You’re learning to speak French, and it’s going well. Your confidence is growing! So much so that you feel ready to share your experiences on social media—in French.

At Learn French, we make this easy for you to get it right the first time. Post like a boss with these phrases and guidelines, and get to practice your French in the process.

1. Talking about Your Restaurant Visit in French

Eating out is fun, and often an experience you’d like to share. Take a pic, and start a conversation on social media in French. Your friend will be amazed by your language skills…and perhaps your taste in restaurants!

François eats at a restaurant with his friends, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down François’s post.

Soirée restau entre mecs
“Night out at a restaurant with the guys ;)”

1- soirée restau

First is an expression meaning “night out at the restaurant.”
In France, many people go out to eat with their friends on Fridays and Saturdays because there’s no work the following day. Students, however, like to have parties on Thursday evenings.

2- entre mecs

Then comes the phrase - “with the guys.”
In general, French men like to meet up with their male friends at least once a month to catch up and relax.

COMMENTS

In response, François’s friends leave some comments.

1- Et moi alors? :p

His girlfriend’s nephew, Jean, uses an expression meaning - “What about me? :p”
Use this expression to joke with your partner about being excluded.

2- Ca a l’air délicieux!

His neighbor, Céline, uses an expression meaning - “It looks delicious!”
Use this expression to show your appreciation of the appearance of the food.

3- Ca a l’air délicieux!

His high school friend, Elodie, uses an expression meaning - “Where is it?”
Use this question to find out more about a location - in this case, the restaurant.

4- Bon appétit!

His supervisor, Pierre, uses an expression meaning - “Enjoy your meal!”
This is an old-fashioned wish for a good and enjoyable meal.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

soirée: “party”

restau: “restaurant”

mec: “guy”

moi: “me”

avoir l’air: “look”

délicieux: “delicious”

appétit: “appetite”

So, let’s practice a bit. If a friend posted something about having dinner with friends, which phrase would you use?

Now go visit a French restaurant, and wow the staff with your language skills!

2. Post about Your Mall Visit in French

Another super topic for social media is shopping—everybody does it, most everybody loves it, and your friends on social media are probably curious about your shopping sprees! Share these French phrases in posts when you visit a mall.

Léa shops with her sister at the mall, posts an image of the two of them, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Léa’s post.

Journée shopping avec ma petite soeur adorée
“Shopping day with my beloved little sister ”

1- journée shopping

First is an expression meaning “shopping day.”
In France, people like to go shopping over the weekends in malls, either with their friends, their partners or by themselves, when they’re looking for something in particular.

2- avec (ma petite soeur) adorée

Then comes the phrase - “with my beloved (little sister).”
Use this phrase to say that you really enjoy being with a person.

COMMENTS

In response, Léa’s friends leave some comments.

1- Sympa !

Her boyfriend, François, uses an expression meaning - “Nice!”
Use this expression to show you are feeling positive about the poster’s comment.

2- Profitez-bien

Her neighbor, Céline, uses an expression meaning - “Enjoy :)”
Use this expression to wish someone a good experience, short and sweet.

3- Il faudra que tu me montres ce que tu as acheté !

Her high school friend, Inès, uses an expression meaning - “You’ll have to show me what you bought!”
Use this expression to be conversational and show interest in the poster’s activities.

4- Par ce temps pourri ? Vous avez du courage ! :p

Her college friend, Rémi, uses an expression meaning - “With this crappy weather? You’re brave :p”
Use this expression if you want to tease the poster in a friendly manner.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

journée: “day”

soeur: “sister”

sympa: “nice”

profiter: “enjoy”

montrer: “show”

acheter: “buy “

temps: “weather”

courage: “courage”

So, if a friend posted something about going shopping, which phrase would you use?

3. Talking about a Sport Day in French

Sports events, whether you’re the spectator or the sports person, offer fantastic opportunity for great social media posts. Learn some handy phrases and vocabulary to start a sport-on-the-beach conversation in French.

François plays with his friends at the beach, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down François’s post.

Au programme d’aujourd’hui: beach-volley !
“On today’s agenda: beach volleyball! ”

1- Au programme d’aujourd’hui

First is an expression meaning “on today’s agenda.”
Use this phrase to explain your plans for the day. This phrase is generally followed by a noun but can be followed by a list if it’s a busy day.

2- beach-volley

Then comes the phrase - “beach volleyball.”
In social media, nouns are often used by themselves to point out something particularly important.

COMMENTS

In response, François’s friends leave some comments.

1- Un peu de sport ne te fera pas de mal mon vieux :p

His girlfriend’s nephew, Jean, uses an expression meaning - “Some sports won’t hurt you, old boy :p”
Use this expression to show you are feeling negative or pessimistic about the poster’s choice of sport. It could also be meant to tease the poster.

2- Ton équipe a gagné ?

His high school friend, Elodie, uses an expression meaning - “Did your team win?”
Ask this if you want the poster to share

3- Amuse-toi bien

His girlfriend, Léa, uses an expression meaning - “Have fun :)”
Use this expression as a short well-wish.

4- Trop bien, la prochaine fois je veux venir moi aussi !

His neighbor, Céline, uses an expression meaning - “That’s (so) great. I wanna come next time!”
Use this expression to show your excitement for the game, and to share your desire to join the next one.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

programme: “program”

beach-volley: “beach volleyball”

mon vieux: “old boy”

équipe: “team”

gagner: “win”

s’amuser: “have fun”

trop bien: “great”

la prochaine fois: “next time”

Which phrase would you use if a friend posted something about sports?

But sport is not the only thing you can play! Play some music, and share it on social media.

4. Share a Song on Social Media in French

Music is the language of the soul, they say. So, don’t hold back—share what touches your soul with your friends!

Léa shares a song she just heard at a party, posts an image of the artist, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Léa’s post.

J’adore cette chanson.
“I love this song.”

1- J’adore

First is an expression meaning “I love.”
Use this phrase when you’re really into something.

2- cette chanson

Then comes the phrase - “this song.”
The pronoun before the noun indicates that you’re talking about one thing in particular.

COMMENTS

In response, Léa’s friends leave some comments.

1- Moi aussi ! Il faut qu’on aille au concert ensemble !

Her high school friend, Inès, uses an expression meaning - “Me too! We need to go to the concert together!”
Use this expression to indicate that you share the poster’s enthusiasm for the music, and wants to be part of the group attending the concert.

2- C’est pas trop mon genre de musique

Her college friend, Rémi, uses an expression meaning - “It’s not really my type of music ;)”
Use this expression to share a personal opinion about the music.

3- C’est la première fois que je l’entends mais j’aime bien

Her neighbor, Céline, uses an expression meaning - “It’s the first time I’m listening to it, but I like it :)”
This is another personal experience and opinion to share.

4- Personnellement, je préfère la musique classique.

Her supervisor, Pierre, uses an expression meaning - “I prefer classical music.”
Use this expression to share a personal preference for different music.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

adorer: “love”

chanson: “song”

ensemble: “together”

genre: “kind”

musique: “music”

bien aimer: “like”

musique classique: “classical music”

Which song would you share? And what would you say to a friend who posted something about sharing music or videos?

Now you know how to start a conversation about a song or a video on social media!

5. French Social Media Comments about a Concert

Still on the theme of music—visiting live concerts and shows just have to be shared with your friends. Here are some handy phrases and vocab to wow your followers in French!

François goes to a concert, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down François’s post.

Au concert tant attendu
“At the long-awaited concert ”

1- au concert

First is an expression meaning “at the concert.”
Sometimes, to answer the question “Where are you?”, you can respond briefly by using a preposition followed by the name of the place you’re at.

2- tant attendu

Then comes the phrase - “long awaited.”
In France, people generally enjoy going to concerts, especially when their favorite singer is in town. The most popular music genres are pop and rock, but France has a wide variety of bands that play different kinds of music. American music is also very popular in France.

COMMENTS

In response, François’s friends leave some comments.

1- J’ai hâte que ça commence !

His girlfriend, Léa, uses an expression meaning - “Can’t wait for it to start!”
Use this expression to show you are feeling enthusiastic and impatient for the event to start.

2- Vous êtes au concert de qui ?

His neighbor, Céline, uses an expression meaning - “Awesome :)”
Use this expression to indicate your positive feelings in a short manner.

3- Vous êtes au concert de qui ?

His college friend, Rémi, uses an expression meaning - “Whose concert are you at?”
Use this question for more details about the location of the concert.

4- Prends plein de photos !

His high school friend, Elodie, uses an expression meaning - “Take lots of pictures!”
Use this expression to show your interest in the topic, and instruct the poster to keep an image record of the event.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

concert: “concert”

avoir hâte: “look forward”

commencer: “start”

génial: “awesome”

de qui: “whose”

plein de: “a lot of”

photos: “pictures”

If a friend posted something about a concert , which phrase would you use?

6. Talking about an Unfortunate Accident in French

Oh dear. You broke something by accident. Use these French phrases to start a thread on social media. Or maybe just to let your friends know why you are not contacting them!

Léa accidentally breaks her mobile phone, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Léa’s post.

Mon téléphone est cassé ! :’(
“My phone is broken! :’(”

1- mon téléphone

First is an expression meaning “my phone.”
In France, smartphones are becoming increasingly popular. There are many brands, colors and sizes suited for different people’s preferences.

2- est cassé

Then comes the phrase - “is broken.”
This phrase is used to express that something is not working anymore. It can be used with different objects: electronic devices, toys, kitchenware, etc.

COMMENTS

In response, Léa’s friends leave some comments.

1- Oh non

Her neighbor, Céline, uses an expression meaning - “Oh no :(”
Use this expression to show you are feeling sympathetic with the poster’s poor luck.

2- On va aller faire du shopping ce week-end !

Her high school friend, Inès, uses an expression meaning - “Let’s go shopping this weekend!”
Use this phrase to suggest that you will accompany the poster to a shop for a new phone.

3- Comment tu as réussi à faire ça ? :p

Her college friend, Rémi, uses an expression meaning - “How did you manage to do that? :p”
Use this expression if you want to know how the phone broke, but not in an interrogative manner.

4- Tu as perdu beaucoup de données importantes ?

Her boyfriend, François, uses an expression meaning - “Did you lose a lot of important data?”
Use this expression to show your concern about what the poster might have lost from the phone.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

téléphone: “phone”

casser: “break”

shopping: “shopping”

week-end: “weekend”

réussir: “manage”

perdre: “lose”

donnée: “data”

important: “important”

If a friend posted something about having broken something by accident, which phrase would you use?

So, now you know how to describe an accident in French. Well done!

7. Chat about Your Boredom on Social Media in French

Sometimes, we’re just bored with how life goes. And to alleviate the boredom, we write about it on social media. Add some excitement to your posts by addressing your friends and followers in French!

François gets bored at home, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down François’s post.

Pfff… rien à faire à la maison… des idées ?
“Pfff… nothing to do at home… any ideas?”

1- Pfff… rien à faire à la maison

First is an expression meaning “pfff… nothing to do at home.”
In French social media, onomatopoeias can be written down, and the verb is omitted to emphasize the main idea.

2- des idées?

Then comes the phrase - “any ideas?.”
During their free time, French people often enjoy relaxing at home, hanging out with friends, watching TV, playing video games, reading books, going to the cinema, playing sports or doing other kinds of activities.

COMMENTS

In response, François’s friends leave some comments.

1- Non désolé :p

His girlfriend’s nephew, Jean, uses an expression meaning - “No, sorry :p”
Use this expression to show you are void of any ideas to relieve boredom.

2- On sort ce soir ?

His college friend, Rémi, uses an expression meaning - “You wanna go out tonight?”
This is an invitation to go out with the poster in order to keep busy.

3- Je suis sûre que tu trouveras quelque chose d’intéressant à faire

His high school friend, Elodie, uses an expression meaning - “I’m sure you’ll find something interesting to do ;)”
Use this expression to show you are feeling optimistic that the poster will soon be busy.

4- Et si vous lisiez un livre ?

His supervisor, Pierre, uses an expression meaning - “How about reading a book?”
This is a suggestion or idea to combat boredom.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

rien: “nothing”

maison: “home”

idée: “idea”

désolé(e): “sorry”

sortir: “go out”

quelque chose: “something”

lire: “read”

livre: “book”

If a friend posted something about being bored, which phrase would you use?

Still bored? Share another feeling and see if you can start a conversation!

8. Exhausted? Share It on Social Media in French

Sitting in public transport after work, feeling like chatting online? Well, converse in French about how you feel, and let your friends join in!

Léa feels exhausted after a long day at work, posts an image of herself looking tired, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Léa’s post.

La journée était longue, je suis morte…
“It was a long day, I’m dead…”

1- La journée était longue

First is an expression meaning “It was a long day.”
In France, people can legally work 35 hours per week (generally from Monday to Friday) and are entitled to five weeks of paid leave per year, which they can take whenever they want. Families with children generally go on vacation for a few weeks during the summer when their children are on holiday and don’t have to go to school.

2- je suis morte

Then comes the phrase - “I’m dead.”
Sometimes people express themselves in strong, exaggerated language to convey their feelings.

COMMENTS

In response, Léa’s friends leave some comments.

1- Reposez-vous bien, nous avons une réunion importante demain.

Her supervisor, Pierre, uses an expression meaning - “Rest well. We have an important meeting tomorrow.”
These phrases convey plans for the next day at work, relevant to the poster.

2- ça va?

Her neighbor, Céline, uses an expression meaning - “Are you ok?”
Use this expression to show you are feeling concern for the poster.

3- Vivement ce week-end ^^

Her high school friend, Inès, uses an expression meaning - “Can’t wait for this weekend ^^”
Use this expression to be encouraging, implying that rest is in sight for everyone.

4- Moi aussiiiiii !

Her college friend, Rémi, uses an expression meaning - “Me tooooooo!”
Use this expression to show you are feeling the same as the poster.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

journée: “day”

long: “long”

mort(e): “dead”

se reposer: “rest”

réunion: “meeting”

vivement: “can’t wait for”

aussi: “too”

If a friend posted something about being exhausted, which phrase would you use?

Now you know how to say you’re exhausted in French! Well done.

9. Talking about an Injury in French

So life happens, and you manage to hurt yourself during a soccer game. Very Tweet-worthy! Here’s how to do it in French.

François suffers a painful injury, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down François’s post.

J’ai super mal à la cheville
“My ankle hurts really badly :(”

1- J’ai super mal

First is an expression meaning “It hurts really bad.”
To talk about pain in French, the speaker begins his sentence with a personal pronoun because he’s talking about his own feelings.

2- à la cheville

Then comes the phrase - “at my ankle.”
To talk about where something hurts, you generally use this preposition, then the noun (preceded by the corresponding article).

