
Have you ever heard La Marseillaise, the French national anthem? The music is beautiful, but the lyrics are not easy to decipher, full of old-fashioned words and unusual turns of phrases.
Play it in front of a French audience, and suddenly, everybody starts singing along. We all know the lyrics, and there is something strangely captivating in its ferocity. I’ve seen the most reserved people start to raise their voices like there was no tomorrow just from hearing the first notes of our national anthem.
Moving and emotional for some, thrilling and vibrant for others, the Marseillaise was also called racist and xenophobic, anachronistic and obsolete, a bloodthirsty call to arms. Opinions vary, and this is also what makes it such an interesting piece of French history and a fascinating object of study.
In this article, we will begin by discussing the history and creation of the French national anthem. We’ll then talk about its lyrics, contemporary uses, and the criticisms it has received.

“La Marseillaise”, by François Rude, on the Arc de Triomphe.

- From Military Song to National Anthem
- Lyrics of La Marseillaise
- When is it Played?
- Should France Find a New National Anthem?
- Le mot de la fin
1. From Military Song to National Anthem
Contrary to what is often believed, the Marseillaise was not born in the city of Marseille but in the region of Alsace, during the war against Austria.
As the king saw his power slipping away, Louis XVI hoped that a French military defeat would allow him to restore his authority. He declared war on the king of Bohemia and Hungary on April 20, 1792. Little did he know that it would be fatal to him, nor that it would generate the rallying song of the French for generations to come.
After two months of chaotic skirmishes, the Baron de Dietrich, mayor of Strasbourg, realized that the French troops lacked a unifying song. He turned to his friend, the officer Rouget de Lisle, a musician and poet in his spare time. Rouget de Lisle was inspired by a propaganda poster, and composed an energetic tune by drawing from other known marches and hymns.
He worked on it during the night of June 25, 1792, and the next day, Le Chant de guerre pour l’armée du Rhin (“War song for the army of the Rhin”) was born.

Rouget de Lisle, singing La Marseillaise
At the end of July, the French troops were forced to retreat in front of Prussia, who had come to the aid of Austria. French volunteers were called in from all over France to reinforce the ranks. In August, the federates from Marseille landed in Paris, taking with them this now revolutionary song. It was only later that it was renamed La Marseillaise.
It was a pivotal moment for the country and the genesis of the Republic, since on August 10 the federates invaded the Tuileries and locked up the king and his family, thus putting an end to almost a thousand years of absolute monarchy. On July 14, 1795, the Marseillaise was recognized as one of the “airs and civic songs that have contributed to the success of the Revolution.”
Then came Napoleon, and – Plot twist! – he banned the song in 1815, because of its Revolutionary association. It remained banned for nearly thirty years. The second revolution of 1830 put it back in the spotlight, before it was decreed national anthem under the Third Republic (1879).

The French Revolution
2. Lyrics of La Marseillaise
For the longest time, there was no official version of La Marseillaise, which regularly provoked some awkward musical disturbances during its performance. The original manuscript has 6 verses. A 7th verse, often called le couplet des enfants (“The children’s verse”), was added later.
Additional lesser-known verses have been omitted from the national anthem. It brings the total number of verses to a whopping 15. But as you’re not likely to ever hear these added verses, let’s stick to the official 7.
Verse 1
Allons enfants de la Patrie, Le jour de gloire est arrivé ! Contre nous de la tyrannie, L’étendard sanglant est levé ! (bis) Entendez-vous dans les campagnes Mugir ces féroces soldats ? Ils viennent jusque dans nos bras Égorger nos fils et nos compagnes ! | Let us go, children of the fatherland, Our day of glory has arrived! Against us, the bloody flag of tyranny is raised! Can you hear in the countryside The roar of these savage soldiers? They come right into our arms To slit the throat of our sons and our wives. |
Chorus
Aux armes, citoyens ! Formez vos bataillons ! Marchons ! Marchons ! Qu’un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons ! | To arms, citizens! Form your battalions! Let us march! Let us march! May their impure blood Water our furrows! |
Verse 2
Que veut cette horde d’esclaves, De traîtres, de rois conjurés ? Pour qui ces ignobles entraves, Ces fers dès longtemps préparés ? (bis) Français, pour nous, ah ! Quel outrage ! Quels transports il doit exciter ! C’est nous qu’on ose méditer De rendre à l’antique esclavage ! | What does this horde of slaves traitors and conspiring kings want? For whom these vile chains, These long prepared irons? French, for us, ah! What outrage! What strong emotions it must arouse! It is to use they dare to scheme A return to antique slavery! |
Verse 3
Quoi ! Ces cohortes étrangères Feraient la loi dans nos foyers ! Quoi ! Ces phalanges mercenaires Terrasseraient nos fiers guerriers ! (bis) Grand Dieu ! Par des mains enchaînées Nos fronts sous le joug se ploieraient ! De vils despotes deviendraient Les maîtres de nos destinées ! | What! Foreign cohorts would rule in our homes! What! Those mercenary phalanxes Would strike down our proud warriors! Great God! By chained hands Our heads under the yoke would bend! Vile despots would become The masters of our destinies! |
Verse 4
Tremblez, tyrans et vous perfides, L’opprobre de tous les partis, Tremblez ! Vos projets parricides Vont enfin recevoir leurs prix ! (bis) Tout est soldat pour vous combattre, S’ils tombent, nos jeunes héros, La terre en produit de nouveaux, Contre vous tout prêts à se battre ! | Tremble, tyrants and perfidious ones, The shame of all parties, Tremble! Your parricidal schemes Will finally receive their prices! Everyone is a soldier to fight you, If they fall, our young heroes, New ones will rise from the earth, Ready to fight against you! |
Verse 5
Français, en guerriers magnanimes, Portez ou retenez vos coups ! Épargnez ces tristes victimes, À regret s’armant contre nous. (bis) Mais ces despotes sanguinaires, Mais ces complices de Bouillé, Tous ces tigres qui, sans pitié, Déchirent le sein de leur mère ! | French, as magnanimous warriors, Strike or hold your blows! Spare these sad victims, Regretfully arming against us. But these bloodthirsty despots, But these accomplices of Bouillé, All these tigers who, without mercy, Tear apart their mother’s breast! |
Verse 6
Amour sacré de la Patrie, Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs ! Liberté, Liberté chérie, Combats avec tes défenseurs ! (bis) Sous nos drapeaux, que la victoire Accoure à tes mâles accents ! Que tes ennemis expirants Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire ! | Sacred love of the fatherland, Guide and support our vengeful arms! Liberty, cherished liberty Fight with your defenders! Under our flag, may victory Rush to your manly accents! May your dying enemies See your triumph and our glory! |
Verse 7
Nous entrerons dans la carrière Quand nos aînés n’y seront plus ; Nous y trouverons leur poussière Et la trace de leurs vertus. (bis) Bien moins jaloux de leur survivre Que de partager leur cercueil, Nous aurons le sublime orgueil De les venger ou de les suivre ! | We will enter the career When our elders are no longer there; There, we shall find their dust And the trace of their virtues. Much less keen to survive them Than to share their coffin, We will have the sublime pride To avenge or to follow them! |

Liberty Leading the People, by Eugène Delacroix
3. When is it Played?
La Marseillaise is played on very specific occasions, typically for important speeches or ceremonies. You can hear it when the President is addressing the nation on TV, for example on new year’s eve, or for major announcements.
Military parades also sometimes resound with the fierce melody of our national anthem. It can be heard in small local events, as well as major parades such as the one on the 14th of July, when we celebrate the revolutionary Jour de la Bastille (“Bastille day”), our National day.
It is also traditionally played and sung during sport events. Football or rugby teams sing it before important games, during championships and you can hear it during Olympic games.
The most famous arrangement of the Marseillaise was written by French composer Hector Berlioz in 1830. It is often considered the ‘official’ version.
Other notable versions include:
- A piano transcription by Franz Liszt
- Aux Armes et Caetera, a provocative Reggae cover by Serge Gainsbourg.
- A Jazzy version by Jacky Terrasson.
And my personal favorite, by French electronic musician Worakls.
La Parisienne, by Worakls
4. Should France Find a New National Anthem?
The Marseillaise is the reflection of a troubled time, of a bitter and merciless struggle against oppression, and the symbol of the union of a people to abolish the monarchy and take back control of its destiny. At its core, it is a war hymn used to galvanize the troops before the fight.
Is it violent, racist, or an outdated and embarrassing war song? The Marseillaise is one of the world’s most controversial songs. Even back in 1792, its original writer, Rouget de Lisle, almost lost his head and was thrown in jail under suspicion of being a royalist. He made it through, and his song survived the discredit, but that was just the beginning.
After being banned by Napoleon, the Marseillaise regained its influence during the Second World War, when it was sung by the resistance. The song had been banned by the collaborating Vichy government. Afterwards, it kept its momentum and became a rallying cry to rebuild a deeply wounded country.
However, in early 2000, the song became somewhat uncomfortable and was the target of frequent criticism. One of the main reasons comes from its use during France’s occupation of Algeria and its brutal and bloody war of independence in the middle of the 20th century.
As a result, in 2001, it was booed by French-Algerians during a soccer match that degenerated into a riot when hundreds of supporters took to the field. More incidents occurred with Corsicans in 2002 and pretty much every year between then and 2008.
It remains somewhat controversial today but not nearly as much as it used to be. Opportunistic politicians still occasionally criticize it or use it to gain attention and publicity, but there has been no serious polemics recently.

Original score of the Marseillaise
5. Le mot de la fin
In this guide, you have learned everything about La Marseillaise, the French national anthem, from its history to its lyrics, most notable arrangements and controversies. Do you know of any interesting anecdotes about the song, or chapters in its history that we forgot to mention? Don’t hesitate to share them in the comments!
FrenchPod101 also has tons of vocabulary lists with audio recordings and Free resources to boost your studies and keep your French learning fresh and entertaining!
Remember that you can also use our premium service, MyTeacher, to get personal 1-on-1 coaching and have your own private teacher to practice with.
Along with assignments, personalized exercises, and recording audio samples just for you, your teacher will review your work and help improve your pronunciation. Happy learning on FrenchPod101!
About the Author: Born and bred in the rainy north of France, Cyril Danon has been bouncing off various jobs before he left everything behind to wander around the wonders of the World. Now, after quenching his wanderlust for the last few years, he’s eager to share his passion for languages.

