France is, without a doubt, a reference point when it comes to art in all its forms. Be it painting, sculpture, architecture, music, poetry, or some other fine art, France always comes up in the conversation.

In our previous post, we discussed some of the best French books of all time. Many of them have become universal classics along with English, Italian, Russian, and German literature. The same happens with movies. France has been a major movie producer for decades. If you would like to learn more, then you have to read our list of 10 French movies everyone should watch. Let’s get started!

La Passion de Jeanne d’Arc (1928)

This silent film was based on the story of Joan of Arc, a French girl that was arrested and later judged for heresy by the French clergy. In fact, the movie centers around the trial and last days of the French heroine. Even though the movie is silent, you can still feel the emotions and pity Joan for everything she is going through.

Renée Jeanne Falconetti gave us her best performance here. Her facial expressions along with the superb art direction converted this movie into a masterpiece. The movie was a success, but it sparked controversy nonetheless. After all, how was it possible that a Danish director, and not a French one, was given the responsibility of making a movie about a French icon?

La règle du jeu (1939)

Directed by the renowned director Jean Renoir, this movie touches on the callousness of the French upper class and their servants before the beginning of World War II. Europe was on the verge of chaos and destruction, but that didn’t stop Renoir from making this movie. That is probably what makes it so special.

Although this movie was intended as a comedy/satire, it was banned by the government for being too demoralizing. Rich people on a hunting weekend on the brink of war, really? What was the director thinking?

This masterpiece transports us from comedy to tragedy and from realism to fantasy. It is indeed a mixed bag of emotions. There are several metaphors throughout the movie that get us thinking. No one judges others no matter what they do. At the end of the day, there are no rules. Everyone has their reasons for doing things.

Les Quatre Cents Coups (1959)

Reminiscent of Rebel Without a Cause, this movie is part of the French New Wave. It marked the debut of François Truffaut as a director. We could say it is a semi-autobiographical movie.

The story centers around Antoine Doinel, a misunderstood adolescent growing up in Paris. Considered a troublemaker, his behavior brings him a lot of problems with his parents and teachers. He lies, skips school, and ends up stealing to run away from home. Is there a place in society for someone like Antoine?

The main character became so popular that it appears in four other movies.

Belle de Jour (1967)

The eccentric Spanish director Luis Buñuel gave us this masterpiece. It is, in fact, considered one of his best movies, if not the best.

Here we get to know Séverine, a wealthy woman that is trapped in an unhappy marriage. She is young, beautiful, rich, wears Yves Saint Laurent, and is married to a doctor, but no matter how much she loves him, she is not sexually pleased. However, that does not mean she doesn’t have any fantasies.

She eventually meets Madame Anaïs, the owner of a high-class brothel. Initially reluctant, she becomes a classy prostitute while her husband is at work. She’s willing to become the object of desire of other men to escape the dullness of her marriage. Will her husband ever find out?

Au revoir les enfants (1987)

Written, produced, and directed by Louis Malle, Au revoir les enfants is based on a true story. When Malle was 11, he attended a Catholic boarding school. That’s where he witnessed the deportation of three Jewish students and a Jewish teacher as well as the arrest of the school’s headmaster, Père Jacques.

Set at the time of the Nazi occupation of France, the story revolves around Julien and Bonnet (a Jewish student in hiding). The two young men start to form a special bond, but their friendship will be put to the test by the Nazis.

This movie shows us the best and worst of mankind. When there’s a war going on, many people will leave their scruples aside to save themselves from danger. Is there any hope for the oppressed?

La double vie de Véronique (1991)

Weronika and Véronique are two identical women that share a mysterious and emotional bond even though they don’t know each other and live in different countries. The former is a Polish choir soprano, while the latter is a French music teacher.

The director doesn’t explain the relationship between these two women. He just limits himself to exploring the themes of identity, love, and human intuition. After all, are we all unique? Maybe not. We’re all connected in different ways and share a lot of things without realizing it.

Amélie (2001)

Amélie is a romantic comedy that depicts contemporary Parisian life in a whimsical way. The main character is a naive waitress that decides to change the lives of those around her for the better.

When she was a child, her father mistakenly believed she had a heart defect and thus decides to homeschool her and isolate her from the outside world in order to protect her. Since she doesn’t have any contact with others, Amélie has to resort to her imagination and learn to enjoy the simple things of life. Helping others is great, but what about her? She will have to make a decision when she leaves home.

It is Audrey Tautou’s most famous role by far. She will always be remembered for it.

Les Choristes (2004)

Inspired by the origin of the boys’ choir The Little Singers of Paris, this musical drama was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Original Song at the 77th Academy Awards.

The first sequence introduces us to Pierre Morhange, a French conductor that is performing in the U.S. Before the concert starts, he is informed that his mother passed away. He returns to France and that’s where he meets his childhood friend Pépinot.

The two friends reminisce about their time at Fond de l’Étang, a boarding school for troubled boys. They talk about Clément Mathieu, a poor teacher that won them over. They gave him a lot of trouble, but they eventually accept him. Looking back on the past, they realize he was a major influence on both of their lives.

Intouchables (2011)

Starring François Cluzet and Omar Sy, the story revolves around the friendship of Philippe, a wealthy quadriplegic, and Driss, a former thief. The latter lives on welfare and needs a signature from a prospective employer to continue receiving benefits. Without expecting it, he is given the job as Philippe’s caregiver. A series of funny situations ensue, and a special bond forms between them.

The movie is based on the story of Philippe Pozzo di Borgo and Abdel Sellou. It is one of the most successful movies of the last decades.

Amour (2012)

The story of this drama focuses on an elderly couple, Anne and Georges. They are retired music teachers and have a daughter that lives abroad.

One morning while having breakfast, Anne suffers a stroke. A surgery gone wrong paralyzes the right side of her body and she has to use a wheelchair as a consequence. Georges becomes her caretaker, but she doesn’t want to live anymore. Their daughter wants to place her in a nursing home, but Georges refuses. Even though he is tired and frustrated, he doesn’t want to let Anne go. What will he do? Is love enough?

Conclusion

Today we discussed 10 French movies that everyone should watch. Each one of them explores a different theme and is special in some way. They make us laugh, cry, and reflect.

Have you watched any of the movies mentioned above? Do you agree with the list? Which movies would you add or remove from it? I’d love to know!

I hope you enjoyed this post. As always, feel free to leave your questions and comments in the section below. Au revoir les amis!

Let's Learn French!

Are you ready to take your French to the next level? I'm glad you are! Whether you are a beginner or an intermediate/advanced learner, I can recommend a few options for you.
For starters, if you're someone who likes to study on his own, I recommend the following programs:
Busuu
Mondly
Rocket Languages

However, if you would like to hire a teacher/tutor, I recommend you try the following:
italki
Lingoda
Preply

Feel free to check my site to learn about more resources. Don't forget to check back often to learn more about the French language and culture. Salut!

If you’re a bookworm, then you must know that the most famous literary works ever come from places like England, Spain, and Russia. France, of course, is no exception. You may have heard names like Alexandre Dumas, Gustave Flaubert, Victor Hugo, and Albert Camus. They were all excellent French writers and their works are considered classics.

Today we will talk about the best French books of all time. Even though some of them were written centuries ago, they have stood the test of time due to their brilliance, influence, and relevance. The list includes novels, plays, tales, and novellas that have made us think, laugh, and cry. Would you like to learn more? Then keep on reading. Allons-y!

Le Misanthrope

Le Misanthrope is a play written in verse by Molière in 1666. By the way, did you know that Molière is considered one of the greatest French writers of all time? French is commonly called “la langue de Molière” (Molière’s language).

Le Misanthrope is a satiric comedy that criticizes the hypocrisy and absurdities of society in the 17th-century. In it, we get to know Alceste, a man that has had enough of society, and Célimène, a young, coquettish woman. Even though she represents everything he hates, Alceste falls in love with her. The problem? He wants to withdraw from society and live a peaceful life, but she does not.

This book has been widely criticized since its publication. Nonetheless, it is considered Molière’s best work by many.

Candide

Candide is a novella written in 1759 by Voltaire. He was a fervent opponent of Leibnizian (a German philosopher) optimism. Voltaire’s dark humor is evident throughout the book, where he ridicules religion, governments, and philosophers, among other things.

In this book, we become acquainted with Candide, a young man that lives in a bubble. For some reason, his perfect life ends and he is forced into the real world. It is all too much for him, and he becomes disillusioned with life.

Candide was a scandal back in its time and it was banned for many years. Today, however, it is considered one of the most influential books ever written.