COMMENTS

In response, François’s friends leave some comments.

1- Tu es allé chez le médecin ?

His girlfriend, Léa, uses an expression meaning - “Have you seen a doctor?”
Use this question to obtain more information about the action the poster has taken regarding their injury. It also shows concern.

2- Mon pauvre…

His neighbor, Céline, uses an expression meaning - “Poor you…”
Use this expression to show you are feeling sympathy with the poster.

3- Ça arrive, c’est pas la fin du monde !

His girlfriend’s nephew, Jean, uses an expression meaning - “It happens. It’s not the end of the world!”
Use this expression to remind the poster that it is not the worst injury.

4- Tu guériras sûrement rapidement

His high school friend, Elodie, uses an expression meaning - “You’ll probably recover soon :)”
Use this expression to show you are feeling optimistic about the poster’s prospects of speedy recovery.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

avoir mal : “be hurting”

cheville: “ankle”

médecin: “doctor”

pauvre: “poor”

ça arrive: “it happens”

fin: “end”

monde: “world”

guérir: “recover”

If a friend posted something about being injured, which phrase would you use?

We love to share our fortunes and misfortunes; somehow that makes us feel connected to others.

10. Starting a Conversation Feeling Disappointed in French

Sometimes things don’t go the way we planned. Share your disappointment about this with your friends!

Léa feels disappointed about today’s weather, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Léa’s post.

Ce temps est déprimant.
“This weather is depressing.”

1- Ce temps

First is an expression meaning “This weather.”
The weather varies greatly depending on where you are in France. In Paris, which is in the north of France, it is often cloudy, rainy or cold. In the south, temperatures are generally warmer.

2- est déprimant

Then comes the phrase - “is depressing.”
On rainy days, people generally like to stay at home, relax and not do much. Instead of going out, they prefer watching TV, reading, cooking, playing video games or board games etc.

COMMENTS

In response, Léa’s friends leave some comments.

1- Moi j’aime la pluie

Her neighbor, Céline, uses an expression meaning - “I like the rain :)”
Use this phrase to express a preference for rainy weather.

2- Au moins il n’y a pas besoin d’arroser les plantes :p

Her college friend, Rémi, uses an expression meaning - “At least there’s no need to water the plants :p”
Use this expression if you are being frivolous and wish to keep the conversation light.

3- C’est parfait pour une soirée film

Her high school friend, Inès, uses an expression meaning - “It’s perfect for a movie night ;)”
Use this expression as a suggestion to comfort the poster.

4- Moi aussi je ne suis pas motivé pour faire quoi que ce soit.

Her boyfriend, François, uses an expression meaning - “I’m not motivated to do anything either.”
Use this expression to show you are feeling the same as the poster.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

temps: “weather”

déprimant: “depressing”

pluie: “rain”

arroser: “water”

plante: “plant”

soirée film: “movie night”

motivé(e): “motivated”

quoi que ce soit: “anything”

How would you comment in French when a friend is disappointed?

Not all posts need to be about a negative feeling, though!

11. Talking about Your Relationship Status in French

Don’t just change your relationship status in Settings, talk about it!

François changes his status to “In a relationship”, posts an image of him and Léa together, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down François’s post.

“En couple avec Léa”.
“”In a relationship with Léa.”"

1- En couple

First is an expression meaning “In a relationship.”
In France, it’s common to post about relationship statuses when something changes to see how everyone reacts.

2- avec Léa.

Then comes the phrase - “with Léa..”
French people also like to add the name of whom they are with. Not only to satisfy their friend’s curiosity, but also to show that they are proud to be with that person.

COMMENTS

In response, François’s friends leave some comments.

1- Je m’en doutais.

His supervisor, Pierre, uses an expression meaning - “I suspected it.”
Use this expression to show the announcement is not surprising.

2- C’est pas trop tôt !

His girlfriend’s nephew, Jean, uses an expression meaning - “It’s about time!”
Use this expression to show you are feeling positive about the relationship.

3- Bien joué mon vieux

His college friend, Rémi, uses an expression meaning - “Well done, buddy ;)”
Use this expression to congratulate the poster.

4- Vous formez un beau couple

His high school friend, Elodie, uses an expression meaning - “You’re a nice couple :)”
Use this expression to compliment the couple.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

en couple: “in a relationship”

se douter de: “suspect”

C’est pas trop tôt: “It’s about time”

bien joué: “well done”

mon vieux: “buddy”

former: “form”

couple: “couple”

What would you say in French when a friend changes their relationship status?

Being in a good relationship with someone special is good news - don’t be shy to spread it!

12. Post about Getting Married in French

Wow, so things got serious, and you’re getting married. Congratulations! Or, your friend is getting married, so talk about this in French.

Léa is getting married today, so she eaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Léa’s post.

Je me marie aujourd’hui
“I’m getting married today ”

1- Je me marie

First is an expression meaning “I’m getting married.”
Nowadays, with the PACS system (a contractual form of civil union), fewer people are getting married than in previous generations. For those who do, they typically get married later in life. In France, it’s socially acceptable to have children without being married.

2- aujourd’hui

Then comes the phrase - “today.”
The date is optional but can be used to emphasize that it’s a very special day.

COMMENTS

In response, Léa’s friends leave some comments.

1- Je vous souhaite beaucoup de bonheur

Her neighbor, Céline, uses an expression meaning - “I wish you tons of happiness :)”
Use this expression as a warmhearted well-wish to the couple.

2- Tu as l’air magnifique dans cette robe !

Her high school friend, Inès, uses an expression meaning - “You look gorgeous in that dress!”
Use this expression to compliment the bride.

3- Je suis super contente pour vous 2

Her husband’s high school friend, Elodie, uses an expression meaning - “I’m really happy for you two :)”
Use this expression to show that you are pleased for the sake of the couple.

4- Vive les mariés !

Her college friend, Rémi, uses an expression meaning - “Long live the newlyweds! ”
This is an uncommon way to congratulate the couple and wish them a long marriage.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

se marier: “get married”

beaucoup: “a lot”

bonheur: “happiness”

magnifique: “gorgeous”

robe: “dress”

content: “happy”

vive les mariés: “long live the newlyweds”

How would you respond in French to a friend’s post about getting married?

For the next topic, fast forward about a year into the future after the marriage…

13. Announcing Big News in French

Wow, huge stuff is happening in your life! Announce it in French.

François finds out he and his wife are going to have a baby, posts an image of the two of them together, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down François’s post.

Dans quelques mois nous serons 3
“In a couple of months there will be 3 of us ;)”

1- Dans quelques mois

First is an expression meaning “In a couple of months.”
To show that you’re excitedly awaiting something, you’ll often start by talking about the date.

2- nous serons 3

Then comes the phrase - “there will be 3 of us.”
In French, sometimes people don’t always write exactly what they mean. Instead, they will hide the meaning a bit, inviting others to interact.

COMMENTS

In response, François’s friends leave some comments.

1- Tu vas être papa ?

His nephew, Jean, uses an expression meaning - “You’re gonna be a dad? ”
Use this expression if you feel humorous and pretend to be unbelieving.

2- C’est une fille ou un garçon ?

His college friend, Rémi, uses an expression meaning - “Is it a girl or a boy?”
Use this question to gather more information.

3- Je suis sûre que vous serez des parents géniaux

His high school friend, Elodie, uses an expression meaning - “I’m sure you’ll be great parents :)”
Use this expression to show you are feeling optimistic about the couple’s parenting skills.

4- Félicitations

His neighbor, Céline, uses an expression meaning - “Congratulations ”
Use this expression to congratulate the couple in a traditional, understated way.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

mois: “month”

papa: “dad”

fille: “girl”

garçon: “boy”

être sûr(e): “be sure”

parents: “parents”

félicitations: “congratulations”

Which phrase would you choose when a friend announces their pregnancy on social media?

So, talking about a pregnancy will get you a lot of traction on social media. But wait till you see the responses to babies!

14. Posting French Comments about Your Baby

Your bundle of joy is here, and you cannot keep quiet about it! Share your thoughts in French.

Léa plays with her baby, posts an image of the little angel, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Léa’s post.

Ma petite princesse.
“My little princess.”

1- Ma petite

First is an expression meaning “my little.”
Nowadays many women focus on their careers and may delay having children until they’re 30 years old.

2- princesse

Then comes the phrase - “princess.”
French people often use a variety of cute nicknames or terms of endeardment like “sweetie” or “honey”. Some nicknames that might sound strange to English speakers include “my cabbage” or “my flea”.

COMMENTS

In response, Léa’s friends leave some comments.

1- Elle est trop chou !

Her neighbor, Céline, uses an expression meaning - “She’s so cute!”
Use this phrase to agree with the poster about the baby’s powers of charm.

2- Je viens faire du baby-sitting n’importe quand ^^

Her high school friend, Inès, uses an expression meaning - “I’ll come to babysit anytime ^^”
Use this expression to be helpful.

3- Quel beau sourire!

Her supervisor, Pierre, uses an expression meaning - “What a beautiful smile!”
Use this expression to pay the baby a compliment.

4- Elle est le portrait craché de son papa

Her husband’s high school friend, Elodie, uses an expression meaning - “She’s the spitting image of her daddy :)”
This phrase is a neutral comment which relates to the baby’s resemblance to the father.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

petit(e): “little”

princesse: “princess”

chou: “cute”

baby-sitting: “babysitting”

n’importe quand: “anytime”

beau: “beautiful”

sourire: “smile”

portrait craché: “spitting image”

If your friend is the mother or father, which phrase would you use on social media?

Congratulations, you know the basics of chatting about a baby in French! But we’re not done with families yet…

15. French Comments about a Family Reunion

Family reunions - some you love, some you hate. Share about it on your feed.

François goes to a family gathering, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down François’s post.

Pique-nique avec la famille
“Picnic with the family :)”

1- Pique-nique

First is an expression meaning “picnic.”
Starting a sentence with a noun shows that it’s the most important part of what you want to say.

2- avec la famille

Then comes the phrase - “with the family.”
In France, people have family reunions that can last for hours. There are many dishes in a typical French course, and family gatherings are a great opportunity to catch up with relatives you don’t see that often.

COMMENTS

In response, François’s friends leave some comments.

1- Passe le bonjour à tout le monde de ma part stp !

His high school friend, Elodie, uses an expression meaning - “Say hi to everyone please!”
Use this expression if you know the family and wish to send them greetings.

2- J’ai une tête affreuse sur cette photo !

His nephew, Jean, uses an expression meaning - “I look horrible in this picture!”
Use this expression to be self-deprecating about your own appearance.

3- Super! Le temps est idéal pour un pique-nique

His neighbor, Céline, uses an expression meaning - “Great! The weather is perfect for a picnic :)”
Use this expression to share your enthusiasm for the good weather.

4- Profitez-bien de votre week-end !

His supervisor, Pierre, uses an expression meaning - “Enjoy your weekend!”
Use this expression as a traditional wish that the poster enjoy their time with the famly over the weekend.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

pique-nique: “picnic”

famille: “family”

passer le bonjour: “say hello”

tout le monde: “everyone”

tête: “head”

affreux: “horrible”

idéal: “ideal”

profiter: “enjoy”

Which phrase is your favorite to comment on a friend’s photo about a family reunion?

16. Post about Your Travel Plans in French

So, the family are going on holiday. Do you know how to post and leave comments in French about being at the airport, waiting for a flight?

Léa waits at the airport for her flight, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down Léa’s post.

Départ dans une heure
“Departure in an hour :)”

1- Départ

First is an expression meaning “departure.”
French people typically go to southern France or to other warm places in Europe during their holidays. Most European countries are close to each other and don’t require visas for EU citizens, which makes it easier to go to different places.

2- dans une heure

Then comes the phrase - “in an hour.”
French airlines are usually on time. Delays or cancellations can happen but are not that common.

COMMENTS

In response, Léa’s friends leave some comments.

1- Bon voyage !

Her supervisor, Pierre, uses an expression meaning - “Have a nice trip!”
Use this expression to be old fashioned.

2- Tu vas où exactement ?

Her neighbor, Céline, uses an expression meaning - “Where exactly are you going? ”
Use this expression to show you are feeling warmhearted.

3- Je veux un souvenir !

Her college friend, Rémi, uses an expression meaning - “I want a souvenir!”
Use this expression if you demand a gift from the poster, bought at the holiday destination.

4- La chance ! Moi aussi je veux y aller !

Her high school friend, Inès, uses an expression meaning - “You’re so lucky! I wanna go too!”
Use this expression to indicate that you envy the poster and wants to join them. You’re not seriously asking to go; it’s just an expression that emphasizes envy in a nice way.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

départ: “departure”

heure: “hour”

bon voyage: “have a nice trip”

où: “where”

exactement: “exactly”

souvenir: “souvenir”

chance: “luck”

Choose and memorize your best airport phrase in French!

Hopefully the rest of the trip is better!

17. Posting about an Interesting Find in French

So maybe you’re strolling around at a local market, and find something interesting. Here are some handy French phrases!

François finds an unusual item at a local market, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down François’s post.

Je me demande à quoi ça sert…
“I wonder what this is for…”

1- Je me demande

First is an expression meaning “I wonder.”
Use this expression when you aren’t sure about something.

2- à quoi ça sert

Then comes the phrase - “what this is for.”
In France, people sell all kinds of things at flea markets. Sellers are usually trying to get rid of old stuff they don’t use anymore by selling them for cheap rather than throwing them away.

COMMENTS

In response, François’s friends leave some comments.

1- Aucune idée !

His nephew, Jean, uses an expression meaning - “No idea!”
Use this expression when you have not clue regarding the identity of the find.

2- C’est joli

His wife, Léa, uses an expression meaning - “Where did you find that?”
Use this question if you wish to know where the item was found.

3- C’est joli

His high school friend, Elodie, uses an expression meaning - “It’s pretty :)”
Use this expression to indicate your liking of the item.

4- Ca a l’air vieux.

His college friend, Rémi, uses an expression meaning - “It looks old.”
This is an opnion regarding the item’s appearance - in this case, it looks aged.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

se demander: “wonder”

quoi: “what”

servir à: “be used for”

aucun : “no”

trouver: “find”

joli: “pretty”

avoir l’air: “look”

vieux: “old”

Which phrase would you use to comment on a friend’s interesting find?

Perhaps you will even learn the identity of your find! Or perhaps you’re on holiday, and visiting interesting places…

18. Post about a Sightseeing Trip in French

Let your friends know what you’re up to in French, especially when visiting a remarkable place! Don’t forget the photo.

Léa visits a famous landmark, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down Léa’s post.

Où suis-je ? ^^
“Where am I? ^^”

1- Où

First is an expression meaning “Where.”
When French people travel, they love seeing touristy stuff. Everyone who goes to Paris has certainly been to the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre museum.

