one episode of podcast (at least one)
Once a week or every two weeks:
Watch a movie in your target language, preferably animated movie as the language used there is easier. You can watch with subtitles
Grammar exercises
Translate some short text
Once a month:
Write something longer, like an essay or report, on chosen topic
Additionally:
Talk to yourself, to your friends, to your pets
Text with someone
Look at the transcription while listening to the podcast for second time
Repeat what you hear (in podcast or movie)
Check words you don't know from the listening and reading
Read out loud
Listen to music in your target language - you can even learn the text and sing along
Watch YouTube in your target language
Change your phone language to the one you're learning
Think in you target language!!!
***This is very intense plan for self-learners, you don't have to do all of these things in the given time. Adjust it to your own pace. I'll try to stick to this, if I have enough time.***
famous french sayings ✨
On n'apprend pas aux vieux singes à faire des grimaces. (You cannot teach old monkeys to make faces.) Means: “You cannot teach old dogs new tricks.”
Chacun voit midi à sa porte. (Everyone sees noon at his own door.) Means: “To each his own.”
Rien ne sert de courir, il faut partir à point. (There’s no sense in running; you just have to leave on time.) Means: “Slow and steady wins the race.”
On ne change pas une équipe qui gagne. (One does not change a winning team.) Means: “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.”
Il n'y a pas de fumée sans feu. (There isn’t smoke without fire.) Means: ” Where there’s smoke there’s fire.“
Vaut mieux prévenir que guérir. (It is better to prevent than to heal.) Means: ”An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.“
Autres temps, autres mœurs. (Other times, other values.) Means: ”Times change.“
Un malheur ne vient jamais seul. (Misfortune never arrives alone). Means: ”When it rains, it pours.“
Vouloir, c'est pouvoir. (To want is to be able.) Means: ”Where there’s a will, there’s a way.“
Il faut réfléchir avant d'agir. (One must reflect before acting.) Means: ”Look before you leap.“
Si jeunesse savait, si vieillesse pouvait. (If youth only knew; if old age only could.) Means: ”Youth is wasted on the young.“
bonjour! since i started teaching myself french a few months ago, i thought it would be a good idea to immerse myself by listening to some french music. a lot of french music, actually. here are some of my favorites! (requested by @athenastudying)
cœur de pirate
she’s canadian + my absolute favorite artist at the moment! her songs are more on the melancholy side, but they have a lovely vintage vibe. also her music videos are v creative so definitely check those out as well! faves: crier tout bas, adieu, ensemble
indila
i’m not usually crazy about indie pop in english but I love indila’s music in french! her songs have a good beat and i often find myself belting out her songs during my solo dance parties. oops. faves: dernière danse, tourner dans le vide, sos
stromae
stromae’s music is actually one of the things that inspired me to start learning french!! his music is a blend of hip hop and electronic, which isn’t usually my thing, but i absolutely adore his music. faves: papaoutai, tous les memes, alors on danse
mika
his songs are super catchy and upbeat! i listened to “boum boum boum” for the first time (w the music video) when i knew about four words of french and ended up thinking it was about guns? (spoiler alert: it’s about sex), but i still love it. p sure these are his only two songs in french but i have played them on repeat more times than i care to admit. faves: elle me dit, boum boum boum
fréro delavega
i only discovered their music recently (Fréro Delavega is a two-man duo), and it took me about 0.3 seconds to fall in love with their songs. their songs have a lot of great harmony, and they’re lighthearted and fun to listen to. faves: mon petit pays, ton visage
joyce jonathan
another recent find! i like to play her music on my phone when i walk to school in the mornings because it’s p relaxing. faves: je ne sais pas, ça ira
édith piaf
i practically grew up on edith piaf, even before i started learning french properly. her music is wonderful and definitely classic. faves: la vie en rose, a l'enseigne de la fille sans coeur, non, je ne regrette rien
+more
i love these songs, but i have yet to listen to more music from these artists! they’re still fantastic
badaboum / buridane coups et blessures / bb brunes l’air de rien / margaux avril les jours electriques / jenifer on trace ma route / christophe maé on ira / zaz on ne vit qu'une fois / sidoine sur ma route / black m tombé sous le charme / christophe mae
au revoir + shoutout @ciralism for recommending coeur de pirate to me in the first place!! xx
french linking words 🌿
Ainsi – Thus, In This/That Manner
La fée transforma ses jambes en queue de poisson, et ainsi, la princesse devint une sirène. The fairy transformed her legs into a fish tale, and thus, the princess became a mermaid.