Le Rouge et le Noir

This psychological novel was written by Stendhal in 1830. There are various interpretations regarding the title of the book such as the tension between the secular and clerical interests of the main character or the then-popular card game rouge et noir (red and black).

Speaking of the main character, Julien Sorel is an ambitious young man that decides to try his luck in the church after seeing no future in the army. Eventually, he meets the wealthy Mathilde and sees in her the opportunity to advance in life. He seduces her, and his life changes for the better. However, an unfortunate mistake on his part will cost him dearly.

Stendhal’s novel had such an impact upon society that he’s considered the creator of the psychological novel. Many critics agree that his masterpiece was ahead of its time.

Les Trois Mousquetaires

Who hasn’t heard about the three musketeers? There are numerous movies and even cartoons based on this book. It is a historical adventure novel that was written by Alexandre Dumas in 1844.

Dumas introduces us to d’Artagnan, a young man that leaves his hometown for Paris in hopes of joining the King’s musketeers. He becomes friends with Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, who happen to be distinguished members of the Musketeers of the Guard.

Even though the book is considered an adventure novel, it also touches on the abuses and injustices committed by the government of that time. The book is filled with hilarious situations and makes us reflect on the importance of friendship, loyalty, and honor. It is easy to read and an all-time favorite.

Le Comte de Monte-Cristo

A story of injustice, vengeance, mercy, and forgiveness, this book was written by Alexandre Dumas in a serialized format between 1844 and 1846.

As we turn the pages, we learn about the story of Edmond Dantès, a young sailor that is falsely accused of treason and imprisoned as a consequence. He manages to escape and finds a treasure that will enable him to go back to France as the Count of Monte Cristo. He is ready to take revenge on all those that wronged him.

This book has been adapted to countless plays and movies and numerous references about it have been made in popular culture. It is a must-read.

Madame Bovary

Madame Bovary was written in 1856 by Gustave Flaubert. It was his debut novel and became notorious for the scandal that ensued its publication. Public prosecutors considered it obscene.

The story revolves around Emma, a beautiful, provincial girl that is unhappy with her existence. She marries a good-hearted but unambitious doctor, and her only contentment is reading romantic novels. Nothing gives her joy, not even the birth of her daughter. She finally decides to carry out her fantasies and gets involved in extramarital affairs. However, her experiences differ greatly from her novels.

Madame Bovary is one of the finest examples of realism. Its influence can be seen in other writers’ works such as those of Marcel Proust, Virginia Woolf, and James Joyce.

Les Fleurs du mal

This scandalous masterpiece was written by Charles Baudelaire in 1857. The book is a collection of poems that are related to each other. It touches on taboos at the time such as sex, homosexuality, alcohol, and drugs.

Right at the beginning, the author warns us about the content of the book. Baudelaire was not a romantic poet like those of his time. He was not afraid to explore the highness and baseness of humankind. Even the title ( Flowers of Evil) is an indicator of what we are about to read.

Six poems were censored for being considered immoral. Nowadays, it is considered one of the most influential French books ever.

Le tour du monde en quatre-vingts jours

This travel adventure novel was written by Jules Verne in 1872. It is probably the most popular of Verne’s voyage adventure novels.

Here the author introduces us to Phileas Fogg, a rich Englishman that is a member of the prestigious Reform Club. After reading about the new railroad in India, he bets his fellow members half of his fortune that he can travel around the world in 80 days or even less than that. To do this, he hires a French guy as his valet. Together, they will undergo a series of perils and adventures as they travel through different countries.

The narrative of the book is so rich and lively that it became an immediate success. It was translated into several languages and adapted to movies and plays.

Bel-Ami

This novel was written by Guy de Maupassant in 1885. He wrote it at the height of his career. His novel is filled with cynicism and frankness, making his characters more human and allowing us to see them in a different light.

George Duroy, better known as Bel-Ami, is a young and ambitious journalist. He becomes corrupted in his quest for power and wealth. He turns into a social climber that seduces, manipulates, and blackmails wealthy women to reach his objectives.

De Maupassant teaches us that love and ambition are inversely related to each other. Love is just a manifestation of ambition, and we shouldn’t be scared of the latter. It is said that he was similar to the main character of this book in the sense that money mattered to him a lot, but that’s a different story.

Cyrano de Bergerac

This play was written in 1897 by Edmond Rostand. It is broadly based on the life of a real Cyrano de Bergerac.

This work is set in 17th-century Paris and tells us about the emotional problems of the swashbuckling Cyrano. He has a big nose and feels insecure because of that. He feels that no woman could ever love him. He falls in love with Roxane but doesn’t dare to court her. Instead, he writes poems and love letters for another man to recite to her.

We owe this play the introduction of the word “panache” into English. To have panache means to have a stylish, original, and very confident way of doing things that makes others admire you.

À la recherche du temps perdu

This novel was written by Marcel Proust in 1913. It was initially published in seven volumes. He even had to pay for the publication of the first volume since various editors turned him down.

In it, we follow the narrator’s journey of self-discovery from a happy childhood into miserable adulthood in the late 19th and early 20th-century French high society. The author makes us meditate about love, memory, time, and death. Even though it seems everything is lost, he realizes there is still hope.

The novel is based on his own life. He started writing it after he had an involuntary recall of a childhood memory. It is considered the major work of French fiction of the early 20th century.

Le Petit Prince

Le Petit Prince is a novella written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. He was a French aristocrat, writer, and aviator. His work was first published in the U.S. since it was banned in France during World War II.

The story revolves around a child, the little prince, who leaves his planet because he feels lonely and can’t trust anyone. During his travels, he runs into a pilot stranded in the Sahara Desert. While the latter tries to fix his plane, the little prince recounts his life story. We learn that he has visited six other planets besides Earth, and in all of them, he has only met narrow-minded, irrational adults.

The book touches on subjects such as friendship, loneliness, love, and loss. It is unknown whether this book was intended for kids or adults, but it is widely read and enjoyed by people of all ages.

“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

La Peste

La Peste is considered one of the greatest existentialist novels ever. It was written by Albert Camus in 1947. It stresses the powerlessness of man to change his destiny. The book reminds us of Franz Kafka’s The Trial.

Camus based his novel upon the cholera epidemic that decimated the population of the Algerian city of Oran. The locals did not heed the warning signs of a new “plague” that hit their town until it was too late. The consequences will be tragic and everyone will suffer the consequences of their bad decisions.

The sales of La Peste soared in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic became a reality. Many people compare what happened in the book to what’s happening in the world right now.

Le Deuxième Sexe

This book was written by Simone de Beauvoir, another existentialist writer, in 1949. It has been translated into 40 languages and was included on the Vatican’s List of Prohibited Books due to its controversial themes.

De Beauvoir explores the role of women in Western society and criticizes the inequality between women and men. Men represent the subject, while women are just an object. They’re not considered essential and must be submissive. It’s not something new but something that has been going on for ages.

De Beauvoir is considered one of the pillars of feminism ever since, and her work is a must-read for any self-proclaimed feminist.

Les Misérables

No French literature list can be ever complete without this book. This masterpiece was written by Victor Hugo in 1862 and is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century.

Les Misérables is a story of injustice, love, and heroism. Here we get to know Jean Valjean, a former convict that seeks to redeem himself and leave his past behind. He becomes a successful businessman and politician. Regardless of that, he is constantly pursued by the police inspector Javert, who wants to send him back to prison. Eventually, he gives himself up for the sake of this adopted daughter and her husband.

Les Misérables is a representation of Parisian society and the underworld during the 19th century. It became an instant success, although it was widely criticized by other writers of that time, who considered it to be too sentimental or superficial.

Conclusion

There you have it. Today we saw a list with some of the best French books of all time. We tried to cover different genres to ensure everyone finds something interesting. Even though some books were written many years ago, their themes remain as present as ever.

I don’t recommend these books if you’re an absolute beginner. You need to be at least at an intermediate level.

Have you read any of the books mentioned above? Which one was your favorite? Let me know in the comments below. Au revoir les amis!

Let's Learn French!

Are you ready to take your French to the next level? I'm glad you are! Whether you are a beginner or an intermediate/advanced learner, I can recommend a few options for you.
For starters, if you're someone who likes to study on his own, I recommend the following programs:
Busuu
Mondly
Rocket Languages

However, if you would like to hire a teacher/tutor, I recommend you try the following:
italki
Lingoda
Preply

Feel free to check my site to learn about more resources. Don't forget to check back often to learn more about the French language and culture. Salut!

As we have seen in previous posts, French is one of the most widely spoken languages around the world. It is spoken not only in France, but also in other parts of Europe, Africa, Canada, and other countries. Something that has always been up for debate is the fact that French varies among French-speaking countries.