2- suis-je?

Then comes the phrase - “am I?.”
It’s common on social media for people to add obscure pictures of where they are so that others can guess and share their opinions about that place.

COMMENTS

In response, Léa’s friends leave some comments.

1- Tu t’amuses à ce que je vois

Her neighbor, Céline, uses an expression meaning - “Too easy ;)”
Use this expression if you think the location is easily identifiable. Or you could be bluffing!

2- Sur la photo ! lol

Her college friend, Rémi, uses an expression meaning - “On the picture! lol”
Use this expression if you are in a joking, frivolous mood.

3- Tu t’amuses à ce que je vois

Her high school friend, Inès, uses an expression meaning - “I see that you’re having fun ;)”
Use this expression just to comment in a positive way.

4- C’est une très belle ville, n’est-ce pas ?

Her supervisor, Pierre, uses an expression meaning - “It’s a beautiful city, isn’t it?”
Use this to make conversation by stating a fact and asking for agreement. Often, this is a rhetorical question, but it could be a good conversation starter too.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

trop: “too”

facile: “easy”

sur: “on”

à ce que je vois: “from what I can see”

ville: “city”

n’est-ce pas: “isn’t it”

Which phrase would you prefer when a friend posts about a famous landmark?

Share your special places with the world. Or simply post about your relaxing experiences.

19. Post about Relaxing Somewhere in French

So you’re doing nothing yet you enjoy that too? Tell your social media friends about it in French!

François relaxes at a beautiful place, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down François’s post.

Moment de détente
“A moment of relaxation :)”

1- Moment

First is an expression meaning “Moment.”
On French social media, it’s a common practice to shorten sentences by starting with a noun that expresses duration to explain what you’re doing.

2- de détente

Then comes the phrase - “of relaxation.”
To relax, people in France enjoy walking in the park, sunbathing, going to the spa, and other such activities.

COMMENTS

In response, François’s friends leave some comments.

1- Tu le mérites

His wife, Léa, uses an expression meaning - “You deserve it ;)”
Use this phrase to express warm feelings towards the poster.

2- C’est le même endroit où tu vas chaque année ?

His high school friend, Elodie, uses an expression meaning - “Is it the same place you’ve been going to every year?”
Use this question to garner more information from the poster.

3- J’arriiiiiiiiiiiiiiive

His wife’s high school friend, Inès, uses an expression meaning - “I envy you :p”
Use this expression if you feel envious of the poster.

4- J’arriiiiiiiiiiiiiiive

His college friend, Rémi, uses an expression meaning - “Comiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing ”
Use this expression if you are feeling frivolous, and wish to join the poster.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

moment: “moment”

détente: “relaxation”

mériter: “deserve”

même: “same”

endroit: “place”

année: “year”

envier: “envy”

arriver: “arrive”

Which phrase would you use to comment on a friend’s feed?

The break was great, but now it’s time to return home.

20. What to Say in French When You’re Home Again

And you’re back! What will you share with friends and followers?

Léa returns home after a vacation, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down Léa’s post.

Qu’on est bien chez soi !
“How nice it is at home!”

1- Qu’on est bien

First is an expression meaning “How nice it is.”
This phrase is equivalent to “home sweet home,” but cannot be translated literally into English. It’s typically used when speaking to oneself.

2- chez soi

Then comes the phrase - “at home.”
When French people travel, they either like to bring souvenirs from where they went or write postcards to their family and friends.

COMMENTS

In response, Léa’s friends leave some comments.

1- Contente de te revoir !

Her neighbor, Céline, uses an expression meaning - “Welcome back! :)”
This is a traditional welcoming phrase when someone returns from a trip away from home.

2- Tu nous as manqué.

Her high school friend, Inès, uses an expression meaning - “We missed you.”
Use this expression to indicate your feelings to the poster about missing them.

3- Prochaine étape: défaire la valise… amuse-toi bien :p

Her college friend, Rémi, uses an expression meaning - “Next step: unpack the suitcase… have fun :p”
Use this comment to make conversation in a playful way.

4- C’était comment ? ^^

Her husband’s high school friend, Elodie, uses an expression meaning - “How was it? ^^”
Use this question if you want to know more about the trip.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

chez soi: “at home”

content(e) de te revoir: “welcome back”

manquer: “miss”

prochain: “next”

étape: “step”

défaire: “unpack”

valise: “suitcase”

comment: “how”

How would you welcome a friend back from a trip?

What do you post on social media during a public celebration day such as Candlemas?

21. It’s Time to Celebrate in French

It’s a national celebratory day and you wish to post something about it on social media. What would you say?

François leaves this comment about the meal served on Candlemas.

POST

Let’s break down François’s post.

Au menu du jour: des crêpes pour la Chandeleur
“On the menu today: crepes for Candlemas ”

1- Au menu du jour:

First is an expression meaning “On the menu today:.”
Beginning with this phrase shows that you are offering something different than usual.

2- des crêpes pour la Chandleur

Then comes the phrase - “crepes for Candlemas.”
Candlemas takes place 40 days after Christmas. It used to be a Christian celebration and a symbol of prosperity for the coming year. Now, however, it’s just a day where you make crepes; no one really cares about the origin. People generally eat their crepes with Nutella, jam, honey, sugar, etc. But in some recipes you don’t add sugar to the dough, so you can make salty crepes like ham and cheese.

COMMENTS

In response, François’s friends leave some comments.

1- Ouaaaaaais ! Merci.

His wife, Léa, uses an expression meaning - “Yaaaaay! Thanks.”
Use this expression to show you are feeling good about the food.

2- Je peux passer ? J’ai de la confiture faite maison

His neighbor, Céline, uses an expression meaning - “Can I stop by? I have homemade jam ;)”
Use these phrases to make arrangements with the poster.

3- Tu en as raté combien en essayant de les retourner ? :p

His nephew, Jean, uses an expression meaning - “How many did you mess up trying to flip them? :p”
Use this expression to joke with the poster.

4- Moi aussi j’en veux !

His college friend, Rémi, uses an expression meaning - “I want some too!”
Use this expression to show you think the food looks desirable.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

menu: “menu”

crêpe: “crepe”

Chandeleur: “Candlemas”

confiture: “jam”

fait maison: “homemade”

rater: “mess up”

retourner: “flip”

If a friend posted something about a holiday, which phrase would you use?

Candlemas Day and other public celebration days are not the only special ones to remember!

22. Posting about a Birthday on Social Media in French

Your friend or you are celebrating your birthday in an unexpected way. Be sure to share this on social media!

Léa goes to her birthday party, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down Léa’s post.

Merci à tous d’être venus
“Thank you all for coming :)”

1- Merci à tous

First is an expression meaning “Thank you all.”
This is a polite expression to show one’s gratitude.

2- d’être venus

Then comes the phrase - “for coming.”
In France, house parties with sweets, cakes, presents and games are popular among children. Adults also enjoy house parties and invite their friends over for food, music and conversation. Otherwise, they meet up with their friends somewhere else to do something special.

COMMENTS

In response, Léa’s friends leave some comments.

1- Joyeux anniversaire !

Her supervisor, Pierre, uses an expression meaning - “Happy birthday!”
This is the simple and traditional birthday wish.

2- Tu as été gâtée ?

Her neighbor, Céline, uses an expression meaning - “Have you been spoiled? ;)”
Use this expression to show you are feeling warmhearted.

3- Tu ne rajeunis pas :p

Her college friend, Rémi, uses an expression meaning - “You’re not getting younger :p”
Use this expression to make playful fun of the poster’s age.

4- Merci pour l’invitation ^^

Her high school friend, Inès, uses an expression meaning - “Thanks for the invitation ^^”
Use this expression to be ironic and a bit sarcastic, if you were not really invited, or to really thank the poster for the invitation to the party.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

Merci: “thank you “

joyeux anniversaire: “happy birthday”

gâter: “spoil”

rajeunir: “rejuvenate”

invitation: “invitation”

If a friend posted something about birthday greetings, which phrase would you use?

23. Talking about New Year on Social Media in French

Impress your friends with your French New Year’s wishes this year. Learn the phrases easily!

François celebrates the New Year, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down François’s post.

Bonne année à tous !
“Happy New Year, everyone!”

1- Bonne année

First is an expression meaning “Happy New Year.”
In France, people light fireworks at midnight to celebrate the New Year. Some New Year’s gatherings happen at big places in big cities. Some people celebrate with their friends at home by having a nice dinner and following the countdown on TV. Afterwards, people wish their friends a happy new year by texting or writing on social media.

2- à tous

Then comes the phrase - “to everyone.”
It’s considered courteous to wish people a happy new year on social media where everybody can read the post.

COMMENTS

In response, François’s friends leave some comments.

1- Bonne année à toi aussi

His high school friend, Elodie, uses an expression meaning - “Happy New Year to you too :)”
This is the traditional reply to a New Year wish from anyone.

2- Bonne santé !

His neighbor, Céline, uses an expression meaning - “Good health!”
This is another common wish appropriate to this time of year.

3- Meilleurs Voeux !

His supervisor, Pierre, uses an expression meaning - “Best wishes!”
Yet another traditional New Year wish, that’s also appropriate for other special occasions.

4- Quelles sont tes bonnes résolutions ? ^^

His college friend, Rémi, uses an expression meaning - “What are your New Year’s resolutions? ^^”
Ask this question if you want to start the conversation about this favorite topic.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

Bonne année: “Happy New Year”

santé: “health”

meilleur: “best”

voeu: “wish”

bonne résolution: “New Year’s resolution”

Which is your favorite phrase to post on social media during New Year?

But before New Year’s Day comes another important day…

24. What to Post on Christmas Day in French

What will you say in French about Christmas?

Léa celebrates Christmas with her family, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Léa’s post.

Noël en famille
“Christmas with the family ”

1- Noël

First is an expression meaning “Christmas .”
On the 24th of December, people usually enjoy a big meal in the evening. Then they go to bed and in the morning they open the presents that Santa Claus brought. Some families have another big meal on the 25th for lunch as well. Afterwards, they spend the rest of the day with their families.

2- en famille

Then comes the phrase - “with the family.”
In France, Christmas is the most important family event of the year. Many shops are closed because it’s the one time of the year that everyone in France is spending time with their families.

COMMENTS

In response, Léa’s friends leave some comments.

1- Joyeux Noël

Her neighbor, Céline, uses an expression meaning - “Merry Christmas :)”
This is the traditional Christmas wish.

2- Le père Noël t’a apporté beaucoup de cadeaux cette année ? :p

Her high school friend, Inès, uses an expression meaning - “Did Santa Claus bring you many presents this year? :p”
Use this expression to make conversation about receiving gifts, which is a common tradition over Christmas.

3- Le père Noël t’a apporté beaucoup de cadeaux cette année ? :p

Her college friend, Rémi, uses an expression meaning - “Don’t eat too much :p”
Use this expression if you want to playfully warn your friend about their eating habits. Usually not meant seriously.

4- Bonnes fêtes de fin d’année !

Her supervisor, Pierre, uses an expression meaning - “Happy Holidays!”
This is another traditional wish appropriate to this time of year.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

Noël: “Christmas”

Joyeux Noël: “Merry Christmas”

Père Noël: “Santa Claus”

cadeau: “present”

manger: “eat”

bonnes fêtes de fin d’année: “happy holidays”

If a friend posted something about Christmas greetings, which phrase would you use?

So, the festive season is over! Yet, there will always be other days, besides a birthday, to wish someone well.

25. Post about Your Anniversary in French

Some things deserve to be celebrated, like wedding anniversaries. Learn which French phrases are meaningful and best suited for this purpose!

François celebrates his wedding anniversary with his wife, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down François’s post.

Dîner en amoureux pour nos 1 an de mariage.
“Candelit dinner for our one-year wedding anniversary.”

1- dîner en amoureux

First is an expression meaning “candelit dinner.”
In France, people don’t eat out at nice restaurants that often as they can be expensive. But on special occasions, like a wedding anniversary, couples usually enjoy a nice dinner and other fancy activities afterwards.

2- pour nos un an de mariage

Then comes the phrase - “for our one-year wedding anniversary.”
Anniversaries are a big deal in France. Couples often celebrate their love by doing something special together as well as by giving each other gifts like jewelry, perfume, flowers etc…

COMMENTS

In response, François’s friends leave some comments.

1- J’ai hâte.

His wife, Léa, uses an expression meaning - “Can’t wait.”
Use this expression to show you eagerly anticipate the occasion.

2- Comme c’est romantique !

His neighbor, Céline, uses an expression meaning - “How romantic!”
Use this comment to express your positive opinion of the anniversary.

3- Déjà? Le temps passe super vite !

His wife’s high school friend, Inès, uses an expression meaning - “Already? Time flies so fast!”
Use this expression to make conversation in a humorous way.

4- Joyeux anniversaire de mariage les amoureux

His high school friend, Elodie, uses an expression meaning - “Happy wedding anniversary you lovebirds :)”
This is a traditional wish for a wedding anniversary, used with a term of endearment.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

dîner: “dinner”

en amoureux: “romantic”

mariage: “wedding”

romantique: “romantic”

temps: “time”

vite: “fast”

anniversaire de mariage: “wedding anniversary”

amoureux: “lovebirds”

If a friend posted something about Anniversary greetings, which phrase would you use?

Conclusion

Learning to speak a new language will always be easier once you know key phrases that everybody uses. These would include commonly used expressions for congratulations and best wishes, etc.

Master these in fun ways with Learn French! We offer a variety of tools to individualize your learning experience, including using cell phone apps, audiobooks, iBooks and many more. Never wonder again what to say on social media!

“An apology is the super glue of life. It can repair just about anything.” (Lynn Johnston)

Whatever our reasons are, it’s never easy nor pleasant to apologize. Even in our native language where we can express all the subtleties needed to tone things down and smooth off the rough edges, “Sorry” still seems to be the hardest word.

Now, imagine you have to offer your apologies in another language, like French. Would you know how to say “sorry” in French? Of course, you won’t want to risk any further mishap or an unfortunate choice of words that could put you in a tougher spot.

Learning how to say “sorry” in French will not only help you go through delicate situations when you’ve made a mistake or behaved poorly. It will also provide you with a collection of ready-made formulas that you can use as a polite lubricant in everyday interactions. Without further ado, let’s take a look at how to tell someone you’re sorry in basic French. Start with a bonus, and download your FREE cheat sheet - How to Improve Your French Skills! (Logged-In Member Only)

1. The 3 Most Important Words
2. Take Responsibility
3. Sorry Gestures
4. How to Accept an Apology
5. Make it Official
6. French Culture of Apologies
7. How Frenchpod101 Can Help You Learn More about Apologizing

1. The 3 Most Important Words

When it comes to learning how to say “sorry” in French, vocabulary is, of course, a huge player. Although they can take many different forms, apologies in France mainly come down to only three words:

• Excuse (“Apology”)
• Désolé (“Sorry”)
• Pardon (“Pardon”)

Once you start practicing their variations, outlined below, you’ll quickly get the hang of it. As you’ll see, there are variations for saying a formal apology in French, as well as casual variations.