C’est Ainsi Que – It’s This Way
Elle a travaillé dur pendant dix ans. C’est ainsi qu’elle a gagné la compétition. She worked hard for 10 years. She won the competition that way.
Alors – Then, So, Hence
Jean Noël ne pouvait pas supporter le bruit dans le club, alors il est sorti. JN couldn’t bear the noise in the club, so he went out.
Alors Que – While, Whereas, When
Alors que Sophie aime le jazz, Marie déteste ça. Whereas Sophie loves jazz, Mary hates it.
Aussitôt Que –As Soon As
Aussitôt que la chatte s’est endormie, les souris se sont montrées.
As soon as the cat fell asleep, the mice showed themselves.
D’autant Plus – All The More
Il partageait sa passion de la danse. Elle l’aimait d’autant plus. He shared her passion for dance. She loved him all the more.
D’autant Plus Que – Even More So Since
Je suis vraiment déçue. D’autant plus que je lui avais dit de venir chez nous. I am really disappointed. Even more so since I told him to come to our house.
Bien Que – Even Though (*Followed By The Subjunctive)
Elle l’a fait, bien qu’elle n’en ait pas eu envie. she did it even though she didn’t feel like it.
Si Bien Que – Hence
Ils parlaient à demi-voix si bien qu’elle ne pouvait pas les entendre. They spoke softly, hence she couldn’t hear them.
Cependant – Nevertheless, Meanwhile, However
Je ne suis pas de son avis. Cependant je le suivrai. I don’t share his opinion. Nevertheless I will follow it.
Dès – Since, From
Dès ce moment, il a refusé de parler d’elle. From that moment, he refused to talk about her.
Dès Que – As Soon As
Je te téléphonerai dès qu’elle arrivera. I’ll call you as soon as she gets here.
En Tant Que – As (A)
En tant qu’ingénieur, elle est très précise. As an Engineer, she is very precise.
Lorsque – When
Ils ont cueilli les cerises lorsqu’elles étaient mûres. They picked the cherries when they were ripe.
Malgré – Despite
Malgré son effort, cela n’a pas suffi. Despite her efforts, it wasn’t enough.
Même Si – Even If
Il ira même si elle n’y va pas. He’ll go even if she doesn’t.
À Moins Que – Unless (*Followed By The Subjunctive)
Vous ne pourrez pas voir la directrice à moins que vous ayez un rendez-vous. You will not be able to see the director unless you have an appointment.
Néanmoins – However, Nevertheless, Nonetheless
Elle avait peu d’argent néanmoins elle lui a tout donné. She had little money, but she gave all to him nonetheless.
Pendant Que – While, As
Marc étudie la chimie pendant qu’il écoute la radio. Marc studies chemistry while he is listening to the radio.
Pour Que – So That (*Followed By The Subjunctive)
Il a couru pour qu’elle ne l’attende pas trop longtemps. He ran so that she wouldn’t wait for him too long.
Pourtant – Although, Still, Nevertheless
La femme a plus de quarante ans, mais c’est pourtant une beauté. The woman is over forty, but she is nevertheless a beauty.
Puisque – Since, Because, As, Seeing That, For That Reason
Puisque sa maman ne voulait pas jouer au Monopoly, le petit garçon est sorti jouer dehors. Since his mother didn’t want to play Monopoly, the boy went to play outside.
Quand Même – Even Though, All The Same, Nevertheless
Ce n’est pas lui qui chantait le mieux, mais il a gagné la compétition quand même. He wasn’t the best singer, but he won the contest all the same.
Quant À – As For
Quant à lui, il préfère ne pas discuter de ce sujet dangereux. As for him, he’d rather not talk about this dangerous topic.