Probably, the most well-known version of French outside of France is Québécois. But what is it? Where do they speak it? And most importantly, what are the main differences between French and Québécois? Well, if you’d like to find out, then keep on reading. Allons-y!

What Is Québécois?

For starters, let’s explain this. Québécois is, in simple terms, Canadian French. Sure, there is Acadian French, but when people speak about Canadian French, in most cases, they refer to Québécois. Québécois is the kind of French spoken in the province of Québec. It is NOT another language, contrary to what some people might believe.

To understand the importance of Québécois, we need to look at some numbers. French is one of the two official languages in Canada. It is the native language of over 7 million Canadians or 20% of Canada’s population. Furthermore, one of Québec’s cities is among the top 5 cities with the most French speakers worldwide: Montreal. That’s why we can’t just ignore this French version.

Both French and Québécois have evolved over the centuries, but their evolution processes were different. Québécois is closer to 17th-18th-century French than the French currently spoken in France. Probably due to Canada’s isolation from Europe, Québécois did not evolve the way continental French did.

So, Aren’t French and Québécois the Same?

Yes and no. French varies widely, even in France itself. When linguists refer to French, they mean Metropolitan French or the French spoken in Paris. It is the most popular version of French. Some people go as far as saying that it’s the standard or neutral French language, although that’s a controversial topic. If French differs among the different regions in France, what makes us think it would not differ from Canadian French on the other side of the world?

For the sake of comparison, we could say that the differences between French and Québécois are similar to those between British and American English. Although they’re the same language, they differ in pronunciation/accent, vocabulary, and idiomatic expressions. However, it’s not as simple as that. I believe the differences are deeper than those between BR/AM English. More on that later.

How Are They Similar?

Before looking at the differences, let’s see how they are similar. The major similarity between them is grammar. Although it may differ in some cases, when standard grammar is used, both French and Québécois are the same. The same French rules about gender, articles, prepositions, verbs, adjectives, etc. apply to Québécois. There is no turnaround.

That does not mean there aren’t any grammatical differences, but, in my opinion, they’re minimal or not as marked as the ones in other areas (vocabulary, pronunciation). Generally speaking, the grammar in both French and Québécois is the same. So, we’re good up to this point, right? Let’s take a look at the differences now.

Differences in Pronunciation

Oh, Québécois pronunciation. It is so much different from French. The latter has around 13 vowel sounds, while Québécois has more than 15. A couple of extra sounds can make a big difference.

Nasal sounds play a big role, too. Even though French is a nasal language by nature, Québécois is much more nasal. For example, in French, we pronounce in/un the same way. However, in Québec, that’s not the case. They pronounce in like an, which is something that doesn’t happen in France.

Consonant sounds differ, too, as is the case of T and D. Québécois speakers tend to add an S to T and a Z to D. For example, Canadians pronounce “tu dis” like “tsu dzi”. The French would never do that.

Québécois speakers also tend to omit the final sounds of words ending in R or NTE. For instance, they wouldn’t pronounce the final sounds of words like choisir or soixante.

There are many more differences in pronunciation we could discuss, but it would be a super long post. If you would like to learn more about Québécois pronunciation, I recommend you read this post.

Differences in Vocabulary

This is another important difference between French and Québécois. Québécois speakers still use words that have fallen out of use in France. For example, the French say “voiture” (meaning car), while Québécois speakers continue using the archaic word “char“, which comes from an old word for chariot. That is the case with many other words that were once used in France but now are only used in Canada.

Québécois also borrowed Amerindian words like caribou (reindeer) and maringouin (mosquito). In fact, the name of the province of Québec comes from an Algonquin word meaning “narrow passage” or “strait”.

Due to its geographical location, Québécois is heavily influenced by English. It’s not uncommon to adopt English words and use them in everyday speech. Think of words like “gomme” (bubblegum), “moppe” (mop), or “domper” (dump).

Québécois: More Than Just a Language

Québécois is a matter of cultural identity. For many years, the descendants of the French in Canada called themselves French Canadians. However, they started to identify themselves as Québécois in the 1960s. They are proud of their French heritage and embrace it dearly. That, of course, includes the language.

Even though Québécois has strong English influences, at the same time, there is a struggle to avoid anglicisms and use French words instead. That’s why French Canadians prefer the terms courriel, arrêt, fin de semaine, and stationnement over email, stop, weekend, and parking, respectively. The French have adopted a lot of English words, but the Québécois are more reluctant to use them.

The Québécois try to keep their Frenchness as much as possible to differentiate themselves from Anglos. Their cultural differences are so big, that they tried unsuccessfully to secede from Canada in 1995.

Can the French and Québécois Understand Each Other?

For the most part, yes, they can understand each other. The Québécois can easily understand European French and, in most cases, the French can understand Québécois. Unless a Québécois person has a strong accent and/or uses a lot of Québécois words/idioms, a French person shouldn’t have major trouble understanding him.

Some Québécois people try to change their accent when they travel to Europe and stick to standard French to avoid misunderstandings with their interlocutors. Even though they can be understood if they spoke with their original accent, some people still prefer to use a French accent.

In the video below, the international Canadian singer Céline Dion speaks with both French and Québécois accents. Even though she tries to hide her real accent, her Québécois accent is evident during most of the interview. Can you notice the differences between her accent and that of the interviewer?

Which One Should You Learn?

At this point, you may be asking yourself which version of French you should learn. Should you learn European French or Québécois? Well, it really is a matter of preference.

Most French material is in European French. Think movies, music, etc. It is easier to learn it because there are way more resources available compared to Québécois. However, that does not mean you should stay away from Québécois. In fact, many people move to Canada to learn French/Québécois. Europe is not the only option.

I remember when I first started studying French. All my teachers and tandem partners were European. My ear became used to European French. However, when I visited Canada and spoke to locals, I had a hard time understanding them. Their accent was so different! That’s why I recommend starting with European French and then switching to Québécois. But that’s just me. You can do the opposite. Nothing is set in stone.

Conclusion

French and Québécois are so similar and different at the same time. They have the same origin, but their evolutions have been different. Although they are mutually intelligible, it’s more common for a French person to not understand Québécois than the other way around.

Today we saw some key differences between French and Québécois like vocabulary and pronunciation. Not just that, we also learned that Québécois is a matter of cultural identity. It’s more than just a language.

At the end of the day, it’s up to you which version you should learn. None is better or worse than the other.

I hope you enjoyed this article. Please leave your questions and comments below, and I will do my best to answer them all. Salut, les amis!

Let's Learn French!

Are you ready to take your French to the next level? I'm glad you are! Whether you are a beginner or an intermediate/advanced learner, I can recommend a few options for you.
For starters, if you're someone who likes to study on his own, I recommend the following programs:
Busuu
Mondly
Rocket Languages

However, if you would like to hire a teacher/tutor, I recommend you try the following:
italki
Lingoda
Preply

Feel free to check my site to learn about more resources. Don't forget to check back often to learn more about the French language and culture. Salut!

In a previous post, we talked about things you could say to sound more French. Yes, pronunciation and grammar are important, but French expressions and slang are equally important. If you want to sound more French, you need to learn some key expressions that native French speakers use.

In this lesson, we will talk about French idioms, but not just any idioms. We will talk about 10 French idioms with animals. There are many of them. Some of them are funny, and others don’t even make sense in English, but they’re commonly used nonetheless. Would you like to learn more? Keep on reading, and by the end of this post, you will know some useful French idioms.

1. Avoir le Cafard

This is a classic and one of the most common French idioms. It literally translates as “to have the cockroach”. We use this idiom to express we’re feeling down or blue.

Cafard probably comes from Arabic kafir which means “with no religion”. It eventually evolved to mean “hypocrite”. The expression was later popularized by the French poet Charles Baudelaire in his book Les Fleurs du mal, and it’s still used to this day.

So, if someone asks you how you’re doing, and it’s been a bad day, you can safely say, “J’ai le cafard“.

2. Avoir les Fourmis dans les Jambes

This is another idiom with insects. In this case, we’re talking about ants (fourmis) in the legs. It means you feel your legs are tingling.

This idiom goes back to the 19th century, although it’s not clear how it became popular. It’s used to express the uncomfortable sensation we have after being in a certain position for a long time. Blood does not circulate properly, and thus, we feel ants in our legs.

3. Poser un Lapin

Now, let’s imagine we agreed to have lunch with our best friend at 1. The clock strikes 1, 1:10, 1:20, and finally 1:30. He didn’t show up nor called. He stood us up. The French would say, “Il nous a posé un lapin“.