1- S’excuser (“To apologize”)

Here are Casual and Formal variants of “Excuse me” with their literal translations:

Casual “Excuse me”	Formal “Excuse me”
Je m’excuse. (“I excuse myself.”)		Je m’excuse. (“I excuse myself.”)
Excuse-moi. (“Excuse me.”)	Excusez-moi. (“Excuse me.”) Veuillez m’excuser. (“Please, excuse me.”) Toutes mes excuses. (“All my apologies.”) Je vous présente mes excuses. (“I present you my apologies.”)

Je m’excuse (“I excuse myself”) may sound weird once literally translated, but this is the most popular way to say that you’re sorry. In French, it doesn’t actually sound like you’re asking for forgiveness and forgiving yourself in the same sentence!

2- Pardonner (“To forgive”)

Here are Casual and Formal variants of “Forgive me” with their literal translations.

Casual “Forgive me”	Formal “Forgive me”
Pardon. (“Forgiveness.”)	Pardonne-moi. (“Forgive me.”)
Je te demande pardon. (“I ask for your forgiveness.”)	Pardon. (“Forgiveness.”)
Pardonnez-moi. (“Forgive me.”)	Je vous demande pardon. (“I ask for your forgiveness.”)

How to use it:

Sentences with S’excuser (“to apologize”) or Pardonner (“to forgive”) can all be used to express that you’re sorry about your actions or the situation.

For example: If you accidentally bump into someone and spill their coffee, you could say: Oh, toutes mes excuses ! or Je vous demande pardon !

Excuse-moi and Excusez-moi are two common polite formulas that you can use in everyday situations, just as their English counterpart, “Excuse me.”

Pardon (“forgiveness”) works just as well for casual or formal encounters.

For example: You want to reach for your cheese in the fridge and someone you don’t know is standing in the way. You could say: Excusez-moi to catch his attention.

With a friend, you would use the casual Excuse-moi for the same result.

In both cases, you could also say: Pardon (“forgiveness”).

3- Être désolé (“To be sorry”)

Last but not least, Désolé (“Sorry”) is another cornerstone of the French apologies and works for casual and formal situations.

• Désolé [Male] / Désolée [Female] (“Sorry”)
• Je suis désolé(e) (“I am sorry”)

Now, depending on the gravity of the situation, you may not want to sound overly laid-back when saying “I’m sorry” in French. Here are some ways to emphasize your apologies along with how to combine that apology with Désolé.

• Vraiment (“Really”) — Je suis vraiment désolé. (“I am really sorry.”)
• Sincèrement (“Sincerely”) — Je suis sincèrement désolé. (“I am sincerely sorry.”)
• Réellement (“Truly”) — Je suis réellement désolé. (“I am truly sorry.”)
• Tellement (“So”) — Je suis tellement désolé. (“I am so sorry.”)

On the other hand, if the incident is so trivial that it doesn’t even deserve Désolé, you might want to go for our super-casual Oups (“Oops”).

Not sure when you should say “Sorry?” Have a look at our list of phrases to say when you are angry on FrenchPod101. If you hear some of these directed at you, there’s a good chance you might want to apologize for something!

2. Take Responsibility

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s see how to go a step further. If you ask for forgiveness, you may want to accept the blame and acknowledge that you’re guilty of your bad deeds. Here’s how:

• Je regrette. (“I regret.”)
• Je suis navré. (“I’m sorry.”)
• C’est ma faute. (“It’s my fault.”)
• Je ne le ferai plus. (“I won’t do it again.”)
• Je n’aurais pas dû dire ça. (“I should not have said that.”)
• Comment puis-je me faire pardonner ? (“How can I be forgiven?”)

In an informal setting, you could use a bit of slang (with care, as both of these terms are very familiar):

• J’ai merdé. (“I’ve messed up.”)
• J’ai déconné. (“I’ve screwed up.”)

You can find more examples and useful phrases on our list of Common ways to say Sorry, as well as an audio recording to practice your accent.

3. Sorry Gestures

When working on your apology in learning French, gestures are an important aspect to consider. Although there’s no ‘official’ gesture to express that you’re sorry or to ask for forgiveness, having your body language in line with your words never hurts. In France, here are a few gestures to pick up:

• Hold your hands up, as if you’re held at gunpoint.
• Place one hand over your heart.
• Open your hands in front of your hips, palms up or down.
• Slightly extend one hand, palm up, toward the other person.
• Hold your hands together perpendicularly in front of you.

Remember to look at the other person in the eyes while apologizing. Keeping eye contact inspires trust and evokes a deeper connection. The other person will be more likely to believe in the sincerity of your apologies with a straight and confident look than with shifty eyes.

4. How to Accept an Apology

Now, what do you do when you’re on the other side of the apology? If you believe in the sincerity of the other person and feel ready to accept their apologies, you need to know how to proceed. And if you’re apologizing to someone, you need to understand what they might say in reply.

In the case of a trivial matter that didn’t really require an apology:

• C’est rien. (“It’s nothing.”)
• C’est pas grave. (“It’s nothing serious.”)
• Pas de soucis. (“No worries.”)

For something more serious, here are a few examples:

• J’accepte tes excuses. / J’accepte vos excuses. (“I accept your apologies.”)
• Merci de t’être excusé. / Merci de vous être excusé. (“Thank you for apologizing.”)
• Ne t’en fais pas. / Ne vous en faites pas. (“Don’t worry.”)
• Je comprends. (“I understand.”)

5. Make it Official

While most situations allow you to show some creativity with your apologies, there are some cases where it’s codified and doesn’t leave much room for improvisation.

1- Condoléances (“Condolences”)

Expressing your condolences is just as socially codified in France as anywhere else in the world. Here are a few examples of condolences sentences that you may want to use, should the need arise:

• Je vous présente mes sincères condoléances.
  (“I offer you my sincere condolences.”)
• En ces moments difficiles, je vous apporte tout mon soutien.
  (“During these difficult moments, I offer you my full support.”)
• Je partage votre douleur et vous adresse mes sincères condoléances.
  (“I feel your pain and offer my sincere condolences.”)

On a personal note, while these are certainly appropriate as a token of respect toward strangers or distant acquaintances, I would recommend something warmer and more personal for your friends.

Unfortunately, there’s no prefabricated formulas for this but you can find some resources in our free vocabulary list for the Day of the Dead.

2- Professional Apologies

Any company is eventually bound to present apologies, be it toward customers, partners, or investors. Once again, professional apologies are highly codified and are usually expressed with formulas without too much soul.

There’s no strict template but they usually look like these:

• Veuillez nous excuser de la gêne occasionnée.
  (“Please, excuse us for any inconvenience.”)
• Je suis au regret de vous informer que ___
  (“I’m sorry to inform you that ___”)
• Nous vous présentons nos excuses pour ce désagrément.
  (“We offer you our apologies for this inconvenience.”)
• Je vous prie de nous pardonner pour ___
  (“Please, forgive us for ___”)

6. French Culture of Apologies

We’ve all heard before how the French are rude or insensitive, and especially if you’re coming from a country where the customer-centric approach reigns supreme, you’re bound to miss the exquisite courtesy you’ve been lulled by before coming to France.

1- The French VS The Customers

“And then, he slammed in on the table like an angry French waiter!”

As much as it makes me laugh, it also saddens me a little that my compatriots are mainly famous for their bad manners and rough tempers. And it’s not just waiters; it applies to most of our daily interactions as customers, from the supermarket to the bank, the phone company or the tickets booth in the subway.

Being born and bred in France, it never struck me as a problem or even an oddity. But when I traveled to countries with a strong customer-centric philosophy such as Australia or Japan, I immediately noticed the difference:

• In Australia, I was being called “Sweetheart” or “Love” by a cashier I was seeing for the first time.
• In Japan, it seemed to me that the staff would apologize for bringing me the bill, then apologize for taking my money, and apologize again for giving the change back.
• In France, I consider myself lucky when they look me in the eyes and I’d be shocked if they ever thank me for anything, even more so apologize.

All things considered, this is just a different approach to customer interactions and it shouldn’t be taken as an offensive behavior or a lack of empathy. French professionals are just not as inclined to apologize as in other countries.

2- The French VS The Feelings

Now, outside of these artificial business constructions, and more generally speaking: Why is it difficult for French people to apologize?

To understand this, you need to consider the balance between “Reason” and “Feelings.” It varies wildly from one culture to the next and to keep it simple, let’s say that the French tend to overvalue rationality at the expense of their emotional landscape.

As I mentioned in another article, our body language is more restrained, our gestures aren’t as exuberant as those in North America, and our intonation isn’t as loud and assertive as those in Latin America.

Being rational creatures, the French are less likely to apologize for what they might see as “wrong reasons.” One such reason being to calm someone down or to alleviate their resentment.

We tend to think that it’s more important to be right than kind and won’t apologize unless we sincerely believe that we’ve done or said something wrong. On one hand, it’s a positive trait, as we keep things straight and honest. On the other hand, this isn’t the best way to handle emotional people who care more about their connection with you than your quest for the truth.

“Apologizing does not always mean you’re wrong and the other person is right. It just means you value your relationship more than your ego.” (Mark Matthews)

How Frenchpod101 Can Help You Learn More about Apologizing

In this guide, you’ve learned how to say “sorry” in French, as well as when you want to make amends for your bad deeds or in everyday situations as polite formulas. We’ve also seen how to take the blame and recognize our fault.

Do you have anything you need to apologize for? Don’t wait any longer and offer a heartbreaking apology using what you’ve learned today!

A good exercise is to write an apology about an imaginary blunder, trying to combine the different sentences that we’ve seen. Also make sure to explore FrenchPod101, as it has plenty of free resources for you to practice your grammar and vocabulary!

Remember that you can also use our premium service, MyTeacher, to get personal one-on-one coaching and have your private teacher answer any of your questions or give you feedback on your “apology essay!”

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.

Have you ever savored traditional French cuisine, paired with some of the best French wine available? You haven’t really lived until you have.

Truly, French cuisine dishes have taken the world by storm, along with the country’s fascinating food culture. It should be no surprise, then, that the French honor this each year on French Gastronomy Day.

In this article, you’ll learn a little bit about French gastronomy history, what food means to the French, and how people like to celebrate! At FrenchPod101.com, we hope to make every aspect of your learning journey both fun and informative—and we think you’ll agree that food is a good place to start!

1. What is French Gastronomy Day?

First of all, what is French gastronomy?

Gastronomy is the art of making good food. In France, gastronomy may be defined as the art of the table combined with the pleasure of eating. The “French gastronomic meal,” with its rituals and presentation, was listed in 2010 as an Intangible Heritage of Humanity. French people do indeed have a typical way of eating and matching food with wine, with a succession of dishes and a specific way of setting the table.

Launched in 2011 by Madame Sylvia Pinel, Minister of Craftsmanship, Commerce and Tourism, Gastronomy Day strives to celebrate the expertise, tradition and innovation of French gastronomy. This holiday has many goals. First of all, to promote French cuisine all over the world, and to make it a matter of tourism. But it also seeks to promote public awareness of the diversity of regions and products, as well as the many careers that have to do with gastronomy.

Do you know about the Michelin Guide? It’s one of the oldest and most famous gastronomic guides in the world. After investigations by inspectors from the Guide, restaurants get stars, which are labels of quality, with three being the highest. France is the country with the second most stars!

2. When is Gastronomy Day?

Each year, France celebrates Gastronomy Day during the first week of autumn.

3. Popular Gastronomy Day Celebrations

Every year, a theme is chosen for the holiday in order to vary possibilities. Events such as amateur cooking contests are organized. All regions of France celebrate this event, but it may actually be more popular in other countries than it is in France! Countries such as South Africa, Japan, and Canada have participated in this tasty event.

This holiday is still recent, and isn’t well-known by most French people. However, its success is growing: ninety-eight French departments have celebrated this event and more than 75,000 professionals have participated.

4. Famous French Dishes

If you know about French cuisine, can you name three famous French dishes?

French cuisine has numerous different dishes, so there is a wide possibility of choices! For example, the macaron, foie gras, and old-fashioned blanquette de veau are three French dishes that are famous all over the world.

5. Useful Vocabulary for Gastronomy Day in France

Here’s some vocabulary you need to know for Gastronomy Day in France!

• Septembre — “September”
• Vin — “Wine”
• Repas — “Meal”
• Quatrième — “Fourth”
• Festival — “Festival”
• Français — “French”
• Cuisine — “Cuisine”
• Week-end — “Weekend”
• Diversité — “Diversity”
• Thème — “Theme”
• International — “International”

To hear each vocabulary word pronounced, check out our French Gastronomy Day vocabulary list!

How FrenchPod101 Can Help You Become a Master of French Culture

We hope you enjoyed learning about the beauty of French gastronomy with us! Before you go, we have to know: What’s your favorite French food or dish? Your favorite French wine? We look forward to hearing from you!

To continue learning about French culture and the language, explore FrenchPod101.com! We provide an array of fun and effective learning tools for every learner, at every level:

• Insightful blog posts on a range of cultural and language-related topics
• Free vocabulary lists covering a variety of topics and themes
• Podcasts to improve your listening and pronunciation skills
• Mobile apps to learn French anywhere, on your own time
• Much, much more!

If you want to really get the most out of your French learning experience, we suggest that you upgrade to Premium Plus. Doing so will give you access to your own French teacher who will help you develop a personalized learning plan based on your needs and goals. Yes, really!

French is a lovely language, and definitely worth every ounce of effort and determination you’re putting into learning it. Know that it will pay off, and FrenchPod101 will be here to help you on each step of your journey to language mastery.

Have you ever traveled to a foreign country without speaking a word of its language? How can anybody survive in such a predicament? If you’ve ever been in that situation, you already know the answer: body talk and gestures!

Far too often, body gestures are neglected by language teachers and hardly mentioned at all. Nonetheless, learning the specifics of French body language and gestures will help you understand people better and allow you to convey meaning without words.

Once you start learning the gestures and using them in daily interactions with your French friends, you’ll become more comfortable with them and you’ll appear much more fluent than you are! If you already know everything about spoken French, there’s a whole new silent world waiting to be explored. If you’re a beginner, it’s a quick and easy way to communicate.

Some of these may already be familiar to you if you’re coming from a similar culture or a neighbor country. Otherwise, the first time you see locals in a French bar turning their fist at the tip of their nose like they’re trying to unscrew it, you’ll be glad you learned what it means!