60 Classroom Phrases for Studying or Teaching in France

Are you planning on studying or teaching in France? Do you know the most common classroom phrases in French for students or teachers alike? Whether you’re about to join a university as a foreign student or to teach your native language as a teacher in a French school, you will have to learn how to communicate in the classroom.
If you’re a student, not only will you need to learn how to address your teachers, but also to understand their instructions. And vice versa if you’re in the teacher’s shoes! You will also need to learn some basic vocabulary, such as school subjects and supplies, as well as infrastructure.
In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know as a teacher or a student, from common phrases to vocabulary, instructions, and a list of school subjects. It will teach you how to ask questions or give instructions and allow you to focus solely on the topic at hand rather than struggling with the common classroom interactions. Get your pencil case ready, and let’s jump straight into it!

Levez la main avant de répondre. (“Raise your hand before answering.”)

- School Vocabulary
- Teacher’s Phrases
- Student’s Phrases
- Subjects’ List
- Tests Instructions
- Le mot de la fin
1. School Vocabulary
Before we get to the common french phrases, let’s get some basic school vocabulary. To get your way around the schoolyard or the campus, you will need to know about the infrastructure as well as the stationaries.
1- Educational Infrastructures
Une salle de classe | Classroom |
Un bâtiment | Building |
Un amphithéâtre | Amphitheater |
La cantine | Canteen |
Le restaurant universitaire | University canteen |
La cafétéria | Cafeteria |
Une salle d’examen | Exam room |
Le secrétariat | Secretariat |
La salle des professeurs | Teachers’ room |
La bibliothèque | Library |
2- School Supplies
Un cahier | Notebook |
Un classeur | Binder |
Une feuille | Sheet of paper |
Un livre | Book |
Un stylo | Pen |
Un crayon | Pencil |
Une trousse | Pencil case |
Une gomme | Eraser |
Un cartable | Schoolbag |
Un sac à dos | Backpack |
Une calculatrice, Une calculette | Calculator |
Des ciseaux | Scissors |
Une règle | Ruler |
Un taille-crayon | Pencil sharpener |
- ➜ For more school essentials and classroom vocabulary, be sure to explore our free vocabulary lists of French words with audio recordings. It’s free on FrenchPod101.

Des fournitures scolaires (“School supplies”)
2. Teacher’s Phrases
Whether you’re a student or a teacher in a French class, this section is for you! As a teacher, you need to know how to address your class, and as a student, you’d better understand what the teacher is saying. Let’s see some of the most common French teacher’s phrases.
1- Instructions
Aujourd’hui, nous allons apprendre la conjugaison. (“Today we are going to learn conjugation.”) |
Ouvrez votre livre à la page 12. (“Open your book on page 12.”) |
Prenez une feuille de papier. (“Take a sheet of paper.”) |
Levez la main si vous avez la réponse. (“Raise your hand if you have the answer.”) |
Ecoutez et répétez après moi. (“Listen and repeat after me.”) |
Regardez l’image à l’écran / Regardez l’image au tableau. (“Look at the picture on the screen.” / “Look at the picture on the board.”) |
Écrivez cette phrase. (“Write this sentence.”) |
Épelez ce mot. (“Spell this word.”) |
Faites une phrase avec le mot “demain”. (“Make a sentence with the word “tomorrow.””) |
Comment dit-on “tomorrow” en français ? (“How do you say “tomorrow” in French?”) |
Travaillez deux par deux. (“Work in pairs.”) |
Nous allons former de petits groupes. (“We will form small groups.”) |
2- Questions
Vous comprenez cette phrase ? (“Do you understand this sentence?”) |
Qu’est-ce que ça veut dire ? (“What does that mean?”) |
Qui peut répondre à cette question ? (“Who can answer this question?”) |
Quelle est la bonne réponse ? (“What is the correct answer?”) |
Qui veut lire à voix haute ? (“Who wants to read aloud?”) |
3- Discipline
Asseyez-vous. (“Take a seat.”) |
Un peu de silence. (“Silence, please.”) |
Faites attention. (“Be careful.”) |
Taisez-vous au fond. (“Shut up in the back.”) |
- ➜ Would you like to live on a French campus? Never get lost with our free vocabulary list on School campus, complete with examples and recordings, on FrenchPod101.

Travailler en petits groupes (“To work in small groups”)
3. Student’s Phrases
France is renowned for its high education and affordable studies, making it one of the 5 most popular destinations for foreign students. For more information on the various programs, financing options, and campus sites, the website Campus France is the most official online resource you’ll find.
1- Talking About Teachers
In primary school, school teachers are referred to as:
- [Male] Un maître (Literally: “Master”)
- [Female] Une maîtresse (Literally: “Mistress”)
In University and High school, they are called Professeur (“Professor”)
There is also a short casual version: Prof
You can use these words when talking about teachers:
- La maîtresse est absente jusqu’à demain. (“The teacher is away until tomorrow.”)
- Je suis professeur à l’université de la Sorbonne. (“I am a professor at the Sorbonne University.”)
- Mon prof d’anglais a un accent Écossais. (“My English teacher has a Scottish accent.”)
2- Addressing Teachers
At every level, unless told otherwise, students address their teachers using the words:
- [Male] Monsieur (“Sir”)
- [Female] Madame (“Madam”)
Here are a few examples:
- Madame, j’ai une question. (“Madam, I have a question.”)
- Monsieur, est-ce que je peux utiliser un crayon ? (“Sir, can I use a pencil?”)
As a teacher, whether it’s your colleagues or your students, you can simply call them by their names.
3- I have a Question
What is the most important information to convey during a class? When you don’t understand something. Whenever it happens, you shouldn’t wait until it magically clicks. It’s best to be proactive and talk about it right away.
Similarly, you will probably have some questions along the way, and being able to articulate them clearly is a valuable skill.
Je ne comprends pas. (“I don’t understand.”) |
Je ne comprends pas la terminaison de ce mot. (“I don’t understand the ending of this word.”) |
J’ai du mal à conjuguer ce verbe. (“I have trouble conjugating this verb.”) |
Vous pouvez répéter s’il vous plaît ? (“Could you repeat that please?”) |
Vous pouvez répéter plus lentement ? (“Can you repeat slower?”) |
Je ne sais pas dire ça. (“I don’t know how to say that.”) |
Comment ça se prononce ? (“How do you pronounce it?”) |
Quelle page ? (“What page?”) |
4- I have a Problem
We’re spending so much time in the classroom that we’re bound to face some trouble. It is not much of a problem to have an unforeseen event or an accident, as long as you know how to explain it.
J’ai oublié mon livre. (“I forgot my book.”) |
Je n’ai pas de stylo. (“I don’t have a pen.”) |
J’ai perdu mon cahier. (“I lost my notebook.”) |
J’ai un problème. (“I have a problem.”) |
Est-ce que je peux emprunter une gomme ? (“Can I borrow an eraser?”) |
J’ai besoin d’un peu plus de temps. (“I need a little more time.”) |
J’ai presque terminé ! (“I’m almost done!”) |
Je peux aller aux toilettes ? (“Can I go to the bathroom?”) |
Je m’excuse pour le retard. (“I apologize for the delay.”) |
Je ne pourrai pas venir au prochain cours. (“I won’t be able to come to the next class.”) |
Je n’ai pas fait mes exercices. (“I didn’t do my exercises.”) |
J’ai oublié mes devoirs (“I forgot my homework.”) |
Le chat a vomi sur mes devoirs et mon cartable a pris feu. (“The cat threw up on my homework and my schoolbag caught fire.”) |
- ➜ Are you one to break the rules? Feeling too cool for school? Check out our Top 15 phrases for bad students, on FrenchPod101.

Je ne comprends rien. (“I don’t understand anything.”)
4. Subjects’ List
You probably already know how to talk about what you’re studying or teaching, but whenever you’re chatting with your fellow students or teachers, a variety of other subject matters may come up.
Les mathématiques | Math |
La biologie | Biology |
La chimie | Chemistry |
L’informatique | Computing |
La physique | Physics |
L’art | Art |
Le dessin | Drawing |
Le français | French |
L’anglais | English |
L’allemand | German |
La littérature | Literature |
La philosophie | Philosophy |
Le latin | Latin |
La poésie | Poetry |
L’éducation civique | Civics |
L’économie | Economy |
La politique | Politics |
La comptabilité | Accounting |
La psychologie | Psychology |
La sociologie | Sociology |
L’anthropologie | Anthropology |
L’histoire | History |
La géographie | Geography |
Le commerce | Business |
La musique | Music |
Le solfège | Music theory |
L’EPS (éducation physique et sportive) | Physical education (PE) |
And here’s how to talk about these subjects:
Je vais en cours d’histoire. (“I’m going to history class.”) |
Ma matière préférée est la philo. (“My favorite subject is philosophy.”) |
J’ai de bonnes notes en biologie. (“I have good grades in biology.”) |
Passer un examen (“To take a test”) |
Je dois réviser le dernier cours de solfège. (“I need to review the last music theory class.”) |
- ➜ To practice your pronunciation, be sure to stop by our free vocabulary list on School Subjects, with recorded words and example phrases, on FrenchPod101.

Un cours de physique (“A physics course”)
5. Tests Instructions
When you pass an exam in a foreign country, the last thing you want is to be stressed about the instructions and simple interactions, instead of focusing on the content of the exam itself. Even if you’re well prepared, you have to understand how the exam will take place and exactly what you have to do.
1- Basic Vocabulary
Passer un examen (“To take an exam”) Réussir un examen (“To pass an exam”) Rater un examen (“To fail an exam”) |
You should not confuse Passer un examen with “To pass an exam” These 2 sentences are false friends. In this sentence, the French verb passer means “To take” and has no implication on the outcome. “To pass” would translate to Réussir (“To succeed”) |
Passer un examen (“To take a test”) |
Un examen oral / Un oral (“Oral exam”) |
Un diplôme (“Degree”) |
Une salle d’examen (“Exam room”) |
Un surveillant d’examen (“Test supervisor”) |
Un formulaire (“A form”) |
2- Instructions
Lisez le texte (“Read the text”) |
Lisez les phrases (“Read the sentences”) |
Cochez la bonne réponse (“Check the right answer”) |
Cochez les cases (“Check the boxes”) |
Remplissez les blancs (“Fill in the blanks”) |
Complétez ces phrases (“Complete these sentences”) |
Mettez ces images dans le bon ordre (“Put these images in the right order”) |
Soulignez la bonne réponse (“Underline the correct answer”) |
Barrez les mauvaises réponses (“Cross out the wrong answers”) |
Écoutez l’exemple (“Listen to the example”) |
Décrivez cette image (“Describe this image”) |
Écrivez environ 200 mots (“Write about 200 words”) |
Résumez ce texte en 100 mots (“Summarize this text in 100 words”) |
Remplissez la grille ci-dessous (“Fill in the grid below”) |

Il révise pour son examen. (“He is studying for his exam.”)
6. Le mot de la fin
In this guide, you have learned all the most common classroom words and phrases in French, for students and teachers alike. From school vocabulary to test instructions, how to address your teacher or to conduct your class, this guide should provide you with a solid foundation for your daily life in a French school.
Did we forget any important French classroom phrases, or some specific topic you’d like to read about? Make sure to share with your fellow students in the comments below!
To go deeper into the topic, you can explore FrenchPod101, as it has plenty of Free resources for you to practice your grammar and learn new words. The Vocabulary lists are also a great way to revise the words and learn their pronunciation.
Remember that you can also use our premium service, MyTeacher, to get personal 1-on-1 coaching and have your own private teacher to practice with classroom words and more.
Along with assignments, personalized exercises, and recording audio samples just for you, your teacher will review your work and help improve your pronunciation. Happy learning on FrenchPod101!
About the Author: Born and bred in the rainy north of France, Cyril Danon has been bouncing off various jobs before he left everything behind to wander around the wonders of the World. Now, after quenching his wanderlust for the last few years, he’s eager to share his passion for languages.