Poser un lapin literally translates as “put down a rabbit (on someone)”. We use it to express someone stood us up. The origin of this idiom goes back to the 19th century when rabbits were associated with fertility or abundance. Back then, poser un lapin meant leaving without paying the favors of a woman. It later evolved to mean what it means today. Interesting, huh?

4. Avoir une Faim de Loup

The meaning of this idiom is straightforward. It translates as “to be as hungry as a wolf”. We use this idiom to express we’re starving. It’s also the equivalent of “being able to eat a horse”. In any case, we use it to imply a great hunger or appetite.

The origin of this idiom goes back to the 17th century. The wolf has always been regarded as an animal with a ravenous appetite; hence, the origin of this idiom.

5. Revenons à nos Moutons

Do you know someone who rambles on when speaking? If you ever talk to a French person, and he starts doing this, you might want to tell him, “Revenons à nos moutons“. It literally means “let’s get back to our sheep”. We use it to invite others to retake the original topic of a conversation, in other words, to get back on track.

This idiom is attributed to La Farce de Maître Pathelin, a medieval play where sheep are involved at a trial.

6. Oh la Vache!

It literally means Oh the cow! We use it to express the same idea as Oh my god! But where does the cow come from?

Well, it turns out that during the 17th century, farmers would bring their cows into towns to show people that their milk was fresh. Those who saw the cows would often express “la vache!” to express their admiration or surprise.

7. Donner sa Langue au Chat

When something is too hard and you give up, we can say, “tu as donné ta langue au chat“. It translates to “give your tongue to the cat”. It’s the rough equivalent of the English idiom “to throw in the towel”.

The original expression was jetter sa langue aux chiens (throw your tongue to the dogs) and goes back to the 17th century. The meaning was the same. When you didn’t have the answer to something and you just gave up, you threw your tongue to the dogs because it was useless. It later evolved into cats as they became more popular.

8. Dormir comme une Marmotte

It literally means “to sleep like a groundhog”. It’s the rough equivalent of “to sleep like a log”.

It is believed this idiom goes back to the mid 18th century. It was discovered a groundhog hibernates for six months every year. It was the perfect way to call someone who slept soundly, right?

Other variations include dormir comme une souche (stump), dormir comme une pierre (stone), and dormir comme une loutre (otter).

9. Quand les Poules Auront des Dents

Literally translated as “when chickens have teeth”, we use this idiom to express that something will never happen or the chances are really slim. It’s the rough equivalent of “when pigs fly”.

The origin of this idiom goes back to the 18th century. However, the original idiom was “quand les poules pisseront“, meaning “when chickens pee”. It eventually evolved to replace piss with teeth and is the version that remains to our day.

10. Un Froid de Canard

It literally means “a duck-like cold”. We use it to express the weather’s too cold, it’s freezing.

It is not clear when this idiom started to be used. All we know is that ducks migrate during winter to escape the cold, and that’s when hunters get them. However, they have to hide and wait in the freezing cold that penetrates their bones. Hence the expression.

Conclusion

There you have it…10 French idioms with animals. Keep in mind the idioms mentioned above are informal. They’re not something you would use in a business or academic setting. Only use them in a casual setting with friends or family. You will impress them!

Which expression was your favorite? Let me know in the comments below. Au revoir!

Let's Learn French!

Are you ready to take your French to the next level? I'm glad you are! Whether you are a beginner or an intermediate/advanced learner, I can recommend a few options for you.
For starters, if you're someone who likes to study on his own, I recommend the following programs:
Busuu
Mondly
Rocket Languages

However, if you would like to hire a teacher/tutor, I recommend you try the following:
italki
Lingoda
Preply

Feel free to check my site to learn about more resources. Don't forget to check back often to learn more about the French language and culture. Salut!

If you have been studying French for some time, you must have come across a peculiar concept: verlan. But what is verlan? All French teachers teach it at some point. It must be important then, right?

There seems to be some confusion around verlan. How does it work? Do the French really use it? Are there any exceptions to it? How can I learn it? What are some good examples?

Don’t worry. Today we will answer all the questions above. By the end of this post, you should have a better understanding of verlan. Are you ready? C’est parti!

What Is Verlan?

Let’s start by answering this question. Simply put, verlan is a type of French argot or slang. The first documented cases of verlan date back to the 19th century. More specifically, it was a language code among criminals.

Verlan has evolved over the years and is the product of a love-hate relationship between the French and immigrants in France. It has become an important part of the French national identity.

Many verlan words refer to sex or drugs, but not all of them. The idea was to speak in codes so those in authority wouldn’t understand, but some words have become mainstream and have been adopted as new words.

How Does Verlan Work?

The principle behind verlan is inversion. The order of the syllables in a word is switched, thus forming a new word. By the way, verlan is a verlan word itself (verlan=l’envers “the inverse”).

The pronunciation of the syllables is basically the same, save for a few exceptions. Other than that, all you do is invert the syllables.

It’s relatively easy to “verlanize” one-syllable words but not so longer words. The problem is that verlan is not standardized, so some words can have more than one alternate form. There are no strict grammar rules around verlan. It’s mostly used in oral form. For all these reasons, non-native French speakers may find it hard to use.

Verlan Examples

Now that we know a little more about verlan, let’s take a look at some examples. Meuf (femme=meuf), meaning woman or wife, is probably one of the most common verlan words, but there are way many more. Other common verlan words include:

Bizarre=Zarbi (Weird)

Bonjour=Jourbon (Hello)

Bus=Sub (Bus)

Café=Feca (Cafe)

Cool=Looc (Cool)

Fou=Ouf (Crazy)

Français=Céfran (French)

Mec=Keum (man, guy)

Merci=Cimer (Thank you)

Moi=Oim (Me)

Piscine=Cinepi (Swimming pool)

Truc=Keutru (Stuff)

Can All Words Become Verlan Then?

In theory, you could “verlanize” any French word, right? You may feel tempted to do this, but it doesn’t work that way. Even though there are loose rules for verlan, the French don’t invert every single word they speak. As a matter of fact, they rarely invent new verlan words. They only use the ones that already exist.

Verlan continues to evolve, so at some point, somebody must invent the new words. Who does that? We don’t know, but it’s certainly not us. In the meantime, stick to the words that the French already use.

Why Is the Spelling Different?

You may have noticed that the spelling of some words changes when we invert the syllables. Most experts agree that pronunciation is more important than spelling when it comes to verlan. So, it sometimes becomes necessary to alter the spelling to keep the pronunciation of the original syllables. This is especially true when a word ends in an e muet or a pronounced consonant.

Take femme as an example. If we just inverted the syllables, it should be mmefe. How do you pronounce that, though? It’s easier if we drop the final e and add a u. Thus, femme becomes meuf. The pronunciation of the original syllables is similar. The only difference is their order.

The same thing happens with l’envers. It should be verslen, right? Again, difficult to pronounce. It’s easier if we drop the s. Thus, we should have verlen, but for some reason, the French replaced the e with an a. Remember that en and an are pronounced the same way in French. Thus, l’envers becomes verlan.

Does Everyone Speak Verlan in France?

Although verlan is very common in France, not everyone there uses it. It’s mostly used among those below 30. Yes, it’s not exclusive to them. I have a few friends over 30 who still use it, although sparingly. However, it’s not as common outside of teenagers and twenty-somethings.

Having said that, it’s not always appropriate to use verlan. It’s not something you would use in a formal setting, even if you’re young. Remember what we said earlier about it being used among criminals? Verlan came out of the people’s necessity to communicate among themselves in such a way that those in authority wouldn’t understand. It’s their way of setting themselves apart from the rest. It’s their identity.

Verlan was mostly used among young people in big cities and banlieues (the suburbs), but it’s gaining popularity among members of the upper class, too.

Should I Learn Verlan Then?

Most definitely. It’s a part of French culture, and as such, we can’t ignore it. Remember languages are much more than vocabulary and grammar. They have to do with the local culture. They go hand in hand.

Don’t obsess over it, though. Some young people don’t use it, and some French people never used it in their lives. However, it’s important to at least try to understand it.

Even if you’re not in your teens or twenties anymore, it doesn’t hurt to learn. You will be able to communicate with more people in different settings. You can even try to impress your French friends! But be careful where you use it or you might come across as silly or disrespectful.

Oh, and there is another good reason you should learn it. Outside of the general population, verlan is also used in music (particularly hip hop and rap) and movies, so it’s important to learn it if you don’t want to feel left out.

Conclusion

Now you know what verlan is about. Summarizing:

1. It’s French slang.
2. It works by inverting the syllables in a word.
3. Pronunciation is more important than spelling.
4. Not all French words can be “verlanized”.
5. It’s mostly used among those below 30.
6. It’s only used in informal settings.