And because I couldn’t find any satisfactory illustrations in my image bank, I’ve decided to make it myself and break my vows of anonymity to present you with my overly expressive mug.

Without further ado, here’s a comprehensive list of the most common French gestures to help you communicate with French people with flair. Start with a bonus, and download your FREE cheat sheet - How to Improve Your French Skills! (Logged-In Member Only)

Table of Contents

1. Greetings
2. Positive Gestures
3. Negative Gestures
4. Neutral Gestures
5. Why are the French so Rude?
6. How FrenchPod101 can Help You Learn Faster

1. Greetings

1- Bonjour

Meaning: “Hello”
How: Raise a hand and wave by moving it from side to side with a swaying motion.
Where / When: It’s used in informal situations to greet or say goodbye as a substitute for handshakes or kisses, whether you’re out of arm-reach or greeting many people at once. It’s a bit too casual for serious business settings but still acceptable in many other professional settings. This is one of the most common French hand gestures to use.

2- Bienvenue

Meaning: “Welcome”
How: Open up your arms, spreading them wide with a smile. (Casual)
Open only one arm, with a smile. (Formal)
Where / When: The casual form of this gesture can be used to greet friends or peers in a warm and enthusiastic way. The formal one is common for professional or commercial encounters.

3- La bise

Meaning: La bise means “The kiss” in a casual non-romantic way.
It’s a very typical French greeting custom.
How: Lean forward and slightly brush cheeks with the other person while mimicking a kiss (with the sound and lips gesture). Then, switch cheeks and repeat.
Where / When: Well…it’s complicated! Luckily, our complete guide about “How to Say Hello in French” will tell you everything you need to know about the Art of French air-kissing! Essentially this is where you and the person you’re greeting pretend to kiss each others’ cheeks.

4- Se serrer la main

Meaning: To shake hands.
How: French handshakes are brisk and firm, with one or two up-and-down movements while looking the person you’re greeting straight in the eyes.
Where / When: Shaking hands is the most common way to greet friends, colleagues, or strangers in France.

In casual settings, the Afro-American “Check” is growing increasingly popular. For the French, the “Check” is a generational thing, spread through hip-hop and urban culture without any racial aspect. Checks can range from a simple fist bump to a highly choreographed sequence of moves.

To back up your gestures with words, check out our list of Common Ways to say Hello with audio recordings on FrenchPod101.

2. Positive Gestures

Here’s a list of French expressions and gestures that tend to have a positive connotation. You’ll be glad you know these next time you’re in France!

1- Oui !

Meaning: “Yes; Excellent!”
How: Make a fist and extend your thumb upward.
Where / When: In France, you can’t go wrong with the all-time classic thumbs-up.
However, beware of the “OK” sign from the U.K. and U.S., where you join your index and thumb to make a circle. In several European countries, including France, it’s a negative sign meaning “Zero” or “Worthless.”

2- Ca va être génial !

Meaning: “It’s gonna be great!”
How: Rub your palms together.
Where / When: Although it can mean that you’re cold, depending on the context, rubbing your palms together usually conveys that you’re excited or expecting something amazing. For example, you can use this gesture if you’re expecting to make good money or before eating a gorgeous-looking meal.

3- Délicieux !

Meaning: “Delicious!”
How: Kiss the joined tips of your fingers and joyfully spread them outward.
Where / When: Sometimes referred to as “The Italian Chef Kiss,” this gesture is also popular in France, although a bit cliché. You can use it when your French host is serving you a delicious Tartiflette overflowing with cream and melted cheese… Sorry, I got emotional. What were we talking about?

3. Negative Gestures

Here’s a list of some gestures that are considered rude in French, or simply have a negative connotation. Life isn’t all sunshine and roses, after all!

1- Bof

Meaning: “I don’t care; I don’t know; I’m not sure.”
How: Spread your arms open with palms up. Raise and lower your shoulders.
Where / When: With the exception of a croissant holding a baguette, nothing looks more French than the infamous “Gallic shrug,” but because of its many different meanings, it’s not the easiest one to pick up.

It’s commonly used when you’re indifferent, doubtful, or indecisive, but it can express a wide range of messages: “It’s not my fault,” “There is nothing I can do,” “Don’t ask me,” and more.

Note: Halfway between Oui (“Yes”) and Non (“No”), the word Bof is very useful when you don’t want to commit to a straight answer.
- Je t’offre un verre ? (“Can I offer you a drink?”)
- Bof.

2- C’est pas mon problème !

Meaning: “Not my problem; Not my fault.”
How: Raise your hands slightly over your shoulders, palms toward the other person, with your head and shoulders defensively held back.
Where / When: This one is similar to the Bof shrug but is perceived as a stronger version where, instead of being indifferent or indecisive, you just don’t want anything to do with whatever you’re asked for.

3- Quelle barbe !

Meaning: “What a drag!”; “Boring!” (or literally: “What a beard!”)
How: Stroke your cheek a few times with the back of your fingers, like you’re caressing your beard.
Where / When: Quelle barbe comes from old Parisian slang and is only one of many beard-related French idioms. It’s used for annoying or boring situations or people, when your immediate environment doesn’t allow for stronger and dirtier curses.

For instance, when you’re given a tedious task at work, you can turn to your coworkers and stroke your imaginary beard.

4- Mon oeil !

Meaning: “I don’t believe you; I highly doubt that.”
How: Using your index finger, pull down the bottom lid of one eye.
Where / When: This is the French counterpart of the American “My foot!”, to playfully express your disbelief or accuse someone of lying. Due to its childish nature, it’s not the best gesture for serious arguments or business negotiations.

5- J’en ai ras le bol !

Meaning: “I’m fed up; I’ve had enough.” (Literally: “My bowl is full,” but it has a more colorful meaning in French slang.)
How: Swipe your hand up horizontally over your head.
Where / When: Although easily confused with the “over my head” gesture of English speakers, this has a different meaning in France. Combined with an eloquent frown, it’s used to express your annoyance when trouble is piling up all the way up to your head.

6- Le bras d’honneur

Meaning: “Get lost!”
How: Extend your arm with clenched fingers, palm up, and fold it up in a sudden jerk while slapping your biceps with your other hand.
Where / When: The bras d’honneur (“arm of honor”) is our equivalent of “giving the finger” or “flipping the bird”: an offensive gesture meant to insult and inflame.

While the middle finger was born in Ancient Greece, this variant originated from France, but both share the same phallic connotation and shouldn’t be used in your average mundane diner.

Now that you know all about these gestures, why not complement this knowledge with our lists of Phrases to Use When You are Angry or How to Make Complaints.

4. Neutral Gestures

1- Chut !

Meaning: “Shhh; Keep quiet.”
How: Extend your index finger and place it vertically across your mouth.
Where / When: This one’s self-explanatory and shouldn’t be a shocker to most readers, but as it can take different forms in some countries, it’s worth mentioning!

2- Viens !

Meaning: “Come here!”
How: Extend your index finger, palm up, and fold it inward.
It can also be done with all fingers at once.
Where / When: This gesture isn’t as obvious as it seems and should be performed properly. For example, if you use the Japanese “palm down” version in France, it can be interpreted as rude and disrespectful.

3- Comme ci comme ça

Meaning: “So-so; More or less.”
How: Place your hand in front of you, palm down, and tip it from left to right several times.
Where / When: This convenient gesture can be used in formal or casual situations. For instance, if you’re not having a great day, you could use it when someone asks how you’re doing.

4- Oh là là !

Meaning: “Oh no!”; “Wow!”
How: Raise your hand in front of your chest and shake it loosely, as if trying to revive your numb fingers.
Where / When: This oh-so-French gesture can express a wide array of emotions, ranging from surprise to annoyance, distress, or disappointment. You can also use it when you’re impressed or if someone’s in trouble. My advice is to watch as your French friends use it and learn from them.

5- Avoir un coup dans le nez

Meaning: “To be drunk” (or literally: “To have a drink in the nose”)
How: Place a loose fist around the tip of your nose and rotate it as if trying to unscrew it.
Where / When: This funny gesture can be used to inform your audience that you’re quite drunk, or to raise their awareness of the intoxication of a third party.

6- C’est pas donné

Meaning: “It’s expensive” (Literally: “It’s not given.”)
How: Rub your thumb against the tips of your index and middle fingers.
Where / When: This informal gesture works in many situations where lots of money is involved. It’s most commonly used for something expensive but can also mean that something is lucrative.

For example, when reading the menu of a pricey restaurant, you could use this gesture toward your friends to express your desire for something more modest.

7- Il est fou; Elle est cinglée

Meaning: “He’s crazy; She’s nuts”
How: Tap the side of your head with the tip of your index finger.
Where / When: It’s somewhat similar to the American crazy gesture that would also be understood in France. Obviously, this is a very informal gesture and could be offensive to strangers. Keep it for friends with a sense of humor!

5. Why are the French so Rude?

Well, they’re not, but I’m sure you’ve heard that before. Even though France remains one of the top tourism destinations in the world, some argue that it’s despite its angry mob of locals. How come?

1- Body Language and Perception

Body language matters more than you can imagine, both around the world and in French culture. Before you’ve said a word, your posture and attitude speak volumes and people form an opinion right away based on your gestures as well as the way you stand or how you occupy space in the room.

And when it comes to body language, the French are more controlled than Americans, for example. Their shoulders and arms stay close to the body, their chest straight in overall rigidity. We call it restrain, but some call it being tense or stiff, and it contributes to this impression of the French being cold and unwelcoming.

2- Intonation and Gestures

Whatever space we’re not taking when we move, we compensate for when we talk! We use physical gestures to express a wide range of emotions without words, mostly using our face and hands, and it’s easy to get the wrong impression if you don’t know the language nor the gestures.

The natural French intonation is also widely guilty of this impression. It makes the French sound angry, using sharp or abusive-sounding tones when they’re just having a friendly debate over lunch.

6. How FrenchPod101 can Help You Learn Faster

In this guide, you’ve learned many of the most typical French gestures. Of course, there are many more that you’ll discover when you start meeting locals, or that you might have already heard of. For example, do you know how the French count with their hand?

Do you feel ready to practice these gestures and spice up your conversations in French? Of course, although they make everything smoother and funnier, they work even better when you can comment while gesturing. You’ll always need to learn spoken French!

To get you started, FrenchPod101 has plenty of free resources for you to practice your grammar and vocabulary!

Go even further with MyTeacher for one-on-one guidance tailored to your needs. Practice with your private teacher and learn how to express the wide range of emotions and moods associated with the gestures you’ve learned. Start with a bonus, and download your FREE cheat sheet - How to Improve Your French Skills! (Logged-In Member Only)

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.

On Assumption Day, France celebrates the rising of Mary, the mother of Jesus, into Heaven. For this reason, it’s often called Assumption of Mary Day.

The Assumption Holy Day reflects the strong Catholic nature of France, being one of the most popular and heavily celebrated holidays in the country. Even non-Catholics like to participate in the fun, often as a final party before the end of summer.

Learn all about The Assumption of Mary Feast Day with FrenchPod101.com, and become more familiar with French culture as a whole. We hope to make this learning journey both fun and informative!

1. What is Assumption Day?

Assumption celebrates Jesus’s mother, Mary, rising up to Heaven.

As such, the French also recognize Assumption Day as the name day for those named Mary (the most-given name of the twentieth century in France). Since 1946, this name has been given more than two-million times to little French girls!

But is the Assumption a holy day of obligation? Yes, it is; but if the date happens to fall on a Monday or Saturday of a given year, people are not expected to attend the mass.

2. When is Assumption Day?

The date of Assumption in France holds much historical significance.

In the sixth century, the Byzantine emperor Maurice established the Feast Day of the Virgin Mary in his empire every day on August 15. The holiday was introduced to the West by Pope Theodore in the seventh century, and took the name of Assumption starting the following century.

In 1637, King Louis XIII wanted an heir, so he asked his subjects to make a procession every August 15 in every parish, so that his prayer would be granted. Because King Louis XIII’s request was granted the following year, the holiday on August 15 took on special importance.

3. French Assumption Day Traditions

Every year, religious processions have taken place in certain cities in France. For example, after mass, pilgrims carry a statue of the Virgin Mary in the streets and around the neighborhood. On Assumption Day, Paris hosts a procession that has taken place for a few years, on a boat in the Seine, where the silver statue of the Virgin kept in Notre-Dame is taken out.

Though Assumption is a Catholic holiday, even the non-religious in France celebrate. The most common secular celebrations include fireworks in popular cities and neighborhood dances, most of which are free to attend.

During Assumption, the city of Lourdes experiences its busiest day of the year!

4. The End of Summer…

Assumption Day is often associated with the end of summer and the coming of autumn and winter.

As such, there are many sayings about Assumption Day, such as À la mi-août, adieu les beaux jours (meaning “In mid-August, say goodbye to good weather,” in English) and à la mi-août, l’hiver est en route (meaning “In mid-August, winter is on the way,” in English). Indeed, August 15 also symbolizes a summer well-spent, and the approaching autumn.

5. Useful Vocabulary for Assumption Day in France

Here’s the most important vocabulary you should know to celebrate Assumption Day in France!

• Église — “Church”
• Assomption — “Assumption Day”
• Chrétien — “Christian”
• Assomption — “Assumption”
• Croyance — “Belief”
• Dogme — “Dogma”
• Célébrer — “Celebrate”
• Festin — “Feast”
• Jour férié — “Public holiday”
• Paradis — “Heaven”
• Vierge Marie — “Virgin Mary”
• Mort — “Death”

To hear each of these vocabulary words pronounced, check out our French Assumption Day vocabulary list! You’ll also find a relevant image with each word to help you remember more effectively!

Conclusion: How FrenchPod101 Can Help You Master French

We hope you enjoyed learning about Assumption Day in France with us! Does your country have an Assumption Day celebration, too? If so, are traditions similar or very different from those in France? Let us know in the comments!

To continue learning about French culture and the language, explore FrenchPod101.com and take advantage of our fun and effective learning tools! There are many, designed for every type of learner:

• Insightful blog posts on multiple topics
• Free vocabulary lists covering a range of themes
• Podcasts to increase your listening and pronunciation skills
• Mobile apps you can download to learn French anywhere, anytime
• Much, much more!

If you prefer a one-on-one approach, complete with a personal learning plan tailored to your needs and goals, be sure to upgrade to Premium Plus and begin learning with your own French teacher. Let FrenchPod101 be your constant companion for each step of your language-learning journey!

You can do this.

What do kids say these days? The digital culture keeps French learners just as confused as our grandparents when it comes to the newest expressions à la mode.