The Only Guide to French Restaurant Phrases You’ll Ever Need

Going to a restaurant in a foreign country when you don’t speak the language fluently can be unnecessarily stressful for several reasons:
- You don’t know French etiquette: how should I behave? How do things work? How do I address the waitress? Should I leave a tip?
- You don’t know the language: How do I ask for a drink? How do you say “Main course?” What’s the phrase to ask for more bread?
Knowing the basic French restaurant phrases is one thing, but learning about the ins and outs of French dining beforehand will truly take you to the next level.
In this article, we’ll go through the six steps of going to a restaurant, and, for each phase, we’ll list the most common and useful French phrases, as well as the restaurant etiquette and unwritten rules you need to know. Fasten your napkin, and let’s dive right into it.

Un restaurant entre amies (“A restaurant with friends”)

- Booking a Restaurant
- Entering a Restaurant
- Time for Drinks
- Food on the Table
- During the Meal
- Here Comes the Bill
- Conclusion
1. Booking a Restaurant
A- Should I book? Can I book?
Booking a restaurant is rarely an obligation in France, and you can almost always show up unannounced. Without booking, there’s no guarantee you’ll find a table, though, and in the most popular joints, you may be in for some discouragingly long lines.
There must be some upper-class restaurants that only accept customers with a booking, but I’ve never seen it myself. On the other hand, don’t be surprised if some restaurants don’t take reservations. They prefer to stick to the “first come, first served” rule and won’t block tables.
B- When should I book?
Cheap brasseries and mid-range restaurants with strategic locations can get extremely packed for lunch during the week, as workers from the neighboring companies all flock there at the same time during their synchronized lunch breaks. As a result, booking for lunch is generally a good idea.
Other restaurants, especially in the city center, are very popular dinner options and can attract long lines. If you know that you’re aiming at some sort of iconic or renowned place, it’s better to book in advance.
C- How do I book?
Some restaurants have their own booking system on their official website. Some use thefork.fr or other similar third-party services. In most cases, you can simply make a phone call. Booking information and phone numbers are usually available on Maps.
D- Conversation Example
Here is a phone conversation between a client and a restaurant employee:
Bonjour, Restaurant “Le Loup”, comment puis-je vous aider ? (“Hello, “Le loup” restaurant, how may I help you?”) Bonjour, je voudrais réserver une table pour demain soir. (“Hello, I would like to book a table for tomorrow evening.”) Bien sûr. Combien de personnes ? (“Certainly. How many people?”) Quatre personnes. (“Four people.”) Vous voudriez manger à l’intérieur ou en terrasse ? (“Would you like to eat inside or on the terrace?”) En terrasse, si c’est possible. (“On the terrace if that’s possible.”) D’accord. À quelle heure souhaitez-vous réserver ? (“Okay. What time would you like to book?”) À 20h30. (“At 8:30 pm.”) Pas de problème. Demain soir à 20h30, 4 personnes en terrasse. C’est réservé. (“No problem. Tomorrow night at 8:30, 4 people on the terrace. It’s booked.”) Parfait. Merci beaucoup ! Au revoir. (“That’s fine. Thank you very much! Goodbye.”) |
It is useful to know all possible questions, but with experience, you can cut through a lot of this back and forth and simply ask:
Bonjour, je voudrais réserver pour ce midi à 12h40, pour six personnes. (“Hello, I would like to make a reservation for lunch at 12:40 for six people.”) |

Réserver une table (“To book a table”)
2. Entering a Restaurant
If you already know the menu and even booked a table, this part of the process will be as simple as introducing yourself at the entrance :
Bonjour, j’ai une réservation au nom de Jack Bauer. (“Hello, I have a reservation under the name of Jack Bauer.”) Bonsoir, j’ai réservé au nom de Jack Bauer, pour six personnes. (‘Good evening, I have a reservation under the name of Jack Bauer, for six people.’) |
And you will be shown your table.
If you’re not that prepared, there are a few things you need to know when choosing a restaurant:
- What’s on the menu?
- How much is the food?
- Does it look pretty enough?
A- Can I See the Menu?
Many restaurants have their menu displayed outside, on a sign, or in the restaurant’s window. This is convenient if you want to quietly check your options before entering, as many people are too shy to leave once they set foot inside the premises.
If you can’t find any menu, I would simply advise that you ask for it before sitting down and, if you don’t like what you see, just give it back, thank them politely, and leave. No sane person will take offense, and it’s not considered bad etiquette.
Est-ce que je peux voir le menu, s’il vous plaît ? (“Can I please see the menu?”) Merci, bonne soirée ! (“Thank you, have a good evening!”) |
B- Typical Questions and Answers
Once you enter a restaurant, the staff may ask you some questions:
Bonsoir, c’est pour manger ? (“Good evening, are you here to eat?”) Please, refrain from answering, “No, I’m here to play squash.” It’s not as stupid a question as it sounds. Most restaurants also serve drinks, and it’s customary to ask the question so they can place you accordingly. Oui. (“Yes.”) Non, juste pour prendre un verre. (“No, just to have a drink.”) |
Vous souhaitez manger à l’intérieur ou en terrasse ? (“Would you like to eat inside or on the terrace?”) À l’intérieur, s’il vous plaît. (“Inside, please.”) |
Combien de personnes ? (“How many people?”) Pour deux personnes ? (“For two people?”) Once again, it might be tempting to answer, “No, the third one is hiding under my coat,” but this poor employee is merely doing their job! You might be expecting more friends to join, and the waiter needs to know what table size you need. Pour trois personnes. (“For three people.”) |
- ➜ You can find more words and practice your pronunciation with our vocabulary list on Restaurants, on FrenchPod101.

Le menu (“The menu”)
3. Time for Drinks
Now is the most exciting time! There’s delicious food on the menu, and you’re one order away from having it on your table. No time to get nervous: ordering is usually fairly simple as you can refer to the menu and ask for more information if you’re not familiar with some of the dishes.
But, first, more restaurants will ask you if you want an apéritif. This French word stands for the alcoholic beverage served before a meal to stimulate the appetite. It is usually dry rather than sweet and might come with dry nuts, olives, or breadsticks if you’ve picked a cool place.
A- Ordering Apéritifs
The apéritif drinks are often listed in a specific section of the menu and are not mandatory. If you don’t feel like having one, simply decline it. It’s also perfectly fine not to have one when you’re among other people, and they order some apéritifs.
Also, keep in mind that restaurants generally make the most margin on drinks, so they’ll never fail to ask you whether you want apéritifs, wine, beer, bottled water, digestifs, and so on.
Est-ce que vous voulez des apéritifs ? (“Do you want to order apéritifs ?”) Je voudrais un pastis, s’il vous plaît. (“I would like a pastis, please.”) Non merci. (“No, thank you.”) |
B- Ordering Drinks
Some restaurants phrase it differently and ask if you want to order some drinks. This could happen as soon as you’re seated when you have no idea what’s on the drink menu. You could order an apéritif but also order something to drink with your food, such as table wine or beer.
Qu’est-ce que vous voulez boire ? (“What do you want to drink?”) Est-ce qu’il y aura des boissons ? (“Will there be drinks?”) Je voudrais un demi de blonde, s’il vous plaît. (“I’d like a half-pint of blond beer, please.”) Non merci. (“No, thank you.”) Rien pour moi. (“Nothing for me.”) Peut-être plus tard. (“Maybe later.”) |
C- Free Water Tastes Better
Whatever else you’re having, now is also the best time to order some water.
Tap water is always free in France (by law), and it’s drinkable all over the country. If you’re fine with simple water in a pitcher and not fancy bottled sparkling water, this is the way to go. Bottled water is sold at absurd prices in restaurants, so it’s never worth ordering it when you can have free tap water.
This is an amazing feature of French restaurants, especially if you’re on a budget. And it’s also much more eco-friendly than drinking from a disposable bottle.
To ask for your free water, don’t just ask for water: sneaky waiters could interpret your order as mineral water and charge you for it. Instead, use this phrase:
Une carafe d’eau s’il vous plaît. (“A jug of water, please.”) Be sure to emphasize the word Carafe (“Jug”). This is what differentiates free water from a paid order of mineral water. And, if you run out, you can refill as much as you need. Est-ce que je pourrais ravoir de l’eau, s’il vous plaît ? (“Can I have more water, please?”) |
- ➜ Feeling thirsty? Head to our free vocabulary list on Drinks, on FrenchPod101.

Prendre l’apéritif (“To have an aperitif”)
4. Food on the Table
Ok, you’ve waited long enough. Let’s put some food on this table!
In most cases, you’ll have a menu right in front of you, but some restaurants do things differently. It may be on a blackboard somewhere on the wall or in the room, and I’ve been to places with digital menus where you scan a QR code and browse it on your phone.
Most inexpensive brasseries or mid-range restaurants have a Menu du jour (“Menu of the day”) or at least a Plat du jour (“Today’s special” but literally: “Dish of the day”), but some dodgy places could spot that you’re a tourist and decide to give you the regular menu that is usually more expensive.
Quel est le plat du jour ? (“What is today’s special?”) Je voudrais le plat du jour. (“I would like today’s special.”) Je voudrais le menu du jour. (“I would like the menu of the day.”) Je voudrais la formule du midi. (“I would like the lunch menu.”) |
If you need to know more about a specific dish, don’t hesitate to ask:
La tartiflette, qu’est-ce que c’est ? (“The tartiflette, what it is?”) C’est un plat à base de pommes de terre, avec du fromage et des lardons. (“It is a potato-based dish with cheese and bacon.”) |
Whether you’re ordering from the specials or à la carte, here are a few examples:
En entrée, je voudrais la salade composée. (“As a starter, I would like the mixed salad.”) Comme plat, je voudrais un steak au poivre. (“As a dish, I would like a steak au poivre.”) En dessert, je voudrais la mousse au chocolat. (“For dessert, I would like the chocolate mousse.”) |
If you have any allergy or a special diet, now is the time to talk about it:
Je suis allergique aux cacahuètes. (“I’m allergic to peanuts.”) Est-ce que ce plat contient des cacahuètes ? (“Does this dish contain peanuts?”) Avez-vous des plats végétariens ? (“Do you have vegetarian dishes?”) Avez-vous des plats végans ? (“Do you have vegan dishes?”) |
- ➜ For more sentences on how to order in a restaurant, you may want to check our vocabulary list with Useful phrases and vocabulary for ordering food. It’s free on FrenchPod101.