Quoique – Though, Although (*Followed By The Subjunctive)
Quoiqu’elle ne sourie pas beaucoup, en réalité elle est très contente. Although she doesn’t smile much, in fact she is really happy.
Quoi Que – Whatever, No Matter What (*Followed By The Subjunctive)
Quoi qu’il dise, elle ne le croit pas. Whatever he might say, she won’t believe him.
Sinon – Except, If Not, Otherwise, Except That, Unless
Ne sors pas sans manteau, sinon tu vas attrapper froid. Don’t go out without a jacket, otherwise you’ll catch a cold.
Tandis Que – Whereas, While
Il préfère aller à la plage pour les vacances, tandis qu’elle préfère aller à la montagne. He likes to go to the beach for vacations, whereas she prefers the mountains.
small talk in french 💬
⭐️ (for beginners) ⭐️
When talking to french people, focus on innocuous topics like the weather, current events (“avez-vous lu à propos de..?” Have you read about…?), and cultural topics like food, movies, art, music, and so on. And remember to use vous instead of tu!
I only speak a little French. Je ne parle qu'un peu le français.
I am learning French, but I am only a beginner. J'apprends le français mais je ne suis qu'un débutant.
I have been learning french for 2 days / 2 weeks / 2 months / 1 year / 2 years. J'apprends le français depuis deux jours / deux semaines / deux mois / un an / deux ans.
Will you please correct me? Peux-tu me corriger, s'il te plaît?
What does ___ mean? Que veut dire ___?
What does that mean? Qu'est-ce que ça veut dire?
Can you explain in French/English to me? Peux-tu m'expliquer en français / anglais?
What does that mean in this context? Qu'est-ce que ça veut dire dans ce contexte?
What is the French word for ___? Quel est le mot français pour ___?
Is this/that correct? C'est juste?
Am I wrong? Je me trompe?/Est-ce que j'ai tort?
Am I correct? Est-ce que j'ai raison?
Do you understand? Est-ce que tu me comprends?
I do not understand. Je ne comprends pas.
I want to improve my level in French. Je veux améliorer mon niveau de français.
I need to practice French. J'ai besoin de pratiquer le français.
Do you have time to speak with me? As-tu le temps de parler avec moi ?
Can you help me to learn French? Peux-tu m'aider à apprendre le français?
Do you mind if we speak in French? Ça te dérange si nous parlons en français?
Can you please speak in French? it helps me to learn. Peux-tu me parler en français s'il te plaît? Ça m'aide à apprendre.
How do you say ’___’ in French? Comment dit-on ’___’ en français ?
I struggle with spelling / reading / writing / listening / pronunciation. J'ai du mal avec l'orthographe / la lecture / l'écriture / la compréhension orale / la prononciation.
Can you please repeat? I did not understand. Pouvez-vous répéter s'il vous plaît ? Je n'ai pas compris.
I don’t speak French fluently. Je ne parle pas couramment le français.
I am confused. Je suis perdu(e).
I don’t know how to say it in French. Je ne sais pas comment le dire en Français,
Sorry (or ‘pardon’), what did you say? Pardon, qu'est-ce que tu as dit?
I’ve never heard of that. Je n'ai jamais entendu ça.
That makes sense. Ça se tient.
That does not make sense. Ça n'a aucun sens.
What’s happening? / What’s going on? Qu'est-ce qui se passe?
What do you mean by ’___’ ? Qu'est-ce que tu entends par ’___’? / Qu'est-ce que tu veux dire par ’___’?
⭐️ Personal Stuff ⭐️
Here is a list of phrases you can use and practice when giving and asking for personal information. Take note that the list makes use of the formal “vous”.
Comment vous appelez-vous? What is your name?
Je m'appelle Christine. My name is Christine.
Quel est votre nom? What is your name?
Comment allez-vous? How are you?
Je vais bien, merci. I am doing well, thank you.
Très bien, merci. Very well, thank you.
Quel âge avez-vous? How old are you?
J'ai # ans. I am # years old.
J'ai trente ans. I am thirty years old.
J'ai quarante-deux ans. I am forty two old.
Quelle est votre nationalité? What is your Nationality?
Je suis canadien(ne). I am Canadian.
Je suis américain(e). I am American.