The good thing is that once you master a few texting codes, you’ll be able to communicate in written French on a daily basis. Sometimes, texting can be so much easier than talking face-to-face!

Table of Contents

1. French Texting Slang 101: Consonants, Abbreviations, and Sounds
2. Texting Slang to Agree on a Meeting
3. Conveying Emotions with French Texting Slang
4. Slang Etiquette: Being Polite While Texting in French
5. Debating in Abbreviations
6. The Daily Texting Slang: Holding Conversations in Abbreviated French
7. Bonus—The Mystery Emojis
8. How FrenchPod101 Can Help You

1. French Texting Slang 101: Consonants, Abbreviations, and Sounds

Let’s start with the basics! Just like in English texting slang, many abbreviations replace syllables or even words with letters and numbers that sound like them.

• Example: “U” = “You”

In French texting slang, the most current symbols include:

• 2, symbol for de = “of”
• G, symbol for J’ai = “I have”
• C, symbol for C’est = “It is”
• é, symbol for Est = “is”
• K, symbol for qu, found in the following abbreviations:
• Ki, short for Qui = “Who”
• Kel, short for Quel = “Which”
• Koi, or Kwa, short for Quoi = “What”
• Kan, short for Quand = “When”
• T, symbol for T’es or Tu es = “You are”

2. Texting Slang to Agree on a Meeting

Since organization is one of the main reasons people text, the slang dictionary of expressions related to meetings is particularly rich.

• 12C4, short for Un de ces quatre = “Someday” or more literally “one of the upcoming days”
• 2vant, short for Devant = “In front of”
• Bi1to, short for Bientôt = “Soon”
• Example: A bientôt = “See you soon!”
• D100, short for Descend = “Get downstairs”
• DRR, short for Derrière = “Behind”
• H24 = “24h/day” or “all the time”
• RSVP, short for Réservez s’il vous plaît; or RSTP, for Réserve s’il te plaît = “Please confirm your presence, whether you use the tutoiement or the vouvoiement with the person you’re talking with”
• TDS, short for Tout de suite; or DQP, short for Dès que possible = “ASAP”
• V1, sort for Viens = “Come on”; “Come on in”; “Join in”

3. Conveying Emotions with French Texting Slang

There are emojis, as well as a fine choice of slang abbreviations, to color the conversation in a pinch. Pick your favorites!

• 5pa, short for Sympa = “Nice”; “Cool”
• Example: C 5pa ici = “It’s cool here”
• NB: C Pas 5pa, short for C’est pas sympa = “That’s not cool”
• AC2N, short for Assez de haine = “Stop the hate”
• BLC, short for Je m’en bats les couilles = Literally “I’m beating my balls over this,” basically a rude way to say “I couldn’t care less.” Clearly to be used with caution.
• CPG, short for C’est pas grave = “INBG” or “It’s no big deal”
• DSL, short for Désolé = “Sry” or “Sorry”
• JPP, short for J’en peux plus = “I can’t take this anymore”
• JSPR, short for J’espère = “I hope so”
• JTM, short for Je t’aime = “I love you”
• LStomB, short for Laisse tomber = “WTV” or “Let it go”
• MDR, short for Mort de rire = “LOL” or literally “Dead from laughter”
• As early as 2009, a teenage movie starring famous actress Sophie Marceau even used “LOL” as its title.
• MSK, short for Miskine = Miskine is an Arabic word for “idiot.” It’s used to convey sympathy or spite.
• OKLM, short for Au calme = Literally “In a calm place,” it’s used to mean that you’ve found your peace of mind.
• OKLM is such a famous slang expression, it’s the name of media dedicated to urban rap music. Famous French rapper Booba has titled one of his songs “OKLM.”
• PTDR, short for Pété de rire = “LMAO”, “ROFL”, or literally “Bursting from laughter”
• Put1, short of Putain = One of the most famous French swear words; it literally means “Whore” but is used more like “Fuck” in English.
• Example: Put1 g oublié mes clés! = “Fuck, I forgot my keys!”
• NB: Obviously, use with caution!
• MRD, short for Merde = “Shit,” another swear word
• NB: Again, use with caution!
• RAF, short for Je n’en ai rien à faire = “I don’t care,” as a rather strong statement
• Example: RAF 2 T PBS = “I don’t care about your problems!”
• NB: It could also mean Rien à foutre meaning “I don’t give a fuck.” Use with caution.
• Snif = “Sob,” which is an onomatopoeia meant to indicate sadness
• Example: Snif tu peux pas venir à la soirée! = “So sad you can’t come to the party!”
• TG, short for Ta gueule = “Shut up.” Use with caution.
• T NRV, short for T’es énervé = “U mad”
• NB: If your interlocutor uses verlan, a slang that reverses the syllables of words, this could come out as T VNR.
• TOK, short for T’es OK = “Are u OK”
• WLLH, short for Wallah = “By God”; “I swear to God”
• WSH, short for Wesh = “Hey”; “Yo”
• X, symbol for Bisous (or Bzou in texting slang), or for Je crois = “I believe”
• Example: Je x ke c bon. OK, XXX
• “I think it’s all right.” “OK, XOXO”

4. Slang Etiquette: Being Polite While Texting in French

Believe it or not, in French even texting slang has its own etiquette!

We all know how ending a text message with an actual dot can set a completely different tone.
And the French remain attached to manners and politeness in all context. So, don’t neglect the following abbreviations:

• A+, short for A plus tard = “See you later”, as in “in a while”
• A tt, short for A tout à l’heure = “See you later”, as in “in a few hours”
• NB: This is the expression most appropriate to mean “BRB”
• A2m1, short for A demain = “See you tomorrow”
• ALP, short for A la prochaine = “See you next time”
• Bjr, short for Bonjour = “Hello”
• Bsr, short for Bonsoir = “Good night”
• CC, short for Coucou = “Hey there”
• Koi29, or QDN, short for Quoi de neuf = “What’s up”; “What’s new”
• Bugs Bunny’s famous “What’s up, doc?” became Quoi de neuf, docteur? in the cartoon’s French version.
• MR6, short for Merci = “Tks”; “Thank you”
• OKP, short for Occupé = “Busy”; a quick way to let the person you’re talking with know that you can’t answer just now. However, it’s a little short, and not too polite.
• P2K, short for Pas de quoi; or 2ri1, short for De rien = “Ur welcome”, in response to thanks
• RE, short for Retour = “I’m back online”; a signal to restart the conversation
• SLT, short for Salut = “Hi”
• STP, short for S’il te plaît; SVP, short for S’il vous plaît = “Please,” depending on whether you use the tutoiement or the vouvoiement
• TKT, short for T’inquiète or, more formally, Ne t’inquiète pas = “Don’t worry”
• Example: Tkt g géré l’exam = “No worries, I aced the test”

NB: If you really have to be polite while addressing an authority figure of any kind, just avoid slang altogether. And in any case, spelling the whole phrase out is much more pleasant and meaningful!

5. Debating in Abbreviations

Respect Twitter and other forums’ character limits with use of a few useful expressions.

• 1TRC, short for Intéressé = “Interested”; a way to mark your interest or to signal that you’re following the conversation
• 1mposibl, short for Impossible = “Impossible”
• AMHA, short for A mon humble avis = “IMHO” or “In my honest opinion”
• ASKIP, short for A ce qu’il paraît = “It seems that”
• Cbi1, CB1, short for C’est bien = “That’s good”
• NB: Don’t confuse with Cbn, short for Combien = “How many” or “How much”
• C ça, short for C’est ça = “That’s right”
• EnTK or EntouK, short for En tout cas = “In any case”
• Fo, short for Faut or Faux = “Must” or “False”
• Example: Fo HT du p1 or C pa fo
• “We must buy more bread” or “That’s not wrong”
• ID, short for Idée = “Idea”
• PEH, short for Pour être honnête = “TBH” or “To be honest”; “TBF” or “To be fair”

6. The Daily Texting Slang: Holding Conversations in Abbreviated French

Finally, French texters simply abbreviate a large number of words used in daily conversations. Don’t get confused if you come across any of the following:

• 6né, short for Cinéma = “Cinema”
• Ac or Av, short for Avec = “With”
• Auj or Ajdh, short for Aujourd’hui = “Today”
• Ayé, short for Ca y est = “Done”
• B1sur, short for Bien sûr = “OFC” or “Of course”
• BCP, short for Beaucoup = “A lot”
• CAD, short for C’est à dire = “That is”
• C cho, short for C’est chaud = “That’s rough”; “That’s intense”; “That won’t be easy”
• Chuis, short for Je suis = “I am”
• Cki, short for C’est qui = “Who dis”; “Who is this”
• CT, short for C’était = “It was”
• Com dab, short for Comme d’habitude = “As usual”
• Dacc, Dac, or Dak, short for D’accord = “OK,” or literally “We have an agreement”
• Dc, short for Donc = “So”
• GHT, short for J’ai acheté = “I bought”
• GT, short for J’étais = “I was”
• Je C, JC, or Je cé short for Je sais = “I know”
• NB: “IKR” or “I know, right,” would be better translated by a more intense expression: Je céééé = “IKR.”
• Grave = “Totally”
• JSP, short for Je ne sais pas = “IDK” or “I don’t know”
• NB: NSP, short for Ne sait pas = “Does not know”
• Je vé, JV, short for Je vais = “I am going to”
• JMS, short for Jamais = “Never”
• Keske, short for Qu’est-ce que = “What is”
• Kestufou, short for Qu’est-ce que tu fous = “What the hell are you doing?” Use with caution.
• Example: Kestufou ça fé 1h quejt’attend! = “What the hell are you doing, I’ve been waiting for you for an hour!”
• Kwa, short for Quoi = “What”
• MSG, short for Message = “Message”
• PB, short for Problème = “Problem”
• Example: Pas 2 pb = “No problem”
• PK or PKoi, short for Pourquoi = “Why”
• QQ or QQ1, short for Quelqu’un = “Someone”
• RAS, short for Rien à Signaler = “Nothing to report”
• TJS, short for Toujours = “Always”
• TLM, short for Tout le monde = “Everyone”
• Tps, short for Temps = “Time”
• TT, short for Tout = “All”
• VRT, short for Vraiment = “Truly”
• Ya, short for Il y a = “There is”

7. Bonus—The Mystery Emojis

Emojis aren’t always what they seem! You might want to be careful when you send someone a peach or an eggplant.

• A fire = Sexy
• A frog + a cup of tea = “Just saying”
• The frog and tea cup symbol derives from the famous Kermit the Frog meme
• A new moon = Discomfort; secret; afterthought
• An owl, symbol for C’est chouette = “That’s cool”
• NB: Une chouette is French for “an owl”
• A peach = Someone’s butt
• A pig = Something kinky, with a sexual connotation

How FrenchPod101 Can Help You

Slang in general—and texting slang in particular—evolves very fast. Don’t forget to add on to this list as you chat with your French friends!

We’ll update this lesson whenever necessary. Who knows what other expressions the younger French generations will make up next?

This lesson is but one of FrenchPod101’s explorations of the various French slang words! In our future articles, we’ll work on oral slang, French TV shows, and regional expressions.

Sign up today to make sure you don’t miss them!

Each year, the French commemorate the end of the French Revolution and the storming of the Bastille fortress. Called Bastille Day everywhere but France itself, this holiday is France’s national day and possibly the most significant public holiday in the country.

By learning about Bastille Day, France’s history and culture will become more clear to you. And as any successful language-learner can tell you, studying culture is a step you can’t miss if you hope to master the beautiful French language.

At FrenchPod101.com, we hope to make this learning experience both fun and effective!

1. What is Bastille Day?

The nation remembers the storming of the Bastille (otherwise known as the Bastille Day attack) on this holiday, which took place in 1789 during the French Revolution. For this reason, the word Bastille is often associated with our national day, though French people never actually call it “Bastille Day.”

1- The Bastille

Bastille was a fortress and an arsenal destined to defend the East of Paris, which later became a prison by the Cardinal Richelieu.

The storming of this structure on July 14, 1789, symbolizes the French Revolution as a major event of the people’s revolt, the initiation of today’s nation. The first edition of the national day in 1790 was named “the federation party” during this era. It represented the reconciliation of the French by the monarchy constitution under Louis XVI.

The federation party was considered a happy ending to the French Revolution, which lasted ten years with the proclamation of the First Republic under Louis XVI.

Napoléon Bonaparte succeeded him with the establishment of the First Empire at the beginning of the 19th century.

2- Bastille Day History

The true origin of the current national holiday is found in the historic facts of the Republic. It took root with two events at the end of the 19th century.

The first one was the official national day on June 30, 1878, to celebrate the Republic. A painting of Monet exposed in the Museum of Orsay redraws this event in the Montorgueil street situated in the second district. The second celebration unfolded itself July 14, 1879; this one was more popular and semi-official to celebrate the revolution of the French people.

These two marking days resulted in a law proposition in 1880 to establish July 14 as the national day. The senate accepted July 14 to represent the storming of the Bastille Fortress, instead of August 4 to honor the end of the feudal system from the Roman Empire and promoting the strength of the lords by their land.

2. When is Bastille Day?

Bastille Day is celebrated in France each year on July 14.

3. Reading Practice: Bastille Day Celebrations

Do you know how France celebrates its national day? Read the French text below to learn about the Bastille Day parades and other traditions. Check your French reading skills with the English translation directly below it!

—

Chaque année depuis 1880, a lieu un défilé militaire à Paris, en présence du Président de la République. Les militaires sont à pieds, à cheval, en voiture ou dans des avions. Ils descendent l’avenue des Champs Élysées, la place de l’Étoile et vont jusqu’à la place de la Concorde, où ils saluent le président et son gouvernement. Ce défilé attire des milliers de Français. Ceux qui ne peuvent venir le voir à Paris le regardent à la TV. Les deux chaînes françaises qui diffusent cet évènement attirent des millions de téléspectateurs chaque année.

Le soir, les Français peuvent faire la fête puisque des bals sont organisés dans la plupart des villes. Ils ont le choix car différents styles de bals et de musiques sont proposés au sein même d’une seule ville. A Paris, le bal le plus populaire est le bal des Pompiers. Il est organisé dans la caserne même des pompiers et réunit des personnes de tous les âges, toutes les professions.

Le saviez-vous ? La plupart des Français ignorent que le 14 Juillet célèbre deux évènements. En général, ils pensent que c’est en la mémoire de la prise de la Bastille uniquement ! La Fête de la Fédération reste méconnue, même en France.

—

Every year since 1880, a military parade has taken place in Paris in front of the President of the Republic. The soldiers are on foot, on horseback, in vehicles, or flying in planes. They go down the Champs Élysées boulevard, the Place de l’Étoile, and all the way to Place de la Concorde, where they salute the President and his government. This parade attracts thousands of French people. Those who cannot come to see it in Paris watch it on TV. The two French channels that broadcast this event draw millions of viewers each year.