Un filet de saumon (“A salmon filet”)
5. During the Meal
Food has come to the table and is currently traveling toward your stomach. Everything’s going well, but you may have some requests for the waiter, or worse: what if they ask you some questions?
A thoughtful waiter might ask you if everything is going well or if you need anything.
Est-ce que tout se passe bien ? (“Is everything going well?”) Tout va bien ? (“Is everything okay?”) Oui, très bien, merci ! (“Yes, very good, thank you.”) Est-ce que je pourrais avoir plus de pain, s’il vous plaît ? (“Could I have some more bread, please?”) Je voudrais reprendre un verre de vin, s’il vous plaît. (“I’d like another glass of wine, please.”) Est-ce que vous avez des sauces pour les frites ? (“Do you have some sauce for the fries?”) |
If you need to call for a waiter, try to make eye contact or get their attention with a simple: Excusez-moi (“Excuse me”)
Now it’s time for dessert, isn’t it? You don’t want to miss out on the local delicacies!
Est-ce que vous prendrez des desserts ? (“Will you have some desserts?”) Vous voulez la carte des desserts ? (“Do you want to see the desserts menu?”) Je voudrais les profiteroles, s’il vous plaît. (“I’d like the profiteroles, please.”) Profiteroles are small balls of soft choux pastry filled with whipped cream or ice cream and covered with hot chocolate sauce. They’re served in heaven and in every good French restaurant. |
It is common for the French to order a coffee after their meal and most waiters will ask if you’d like one:
Est-ce que vous prendrez un café ? (“Will you have a coffee?”) |
- ➜ Are you missing a fork or a spoon? Make sure to visit our vocabulary list on Utensils and Tableware, on FrenchPod101.

Des profiteroles (“Profiteroles”) (Credit: Annie Smithers Bistrot, shared under CC BY-SA 2.0)
6. Here Comes the Bill
Once you’re done with the main course or with the whole meal, waiters will sometimes ask for your feedback. It’s often just protocol, but you may want to go the extra mile if you really had a great time.
Tout s’est bien passé ? (“Did everything go well?”) Très bien, merci. (“Very well, thank you.”) C’était délicieux, merci ! (“It was delicious, thank you.”) C’était vraiment excellent. Mes compliments au chef. (“It was really excellent. My compliments to the chef.”) This last one is very formal and may sound awkward if you’ve just had a kebab. |
A- Check Please
When it comes to the bill, there are mainly three types of restaurants:
- Fast food restaurants where you pay at the counter when you order
- Restaurants where you pay at the counter after the meal
- Restaurants where you pay at your table after the meal
When in doubt, look around you for clues or simply ask a waiter:
Est-ce que je pourrais avoir l’addition, s’il vous plaît ? (“Could I have the bill, please?”) Je vous l’apporte tout de suite. (“I’ll bring it to you right away.”) Vous pouvez régler directement au comptoir. (“You can pay directly at the counter.”) |
Then, when it’s time to pay:
Vous voulez payer séparément ou ensemble ? (“Do you want to pay separately or together?”) Je vais régler pour tout le monde. (“I will pay for everyone.”) Séparément, s’il vous plaît. (“Separately, please.”) |
B- What About the Tip?
In France, the 15% service fee is always included in the prices as they appear on the menu. Unlike other countries such as Canada or the US, the tip is not seen as something mandatory, and many French don’t tip or only tip when they feel like they have a good reason to do so (outstanding service or amazing food).
French waiters don’t survive on tips, but they’re rarely paid well for a physical and often stressful job, making the tip a welcome bonus to their wage.
Tips are usually left on the table in the form of coins or a bill or in a dedicated tip box at the counter. The average tip would be around 5% of the bill, but there are no strict rules about it, and you should not feel forced. On the other hand, a higher bill is always appreciated.
- ➜ Would you like to see more phrases with recorded examples to work on your pronunciation? Why not stop by our vocabulary list of Key phrases for restaurants on FrenchPod101?

L’addition s’il vous plaît ! (“The bill please!”)
7. Conclusion
In this guide, you have learned everything you need to know when eating in a French restaurant, from making a reservation to apéritifs, drinks, ordering food and desserts, as well as handling the check.
For each step, you need to know the tricks and secret rules, as well as the basic French restaurant phrases. Did we forget some specific situations you’d like to learn more about?
Make sure to explore FrenchPod101, as it has plenty of free resources for you to practice your grammar and learn new words. The vocabulary lists are also a great way to revise the words and learn their pronunciation.
Remember that you can also use our premium service, MyTeacher, to get personal 1-on-1 coaching and have your own private teacher to practice with restaurant phrases and more.
Along with assignments, personalized exercises, and recording audio samples just for you, your teacher will review your work and help improve your pronunciation. Happy learning on FrenchPod101!
About the Author: Born and bred in the rainy north of France, Cyril Danon jumped around from job to job before he left everything behind to wander around the wonders of the world. Now, after quenching his wanderlust for the last few years, he’s eager to share his passion for languages.

Animal Names in French

Do you know which animals the French love most? What about the most popular pets and common farm animals? How many species are there in the gastropod family, and what’s the life expectancy of forest-litter snails? We’re about to answer some of these questions.
As I was gathering animal names, I came up with a fascinating theory: the more exotic an animal is in France, the easier it will be for you to learn its French name. Conveniently enough, there are several animal names in French that are identical to their English equivalents: lion, crocodile, panda, koala, giraffe, jaguar… They shouldn’t give you too much trouble!
In this article, you’ll learn the names of different animals in French, from pets and farm animals to wild beasts, sea creatures, and all sorts of tiny bugs. We’ll even spice it up with some extras: French animal sounds, body parts, and a bunch of colorful expressions such as il pleut comme vache qui pisse (“it’s raining like a pissing cow”).

Des animaux de compagnie (“Pets”)

- Pets
- Farm Animals
- Wild Animals
- Sea Animals
- Bugs
- Birds
- Reptiles & Amphibians
- Animal Body Parts
- Animal Verbs
- Animal Sounds
- Bonus: Animal Idioms
- Le mot de la fin
1. Pets
When it comes to pets, the French don’t have very eccentric tastes. Sure, you could always find domestic snakes or spiders here and there. But the all-time classics (cats and dogs) are as ubiquitous here as anywhere else in the world, with fish and birds coming next on the list.
Polls have shown that the most popular pets in France are cats (purring in around 30% of households), followed by dogs (20%), and then fish (10%). When asked about their favorite animals (and not just pets), the French still answered in favor of cats and dogs, followed by horses and dolphins.
Surprisingly, France is also the European country with the highest number of domestic reptiles, though this number is marginal compared to the number of domestic mammals.
Un chat | “Cat” |
Un chien | “Dog” |
Un lapin | “Rabbit” |
Une souris | “Mouse” |
Un rat | “Rat” |
Un cochon d’Inde | “Guinea pig” |
Un poisson rouge | “Goldfish” |
Un perroquet | “Parrot” |

Un chaton (“Kitten”)
2. Farm Animals
Farm animals don’t vary much from one country to the next, and France is no exception. We breed the same-old cows, pigs, sheep, and goats as anywhere else in the world, which makes these words some of the most useful to learn.
The only feature you may find “exotic” about French farms is that we breed horses for their meat.
Hippophagy (the practice of eating horse meat) is generally frowned upon in the U.S., and is even banned in many states across the country. It’s met with the same disgust in the U.K., where it remains a strong taboo.
In France, it was never wildly popular, but following lots of scandals and controversies over the last two decades, the consumption of horse meat has decreased dramatically. At this rate, it shall soon become a distant nightmare for all horse-lovers.
Here are the names of common farm animals in French:
Une vache | “Cow” |
Un cochon | “Pig” |
Un mouton | “Sheep” |
Une chèvre | “Goat” |
Un cheval | “Horse” |
Une poule | “Hen” |
Un coq | “Rooster” |
Un canard | “Duck” |
Une oie | “Goose” |
Une dinde | “Turkey” |
- → To learn more French words and practice your pronunciation, why not stop by our vocabulary lesson on farm animals? It’s available for free on FrenchPod101.com.

Des cochons (“Pigs”)
3. Wild Animals
French forests and mountains are home to a variety of wild animals. Rabbits and hares are the easiest to spot, but if you hike deep enough in the woods, you might encounter deer, wolves, and even bears.
If you’re more of a mountain climber, you may find some adorable groundhogs hiding from eagles and different kinds of wild goats strolling around like they own the place. The Alps are especially renowned for their wildlife, but we also have a few whales singing in the Mediterranean Sea and fluffy seals on the northern coast.
Here are the names of popular wild animals in the French language:
Un ours | “Bear” |
Un loup | “Wolf” |
Un cerf | “Deer” |
Un lièvre | “Hare” |
Un renard | “Fox” |
Un hérisson | “Hedgehog” |
Un écureuil | “Squirrel” |
Un sanglier | “Boar” |
Une marmotte | “Groundhog” |
Un lion | “Lion” |
Un tigre | “Tiger” |
Un jaguar | “Jaguar” |
Une panthère | “Panther” |
Un éléphant | “Elephant” |
Une giraffe | “Giraffe” |
Un singe | “Monkey” |
Un gorille | “Gorilla” |
Un kangourou | “Kangaroo” |
Un koala | “Koala” |
Un panda | “Panda” |
Un paresseux | “Sloth” |
Un phoque | “Seal” |
Un pingouin | “Penguin” |
Un ours polaire | “Polar bear” |
Un morse | “Walrus” |

Un paresseux (“Sloth”)
4. Sea Animals
Counting our overseas regions (Nouvelle Calédonie, Polynésie Française, Mayotte…), France alone is home to 10% of the world’s corals. They’re mostly gathered around our islands, and they host an impressive diversity of fish, algae, and shellfish.
On the other hand, the industrialization and pollution of the French coasts have taken a huge toll on the marine ecosystem, with plastic being one of the main culprits.
Un poisson | “Fish” |
Un requin | “Shark” |
Un dauphin | “Dolphin” |
Une baleine | “Whale” |
Un lion de mer | “Sealion” |
Une méduse | “Jellyfish” |
Une pieuvre Un poulpe | “Octopus” |
There is no difference between un poulpe and une pieuvre. The latter is a bit more modern, but both are equally used. | |
Un hippocampe | “Seahorse” |
Un oursin | “Urchin” |
Une étoile de mer | “Starfish” |
Une moule | “Mussel” |
Un concombre de mer | “Sea cucumber” |
Sea cucumbers are so bizarrely amazing that I couldn’t resist including them on this list. Do you know of any other animal that breathes through its butt? They especially thrive in deep water, and make up 90% of life on the ocean floor below 15,000 feet. |
- → Do you wanna dive deeper? We have a vocabulary list of marine animals and fish with recorded pronunciation examples.