Je suis chinois(e). I am Chinese.
Je suis coréen(ne). I am Korean.
Où habitez-vous? Where do you live?
J'habite en Californie. I live in California.
Quel est votre numéro de téléphone? What is your phone number?
Mon numéro de téléphone est le … My phone number is …
Où êtes-vous né(e)? Where were you born?
Je suis né(e) à… I was born in…
Êtes-vous marié(e)? Are you married?
Oui, je suis marié. Yes, I am married
Non, je ne suis pas marié. No, I am not married
Je suis célibataire. I am single
Est-ce que vous avez des frères et soeurs? Do you have any brothers and sisters?
Je suis fille unique. I am an only child/daughter
Je suis fils unique. I am an only child/son
J'ai - frère(s). I have - brother(s).
J'ai - soeur(s). I have - sisters(s).
Je n'ai pas de frères. I don’t have any brothers.
Je n'ai pas de soeurs. I don’t have any sisters.
Quel est votre métier? What is your job?
Quelle est votre profession? What is your profession?
Que faites-vous dans la vie? What do you do for a living?
Je suis ingénieur. I am an engineer.
Je suis boulanger/boulangère. I am a baker.
Je suis médecin. I am a doctor.
Je suis infirmier/infirmière. I am a nurse.
⭐️ Interests ⭐️
Quel est votre sport préféré? What is your favorite sport? (formal)
Quel est ton sport préféré?
What is your favorite sport? (informal)
Mon sport préféré est… My favorite sport is….
J'aime faire du sport et garder la forme. I like to do sports to keep fit.
Quelle saison préférez-vous? What season do you prefer? (formal
Quelle saison préfères-tu? What season do you prefer? (What season is your favorite?) (informal)
Quels sont vos passe-temps préférés? What are your favorite pastimes? (formal)
Quels sont tes passe-temps préférés? What are your favorite pastimes? (informal)
Mes passe-temps préférés sont… My favorite pastimes are…
Qu'est-ce que vous faites dans votre temps libre? What do you do in your free time? (formal)
Qu'est-ce que tu fais dans ton temps libre? What do you do in your free time? (informal)
Est-ce que vous avez un animal de compagnie? Do you have a pet?(formal)
Est-ce que tu as un animal de compagnie? Do you have a pet? (informal)
Non, Je n'ai pas un animal de compagnie. No, I don’t have a pet.
Oui, J'ai un chat. Yes, I have a cat.
Oui, J'ai un chien.Yes, I have a dog.
Qu'est-ce que vous aimez? What do you like?
J'aime le jazz. I like jazz.
J'aime le rock. I like rock.
J'aime le hip-hop. I like hip-hop.
Je n'aime pas le rap. I don’t like rap.
Je n'écoute pas de la musique très souvent. I don’t listen to music very often.
J'aime les films d'amour. I like romance films.
J'aime les films d'aventures. I like adventure films.
Je n’aime pas faire du ski. I don’t like skiing.
Qu'est-ce que vous aimeriez faire dans la vie? What would you like to do in life ?
J'aimerais être chef. I would like to be a chef.
J'aimerais être un bibliothécaire. I would like to be a librarian.
beautiful french words ✿
ange – angel (masc.)
baleine – whale (fem.)
bisou – kiss (masc.)
brindille – twig (fem.)
brûler – to burn
brume – mist (fem.)
câlin – hug (masc.)
chaleur – heat (fem.)
chatoyer – to shimmer
chaussettes – socks (fem.)
chouchou – my little cabbage, said as a term of endearment (masc.)
citronnade – lemonade (fem.)
citrouille – pumpkin (fem.)
coquillage – seashell (masc.)
croquis – sketch (masc.)
dépaysement – the feeling of being in another country, the weird feeling you get from things being different from what you’re used to. (masc.)
doux – soft
écarlate – scarlet
éclatant – brilliant, dazzling, gleaming
effleurer – to touch or brush against
empêchement – something that keeps you from doing something (masc.)