At night, the French have an opportunity to party, since dances are organized in most cities. They have a choice, as many different styles of dances and music are offered in each city. In Paris, the most popular dance is the Bal des Pompiers. It is organized in the firefighters’ actual firehouse, and brings people together of all ages and professions.

Did you know? Most French people don’t know that July 14 celebrates two events. In general, they think that it only celebrates the taking of the Bastille. The Fête de la Fédération remains little-known, even in France.

4. Fireworks in France!

On the evening of July 14, French people can see fireworks being set off in most cities. This is a tradition that has existed since the creation of this national holiday in 1880. In Paris, the Trocadéro fireworks alone bring together thousands of visitors.

5. Essential Vocabulary for Bastille Day

Here’s some vocabulary you should know for Bastille Day in France!

• Roi — “King”
• Fête nationale — “Bastille Day”
• Révolution française — “French Revolution”
• Cocarde — “Cockade”
• Bourgeoisie — “Bourgeoisie”
• Sans-culottes — “Sans-culottes“
• Révolutionnaire — “Revolutionary”
• Noblesse — “Nobility”
• Noble — “Noble”
• Monarchie — “Monarchy”
• Guillotine — “Guillotine”
• Prise de la Bastille — “Storming of the Bastille”

To hear each vocabulary word pronounced, check out our French Bastille Day vocabulary list.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed learning about Bastille Day and its history with us! Did you learn anything new about France’s national day? What does your country’s national holiday look like? Let us know in the comments! We always look forward to hearing from you.

To continue in your French studies, explore FrenchPod101.com and take advantage of our fun and practical learning tools! Read more insightful blog posts like this one, study free French vocabulary lists on a range of topics, and chat with fellow French learners on our community forums! By upgrading to Premium Plus, you can also start using our MyTeacher program and learn French one-on-one with a French teacher and more personalized plan.

Learning French is a bold endeavor, and one that you’ll never regret. Know that your hard work and determination will pay off, and you’ll be speaking, writing, and reading French like a native before you know it! FrenchPod101 will be here with you each step of your way there.

Happy Bastille Day!

Have you ever had a strange déjà-vu on a rendez-vous with your fiancé? Was it a souvenir or a mirage? Am I using too many French-English words right now? Touché!

While some of these words only made it to the English language because they sound so chic, some words such as Déjà-vu or Mirage have a very specific meaning and can’t be replaced with just one word.

The French language contains many words and expressions that simply cannot be translated without using a complicated sentence. These are French words with no English equivalent. Exploring these words is a fantastic dive into the French culture and learning them will make you sound much more fluent, as only locals usually dare using them! They also may make conversations and foreign programs easier to understand.

I have seen many similar articles repeating the same literary oddities or antiquated quotes of French songs that have never been used in France in the last couple of centuries. Instead, what you’ll find here at FrenchPod101 is a list of genuinely useful and contemporary words that are still used by native speakers on a daily basis.

So let’s get on with it! Here’s our list of the top 10 untranslatable French words.

Table of Contents

1. Tue-l’amour
2. Dépaysement
3. Yaourter
4. Savoir faire
5. Bof
6. Insortable
7. Voilà
8. Cartonner
9. Rebelote
10. Contresens
11. Bonus: Ratrucher
12. How FrenchPod101 Can Help You Learn More French

Start with a bonus, and download the Must-Know Beginner Vocabulary PDF for FREE! (Logged-In Member Only)

1. Tue-l’amour

Literally
“Love-killer”

Meaning
[Informal] Something that makes a person stop loving or feeling desire for another one.

Context
A Tue-l’amour usually describes a physical characteristic, a personality trait, or a behavior that’s seen as a turnoff by a partner or as a deal-breaker by a love interest. They’re the kind of things that put you off and make you forget about your romantic or sensual intentions. It can be used seriously or as a joke.

Example
Sa nouvelle coupe de cheveux est un vrai tue-l’amour !
“His new hairstyle is a proper passion killer!”

2. Dépaysement

Literally
“Un-country-ness” (ugh)

Meaning
This untranslatable word in French describes the feeling you get when you’re out of your familiar environment or when you change your habits.

Context
There are many shades of Dépaysement, from the pleasant sensation of being far from home, to the disorientation of being unwillingly placed outside of your comfort zone.

While Dépaysement can be used to describe the discomfort of breaking your routine or being homesick, it’s usually a positive feeling and something that people seek. You travel the world in search of Dépaysement, and any change of landscape, climate, or culture can evoke it.

Example
J’aime le Népal car le dépaysement y est total.
“I love Nepal because it’s a complete change of scenery.”

Son nouveau bureau l’a un peu dépaysé.
“His new office left him a little disoriented.”

Check out our free vocabulary list with audio recordings on FrenchPod101 to learn more words about traveling, and practice your accent.

3. Yaourter

Literally
“To yogurt”

Meaning
[Informal] Yaourter or Chanter en yaourt (“To sing in yogurt”) consist of singing by producing sounds and onomatopeias when you don’t know the lyrics or the language of the song.

Context
Made popular by the 1994 movie “Le Péril Jeune,” the verb Yaourter refers to the inarticulate flow of sounds that result from this singing “technique,” that would be the vocal equivalent of yogurt’s texture.

Because the French are often less-than-average in foreign language skills, it’s very common in France to Yaourt your way through karaoke nights with English songs or when we sing the Japanese opening credits of our favorite anime.

This is perhaps one of the most interesting of these untranslatable French words and phrases.

Example
Elle a yaourté de la K-Pop toute la soirée.
“She’s been yogurting K-Pop songs all night long.”

If you’re yogurting with enough passion and confidence, you can fool anyone!

4. Savoir faire

Literally
“To know how to make”

Meaning
A savoir-faire is a specific collection of practical skills and experience used to make a product or to provide a service.

Context
A savoir-faire is more than a set of skills or some theoretical expertise. Unlike other technical knowledges, it’s directly applicable to performing tasks or to fixing problems.

Example
La France est connue pour son savoir-faire en matière de vin.
“France is known to be competent when it comes to wine.”

5. Bof

Literally
[No translation]

Meaning
[Informal] Bof is used to express:

1. Indecisiveness when you’re not sure whether to say yes or no, and you’re not really excited.
2. Indifference when talking about something mediocre or uninspiring. The closest English word would be the equally informal “Meh.”

Context
Halfway between Oui (“Yes”) and Non (“No”), the word Bof is very useful when you don’t want to commit to a straight answer.

In its second meaning, it’s a quick way to express your lack of excitement toward something.

Example
A: On va au cinéma demain, tu veux venir ?
B: Bof

A: “We’re going for a movie tomorrow, do you want to come?”
B: Huh…not sure.”

C: Alors, est-ce que le film vous a plu ?
D: Bof bof… c’est pas extraordinaire.

C: “So, did you like the movie?
D: Meh…nothing special.”

The very face of “Bof”

6. Insortable

Literally
“That cannot be taken out”

Meaning
[Informal] Insortable or Pas sortable is told about someone whose bad manners or inappropriate behavior would embarrass you if you were to take them out to a social event.

Context
Insortable (as opposed to Sortable: someone who’s well-behaved enough to be taken out) can be used in a serious statement, but it’s often said as a joke while talking about someone with bad habits or questionable fashion choices.

For example, your friends could humorously accuse you of being Insortable when you spill your drink or lick your plate in a restaurant.

Example
Il est sympa ton copain mais il est vraiment insortable.
“Your boyfriend is nice but he’s really not fit for society.”

7. Voilà

Literally
“See there”

Meaning
Voilà is the grammatical contraction of the imperative Vois là (“See there”). It has various meanings.

1. It’s mainly used to introduce a person, a thing, or their action that your interlocutor can see or perceive.
2. Voilà la personne que vous attendiez. (“Here is the person you were waiting for.”)
3. To mark the imminent or current state of a situation, as in
   Voilà qui est fait. (“Now, that’s done.”)
4. To highlight things that have been said or explained.
   Voilà la raison. (“Here is the reason.”)

Context
The beauty of Voilà is how it can be used to put an end to a conversation without being rude.

Because of its second and third meanings, it’s the perfect word to signify that you have said what you had to say and there’s nothing more to it. This is especially useful for customer interactions, when you’ve explained something and want to wrap it up, say goodbye, or hang up the phone.

In many cases, a keen and confident Voilà can help end a conversation that’s been dragging on too long.

Example
[At the end of a conversation, when you feel like you’re done.]

• Voilà. or Voilà voilà [Casual] (“That’s it”)
• Et voilà (“And there you go”)
• Enfin… voilà. (“Well…that’s it”)

8. Cartonner

Literally
“To cardboard”

Meaning
[Informal] To be very successful at something, to be a hit.

Context
Although it’s only used figuratively nowadays, the word Cartonner originally comes from the shooting galleries at fun fairs, where the target was often made of cardboard. Thus, Cartonner used to describe the action of successfully hitting the target.

Example
Ce film va cartonner en Europe.
“This movie will be a hit in Europe.”

Il a cartonné à son examen de Français.
“He totally aced his French exam.”

Ça cartonne !
“It rocks!”

Il cartonne à son examen !

9. Rebelote

Literally
[No translation]

Meaning
[Informal] The closest translation to Rebelote would be “and then all over again.” It can be used when you repeat the same action or when a given situation happens again.

Context
This word comes from the card game La Belote (widely popular in France) where Belote and Rebelote happen when a player gets the Queen and King in their hand.

Figuratively, it’s used as a familiar way to talk about actions or events that repeat either once or over and over.

Example
Je nettoie tout le matin et rebelote le soir.
“I clean everything in the morning and all over again in the evening.”

Il a plu des cordes hier, et le lendemain : rebelote !
“It was raining buckets yesterday and then again on the next day!”

10. Contresens

Literally
“Anti-meaning”

Meaning
When an interpretation isn’t just a misinterpretation, but the opposite of the actual meaning or contains an internal contradiction.

Context
Contresens can also be used in the broader meaning of “nonsense.” Essentially, it’s an error of interpretation or translation that’s not necessarily contrary to the original meaning.

More subjectively, it also describes an absurd action or situation going against “common sense” or “how it should be.”

Example
Cette traduction est un contresens.
“This translation is a severe misinterpretation.”

Vouloir réconcilier écologie et capitalisme est un contresens.
“Trying to reconcile ecology and capitalism is a complete nonsense.”

11. Bonus: Ratrucher

Now that you’ve gone through our list of 10 untranslatable French words, here’s a bonus word that was too good to leave out.

Literally
[No translation]

Meaning
To thoroughly scrape a plate or a dish until there’s nothing left to eat.

Context
Ratrucher is an oddity, as it’s mostly used in my native north of France and is originally from the Picardie region. However, it sounds too funny to be left out of this list, and it’s pretty useful too!

You can do it with a fork, a knife, or a piece of bread, and it’s usually taken as a compliment to the chef.

Example
Elle ratruche toujours son assiette en fin de repas.
“She always thoroughly scrapes her plate clean after a meal.”

Find more vocabulary about food utensils and tableware in our free vocabulary list.

Une assiette parfaitement ratruchée. (“A perfectly scraped plate.”)

How FrenchPod101 Can Help You Learn More French

In this guide, you’ve learned the most useful untranslatable French words. We truly hope this article helped you tackle some French words that are untranslatable in English.

Did we forget any important expressions? Are you ready to put them to use and sound like a native speaker?

Try and use them with your French friends or contacts and see how they react! Also make sure to explore FrenchPod101, as it has plenty of free resources for you to practice your grammar and learn new words.

Remember that you can also use our premium service, MyTeacher, to get personal one-on-one coaching. Practice creating sentences using our untranslatable words with your private teacher so they can give you personalized feedback and advice.

Start with a bonus, and download the Must-Know Beginner Vocabulary PDF for FREE! (Logged-In Member Only)

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.

We all want to make a great, long-lasting first impression. Just moved to France and are eager to make new local friends? Are you traveling and looking for people to practice your French with? Or maybe you’re on the hunt for a job, anxious to outshine the competition?

The beauty of the introduction is that you don’t need to be fluent to come up with a catchy script that you can use in any social occasion, be it professional or casual, in person or in writing. No matter your level of French, if you learn the right tips and tricks, you’ll make people interested and they’ll remember you.

From situational French phrases to talking about your family in French, this complete guide will reveal all the secrets and best lines to introduce yourself in French like a boss and be unforgettable!

Table of Contents

1. Warm Up With a Greeting!
2. How to Learn about Each Other
3. Specific Introduction Lines
4. How to Leave an Impression
5. How FrenchPod101 Can Help You Learn More about Introducing Yourself

1. Warm Up with a Greeting!

Before anything else, you want to follow the French etiquette and start with a greeting. That said, let’s go ahead and learn some greetings in French.

1- Bonjour or Salut?

Do you remember our short list of fail-proof greetings? Here’s how we start the conversation:

• Bonjour (“Hello” or “Good day”) can be used from morning to sundown, in almost any case. Neither too formal nor too relaxed, you cannot go wrong with it.
• Bonsoir (“Good evening”) is the night-time counterpart of bonjour and can be used professionally as well as with friends.
• Salut (“Hi”) is the casual bonjour that you use at any time of the day, with friends and peers.

2- Tu or Vous?

French has two forms of “you.” When meeting new people, you’ll always have to figure out which one to use. Don’t worry, it’s pretty straightforward!

Vous is for formal encounters and Tu is for more casual interactions. If you meet someone for the first time, there’s a good chance you’ll use Vous, unless you’re meeting friends of friends or meeting strangers in an informal context such as a bar or a club.

Here’s a simple summary:

• Friends, peers, family, kids or teens, animals: Tu
• Anybody else: Vous (until decided otherwise by both parties)
• Whenever in doubt: Vous

3- Handshake or La Bise?

Another tricky question: Should you shake hands or use La bise, our typical French custom of kissing on the cheeks?

• If you’ve used Salut and Tu and you’re greeting someone of the opposite sex, there’s a good chance you could go for La bise.
• Otherwise or whenever in doubt, go for a firm handshake! Remember that La bise is one of the more casual greetings in French, though common.

Make sure to check out our complete guide about “How to Say Hello in French” for more vocabulary and cultural insight about the subtle art of French greetings!

You can also practice your accent using our list of Common Ways to Say Hello with audio recordings on FrenchPod101.

2. How to Learn about Each Other

Now, let’s have a look at the classic questions and answers that usually come up when you meet someone. You’ll learn not only how to answer these questions and tell about yourself, but also to inquire about the other person and learn more about them.

Most questions have two forms (casual and formal) while most answers simply have one form.

1- What’’s Your Name?