Un requin-marteau (“Hammerhead shark”)
5. Bugs
France has a diverse fauna of native and endemic bugs. Nothing as lethal and scary as what you’d find in Australia, luckily, but we have our fair share of crawling insects and nasty worms.
The three most dangerous animals in France are the Asian hornets, blood-sucking ticks, and the infamous veuve noire (“black widow”), a spider found on the island of Corsica and the region of Provence. Its venom is more dangerous than that of a cobra and can induce crazy hallucinations.
Une abeille | “Bee” |
Une guêpe | “Wasp” |
Un moustique | “Mosquito” |
Une mouche | “Fly” |
Une araignée | “Spider” |
Un criquet | “Grasshopper” |
Un cafard | “Cockroach” |
Un papillon | “Butterfly” |
Une fourmi | “Ant” |
Une mite | “Moth” |
Un escargot | “Snail” |
Une limace | “Slug” |

Une guêpe (“Wasp”)
6. Birds
There are more than 500 species of birds in France, but none are as familiar as our iconic pigeon.
Around 23,000 pigeons live in Paris today, but it wasn’t always so. Back in the nineteenth century, they could only be seen flying over the city. Pigeons only settled in later on, thanks to the lack of predators and the rise of the pigeon post during the Franco-Prussian War.
Un pigeon | “Pigeon” |
Une mouette | “Seagull” |
Un corbeau | “Crow” |
Un aigle | “Eagle” |
Une colombe | “Dove” |
Un hibou Une chouette | “Owl” |
What’s the difference between hiboux and chouettes? Simple enough: Hiboux have fluffy ‘ears’ and chouettes don’t. Both are adorable. | |
Une pie | “Magpie” |
Un moineau | “Sparrow” |
Un paon | “Peacock” |

Des pigeons (“Pigeons”)
7. Reptiles & Amphibians
Although we don’t have many lethal snakes in France, we still have a few vipers hiding in the bushes here and there. However, they usually don’t attack without provocation and their venom is rarely fatal to humans.
Their natural habitat has been increasingly threatened in recent years and they’re nearly extinct today. Due to their bad reputation (much of which is derived from phobias and irrational fears), nobody’s too eager to protect them.
Une grenouille | “Frog” |
Un crapaud | “Toad” |
Un crocodile | “Crocodile” |
Un lézard | “Lizard” |
Une tortue | “Turtle” |
Une tortue de mer | “Sea turtle” |
Un serpent | “Snake” |
- → For more French animal words with recordings of their pronunciation, make sure to check out this free vocabulary list on FrenchPod101.com.

Un serpent (“Snake”)
8. Animal Body Parts
Une queue | “Tail” |
Un poil | “Hair” |
Une fourrure | “Fur” |
Une dent | “Tooth” |
Un croc | “Fang” |
Une griffe | “Claw” |
Une corne | “Horn” |
Un sabot | “Hoof” |
Une plume | “Feather” |
Une aile | “Wing” |
Un bec | “Beak” |
Une gueule | “Mouth” |
The word gueule is also a rude slang term for “mouth,” as in the expression: Ferme ta gueule. (“Shut your trap.”) In that case, you’re implicitly comparing the other person to an animal. | |
Une nageoire | “Fin” |
Un tentacule | “Tentacle” |
Une crinière | “Mane” |
Une trompe | “Trunk” |
Une défense | “Tusk” |
Une antenne | “Antenna” |
Un dard | “Dart” |
Une patte | “Leg” |
Une patte can only be used for animals. When talking about a human leg, we use une jambe. | |
Une écaille | “Scale” |

Des cornes (“Horns”)
9. Animal Verbs
Miauler | “To meow” |
Aboyer | “To bark” |
Rugir | “To roar” |
Bourdonner | “To buzz” |
Grogner | “To growl” |
Ronronner | “To purr” |
Galoper | “To gallop” |
Nager | “To swim” |
Ramper | “To crawl” |
Mordre | “To bite” (with teeth) |
Piquer | “To sting” (with a dart) |
Griffer | “To scratch” |
Lécher | “To lick” |
Caresser | “To pet” |
Dresser | “To tame” / “To train” |
Nourrir | “To feed” |
Vacciner | “To vaccinate” |

Le chien aboie. (“The dog is barking.”)
10. Animal Sounds
The onomatopoeia used for animal sounds vary greatly from one country to the next, and it’s always hilarious to see how people perceive barking or meowing in other cultures. Here are the most popular French animal sounds, for your entertainment.
But before you make fun of our animals’ sounds, just keep in mind that cats say “knavili” in Georgian, dogs go “Gaf gaf” in Russian, Danish ducks sing “Rap rap,” and Belgian turkeys gobble “Irka kloek kloek.” Just sayin’.
Miaou | (Cat) |
Ouaf / Wouf | (Dog) |
Meuh | (Cow) |
Bêêê | (Sheep) |
Cui cui | (Bird) |
Cocorico | (Rooster) |
We also use this sound as a symbol of national pride. When a French person says Cocorico !, it’s pretty much like saying “Go France!” | |
Coin coin | (Duck) |
Grrr | (Growling sound) |
Hou hou | (Owl) |
Croa croa | (Toad) |
Glouglou | (Turkey) |
Cot cot | (Hen) |
Groin groin | (Pig) |

Cocorico ! (“Cock-a-doodle-doo!”)
11. Bonus: Animal Idioms
French expression | Marcher sur des œufs |
Literal translation | “To walk on eggs” |
This is the equivalent of “to walk on eggshells,” when you’re being very careful not to offend someone or do anything wrong. |
French expression | Ça ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard. |
Literal translation | “It doesn’t break a duck’s three legs.” |
The equivalent of “It’s nothing to write home about,” when something is not really impressive. |
French expression | Oh la vache ! |
Literal translation | “Oh, the cow!” |
The unholy version of “Holy cow!” |
French expression | Vachement |
Literal translation | “Cowishly” |
This roughly translates to “really” or “very.” For example: C’est vachement bien ! (“It’s really good!”) |
French expression | Il pleut comme vache qui pisse. |
Literal translation | “It’s raining like a pissing cow.” |
Similar to “It’s raining cats and dogs,” when talking about heavy rain. |
French expression | Il n’y a pas un chat. |
Literal translation | “There is not a cat.” |
The place is so empty that you can’t even spot a stray cat strolling around. |
French expression | J’ai un chat dans la gorge. |
Literal translation | “I have a cat in the throat.” |
The equivalent would be “I have a frog in my throat,” when you can’t speak normally because of how dry and hoarse your throat feels. |
French expression | Il fait un temps de chien. |
Literal translation | “It’s a dog’s weather.” |
“The weather is really bad.” The expression was introduced at the beginning of the twentieth century, when dogs still had a reputation for being dirty animals. When it was pouring rain, only stray dogs would stay outside and roam the empty streets. |
French expression | Un trou à rat |
Literal translation | “A rat hole” |
A dirty or miserable place. |
French expression | Donner de la confiture aux cochons |
Literal translation | “To give jam to the pigs” |
The equivalent of “to throw pearls before swine.” To waste good things on someone undeserving. |
French expression | Un caractère de cochon |
Literal translation | “A pig’s temper” |
Do pigs have especially bad tempers? This is what the expression implies. |
French expression | Poser un lapin |
Literal translation | “To put a rabbit” |
The equivalent of “to stand someone up,” when you’re supposed to meet them but fail to show up. |
French expression | C’est chouette ! |
Literal translation | “It’s owl!” |
I’d translate it as “It’s nice,” or “It’s cool.” We use it when talking about something exciting or pleasant. For example: Ce film est chouette. (“This movie is nice.”) |
French expression | À vol d’oiseau |
Literal translation | “On bird’s flight” |
This is the equivalent of “as the crow flies.” It describes the shortest possible distance between two points that a bird could cover, flying over roads and obstacles. For example: La gare est à 2 km à vol d’oiseau. (“The train station is two kilometers as the crow flies.”) In other words: It would be further when walking, but here’s a raw estimate. |
French expression | Noyer le poisson |
Literal translation | “To drown the fish” |
Similar to “to cloud the issue,” when you make a problem more difficult to understand or deal with by introducing unnecessary ideas. |
French expression | Chercher la petite bête |
Literal translation | “To look for the tiny beast” |
The equivalent of “to nitpick,” when you focus on small, specific mistakes. A teacher might nitpick if they blame you for a missing comma in your otherwise perfect paper. |

Les chouettes sont vachement chouettes ! (“Owls are super cool!”)
12. Le mot de la fin
In this guide, you’ve learned many animal names in French, from pets to marine animals and beyond. Now you’re ready to ask your friends about their pets or their favorite furry animals.
Did we forget any animal expression you’ve heard? If you know more funny French animal sounds, be sure to share them in the comments below!
Make sure to explore FrenchPod101, as we have plenty of free resources to help you practice your grammar and learn new words. Our vocabulary lists are also a great way to review words and learn their pronunciation.
Remember that you can also use our Premium PLUS service, MyTeacher, to get personal 1-on-1 coaching with your own private teacher. They can help you practice the animal words from this article, and much more. In addition to giving you assignments and personalized exercises, your teacher can record audio samples for you and review your work to help you improve in all areas.
Happy learning on FrenchPod101.com!
About the Author: Born and bred in rainy Northern France, Cyril Danon was bouncing off various jobs before he left everything behind to wander around the wonders of the world. Now, after quenching his wanderlust over the last few years, he’s eager to share his passion for languages.