There you have it. As always, feel free to leave your questions and comments below. I will get back to you as soon as possible. Au revoir, les amis!

Understanding French last names or surnames is not that complicated. In fact, I would say it’s very interesting. For starters, did you know that France is probably the country with the greatest variety of surnames all over the world? It is estimated there are around 900,000 of them, including foreign names. That’s a lot of surnames if you ask me.

French last names have diverse origins and meanings. Many of them are really old. You might have a French surname and not know it.

Although nowadays everyone has one or two surnames, that was not always the case. In France, they became a necessity in the 11th century as many people shared the same name, and there was no way to distinguish them. As people began to reproduce and cities to grow, it was evident something had to be done about names.

Let’s learn more about French last names, their origins, some of the most common ones, and a few interesting facts, shall we?

Origins of Last Names

Most experts agree that there are four main origins:

• Patronymic/Matronymic.
• Occupational.
• Descriptive.
• Geographical.

Most French last names fall under one of the categories mentioned above, but some have other backgrounds. For instance, some of them originated from aliases or dit names. This was a common practice among soldiers and sailors. In many cases, they dropped their family names and adopted their aliases as their new surnames. For example, did you know that Gustave Eiffel, the architect of the Eiffel Tower, was not originally Eiffel? His last name was Bonickhausen, but he later changed it to Eiffel after the Eifel mountain region in Germany.

It’s also important to mention that a significant number of French surnames have Germanic origins. France was the target of many German invasions throughout history, so it’s logical that names were influenced too. Surnames under this category include Bauer, Goldstein, Schneider, among others.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the four most common origins of French last names.

Patronymic/Matronymic

This is the most common type of surname in France. It is based on a parent’s given name, although historically, the father’s name is the one that has almost always been used. In very rare cases where there was no father or the father was unknown, it was the mother’s name that was used instead.

The parent’s name was used in two ways. In some cases, it became the child’s surname directly. Take Martin as an example. If he had a son named Louis, his surname would be Martin, his father’s given name. Thus he became Louis Martin.

In other cases, the surnames were formed by adding prefixes such as de, des, du, lu, or the Norman fitz, which meant “son of”, or suffixes such as -eau, -elet, -elin, -elle, -elet, which meant “little son of”. Thus we have Jean de Gaulle (son of Gaulle), Moureau (son of the Moor), and other similar surnames.

This created some problems down the road since surnames were not hereditary. The surname would vary depending on the father’s given name.

Occupational

Another common origin of French surnames had to do with the job or profession of a person. For instance, if you worked as a shepherd, your surname would be Berger (French translation of shepherd). If you were a tailor, your surname would be Couture, and so on.

Some common surnames under this category are:

• Carpentier – carpenter
• Chevrolet – goat farmer
• Leclercq – the clerk
• Lemaire – the mayor
• Marchand – merchant

Descriptive

As the name implies, this kind of surname described its bearer in some way. It usually had to do with the person’s most remarkable physical characteristic or personality trait. They are also derived from nicknames or pet names.

Some common surnames under this category include:

• Brun – someone with brown complexion/hair
• Caron – beloved
• Petit – small
• LeBlanc – someone with fair complexion or blonde hair
• Legrand – the big one

Geographical

The last category has to do with the person’s residence, usually a former place of residence. Thus we have Delannoy (of Lannoy), Dubois (of the wood), etc.

Other common surnames under this category include:

• Beaumont – beautiful hill
• Deschamps  – of the fields
• Dupont – of the bridge
• Dumont – of the mountain

Important Dates and Facts

There are two important events in French history regarding last names. The first one occurred in 1474 when King Louis XI decreed that no one could change his last name without his consent. This was geared more toward aristocrats rather than the general population.

The second event took place in 1539 when King François I and the parliament of Paris passed the Ordinance of Villers-Cotterêts. This new set of laws and articles obligated all parishes to keep a record of all the baptisms that took place within their territories. Each certificate had to include a family name. This family name could not be changed under any circumstances.

After the French Revolution, birth registrations were extended to non-Catholics, and the use of last names has been in effect ever since.

As we mentioned earlier, people usually bore only the father’s last name. The only exceptions applied to illegitimate children or children with unknown fathers. However, that changed in 2003 when the French government passed a law that gave parents the option to decide whether their kids would bear the father’s surname, the mother’s, or both. This law also allowed married women to choose whether they wanted to change their last name or keep their maiden name.

Common Surnames

Below are some of the most common French surnames and their meanings:

• Martin – son of Martin
• Bernard – son of Bernard
• Dubois – of the woods, woods dweller
• Thomas – son of Thomas
• Robert – son of Robert
• Richard – son of Richard
• Petit – small, short
• Durand – reckless
• Leroy – king-like mannered
• Moreau – dark complexion
• Simon – son of Simon
• Laurent – son of Laurent
• Lefebvre – smith
• Michel – son of Michel
• Garcia – son of Garcia
• David – son of David
• Bertrand – son of Bertrand
• Roux – redhead
• Vincent – son of Vincent
• Fournier – baker
• Morel – dark complexion
• Girard – son of Gérard
• André – son of André
• Lefèvre – smith
• Mercier- textile trader
• Dupont – of the bridge, bridge dweller
• Lambert – son of Lambert
• Bonnet – good-mannered
• François – son of François
• Martinez – son of Martin

You may have noticed that a name can be either a first name or last name. Such is the case of Vincent. Last names also have variations in spelling since spelling was not taken into consideration many years ago. Such is the case of Lefebvre and Lefèvre.

Conclusion

France has a long tradition of using last names. These have evolved over the centuries. Many of them are still around, while others have disappeared.

French last names have different origins, the most common being: patronymic/matronymic, occupational, descriptive, and geographical. Aren’t they interesting?

What do you think? Did you know about French last names and their origins/meanings? I’d like to know. As always, feel free to leave your questions and comments below, and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Au revoir, les amis!

Not too long ago, we talked about popular French names for boys and girls. We found some interesting stuff, huh? Well, this time, we will talk about the most popular French unisex names in 2020.

For those of you who do not know what unisex means, the term basically refers to things that are not sex-specific. In other words, it refers to gender neutrality.

As with the other two posts, we will show the list of names along with their origin, their meaning, their variations, their famous namesakes, and which parts of the world they’re popular in.

If you’re expecting, you might be interested in finding a suitable name for your baby. By the end of this post, you will have selected at least a couple of names. What’s even better, they suit both boys and girls, so you won’t have to worry about gender. Let’s get started!

1. Charly

Origin: German.

Meaning: “woman”, “free woman/man”, or “warrior”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Charli, Charlie, Charle, Charley, Sharly.

Famous namesakes: French TV presenter Charly Nestor, Argentine composer Charly Garcia, English actor Charlie Chaplin.

Popular in: France, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

2. Sacha

Origin: Russian, Slavic.

Meaning: “defending men”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Sascha, Sasha.

Famous namesakes: French actor Sacha Briquet, English actor Sacha Baron Cohen, Russian top model Sasha Pivovarova, German dancer Sasha Waltz.

Popular in: France, Belgium, and the United Kingdom.

3. Léo

Origin: Latin.

Meaning: “lion”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Leo, Lee.

Famous namesakes: French composer Léo Delibes, French poet Léo Ferré, Russian writer Leo Tolstoy.

Popular in: France, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Spain, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

4. Arya

Origin: Persian.

Meaning: “friend” or “faithful”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Aarya, Aria.

Famous namesakes: Game of Thrones fictional character Arya Stark.

Popular in: France, Canada, Spain, the Netherlands, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

5. Elya

Origin: Slavic.

Meaning: “The Lord is my God”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Elia, Eliya.

Famous namesakes: Albanian actress Elia Zaharia, Greek director Elia Kazan, Palestinian director Elia Suleiman.

Popular in: France, Belgium, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

6. Jayden

Origin: American, Hebrew?

Meaning: “jaybird”, “heather”, “jewel”, or “thankful”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Jaiden, Jaden.

Famous namesakes: American actor Jaden Smith, English footballer Jayden Stockley, Australian swimmer Jayden Hadler, American singer Jaden Michaels.

Popular in: France, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

7. Andrea

Origin: Greek, German, English.

Meaning: “brave”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Andi.

Famous namesakes: Italian singer Andrea Bocelli, American actress Andrea Barber, Monacan royal Andrea Casiraghi.

Popular in: France, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Spain, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

8. Louca

Origin: Latin, Greek.

Meaning: “from Lucania”, “light”, “bringer of light”, or “born at daylight/dawn”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Luca, Luka.