To give your name or ask someone’s in French, we use the verb S’appeler.

Casual “What’s your name?”	Formal “What’s your name?”
Comment tu t’appelles ?	Comment vous appelez-vous ?
Tu t’appelles comment ?

• Je m’appelle Bob (“My name is Bob”) literally means: “I call myself Bob.”
• This is the most common way to state your name. It works in both formal and casual situations.

Next, you can return the question:

Casual “And you?”	Formal “And you?”
Et toi ?	Et vous ?

When asked back, in a casual situation, you can answer:

• Moi, c’est Bob. (“I’m Bob.”)

2- Where are You From?

Unless you’ve worked hard on your accent with FrenchPod101, your new friends will most likely guess that you’re not from France and ask you where you’re from. Here’s how:

Casual “Where are you from?”	Formal “Where are you from?”
D’où tu viens ? Tu viens d’où ? Tu es d’où ? (“Where are you from?”) De quel pays tu viens ? Tu viens de quel pays ? Tu es de quel pays ? (“From what country are you from?”) Tu es de quelle nationalité ? (“What is your nationality?”)	D’où venez-vous ? Vous venez d’où ? Vous êtes d’où ? (“Where are you from?”) De quel pays venez-vous ? Vous venez de quel pays ? Vous êtes d’où ? (“From what country are you from?”) De quelle nationalité êtes-vous ? Quelle est votre nationalité ? (“What is your nationality?”)

If you’re from another country, you can answer with any of these:

• Je viens de Chine. (“I’m coming from China.”)
• Je suis Chinois. [Male] / Je suis Chinoise. [Female] (“I am Chinese.”)

If you want to state the city where you’re currently living, it would be:

• Je viens de Paris. (“I’m coming from Paris.”)
• J’habite à Paris. (“I’m living in Paris.”)

Check out our extensive list of Vocabulary for Nationalities and learn how to state where you’re from. It’s so important to learn useful contextual French phrases like this!

3- What’s Your Profession?

It’s common in France to ask about the other person’s job early in the conversation. It usually comes before what we see as more personal details, such as age, marital status, or family. If your new friend has a cool profession and you can follow-up with more questions, this can also be a great ice-breaker! Here’s what you’ll need to know about talking about your profession in French!

Casual “What is your profession?”	Formal “What is your profession?”
Tu fais quoi dans la vie ? (“What are you doing in life?”) Tu fais quoi comme travail ? Tu fais quel métier ? (“What is your job?”)	Quel est votre métier ? Quelle est votre profession ? Quel travail faites-vous ? (“What is your occupation?”)

Possible answers are:

• Je suis étudiant(e). (“I’m a student.”)
• J’étudie la biologie. (“I’m studying biology.”)
• Je travaille dans l’informatique. (“I’m working in IT.”)
• Je suis dans la finance. (“I’m working in finance.”)
• Je suis charpentier. (“I’m a carpenter.”)

A bit of slang: Travail or Métier (“Occupation” or “Profession”) are often replaced in casual conversations with any of these slang alternatives:

• Boulot; Taf; Job

Find more job names on our list of jobs in French with translations and audio recording. And if you’re a student, you can find another list about School Subjects.

4- Tell Me about Your Family!

This isn’t likely to come up right away when meeting new people, but as you get to know more about them, this conversation topic is perfectly fine. Below you’ll find information on talking about your family in French.

Casual “Tell me about your family.”	Formal “Tell me about your family.”
Tu es marié(e) ? (“Are you married?”) Tu as des enfants ? (“Do you have kids?”) Tu as des frères et soeurs ? (“Do you have brothers and sisters?”)	Vous êtes marié(e) ? (“Are you married?”) Vous avez des enfants ? (“Do you have kids?”) Vous avez des frères et soeurs ? (“Do you have brothers and sisters?”)

Some possible answers are:

• Oui, je suis marié(e). (“Yes, I’m married.”)
• Non, je suis célibataire. (“No, I’m single.”)
• Non, je suis divorcé(e). (“No, I’m divorced.”)
• J’ai deux enfants. (“I have two kids.”)
• J’ai un petit frère et une grande soeur. (“I have a little brother and a big sister.”)

Learn more on talking about your family in French with our list of Must-know French Terms for Family Members.

5- How Old are You?

The French are a bit more demanding on politeness than other countries. For instance, it can be seen as rude or insensitive to ask a woman about her age, unless you’re talking to a young girl or woman that would obviously not shy away from the question.

In most cases, it’s absolutely fine, though. Don’t let us scare you with French etiquette! Talking about your age in French really just comes down to the information below.

Casual “How old are you?”	Formal “How old are you?”
Tu as quel age ?	Quel age avez-vous ?

You can answer with:

• J’ai 30 ans. (“I’m 30 years old.”)

As you grow older, it’s perfectly acceptable to start lying about your age.

6- What are Your Hobbies?

Now that we’ve got the mundanities out of the way, let’s share more personal information by talking about our hobbies and passions in French.

Casual “What are your hobbies?”	Formal “What are your hobbies?”
C’est quoi tes hobbies / passe-temps? (“What are your hobbies?”) Tu fais quoi dans ton temps libre ? Tu fais quoi pendant tes loisirs ? (“What do you do with your free time?”)	Quels sont vos hobbies ? (“What are your hobbies?”) Que faites-vous de votre temps libre ? Quels sont vos loisirs ? (“What do you do with your free time?”)

You could answer virtually anything, but here are some examples:

• Je joue au tennis. (“I’m playing tennis.”)
• Je joue du piano. (“I’m playing piano.”)
• Je passe mes nuits sur HBO. (“I spend my nights on HBO.”)
• J’écris un journal de voyage. (“I’m writing a travel diary.”)

We have a vocabulary list about hobbies with translations and recordings, as well as a free PDF lesson with even more words for you to learn!

The best way to learn how to pronounce all these introduction sentences? Check our list of 10 Lines You Need for Introducing Yourself and practice your French pronunciation!

3. Specific Introduction Lines

Now that we’ve seen the most common questions and answers, let’s see how to introduce yourself with useful French phrases in more targeted situations with short conversation examples:

1- When You Travel (Meeting Friendly Locals)

• Tu voyages depuis longtemps ? (“Have you been travelling for a long time?”)
• Je voyage depuis deux mois. (“I have been travelling for two months.”)
• Tu as visité quels autres pays ? (“What other countries did you visit?”)
• Je suis allé(e) en Espagne et en Italie. (“I have been to Spain and Italy.”)

Find more vocabulary and recordings in our Travel and Traveling vocabulary lists.

2- At Work (Meeting Your Coworkers)

• Tu travailles dans quel service ? (“In which division are you working?”)
• Je travaille aux ressources humaines. (“I’m working with HR.”)
• Tu bosses sur quoi en ce moment ? (“What are you working on right now?”)
• Je viens de commencer un nouveau projet. (“I have just started working on a new project.”)

3- In a Casual Social Event (Meeting Friends, a Date)

• Tu fais quoi demain soir ? (“What are you doing tomorrow night?”)
• Je vais au cinéma avec un pote. (“I’m going to a movie with a pal.”)
• Tu as un copain ? / Tu as une copine ? (“Do you have a boyfriend / girlfriend?”)
• Non, on a rompu il y a deux semaines. (“No, we broke up two weeks ago.”)

4- Family Meetings (Meeting Your Parents-in-law)

• Vous vous êtes rencontrés comment ? (“How did you meet?”)
• J’ai rencontré Julie à l’université. (“I have met Julie at the university.”)
• Comment tu connais Bastien ? (“How do you know Bastien?”)
• On travaille ensemble. (“We work together.”)

4. How to Leave an Impression

1- Less is More!

Don’t make it all about yourself. As tempting as it is to talk about your dancing eyebrows talent, snail-watching hobby, or any of your groundbreaking achievements, try to keep it to yourself and keep some mystery alive. When someone asks something about you, you don’t have to divulge a whole chapter of your biography. Just throw some juicy teasers and play hard-to-get. It’ll make you more interesting and appealing.

In the meantime, talking less about yourself will leave you more time to inquire about the other person, ask them questions, and learn more about their culture and passions! Listen to what they have to say; don’t think about what you want to say next.

2- Show Your Interest

When meeting someone for the first time, it’s customary in France to drop a word of appreciation once you’ve learned that person’s name. This can take different forms:

• Enchanté(e) (“Delighted”) is the easiest and most common.
• Ravi(e) de vous rencontrer or Heureux / Heureuse de vous rencontrer (“Happy to meet you”)
• C’est un plaisir de vous rencontrer (“It’s a pleasure to meet you”)
  You can cut it down to Un plaisir de vous rencontrer (“Pleased to meet you”) or even Un plaisir (“A pleasure”).

But there are many other ways to show your interest when you greet in French:

• Je m’appelle Julie. (“My name is Julie.”)
• C’est un très joli prénom. (“It’s a really pretty name.”)
• Je suis photographe. (“I’m a photographer.”)
• Génial ! Quel genre de photos ? (“Great! What kind of photos?”)
• J’ai 40 ans. (“I’m 40 years old.”)
• Vraiment ? Tu fais beaucoup plus jeune. (“Really? You look so much younger.”)

3- Start the Conversation in French

French people love to hear French. This is partly because we’re terrible at foreign languages, but the fact is that even if you only babble a few words of French to your new local friends before switching to English, you’re likely to make a good first impression!

Whatever your level is, even if you’re a complete beginner, our advice is to always start the conversation in French. It doesn’t matter if you only know how to say Bonjour (“Hello”) or Je ne parle pas français. (“I don’t speak French.”). Starting the conversation in French will get you off to a much better start than if you open with English.

5. How FrenchPod101 Can Help You Learn More about Introducing Yourself

In this guide, you’ve learned how to introduce yourself in French, from greeting to talking about your job and passions. You’ve also seen how to learn more about them while showing your interest.

Do you feel ready to introduce yourself to your new French friends and make sure nobody ever forgets about you? How would you introduce yourself to your colleague or to a girl you like? And what would you ask?

A good exercise is to write down your presentation and tell as much as you want about you. Following this guide, you already have everything you need to write a great introduction. But if you want to go further, FrenchPod101 has plenty of free resources for you to practice your grammar and vocabulary!

Go further with MyTeacher for one-on-one guidance tailored to your needs. Practice introducing yourself to your private teacher and get personalized feedback and advice!

We hope you learned a lot of practical greetings in French, along with useful contextual French phrases to help you as you start out your travels in France. Best wishes!

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.

In France, ninety-seven percent of French people know about Fête de la musique (”World Music Day”)!

On World Make Music Day (or simply Make Music Day), France celebrates music and encourages anyone and everyone to create music, along with many other countries.

This is the most characteristic aspect of World Music Day: It encourages absolutely everyone to do some music; anyone can sing or play an instrument, alone or in a band, in public spaces. Hence the wide range of styles and talents during the Fête de la musique French festivals.

World Music Day in France is a prime example of how a country’s holidays can reveal what its people hold near to their hearts. And any successful language learner can tell you that comprehending a country’s culture is a necessary step in mastering its language. At FrenchPod101.com, we hope to make this learning journey both fun and informative!

1. What is Music Day in France?

Though sometimes referred to as the biggest music festival in France, World Music Day is completely different from a music festival. La fête de la musique, also known as “World Music Day,” is the celebration of music and life through free concerts and presentations, mainly outdoors, on the summer solstice each year. This popular manifestation encourages professional and amateurs alike to play instruments on the streets.

The idea of Music Day first appeared in 1976. It was conceived by the American musician Joel Cohen, who worked at the time for the radio station “Radio France” (France Musique). Back then, Cohen was proposing “Musical Saturnalians” for the two solstices, the winter one on December twenty-first and the summer one on June twenty-first.

After the presidential elections of 1981, Maurice Fleuret adopted the idea, which Jack Lang (then Minister of Culture) put in place. It took place for the first time on June 21, 1982, and was officially declared the following year. Music Day immediately met an increasing success, which has spread to this day well beyond the French borders.

2. When is World Music Day?

On June 21, France celebrates World Music Day. This is usually on the date of the summer solstice, the perfect time of year for outdoor music fun! As mentioned earlier, the 21 June France celebration date for this holiday was chosen in 1982.

3. World Music Festival: France’s Celebrations

La fête de la musique (meaning “World Music Day̶ is such a fun day. Anywhere you go, music is present. On Music Day, France is home to all types of music styles that are represented by young, talented musicians—from newly created bands to professionals making it their way of life. Concerts are organized with elaborate production, and musicians on their own or in small groups play with their instruments on street corners. Everyone performs for free, just for the pleasure of sharing their art.

People who appreciate the music, but aren’t actually playing, enjoy the day by walking through the yards of castles, schools, and town squares to enjoy the performances. The mature public usually appreciate orchestras, choruses, and operas which take place in scheduled places and times in large towns. The younger generations prefer to dance and party till dawn at programmed concerts offered by the city.

Bars and restaurants take on bands and musicians to attract people inside or on their patio. People can also find music playing in prisons, hospitals, airports, and subways.

French bars and restaurants usually have to close a little after midnight. But on Music Day, they’re allowed to stay open much later to welcome the public. Furthermore, the date of the twenty-first most often corresponds with the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. Night falls very late, so French people often use this as an excuse to continue celebrations late into the night!

4. Most Common Musical Instruments in France

Do you know which musical instrument is played the most by French people?

In France, the most played musical instrument is the guitar, closely followed by the piano. But the piano is the instrument that is most taught in music schools, whereas many people play the guitar as amateurs, without a teacher.

5. Vocabulary You Should Know for World Music Day

Here’s some vocabulary you should know for Music Day in France!

• Jazz — “Jazz“
• Rue — “Street”
• Guitare — “Guitar”
• Violon — “Violin”
• Concert — “Concert”
• Musique rock — “Rock music“
• Batterie — “Drums”
• Festival — “Festival”
• Fête de la musique — “Music Day”
• Groupe — “Band”
• Jouer — “Play”

To hear each vocabulary word pronounced, check out our French Music Day vocabulary list. Here, you’ll find each word alongside an audio file of its pronunciation.

Conclusion

Did you know about World Music Day before reading this article? Does your country have elaborate celebrations for Music Day like France does? Let us know in the comments!

To learn more about the culture in France and the French language, visit us at FrenchPod101.com. We provide practical learning tools for every learner to ensure that anyone can master French! Read more insightful blog posts like this one, study up with our free French vocabulary lists, and chat with fellow French students on our community forums! By upgrading to Premium Plus, you can also begin learning French one-on-one with your own personal teacher through our MyTeacher program.

Learning a new language, and absorbing the culture around it, is no easy task. But it’s well worth the effort and determination you put into it! And FrenchPod101 will be here with you for each step of your journey to mastery.