How to Say “I Love You” in French

Did you know that the French language does not differentiate between “love” and “like”? When you say J’aime le fromage, it means that you like cheese. But if you say Je t’aime, it stands for “I love you” in French and certainly not just “I like you.”
This might be one of the reasons why the French are known to be rather quick about saying “I love you.” Unlike other cultures, they don’t necessarily mean that they want to get married and spend the rest of their days with the person, but more like they really like the person and love spending time together.
But I’m getting ahead of myself! In this guide, we’ll talk about love, of course, but also about flirting and seduction—from first contact to sweet talk for lovebirds—staying in touch, and spicing things up. We’ve even included a bonus section on the most infamous love quotes that you should never use.

- First Contact
- Keep in Touch
- Take it to the Next Level
- Let’s Meet Again
- You’re in Love
- Bonus: The Worst French Love Phrases
- Le mot de la fin

All you need is love!
1. First Contact
Have you just seen the stylish guy over there with the stubble and fancy scarf? Or maybe you’re looking at the Mediterranean-looking girl with olive skin, high cheekbones, and dark hair?
If you’ve just gotten a crush on someone and want to make first contact, this is where we start.
In the following sentences—and throughout this guide—we’ll assume you’re in an informal setting such as a bar or a club, and using the casual tu (informal “you”) instead of the polite vous (formal “you”).
Tu viens souvent ici ? | “Do you come here often?” |
Tu veux danser ? Tu veux danser avec moi ? | “Do you want to dance?” “Do you want to dance with me?” |
Je t’offre un verre ? | “Can I buy you a drink?” |
In France, men are not expected to pay for everything and it’s common for couples on a date to split the bill. It’s perfectly fine to buy a girl a drink, but you should not feel obligated to do so. It’s more unusual for a girl to buy a guy a drink, but you’re sure to make an impression simply for being different. |
Tu es venu(e) avec ton copain ? Tu es venu(e) avec ta copine ? | “Did you come with your boyfriend?” “Did you come with your girlfriend?” |
This is a not-so-subtle way to ask someone if they’re single. If you want to be even more straightforward, you could ask: Tu es célibataire ? (“Are you single?”) |

Tu veux danser ? (“Do you wanna dance?”)
2. Keep in Touch
Now that you’ve made first contact, let’s imagine that you both had a good time and you want to spend more time with your potential date. You could set the next date right away or just smoothly get their phone number.
Si on prenait un verre un de ces quatre ? | “What about having a drink one of these days?” |
Un de ces quatre (literally: “One of these four”) is the short version of Un de ces quatre matins (“One of these four mornings”). It describes a short, undefined amount of time, such as “a few days,” and adds an element of uncertainty (it might just not happen at all). |
Je peux t’inviter à dîner ? | “Can I invite you for dinner?” |
Like I mentioned before, it’s not necessarily up to the man to pay the bill and it’s not expected “by default.” However, this shouldn’t keep you from inviting someone for dinner, which implies that you’ll be paying. |
Je voudrais te revoir. J’aimerais bien te revoir. | “I’d like to see you again.” |
Je peux te donner mon numéro ? | “Can I give you my number?” |
Why give your number instead of asking for his/hers? Aside from being more courteous, giving your number first is a way to show interest right away. Then, if you’ve made a good impression and your potential date is interested, they’ll either return the favor right away or call you later. Just be cool about it and accept that it might not happen. |
- → Now that you’ve made your move, you’ll want to know the Most Common Phrases You’ll Need for a Date and the 10 Most Romantic Ideas for a Date in French.

Je peux te donner mon numéro ? (“Can I give you my number?”)
3. Take it to the Next Level
Did you score that second date? Or a third, or more? Whether it’s your first or your tenth, if you feel like it’s time to shift into high gear, I’ve got you covered with these romantic French phrases:
Tu veux sortir prendre l’air ? | “Do you wanna get some fresh air?” “Do you wanna get out?” |
This is a rather casual request and a great way to see whether the person is interested in spending a bit of time alone with you, without having them commit to anything more. |
On va dans un endroit plus tranquille ? | “Do you wanna go somewhere quieter?” |
It’s getting more serious than just sortir prendre l’air. |
Je te raccompagne ? | “Can I take you home?” |
As early as the first date, you can ask her if you can take her home (it’s most commonly a guy thing). It doesn’t need to have any hidden meaning and you shouldn’t be offended if she declines. You’ll be showing good manners by offering, but keep in mind that your partner is not committing to anything, such as letting you in. |
Tu veux entrer prendre un verre ? | “Do you want to come in for a drink?” |
This is often seen as a seduction technique, but you shouldn’t necessarily read too much into it. If you’re made such an offer and are willing to accept it, only assume that you’re going in for the drink and the conversation. Your partner is not committing to anything else for now. |
Tu me plais. | “I like you.” |
This is more than “I like you.” You’d rarely say this to a friend and it’s more often used toward a partner or a romantic interest. It can also express physical attraction. |
J’ai envie de toi. | “I want you.” |
This one is rather self-explanatory. |
- → Did this put you in a romantic mood? Be sure to stop by our free list of French Quotes About Love.

J’ai envie de toi. (“I want you.”)
4. Let’s Meet Again
When you’re seeing someone and would like to spend more time together, you should probably let them know. Here are a few ways to express it:
Tu me manques. | “I miss you.” |
This is a peculiar and cute feature of the French language. Unlike in English, where missing someone is a direct action toward the person, the French version literally means “You are missing from me,” or “I’m missing you,” (in the same way that a dish would “miss” salt or pepper). Missing a person is like missing a part of yourself. |
On se revoit bientôt ? | “Are we meeting again soon?” |
J’ai hâte de te revoir. | “I can’t wait to see you again.” |
Je voudrais passer plus de temps avec toi. J’aimerais passer plus de temps avec toi. | “I’d like to spend more time with you.” |
Je pense toujours à toi. Je n’arrête pas de penser à toi. | “I’m still thinking about you.” “I can’t stop thinking about you.” |

On se revoit bientôt ? (“Are we meeting again soon?”)
5. You’re in Love
There you are: You’re now completely head over heels, madly in love with your French date or partner, and you want to confess your love…or maybe tell your most trusted friends about it. Here are some French love words and phrases you can use to do so.
Je t’aime. | “I love you.” |
Even though we don’t have a clear distinction between “like” and “love” like English does, there are some ways to express the different levels of affection: Je t’aime bien (“I like you”) [Friendly] Je t’aime (“I love you”) [Romantic] Je t’adore (“I adore you”) [Could be friendly or romantic] For more information on the many shades of aimer (“to love” / “to like”), make sure to stop by the fifth chapter of our article on the Top 10 French Sentence Patterns. |
Je suis fou de toi. Je suis folle de toi. | “I’m crazy about you.” [Speaker is male] “I’m crazy about you.” [Speaker is female] |
Tu es beau. Tu es belle. | “You’re beautiful.” [The other person is male] “You’re beautiful.” [The other person is female] |
Mon amour Mon chéri Ma chérie | “My love” “My dear” / “My darling” [Male] “My dear” / “My darling” [Female] |
These are just a few popular French terms of endearment, but there are many more: mon cœur (literally: “my heart”), mon bébé (“my baby”), mon chaton (“my kitten”). It’s all a matter of preference. |
Je suis tombé amoureux. Je suis tombée amoureuse. | “I’ve fallen in love.” [Speaker is male] “I’ve fallen in love.” [Speaker is female] |
J’ai eu un coup de foudre. | “I’ve had a crush.” |
This literally means that you’ve been struck by lightning. We generally use it to describe “love at first sight”: a very strong and immediate attraction. |
- → Are you looking for more inspiration to declare your undying love? Our list of Love Phrases for Valentine’s Day might be just what you need.

Je t’aime. (“I love you.”)
6. Bonus: The Worst French Love Phrases
Do you feel like you’re too handsome and charming for your own good and you’re growing tired of constantly attracting the people around you?
Here is a collection of the most infamous French love quotes that remain inexplicably popular. You can use them if you want to make sure you’ll stay single.
T’as d’beaux yeux, tu sais. | “You have beautiful eyes, you know.” |
A famous quote from the movie Le Quai des Brumes (1938) with Jean Gabin and Michèle Morgan. There’s nothing inherently wrong with the quote, but it has been overused to the point where it sounds silly. |
T’es bien charmante mademoiselle. | “You’re very charming, miss.” |
If you’ve been to Paris, you might have bumped into one of these groups of small-time dodgy-looking youngsters trying to act tough. If you’re a woman, they would most likely whistle at you and throw a bunch of distasteful comments in some futile attempt to look witty and seductive. This quote is rather harmless, but most French girls would run away at the sound of it. |
Lâche ton 06. | “Give me your mobile number.” |
Literally: “Drop your 06.” It’s a reference to the first digits that all French mobile phone numbers used to start with. This is what generally comes after the T’es bien charmante and some more naughty comments. For the same reason, you should only use it to get rid of someone, or humoristically. |
J’te kiffe bébé. | “I’m into you baby.” |
Kiffer (“to like” / “to love”) is the slang equivalent of aimer. |
Ton père est un voleur. Il a volé toutes les étoiles du ciel pour les mettre dans tes yeux. | “Your father is a thief. He stole all the stars from the sky to put them in your eyes.” |
If you want the cheesiest of all French love phrases, look no further. |

T’as d’beaux yeux, tu sais. (“You have beautiful eyes, you know.”)
7. Le mot de la fin
In this guide, you’ve learned how to say “I love you,” in French and how to use the most common and useful French love phrases. From the early flirting lines to intimate whispers and ardent confessions of love, you now have some phrases for every step of the way.
Did we forget any important love phrases you know? Don’t hesitate to share them in the comments below!
Make sure to explore FrenchPod101, as we have plenty of free resources for you to practice your grammar and learn new words. Our vocabulary lists are also a great way to review the words and learn their pronunciation.
Remember that you can also use our Premium PLUS service, MyTeacher, to get personal 1-on-1 coaching with your own private teacher who can help you practice. In addition to giving you assignments, personalized exercises, and recorded audio samples, your teacher will review your work and help you improve your pronunciation. Happy learning on FrenchPod101.com!
About the Author: Born and bred in the rainy north of France, Cyril Danon has been bouncing off various jobs before he left everything behind to wander around the wonders of the World. Now, after quenching his wanderlust for the last few years, he’s eager to share his passion for languages.

Why Learn French? 10 Reasons Why You Should Start Today.

Why should people learn French, and more importantly, why should you? That’s a fair question to ask before committing your precious time and brainpower to the task.
If I were to learn another language, I’d personally pick something simple enough, widely spread across the globe, with a thriving culture and lots of business opportunities. Damn, I wish I could learn French again!
Whether you’re a travel lover, a people person, or a culture vulture, you’ll find many benefits in learning a new language—and French might be just the one for you.
In this article, we’ll go over the 10 main reasons why you should learn French for leisure (travel, friendship, entertainment) or business (quality studies, work opportunities). We’ll also discuss why it’s easier to learn than you might think.