Famous namesakes: French actor Louca Meliava, Italian rugby player Luca Morisi.

Popular in: France, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Spain, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

9. Noé

Origin: Hebrew.

Meaning: “rest” or “repose”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Noë.

Famous namesakes: Argentine writer Noé Jitrik, Mexican athlete Noé Hernández, Swiss cyclist Noé Gianetti.

Popular in: France, Belgium, Hungary, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the U.S.

10. Robin

Origin: Old German.

Meaning: “bright fame” or “robin”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Robbin, Robyn, Robynn.

Famous namesakes: American actor Robin Williams, Dutch footballer Robin van Persie, French director Robin Davis, American actress Robin Wright, American actress Robin Tunney.

Popular in: France, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

11. Nicky

Origin: Greek.

Meaning: “victory of the people”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Nici, Nicki, Niki, Nikki.

Famous namesakes: English pianist Nicky Hopkins, American socialite Nicky Hilton, Italian-Mexican actress Nicky Mondellini, Dutch DJ Nicky Romero, Irish singer Nicky Byrne.

Popular in: France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

12. Casey

Origin: Irish.

Meaning: “descendant of Cathasach” or “vigilant”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Kacey, Kasey.

Famous namesakes: American actor Casey Affleck, Australian tennis player Casey Dellacqua, American baseball player Casey Weathers, American DJ Casey Kasem.

Popular in: France, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

13. Kai

Origin: Frisian or Celtic?

Meaning: “warrior”, “victory of the people”, “brave spearman”, “spear bearer/thrower”, “willow tree”, “pioneer”, “triumph”, “ocean”, “from the town Gaeta”, or “pure”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Cai, Cay, Kaj, Kay.

Famous namesakes: Swedish TV presenter Kaj Kindvall, Swiss director Kay Pollack, Swedish physicist Kai Siegbahn, Finnish ice hockey player Kai Suikkanen.

Popular in: France, Australia, Canada, Spain, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

14. Lin

Origin: Chinese.

Meaning: “forest”, “sun goddess”, “gemstone”, or “flax”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Linn, Lyn.

Famous namesakes: American actress Lin Shay, Chinese archer Jiang Lin, Chinese swimmer Zhang Lin.

Popular in: France, China, and the U.S.

15. Lou

Origin: German.

Meaning: “famed warrior”.

Alternative spellings or variations:  Lu.

Famous namesakes: French singer Lou Doillon, French actress Lou de Laâge, American musician Lou Reed, German singer Lou Bega.

Popular in: France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the U.S.

16. Maé

Origin: Hebrew.

Meaning: “gift of Yahweh”, “prince”, “sea of bitterness”, “star of the sea”, or “wished-for child”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Mahé.

Famous namesakes: Australian actress Mae Bush, American actress Mae Clarke, American actress Mae West, New Zealand athlete Mahé Drysdale.

Popular in: France, Australia, and the U.S.

17. Lois

Origin: Greek.

Meaning: “more desirable” or “better”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Loïs.

Famous namesakes: French athlete Loïs Habert, French singer Loïs Andréa, American writer Lois Lowry, American actress Lois Chiles.

Popular in: France, Canada, Spain, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

18. Céleste

Origin: Latin.

Meaning: “heavenly” or “celestial”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Celeste.

Famous namesakes: Portuguese fadista Celeste Rodrigues, American actress Celeste Holm, Italian archaeologist Celeste Rinaldi.

Popular in: France, Belgium, Italy, Chile, the Netherlands, and the U.S.

19. Sammy

Origin: Hebrew.

Meaning: “listens well”, “name of God”, or “God has heard”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Samie, Sammi, Sammie, Samy.

Famous namesakes: French actor Samy Naceri, German rapper Samy Deluxe, Australian YouTube star Sammy Robinson, English actress Sammy Winward.

Popular in: France and the U.S.

20. Loan

Origin: French, Vietnamese.

Meaning: “light”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Loann.

Famous namesakes: French actress Loan Chabanol, French athlete Loan His.

Popular in: France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada.

Conclusion

There you have it: the most popular French unisex names in 2020. Some of them were originally male or female and then made their way to the other gender. Several names are relatively new and may sound strange in our countries, but they’re popular in France nonetheless.

If you’d like an original name for your baby, why don’t you pick one from the list above? Just saying.

What do you think? Did you know these names? Are they popular in your country? Let me know in the comments below. Au revoir, les amis!

France has a huge influence on culture be it movies, literature, fashion, gastronomy, and of course, names. As a matter of fact, you may know someone with a French name and not know it. For example, did you know the name Chloe is of French origin? The French name is actually written Chloé, but since accent marks are not common in English, the spelling and pronunciation were modified at some point.

Some people say French names sound classy and sophisticated, and that’s why they opt for those names. That is something subjective, but if you would like to learn more, read on to find the list of the most popular French names for girls in 2020. Learn their origins, their meanings, their famous namesakes, and which countries they’re popular in.

Just like our previous post, the results were drawn from a poll among BabyNames-App users from France this year. By the way, if you haven’t read our post about the most popular French names for boys in 2020, you can do so here. Alors, c’est parti!

 1. Eléa

Origin: English.

Meaning: “foreign”, “strange”, “compassion”, or “God is my light”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Elea, Eleah, Elléa, Élea, Éléa, Elëa.

Famous namesakes: French actress Eléa Clair, German actress Eléa Geissler, French athlete Elea-Mariama Diarra.

Popular in: France, Switzerland.

2. Lya

Origin: Hebrew.

Meaning: “weary”, “mistress” or “lioness”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Lia, Lïa, Liia.

Famous namesakes: German actress Lya Lis, Hungarian actress Lya De Putti.

Popular in: France.

3. Malya

Origin: Hawaiian.

Meaning: “sea of bitterness”, “rebelliousness”, “wished for child”, or “beloved”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Malia, Maliyah, Malía.

Famous namesakes: Malawian singer Malia, French athlete Malia Metella, Malia Ann Obama (daughter of American ex-President Barack Obama), American surfer Malia Jones.

Popular in: France, Switzerland, Kenya, Indonesia, Singapore, Germany, Canada, India, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

4. Elyna

Origin: Greek.

Meaning: “torch”, “beautiful”, “light”, “bright”, or “shining”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Élina, Élyna.

Famous namesakes: Latvian athlete Elina Babkina, Latvian opera singer Elina Garanca, French actress Élina Labourdette, Finnish photographer Elina Brotherus.

Popular in: France, Switzerland, Kenya, Australia, Pakistan, Singapore, Canada, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

5. Éléanor

Origin: French, English.

Meaning: “bright”, “shining one”, or “the other Aenor”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Eleanore, Elinor, Eleanora.

Famous namesakes: American First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, Swiss actress Eléonore Hirt, French actress Eléonore Pourriat, Swiss athlete Eléonore Evéquoz.

Popular in: France, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

6. Anna

Origin: Hebrew.

Meaning: “gracious” or “merciful”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Ann, Anne, Aska, Annah, Annina, Anah, Anita, Ahnna, Annora, Anona, Anica, Anyu, Hannah.

Famous namesakes: Russian tennis player Anna Kournikova, American actress Anna Chlumsky, Canadian actress Anna Paquin, French actress and singer Anna Karina.

Popular in: France, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Spain, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

7. Lili

Origin: Hebrew, Latin.

Meaning: “God is my oath” or “lily”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Lilli, Lillie, Lilly, Lily, Lyli.

Famous namesakes: English singer Lily Allen, German physician Lily Ehrenfried, French opera singer Lily Pons, French singer Lily Fayol, Belgian singer Lily Vincent.

Popular in: France, Hungary, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom.

8. Sophia

Origin: Greek.

Meaning; “wisdom”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Sofia, Sofiya, Sofea, Sophie.

Famous namesakes: Colombian actress Sofia Vergara, American actress Sophia Bush, Italian actress Sophia Lauren, French comedian Sophia Aram.

Popular in: France, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

9. Noémie

Origin: French, Hebrew.

Meaning: “good”, “pleasant”, “lovely”, or “winsome”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Noemi, Noemie, Noemy, Noémi, Noëmie, Noëmi.

Famous namesakes: French opera singer Noémie Rime, French director Noémie Lvovsky, French model and actress Noémie Lenoir, Belgian singer Noémie Wolfs, Canadian actress Noémie Godin-Vigneau.

Popular in: France, Belgium, Switzerland, and the U.S.

10. Éléna

Origin: Greek.