épanoui – blooming, joyful, radiant
éphémère – ephemeral
étoile – star (fem.)
feuilles – leaves (fem.)
flâner – to stroll aimlessly
floraison – bloom (fem.)
grelotter – to shiver
hirondelle – swallow (bird) (fem.)
libellule – dragonfly (fem.)
loufoque – wild, crazy, far-fetched
luciole – firefly (fem.)
myrtille – blueberry (fem.)
noix de coco – coconut (fem.)
nuage – cloud (masc.)
orage – thunderstorm (masc.)
pamplemousse – grapefruit (masc.)
papillon – butterfly (masc.)
parapluie – umbrella (fem.)
pastèque – watermelon (fem.)
piscine – swimming pool (fem.)
plaisir – pleasure (masc.)
pleuvoir – to rain
plonger – to dive
retrouvailles – the feelings of seeing someone again after a long time (fem.)
sirène – mermaid (fem.)
soleil – sun (masc.)
sortable – someone you can take anywhere without being embarrassed
tournesol – sunflower (masc.)
Coucou! Je besoin de trainer mon français mais je connais personne. Si tu aprends, a déjà apris et veux aussi pratiquer, je sais pas, parle avec moi s’il tE PLAIT
French Resource List
Hopefully even if you've been learning French for a while one of these resources may be of use to you
General
French dictionary
Best online French-English dictionary (which also has bilingual dictionaries for a number of languages) as it has example sentences in French with translations, forum, verb conjugations, idioms, and more
RFI listening and reading exercises for all levels incorporating the news into your learning
Grammar
Français Lingolia with exercises
Listening
Journal en Français Facile radio/ podcast with transcripts for each episode
News in Slow French podcast
Conversational French Mises à Jour with transcripts
If you live in Australia, SBS has a French news podcast
French dictation exercises write what you hear
Youtube comedy series Bref
Belgian LGBTQ+ Youtube series La théorie du Y
Youtube comedy series Le Département
French comedy series that has whole episodes for free on Youtube Fais pas ci fais pas ça
Skam France is a teen show so you can learn heaps of slang, it also has subtitles for each episode in French and English
Youtube
Home Language - vocab and grammar
Hugo Décrypte - daily news
MisterJDay - comedy
Le Monde - news but many of their videos have subtitles
Reading
Simple articles originally written for children, also has a Youtube playlist (1jour 1actu)
Le Petit Scribe reading comprehension and exercises level B1 but also has the same for all levels
Reading (or listening) comprehension - Le Petit Nicolas
Writing
À vos plumes - writing practice and grammar
Oui c'est ça writing practice
Proofreading checklist
Other
Thoughtco French articles on grammar, vocab, verbs, etc.
French slang dictionary
French vowel pronunciation part 1 and part 2 with audio
More useful French pronunciation tips with audio and IPA
EDIT: just remembered in case you feel like torturing yourself you can do Victorian year 12 level French exams 2001 to 2020 for free on the VCE website with the audio and answers available. It would probably be more helpful to not do it within the time limit and listen to the audio as much as you need to. You might also find the HSC exam papers useful from what I can see there's three different levels of French exams (beginners, continuers, and advanced) just find them in the list of subjects and you'll get to the exams.
—If you speak French, you don't know how lucky you are.
In french to text someone dw (don't worry) we write tkt which is short for "t'inquiètes".
First thing to note is that as you can see there is no k in "t'inquiètes" but we still write tkt instead of tqt
Second thing to note is that "t'inquiètes" is short for "t'inquiètes pas" , literally "worry not". B u t w e d r o p t h e "pas" w h i c h m e a n s "not"
So, to say "don't worry" we say "worry yourself"
I love it
Thank you so much! ❤️❤️❤️
Does anyone know how Saint -Just's name would have been pronounced?
I finally watched Un peuple et son roi, and they pronounced the "Just" as "Ju", which struck me as strange. French is my first language, and instinctively, I would have pronounced the "-st" part of his name too...
But this might be an older French pronunciation? Or maybe it would have depended on the region?
Does anyone know how Saint -Just's name would have been pronounced?
I finally watched Un peuple et son roi, and they pronounced the "Just" as "Ju", which struck me as strange. French is my first language, and instinctively, I would have pronounced the "-st" part of his name too...
But this might be an older French pronunciation? Or maybe it would have depended on the region?