Travel opportunities are a good reason to learn a language.

- It’s the perfect language for travel lovers.
- You’ll be able to make real connections with French people.
- You’ll start to enjoy the French culture in its original version.
- Learning French will give you a deeper understanding of English.
- France is known for its cheap (yet high-quality) studies.
- Once you’ve worked in France, there’s no going back.
- French is one of the top languages for business.
- French is growing faster than you think.
- Get ready to show off at dinner parties.
- French is pretty easy to learn.
- Le mot de la fin
1 – It’s the perfect language for travel lovers.
A- French is everywhere…
French is a widespread language with native speakers all over the world.
With close to 300 million speakers in 27 different countries, it’s also the only language to be spoken across all 5 continents. Belgium, Switzerland, Quebec, a big chunk of Africa, French Guiana, and lots of heavenly tropical islands, you name it!
Learning French will open up many places where you’ll be able to travel with peace of mind, knowing you’ve overcome the language barrier. It’s also the second most widely learned language in the world, making it a big asset for travelers, wherever they go!
B- Especially in France!
So many countries, but nothing beats good ol’ France!
This is such a beautiful country with a wide variety of landscapes, from lush forests to snow-capped mountains and glaciers, dramatic cliff sides, sleeping volcanoes, and don’t even get me started on the Mediterranean coast.
And it’s not just the natural wonders one has to look forward to: Cities and towns feature a unique blend of architectural styles, thanks to centuries of history. There’s a reason why France is one of the world’s most popular travel destinations, with over 80 million visitors per year.
Oh, and one more thing…
You might think that in this day and age, you’ll always find someone who speaks English, right? That’s not necessarily true in France, as we’re known for lagging behind most of our European neighbors.
Are you sure you want to rely on the waiter’s dubious English when ordering delicious French food in a restaurant?
- → Going to France? Don’t leave without a good vocabulary list. They’re all free on FrenchPod101.com and feature recorded audio samples for pronunciation practice.

French architecture rarely disappoints.
2 – You’ll be able to make real connections with French people.
When you learn a language, even if you’re just focusing on practical topics such as grammar and vocabulary, you’ll get to learn more about the culture and way of thinking of its native speakers.
Without getting too philosophical, let’s just say that our thoughts are shaped by our language, and vice-versa. As a result, simply learning the language is an open window to the French culture and way of life!
More prosaically, learning French will help you make genuine connections with native French speakers, whether you meet them in your country or as you travel and spend time with the locals.
You’ll get a better understanding of how they think, what drives them, and what all the fuss over this Art de Vivre (“Art of Living”) is about. Okay, I can answer that one for you: Our boundless love for tasty food and good wine. Sounds interesting, right?
3 – You’ll start to enjoy the French culture in its original version.
One of the best reasons to study French—especially if you have a deep appreciation of world cultures and world-class entertainment—is that France has a whole lot of both.
A- Timeless classics
Sure, France is a rather small country. It’s not the biggest superpower in terms of its economy or military. But when it comes to soft power and international aura, it’s a cultural superpower with outstanding contributions to art, fashion, cuisine, and entertainment.
France is the birthplace of some of the most fascinating and influential artists of the last few centuries.
Just to name a few, from classic French literature:
- Victor Hugo (Notre Dame de Paris, Les Misérables)
- Molière (L’Avare, Tartuffe)
- Émile Zola (Germinal, La Bête Humaine)
And in the visual arts, we have eminent painters including:
B- Cinema, music, comics
What better way to learn a language than to immerse yourself in its entertainment industry? By watching movies, reading comics, or listening to music in French, you’ll combine study with pleasure and make progress faster!
And you’re in luck because the French entertainment industries are thriving. There are lots of new interesting French movies and series released every single year, French music record companies are booming, and 2020 was proclaimed “The Year of Comics” by our local ministry of culture.
You could start watching movies with original French audio and English subtitles. Then, as you get more and more comfortable with the language, you could turn the subtitles to French, and later turn them off entirely.
- → Our vocabulary list of the most Useful Words and Phrases for Going to the Movies will help you always come prepared!

Why not take your French date for a movie night?
4 – Learning French will give you a deeper understanding of English.
Did you know that around 30% of English words come directly from French?
British and French histories have been intertwined for a good thousand years, and it shows. You wouldn’t believe how many common English words are actually derived from French. They’re sometimes slightly modified or just kept identical but with a different pronunciation.
- Bureau – from the French Un bureau (“Desk” / “Office”)
- Salad – Une salade
- Utensil – Un ustensile
- Soup – Une soupe
And there are so many more:
- Restaurant (Un restaurant)
- Television (Une télévision)
- Hotel (Un hôtel)
- Debris (Un débris)
- Gallery (Une galerie)
I couldn’t possibly list all of them.
Many of these words are used in specialized or technical fields. For example:
- Military: Army (Une armée), Cavalry (Une cavalerie), Soldier (Un soldat), Captain (Un capitaine)
- Art: Music (Une musique), Dance (Une danse), Theatre (Un théâtre), Rhythm (Un rythme)
- Cuisine: Confit (Un confit), Mustard (Une moutarde), Sauce (Une sauce), Sausage (Une saucisse)
As a result, learning French will also benefit your English, as you’ll learn new words as well as the etymology of words you already know. It will help you expand your vocabulary and better understand borrowed French words.
5 – France is known for its cheap (yet high-quality) studies.
Speaking French opens up lots of opportunities for education, as France has some of the best renowned universities (La Sorbonne, Pierre Marie Curie) as well as first-class Grandes écoles (HEC, Polytechnique, ESSEC).
Grandes écoles (literally: “big schools”) is what we call our most prestigious schools. You know, the ones with highly selective admissions, top-notch teachers, and big fancy degrees.
French universities are internationally known for the outstanding quality of their education—but did you know they’re also cheap as dirt? Especially compared to the price of attending big universities in the U.S., it’s much cheaper to get your education in France!
Not only do these schools accept foreign applicants, but students who are fluent enough in French can also apply for a French government grant on the course of their choice in France. In a nutshell, you can have the French government pay for your studies.
Sure, this isn’t for everyone, as it will take an advanced proficiency level to be comfortable in a French classroom (especially in classes on complicated or technical topics). But if you can manage, a French degree will open lots of doors in France and beyond.
- → Did you find your dream university in France? You can start practicing with our vocabulary list on Words and Phrases for Living on a School Campus.

Studies are the best opportunity to make friends AND build your network.
6 – Once you’ve worked in France, there’s no going back.
As if you needed any more reasons to learn French, get this: Working in France comes with a list of benefits that might just make it the most employee-friendly country in the world. This is all thanks to a set of labor laws aimed at protecting employees over the company and not the other way around.
- Double health insurance
By default, as soon as you’re legally living in France, you can enroll for our free healthcare system and have most of your medical bills paid for. Many employers also offer a complimentary insurance system to make sure you’re not paying anything for your health. - Paid holidays
You can expect: A minimum of 5 weeks of paid vacation per year + 11 days of national holidays and some special time off for major life events (wedding, child, etc.). - Job security
French workers are generally well-protected by labor laws. Permanent contracts offer job security and make it difficult for a company to fire you without good reasons. Short-term contracts come with a nice financial bonus at the end of the period. - Unemployment allowance
If you lose your job or reach the end of your contract, you can benefit from the Allocation chômage and get a fair portion of your former salary for about a year. It’s more than enough time to find a new job.
- Vouchers, coupons, discounts
Your employer will pay at least 50% of your public transport card, provide you with restaurant vouchers, and offer some other perks and discounts.
On top of all that, France is a fairly developed country and salaries are not half bad. Sure, you have to consider the cost of living and rather high taxes, but all in all, even a small salary should allow you to live comfortably.
7 – French is one of the top languages for business.
Learning French to work in France is one thing, but it doesn’t end there. Today, French stands on the same podium as English and Chinese, as one of the three most important languages for conducting business.
The economical and cultural influence of France at an international level makes French one of the most wanted languages in the business world.
Based on numbers by Bloomberg Rankings, French is the second most useful language for business. This means that if you’re looking for a job, speaking both English and French is a major asset on your resume that will help you stand out.
But why, exactly? First of all, French is widely used in international relations. It’s an official language of major international groups such as the Red Cross, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the United Nations (U.N.), Olympics, UNESCO, and of course the European Union (E.U.).
What’s more, learning French will provide you with opportunities to work for companies that either have ties with French groups or use French as their working language. These companies operate in a number of sectors, but most notably in luxury, cosmetics, aeronautics, and automotive.
- → The secret to a great lasting first impression? Impress them with your French! Refer to our list of Phrases for Doing Business Successfully to get a leg up in your job hunt.

French holds its status as the World Capital of Fashion and Luxury.
8 – French is growing faster than you think.
What is the language of the future that we’ll all be speaking by the end of the century? Sure, Mandarin is the new boss in town and many studies place it at the top of the podium. But these studies don’t take into consideration how excruciatingly hard it is for Western students to learn. That’s definitely going to limit its spread in the long-run.
On the other hand, French is currently growing so fast that studies indicate it could be a major player in years to come. Forbes reports that Natixis Investment Bank went as far as claiming that French will be the most spoken language in the world by 2050.
To be fair, this study seems rather questionable and it does go a little overboard with speculations, but it got a fair amount of attention. In similar projections, France usually sits comfortably somewhere in the top 5.
In any case, French is growing fast, especially in Africa. Now, when you consider that Africa is one of the fastest-growing regions in the world, with the potential to become a major economic powerhouse, it really makes you think.
9 – Get ready to show off at dinner parties.
But enough with business and world economics. Let’s cut to the real reason why YOU should start learning French today!
A- To be a better lover
First of all, it’s common knowledge that learning French will make you a better kisser. Mastering the weird French [R] and [U] will be just the tongue workout you need to shine at French kissing, and practicing nasal vowels will improve your breathing by 72%. Numbers don’t lie.
Besides, French is known to be “the language of love.” It makes it the perfect language to serenade your special someone in. You can use sweet French words like, Parfait au chocolat (“You are so beautiful”) or Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir ? (“Can I buy you a drink?”). You might wanna double-check that, just in case.
B- To impress your friends
In addition to being the official language of love, French is also called the “language of reasoning and debate” and “the language of enlightenment.” (I’m not even making that up, it’s all over the internet.)
Impress your friends with your linguistic knowledge by randomly dropping fancy words and existential quotes from French philosophers in their original version. If they’re not speechless already, you could imply that you started learning yesterday, but you’re a natural.
Another fail-proof technique to leave your audience in awe is to take them to a French restaurant (make sure you split the bill, though; elegance doesn’t come cheap) and start dropping sophisticated French terms to the waiter.
If you’re not comfortable enough with your current level, you could just read through the wine menu with an air of thoughtful confidence. And for once, you’ll have good reasons to say, “Pardon my French.”
- → Quoting the wine menu should be your last resort! Don’t leave anything to chance, and instead rehearse with our list of Vocabulary and Phrases at the Restaurant.