Meaning: “light” or “torch”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Elena, Eléna, Alena, Alenka, Alyona, Elene, Helen, Hélène, Helena, Eliana, Eline, Ileana, Ilona, Olena, Yelena,

Famous namesakes: Russian tennis player Elena Dementieva, Russian swimmer Elena Azarova, Dutch volleyball player Elena Neve, Italian actress Elena Sofia Ricci, Spanish actress Elena Anaya.

Popular in: France, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Spain, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

11. Charlotte

Origin: French.

Meaning: “free man” or “petite”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Sharlotte, Sharlette.

Famous namesakes: French actress Charlotte de Turckheim, English actress Charlotte Gainsbourg, English actress Charlotte Rampling, American actress and model Charlotte McKinney.

Popular in: France, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

12. Ella

Origin: Greek, Hebrew, Norman.

Meaning: “young girl”, “beautiful”, “fairy maiden”, or “goddess”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Ellie, Alia, Ellah, Ellia, Elly, Elley, Ela, Ellina, Elli, Ellamae, Elletta, Ellette, Elladine.

Famous namesakes: American singer Ella Fitzgerald, Swiss writer Ella Maillart, American painter Ella Guru, American actress Ella Raines.

Popular in: France, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

13. Julia

Origin: Latin.

Meaning: “of the Julius family” or “dedicated to Jupiter”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Julie, Yulie, Juliette, Jewelia, Giulia, Juli, Yulia.

Famous namesakes: American actress Julia Roberts, Australian novelist Julia Leigh, Australian singer Julia Stone, French actress Julia Bartet.

Popular in: France, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Spain, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

14. Louise

Origin: Germanic.

Meaning: “famous warrior”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Aloisia, Aloisie, Heloisa, Loes, Lou, Louiza, Louize, Lu, Luann, Luisa,

Famous namesakes: American actress Louise Fletcher, American actress Louis Sorel, American writer Louise Erdrich.

Popular in: France, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

15. Mia

Origin: Italian, Scandinavian.

Meaning: “Ocean Goddess”, “Queen”, or “guardian of justice”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Miah, Mea, Meya, Maria.

Famous namesakes: American actress Mia Farrow, Canadian actress Mia Kirshner, Argentine actress Mia Maestro, French director Mia Hansen-Løve.

Popular in: France, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Spain, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

16. Louna

Origin: Latin.

Meaning: “the moon”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Luna, Lounah, Luneth, Lunetta, Lunette, Lunneta, Lunara.

Famous namesakes: Canadian wrestler Luna Vachon, Bulgarian singer Luna Yordanov.

Popular in: France.

17. Thalia

Origin: Greek.

Meaning: “to blossom”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Talia, Talya, Taliah, Taaliah, Tahlia, Taliya, Taliea, Taylia, Talie.

Famous namesakes: Mexican singer and actress Thalía, American water polo player Thalia Munro.

Popular in: France, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

18. Emma

Origin: Germanic.

Meaning: “whole” or “universal”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Emmalynne, Emmie, Emmye, Emmette, Emmett, Emmet, Emmelyne, Emmelyn, Emmeline, Emmeleia, Emme, Emmalynn, Emmalyn, Emmaline, Emmah, Emelyne.

Famous namesakes: English actress Emma Watson, American actress Emma Roberts, American actress Emma Stone.

Popular in: France, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Spain, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

19. Maya

Origin: English, Indian, Greek.

Meaning: “good mother”, “illusion”, or “water”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Maia, Mya, Myah, Maiya, Maaja, Moja, Maiah, May, Mayja, Mayi, Moia, Maie, Moya.

Famous namesakes: Japanese tennis player Maya Kidowaki, Japanese singer Maya Sakamoto, American writer Maya Angelou, Italian actress Maya Sansa.

Popular in: France, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

20. Callie

Origin: Greek.

Meaning: “beautiful”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Kallie, Cali, Calli, Kalli, Calee, Cally, Calley, Kallee, Callee, Kaleigh, Calie, Kalley, Caleigh, Caly, Kally, Cal.

Famous namesakes: American model Callie Mahoney, American athlete Callie Rivers.

Popular in: France, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

Conclusion

There you have it: the most popular French names for girls in 2020. As you can see, most of them come from Greek or Latin and have beautiful meanings. This is something people sometimes overlook. They just choose a name because they like how it sounds without knowing what’s behind it.

Some names were short versions or nicknames of other names but eventually became new names. Such is the case of Eléa (short for Eleanor) and Lili (short for Elizabeth), among many others.

I hope you liked some names on the list above. Were there any new names you had never heard before? Would you choose one of them for your baby girl? What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Au revoir, les amis!

Let's Learn French!

Are you ready to take your French to the next level? I'm glad you are! Whether you are a beginner or an intermediate/advanced learner, I can recommend a few options for you.
For starters, if you're someone who likes to study on his own, I recommend the following programs:
Busuu
Mondly
Rocket Languages

However, if you would like to hire a teacher/tutor, I recommend you try the following:
italki
Lingoda
Preply

Feel free to check my site to learn about more resources. Don't forget to check back often to learn more about the French language and culture. Salut!

Choosing a name for your baby boy is no easy task. Should you choose a traditional or a cool name? Maybe name him after your father or a famous actor? There are so many options out there that it becomes overwhelming.

How about a French name? French names have been in vogue for quite some time. Some people choose them because they sound classy or cool. Or maybe they have French ancestors and they want to preserve their identities, who knows? Whatever the reason may be, we’ve got you covered. Today we’ll show you a list of the most popular French names for boys in 2020.

The results were gathered from a poll answered by BabyNames-App users from France this year. For your reference, we will include the origin, meaning, alternative spellings, and famous namesakes to help you make a decision. Without much further ado, let’s begin!

1. Mathéo

Origin: Hebrew.

Meaning: “gift of Yahweh” (the Hebrew God).

Alternative spellings or variations: Mateo, Matheo, Matteo, Mattheo, Matthéo, Mattéo, Matéo, Mathieu.

Famous namesakes: Spanish film director Mateo Gil, Croatian footballer Mateo Kovacic, Argentine footballer Mateo Pablo.

Popular in: France, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

2. Mylan

Origin: Slavic.

Meaning: “merciful”, “dear”, “gracious”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Milan, Milann, Milàn, Mylann.

Famous namesakes: Czech writer Milan Kundera, Serbian footballer Milan Bisevac.

Popular in: France, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, and the U.S.

3. Raphael

Origin: Hebrew.

Meaning: “God heals”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Rafael, Rafaël, Raffael, Raphaël.

Famous namesakes: American comedian Raphael Bob-Waksberg, Brazilian footballer Raphael Botti, French politician Raphaël Schellenberger, French singer Raphaël Haroche, French footballer Raphaël Varane.

Popular in: France, Austria, Belgium, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the U.S.

4. Elliot

Origin: Greek, Hebrew.

Meaning: “The Lord is my God”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Eliot, Eliott, Elliott, Éliott.

Famous namesakes: American actor Elliot Gould, American singer Elliot Yamin, English actor Elliott Tittensor, French tennis player Elliot Benchetrit.

Popular in: France, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, Canada, New Zealand, and the U.S.

5. Théo

Origin: Greek.

Meaning: “divine gift” or “gift of God”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Theo.

Famous namesakes: Dutch artist Théo Jansen, French singer and actor Théo Sarapo, Dutch director Theo van Gogh, English footballer Theo Walcott.

Popular in: France, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

6. Liam

Origin: Irish, Germanic.

Meaning: “desire”, “guardian”, “helmet”, “protector”, “boss”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Lyam.

Famous namesakes: Irish writer Liam O’Flaherty, English musician Liam Gallagher, English musician Liam Howlett, American actor Liam Neeson, Australian actor Liam Hemsworth.

Popular in: France, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Spain, Chile, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

7. Gabriel

Origin: Hebrew.

Meaning: “God is my strong man”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Gavril, Gabor.

Famous namesakes: Colombian writer Gabriel García Márquez, American actor Gabriel Macht, Irish actor Gabriel Byrne, French politician and journalist Gabriel Péri.

Popular in: France, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Spain, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Iceland, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

8. Ayden

Origin: Irish.

Meaning: “fire”, “little fire”, “little and fiery”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Aayden, Aiden, Aïden.

Famous namesakes: Irish footballer Aiden McGeady, American actor Aiden Turner, Canadian actor Hayden Christensen.

Popular in: France, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

9. Lucas

Origin: Greek.

Meaning: “Person from Lucania”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Luc, Loucas, Loukas, Lucais, Luccas, Lukas.

Famous namesakes: Argentine footballer Lucas Barrios, American actor Lucas Black, French actor Lucas Gridoux, Danish rapper Lucas Secon.

