Dialogue

Vocabulary

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Lesson Transcript

INTRODUCTION
Today, we'll cover getting a table in the section of the restaurant you want. In France, smoking in restaurants is still accepted, but there are occasions when you can ask for a non-smoking seat or perhaps you would like a smoking seat. Either way, let's cover that first. Now, remember when you enter a restaurant, you'll hear Combien de personnes?
GRAMMAR POINT
This will likely be followed by one of the following. "Non-smoking" in French is Non-fumeur. Non-fumeur.
Let's break it down by syllable: Non-fu-meur.
Now, let's hear it once again, Non-fumeur.
The first word, Non, means "no."
This is followed by, Fumeur, which in French is "smoker." Fumeur. Fumeur, and Fumeur. Smoking is simply Fumeur. Fumeur.
Let's break it down by syllable again, Fu-meur.
And, one more time, Fu-meur.
Together, the question is often asked Fumeur ou non-fumeur? which means “Smoking or non-smoking?”
Now, you can beat them to the punch by saying how many people in your party and non-smoking first.
For example, you can say Trois personnes, non-fumeur s’il vous plaît. Trois personnes, non-fumeur s’il vous plaît.
Now, secondhand smoke may not be the only obstacle on your path towards the perfect meal. As you may not like the location of the table selected for you. Perhaps you want a table by the window or not one next to the kitchen.
In French, "May we sit here?" is Pourrions-nous nous asseoir là? Pourrions-nous nous asseoir là?
Let's break it down by syllable: Pour-ri-ons-nous nou-s a-sseoir là?
Now, let's hear it once again, Pourrions-nous nous asseoir là?
The first word, Pourrions, means "could."
Let's break this word down and hear it one more time. Pourrions, and pourrions.
This is followed by Nous, which in French is "we." Nous. Nous, and nous.
So, to recap here, we have Pourrions-nous.
This is followed by Nous again. But this time, it means "ourselves," as in "May we seat ourselves?"
The verb "to sit" in French is reflexive as we will see.
This is followed by Asseoir, which in French is "to sit." Asseoir. Asseoir, and asseoir.
Lastly, we have La, which in French means "there." La. La. La.
So, altogether we have Pourrions-nous nous asseoir là? which literally means "Could we seat ourselves there?"
If the table you desire is closer by, we say, "May we sit here?" which in French is Pourrions-nous nous asseoir ici? Pourrions-nous nous asseoir ici? Pourrions-nous nous asseoir ici?
In France, it is customary to wait for the wait staff to seat you. Sometimes, however, the wait staff invites you to seat yourself. Usually, the waiter indicates this by saying Ou vous voulez, which means “Where you want." Ou vous voulez. Ou vous voulez,

Outro

Okay. To close out today's lesson, we'd like for you to practice what we've just learned. I'll provide you with the English equivalent of the phrase and you're responsible for saying it out loud in French. You'll have just a few seconds before I give you the answer. So, bonne chance. That means "good luck" in French. Okay. Here we go.
“Smoking or non-smoking?”
Fumeur ou non-fumeur?
Fumeur ou non-fumeur?
Fumeur ou non-fumeur?
“Could we sit there?”
Pourrions-nous nous asseoir là?
Pourrions-nous nous asseoir là?
Pourrions-nous nous asseoir là?
“Could we sit here?”
Pourrions-nous nous asseoir ici?
Pourrions-nous nous asseoir ici?
Pourrions-nous nous asseoir ici?
“Wherever you like.”
Ou vous voulez.
Ou vous voulez.
Ou vous voulez.
This is the end of today’s lesson. See you soon! À bientôt!

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