Une glace au Chardonnay, s’il vous plaît. (“A Chardonnay ice cream, please.”)
10 – French is pretty easy to learn.
For someone who already knows English (that’s you, if you’re reading this), French is generally considered a fairly easy language to pick up.
Both the FSI (Foreign Service Institute) and ELC (European Language Center) rank French as one of the most accessible languages for English speakers. Why is that? Let’s break it down quickly:
- French is a Romance language
As such, it has a LOT in common with other Romance languages such as Spanish, Romanian, and Portuguese. Although English is not part of this exact family, it shares many aspects of it in terms of syntax and vocabulary, which will give you a huge head-start. - You already know a ton of French words
As mentioned earlier, nearly 30% of English words are of French origin. This is essentially free vocabulary that you don’t have to study. - Structures are oddly similar
Many grammar structures are so similar that you can often translate French to English word for word. No need to twist your brain in awkward positions. For example: Elle a un beau jardin. (“She has a beautiful garden.”) - Internet and mobile apps to the rescue
Living in the 21st century is a beautiful thing for language learners. Never before has it been easier to pick up and master a language.
What used to take years can be achieved within mere months, with a level of ease and flexibility our parents couldn’t even imagine when they were grinding their way through foreign languages, old-school-style.
If you’d like to know more about why learning French is easier than you might think, make sure to visit our full article titled How Hard is it to Learn French?
11 – Le mot de la fin
In this guide, you’ve learned the main reasons why you should learn French, from the vast number of French-speaking countries to the culture- and business-related opportunities. If you want to work, study, or move to France, learning this language is an obvious choice—but showing off is also a fair reason, isn’t it? Why do you want to learn French?
Learning a new language used to be a painful grind, but nowadays, it’s a much faster and more streamlined experience when done right.
With our integrated approach, a metric ton of free content, and quality premium coaching, FrenchPod101 is just what you need to get started. Make sure to explore all of our free resources to get a feel of what we have to offer!
Remember that you can also use our Premium PLUS service, MyTeacher, to get personal one-on-one coaching with a private teacher who can help you practice wherever you are. Your teacher will be able to offer you personalized assignments and exercises, record audio samples to help you practice your pronunciation, and help you dive deeper into the French culture and language.
Happy learning on FrenchPod101.com!
About the Author: Born and bred in the rainy north of France, Cyril Danon was bouncing off various jobs before he left everything behind to wander around the wonders of the World. Now, after quenching his wanderlust for the last few years, he’s eager to share his passion for languages.

French Proverbs – An Insider Look at French Wisdom

Why are proverbs so popular? As old-fashioned as they can be, you read, hear, and use them on a daily basis. They reflect who we are and the values we stand for. They’re timeless and comforting, never seem to age, and always bring this old magical wisdom that helps us go through life.
Personally, what I find fascinating about proverbs is how they serve as a window to different cultures. When I hear Chinese, Russian, or Indian proverbs, I feel like I’m entering a whole new world with a wildly different culture and mindset to learn from.
French proverbs are no different, and this is what I’m offering you in this article: a window to popular French wisdom, made up of common proverbs and old sayings. They might not instantly make you wiser, but I’m hoping they’ll get you curious to learn more about the culture and history of France.

Be wise as a French owl!

- Proverbs About Wisdom
- Proverbs About Success
- Proverbs About Life
- Proverbs About Family & Friends
- A Few More Proverbs for the Road?
- Le mot de la fin
1. Proverbs About Wisdom
Speaking of wisdom, let’s begin by looking at some proverbs in French that touch on how to live life wisely.
#1
French | Il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l’ours avant de l’avoir tué. |
Literally | “Don’t sell the bear’s hide before you’ve killed the bear.” |
Equivalent | Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. |
This traditional saying comes from Old French. It means that you should wait to act until you know that something is certain. Ne vendons pas la peau de l’ours avant de l’avoir tué, on ne sait pas encore si elle va gagner. “Let’s not count our chickens before they hatch; we don’t know yet if she will win.” |
#2
French | L’argent ne fait pas le bonheur. |
Equivalent | “Money cannot buy happiness.” |
Nearly identical to its English counterpart, this expression means that although money lets you buy things, it’s not enough to achieve happiness. The most materialistic people often follow it with mais il y contribue (“but it contributes to it”). Benjamin Franklin would argue: “Money never made a man happy yet, nor will it. The more a man has, the more he wants.” |
- → Whether you’re dead broke or crazy rich, you’ll find everything you need to talk about money in French in our free vocabulary list on FrenchPod101.com.
#3
French | Il n’y a que les imbéciles qui ne changent pas d’avis. |
Literally | “Only fools never change their minds.” |
Equivalent | A wise man changes his mind, a fool never will. A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds. (Emerson) |
Our opinions may vary, and people clinging to their believes or decisions when they have every reason not to are being stupid. We use this proverb to point out stubbornness or to justify changing our minds. A: Je pensais que tu ne voulais pas lire ce livre. (“I thought you didn’t want to read that book.”) B: Il n’y a que les imbéciles qui ne changent pas d’avis. (“Only fools never change their mind.”) |
#4
French | On n’apprend pas au vieux singe à faire la grimace. |
Literally | “We don’t teach the old monkey to make a face.” |
Equivalent | This old dog knows all the tricks. |
You don’t need to teach something to someone who has much more experience than you have. We typically use this expression when someone with less experience or knowledge is trying to explain something we find obvious or easy. |
#5
French | Il n’y a que la vérité qui blesse. |
Literally | “Only the truth hurts.” |
Equivalent | Truth hurts. |
If you feel offended by a statement or reproach, it only proves that it was true. The most hurtful comments are the ones we deserve. This expression is often used as a taunt, or when someone is denying their fault or wrongdoing and acting offended by the accusation. |
#6
French | La vengeance est un plat qui se mange froid. |
Equivalent | “Revenge is a dish best served cold.” |
Vengeance is more satisfying when delayed and exacted with a clear head. You’ll take more pleasure if you wait until the heat of anger has cooled off, rather than take revenge as an immediate act of rage. There’s a common misconception about the origin of this quote, with many people claiming that it’s from the French novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses (“Dangerous Liaisons”) by Choderlos de Laclos. But the phrase actually appears in none of De Laclos’ work. As it stands, its origin remains unknown. |

The old dog knows all the tricks.
2. Proverbs About Success
We all have our own definitions of success, defined by our personal goals and our outlook on the world. Here are a few French proverbs and sayings that speak on success in its many forms—and how to attain it!
#1
French | À vaincre sans péril, on triomphe sans gloire. |
Literally | “To win without risk is a triumph without glory.” |
Equivalent | No guts, no glory. |
Success won’t come if you’re not brave enough to take risks. This is a quote from Le Cid, a five-act French tragicomedy written by Pierre Corneille. The whole book is written in alexandrines (lines of verse always composed of twelve syllables), which is quite impressive! |
#2
French | Il ne faut pas mettre la charrue avant les bœufs. |
Literally | “You should not put the cart before the oxen.” |
Equivalent | Don’t put the cart before the horse. |
This expression from the fifteenth century means that you shouldn’t go so fast that you fail to do things in the right order. Literally, it means that it makes no sense to have the cart placed before the oxen if the oxen are supposed to pull the cart. It’s often used to temper someone’s enthusiasm by reminding them to take their time and start at the beginning. |
#3
French | On n’est jamais mieux servi que par soi-même. |
Literally | “You are never served better than by yourself.” |
Equivalent | If you want something done right, do it yourself. |
If you want something done exactly the way you want it, you should just do it yourself. This is a quote from the play Bruis et Palaprat (1807) by Charles-Guillaume Étienne. |
#4
French | Qui ne risque rien n’a rien. |
Literally | “Who’s not risking anything gets nothing.” |
Equivalent | Nothing ventured, nothing gained. |
One must take risks to achieve something. If you don’t risk anything, you won’t get anything good. Quit that boring nine-to-five job, grab your backpack, and chase your dreams! Success is never guaranteed, but laying still will never take you anywhere. |
#5
French | Ne remets pas à demain ce que tu peux faire aujourd’hui. |
Equivalent | “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” (Benjamin Franklin) |
No time like the present! You shouldn’t delay doing something if you can do it right now. This quote is a powerful mantra for serial procrastinators. I should get it as a tattoo. |
#6
French | C’est en forgeant qu’on devient forgeron. |
Literally | “It is by forging that you become a blacksmith.” |
Equivalent | Practice makes perfect. |
To really become proficient at something, you need practice and not just theory. |
#7
French | À cœur vaillant rien d’impossible. |
Literally | “To a valiant heart, nothing is impossible.” |
Equivalent | – |
A brave heart can accomplish anything. With enough courage, one can do the impossible. This quote was the motto of Jacques Cœur (1395 – 1456), silversmith for the French king Charles VII. |
- → Eager for more inspiring words of wisdom? Don’t miss our vocabulary list of the Top 11 Quotes About Success.

« À cœur vaillant rien d’impossible. »
3. Proverbs About Life
We could all use a little guidance now and then as we navigate this thing called life. And more often than not, we end up looking to the wisdom of our predecessors for that extra insight. Here are a few common French proverbs about life that offer just that!
#1
French | Chat échaudé craint l’eau froide. |
Literally | “A scalded cat fears cold water.” |
Equivalent | Once bitten, twice shy. |
This is what you’d say if you were scared of doing something again because you previously had an unpleasant experience doing that thing. Bad experiences make us cautious, and sometimes even overly cautious. Likewise, the cat that got splashed with hot water will be scared of water, whether it’s hot or cold. |
#2
French | On ne change pas une équipe qui gagne. |
Literally | “One does not change a winning team.” |
Equivalent | If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it. |
The English equivalent is pretty self-explanatory: There’s no need to make any changes to something that’s already working well. Le prochain John Wick sera encore réalisé par David Leitch et Chad Stahelski. On ne change pas une équipe qui gagne ! “The next John Wick movie will again be directed by David Leitch et Chad Stahelski. You don’t change a winning team!” |