Popular in: France, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Spain, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

10. Matis

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: “gift of Yahweh” (the Hebrew God.

Alternative spellings or variations: Mathis, Mathys, Mattis, Matiz, Mathijs, Matthijs, Matthis, Matiss, Matys.

Famous namesakes: German painter Mathis Nithart, Swiss actor Mathis Künzler, Norwegian hockey player Mathis Olimb.

Popular in: France, Canada, Belgium, Switzerland.

11. Mael

Origin: Breton, Welsh.

Meaning: “chief” or “prince”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Maël.

Famous namesakes: saint Mael Ruain de Tamlacht, Irish King Mael Seachnaill I, French cartoonist Maël.

Popular in: France, Belgium, Switzerland.

12. Samuel

Origin: Hebrew.

Meaning: “name of God” or “God heard”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Sam, Sammie, Sammy, Samouel, Samuele, Samuello, Samuelson, Samelle, Shemuel, Schmuel, Shem, Zamael.

Famous namesakes: American actor Samuel L. Jackson, Irish writer Samuel Beckett, French director Samuel Benchetrit, French explorer Samuel de Champlain.

Popular in: France, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

13. Elyas

Origin: Greek, Hebrew.

Meaning: “the Lord is my God”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Elias, Ellias, Elías.

Famous namesakes: Bulgarian writer Elias Canetti, Palestinian poet Elias Sanbar.

Popular in: France, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Canada, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

14. Louis

Origin: German, French.

Meaning: “renowned warrior” or “famous in battle”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Lewis, Louie, Lashi, Ludis, Lucho, Louies, Lou, Lasho, Aloysius, Lewes, Luki, Ludvik, Lew, Ludovicus.

Famous namesakes: French King Louis XVI, American actor Louis Zorich, French rugby player Louis Picamoles.

Popular in: France, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

15. Timeo

Origin: Italian, Greek.

Meaning: “honor”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Timéo, Tyméo.

Famous namesakes: French actor Timéo Leloup.

Popular in: France, Belgium.

16. Arthur

Origin: Roman, Irish.

Meaning: “bear”, “eagle”, “stone”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Authur, Artus, Artur, Arthor, Arther, Artek, Artair, Arturo.

Famous namesakes: German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, French poet Arthur Rimbaud, British writer Arthur Conan Doyle, French actor Arthur Dupont, American director Arthur Penn.

Popular in: France, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

17. Nathan

Origin: Hebrew.

Meaning: “gift from God” or “he gave”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Nathian, Naythan, Nat, Nathann, Nate, Nathon, Naethan, Nathean, Natthan, Nathin, Nathen, Nethan, Nathyn.

Famous namesakes: Canadian actor Nathan Fillion, American musician Nathan Milstein, American novelist Nathan Hawthorne, American actor Nathan Lane.

Popular in: France, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

18. Nael

Origin: Arabic.

Meaning: “brave”, “winner”, “what Allah gives to someone”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Naël.

Famous namesakes: French actor and director Naël Marandin, French actor Naël Malassagne.

Popular in: France, Brazil, Switzerland, Belgium, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

19. Énaël

Origin: Breton.

Meaning: “God has answered”, “grace”, “angel”, “grace” and “favor”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Enaël, Énael.

Famous namesakes: none at the moment since it’s a recent name.

Popular in: France.

20. Élouann

Origin: Celtic.

Meaning: “richness” or “light”.

Alternative spellings or variations: Elouan.

Famous namesakes: not applicable.

Popular in: France.

Conclusion

There you have it. The 20 most popular French names for boys in 2020. As you can see, some of them are really old and derive from Greek or Hebrew, while a few are fairly recent. Did you notice that the most popular names in France are usually also popular in Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada? That is because they share the same language.

Had you heard the names mentioned above? Were there any new names? Would you choose one of them for your baby? Let me know in the comments below. Au revoir, les amis!

Each country has its own set of habits and traditions that are passed down from generation to generation. They may be normal in one culture but not so in others. France is no exception. That’s why today we will talk about some French habits and traditions that might seem strange to foreigners.

Not too long ago, we talked about stereotypes, but this post will be a little different. This time it has to do with things that are generally accepted by the French. There are exceptions, of course, but these points we will discuss are true for the most part. Are you ready? C’est parti!

Saying Bonjour a Lot

In France, it’s very common to say bonjour (good morning, good day, or hello) or bonsoir (good evening) when talking to someone. It does not matter whether you are at school, work, the bank, a government office, the supermarket, a clothing store, a restaurant…you always say bonjour/bonsoir before anything else. You’re expected to greet everyone: your teacher, your boss, the server, a salesperson…everyone. Not doing so is considered impolite.

Addressing Strangers

The French are extremely formal people. When addressing a stranger, it’s expected to call them Monsieur (Mr.) or Madame (Mrs.). The word Mademoiselle (Miss) was used to address single ladies in the past but has fallen out of use since it is now considered sexist.

The same applies when addressing someone in authority like your teacher or boss. It’s impolite to call them by their first name unless they tell you to do otherwise.

Also, remember there are two words for “you” in French. We have the formal vous and the informal tu. If the person you have to talk to is not your friend, avoid using tu. Things are starting to change a little among the younger generations, but to stay on the safe side, use vous instead when addressing a stranger even if he/she looks young.

Kissing Others

Kissing someone on both cheeks is a very common form of greeting someone in informal settings. We call this practice faire la bise. Women kiss other women or men, while men only kiss women for the most part. Men may kiss other men but only those that are really close to them.

In some cultures, people only kiss one cheek, but in France, they kiss both. It may feel uncomfortable or strange for some at first, but you eventually get used to it.

Remember we only do this in informal settings. For instance, you don’t kiss your boss unless there is a close relationship between you two.

Food Portions Are Way Smaller

I remember one of my French teachers said he always felt flabbergasted when he went to American restaurants. He said food portions were enormous, even breakfast. He was not used to hearty breakfasts with pancakes, bacon, ham, sausage, and hashbrowns.

Not only breakfast, but the French also eat smaller portions whether it be lunch or dinner. Just so you have an idea, a study showed French portions were smaller than their American counterparts by an average of 25%! This may explain why France has such a low obesity rate.

Food is seen as something special, not just necessary. People like to take their time when eating. No rush here.

Eating Burgers…with Silverware

When a French friend of mine visited me for the first time, she was kind of shocked when she found out we eat burgers with our bare hands. How’s that possible?

I learned that the French use silverware to eat things like burgers and pizza. This is something you would never do in the U.S.

We see burgers as fast food or comfort food, in other words, something informal. Therefore, we don’t use silverware to eat them. But the French think differently. Unless it’s a fast food place, they eat their burgers with silverware.

The Apéro

The apéritif, simply known as l’apéro, is a sacred tradition in France. It’s normally served an hour before dinner between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. It consists of light snacks and drinks. Think nuts, cheeses, dried fruit, olives, cured meats, pretzels, and the like. Drinks are usually port, vermouth, Pastis, or even beer. You can make it as simple or as sophisticated as you want.

This is not the time to stuff yourself, but rather to enjoy a few snacks in friends’ company. You can enjoy l’apéro at someone’s house or a restaurant.

Keeping It Down

The French tend to keep the volume down when conversing. They don’t like to draw attention to themselves but rather prefer to behave discreetly out in public. That means no loud talk or laughter. Do that and you will be frowned upon or even get angry stares.

Self-Service

Although bagging your groceries is gaining popularity in the U.S., it’s not the norm. However, in France, people always bag their own groceries. Don’t expect the cashier or someone else to do it for you.

No Tipping at Restaurants

Unlike the U.S., tipping is not common at French restaurants. In fact, the check already includes a 15% service charge, but you’re free to tip on top of that if you so desire.

No Dating

This is a very interesting point and something I would like to write about in detail in a later post. It turns out that French people don’t date or more precisely, their concept of dating is different from ours. It’s not that they don’t have any romantic relationships but rather, they’re implied. They don’t ask questions like, “What are we?” Instead, they assume exclusivity after spending a lot of time with someone or even after an innocent kiss. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule, but this is something you should always keep in mind. You don’t want to hurt somebody’s feelings, do you?

A French relationship is more about actions rather than words. In English, I love you can be said lightly, but in French, je t’aime is way stronger. It’s just not something you say to anybody.

Wrap-up

As you can see, there are many peculiar French habits and traditions. Some of them may be similar to your culture, but I’m sure at least one or two differ from it.

Remember, when learning a language, we also have to learn about the culture that’s behind it. Only so will your learning be complete.

What about you? Did you know about the points mentioned above? Let me know in the comments below. Au revoir, les amis!