When learning a new language, it’s a common practice to rely too much on our native languages. We feel more confident when something is familiar. It has happened to me many times. I see a familiar word in a foreign language and then try to use it the way I would in my language.

English and French share a lot of vocabulary. Sometimes it’s only the pronunciation that changes, but at other times, it’s more complicated than that. We have to be careful with these words if we want to master the French language. That’s why today we will talk about some of the most common French false friends in English. Allons-y!

What Are False Friends?

For starters, we need to understand this concept. What are false friends? To answer this question, let me ask you something first. Have you ever seen familiar words in other languages that turned out to mean something different from your native language? Well, those are false friends.

False friends are words in different languages that have identical or similar spellings but different meanings. For example, let’s take a look at the word bras. Bras means arm in French, but it’s the plural form of bra (female underwear) in English.

False friends are known as faux amis in French. You might also have heard about cognates. That’s another term commonly used. All false friends are false cognates, but not all cognates are false friends. There are true cognates as well.

Why Are They Important?

You may be wondering why it is important to know about the existence of false friends. Well, for starters, you might be saving yourself from embarrassing situations. For example, French President Macron called the Australian Prime Minister’s wife “delicious” during a public speech. In French, a woman who is good, charming, or delightful can be described as délicieuse. While this word can also mean delicious in English, you have to use it carefully. Context is crucial.

Below is the video of that embarrassing moment.

The Australian Prime Minister seemed to ignore it, but imagine what would’ve happened at a different place with no cameras or other people present.

While some people will understand what you’re trying to say and even correct you, not everyone will understand. Your luck might be different. To be on the safe side, it’s better to be sure about the meaning of the words you use when speaking.

False Friends Examples

Okay, without much further ado, here are some of the most common French false friends in English:

Attendre/Attend

Now, imagine you have a date with a French girl, but you’re running late. On your way to the restaurant, you receive a text message that reads, “Je t’attends“. You’re confused. What does she mean? Well, it means she is waiting for you! You’d better hurry!

attendre ≠ attend

attendre = wait

Blessé/Blessed

You run toward the door, but someone opens it at that very moment and hits your face. Then you head to the table while covering your nose, and your date asks, “Tu es blessé?” Is she blessing you or what? No, she’s simply asking if you’re hurt.

blessé ≠ blessed

blessé = hurt/wounded

Pain/Pain

You sit down and then the waiter comes to your table. You’d like a glass of wine and some bread, but the waiter doesn’t seem to understand the last part of your order. “Oh, he’d like some pain,” chimes in your date. You then realized you had been pronouncing it wrong! Oh, well…

pain ≠ pain

pain = bread

Envie/Envy

You start talking about your jobs, and it turns out your date has a fantastic job with a good salary and lots of vacation time. You’d like to say you envy her (in a good way, of course) and say “J’ai envie de toi“. The girl blushes. After an uncomfortable silence, she explains to you that you just told her you desired her. Oops!

envie ≠ envy

envie = usually avoir envie de, which means feel like (doing)

Préservatif/Preservative

It’s time to order the main course. You’ve been looking after your health, so you try to avoid preservatives. It’s just natural to ask if the dish you want has any preservatives in it, right? So you ask the waiter, “Y-a-t-il des préservatifs?” Your date bursts out laughing and corrects conservateurs. You were asking if there were any condoms in the food. Yikes!

préservatif ≠ preservative

préservatif = condom

Sale/Sale

You excuse yourself to go to the restroom. There is only one booth with a sign that reads SALE on the door. Hmm, is it on sale? You ignore it and open the door. What do you find inside? A dirty toilet. Gross!

sale ≠ sale

sale = dirty

Excité/Excited

You go back to your table and try to retake the conversation. You then find out that both of you like the same band, which by the way, will perform in town next weekend. “Je suis très excité!” you say. The girl looks puzzled for a moment and then says, “Oh, you mean you’re excited!” Why is French so complicated!?

excité ≠ excited

excité = sexually aroused

Introduire/Introduce

You don’t know what else to say. Think fast! Oh, right, tell her you would like to introduce some friends to her. Then you say, “J’aimerais t’introduire des amis“. The girl holds a laugh and says “Présenter pas introduire!” You start thinking your French is not that good after all.

introduire ≠ introduce

introduire = penetrate, insert

Déception/Disappointment

After a long night, you finally get to your apartment. Your roomie asks you how the date went and you say it was a deception. But how did she deceive you?” he asks. You then explain that she didn’t deceive you. You meant it was a disappointment. Enough French for today.

déception ≠ deception

déception = disappointment

Conclusion

There are many more French false friends we could talk about, but the post would never end. What about you? Have you ever been a victim of false friends?

False friends are tricky and easy to confuse with words in English and other languages. You will have to memorize them to avoid embarrassing situations like the one we saw above. Poor guy, right?

Which false friends would you add to the list? Let me know in the comments section below. Au revoir, les amis!

I get asked this question a lot: What is the easiest way to learn French? Is it books, taking private lessons, audiobooks, videos, magic? Certainly, French is one of the most popular languages worldwide, and it’s not easy to learn for many. Whether you want to understand French movies, music, or interact with native French speakers, learning French is a goal to be reached.

Don’t despair. If you haven’t tried any methods yet or maybe you’ve tried some of them unsuccessfully, today I will give you a few pointers that will help you a lot in your road to fluency. If you would like to learn more, keep reading till the end. Allons-y!

Download a Couple of Apps

Who doesn’t have a smartphone these days? I bet everyone does. It doesn’t have to be the most expensive or fancy phone in the market. Choosing Android or iPhone is a personal decision, but either one will do.

If you’re an absolute beginner, it’s important to start with the basics: pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. Many apps can help you achieve this. There are apps of all kinds nowadays. They come with interactive lessons and are a fun way to learn.

Some apps you could try are Duolingo, Memrise, and Babbel. For a comprehensive list, click here.

Practice Association as Much as You Can

This may seem a little bit old school, but it works. Do you remember when you were in school? You learned vocabulary through the association of words. Visual learning has proved to be one of the most effective learning methods of all time. We are visual creatures by nature.

But how can you incorporate this into your learning? It’s quite simple. All you have to do is write vocabulary words on sticky notes, stickers, or labels and put them where they belong. You can label the table, a chair, the fridge, the microwave, etc. You will familiarize yourself with these items, and in no time, you will increase your vocabulary.

Focus on Listening and Speaking

You can read a thousand French books and still not speak French. How’s that? Well, although reading is a useful tool for learning French, you have to train your ear and mouth as well.

Foreign languages usually have sounds that don’t exist in our native languages, and the only way to grasp them is by listening, listening, and listening. Train your ear until you become familiar with French sounds. Only then will you be able to incorporate them into speaking. Listening and speaking are mutually inclusive. You cannot do one without the other.

Bingewatch YouTube Videos

YouTube has tons of content to learn French. That is how I came across channels like Learn French with Vincent, Français Authentique, Français avec Pierre, among many, many others.

The cool thing about YouTube is that videos are fun and free, not to mention you can watch them wherever you are. You can watch them during your lunch break, before going to bed, waiting at the airport, etc. All you need is an electronic device and an internet connection.

You can find all kinds of French content on YouTube: French lessons, music, movies, vlogs… Try it out if you haven’t!

Expose Yourself to the Language

Ideally, you should go to France or some other speaking country for a few months to learn French. But how can you expose yourself to the language if moving abroad is not an option?

Well, besides YouTube, there are many resources you could try. For instance, you can watch movies on Netflix and Prime Video and listen to music and podcasts on Spotify.

I also recommend trying the Meetup app. There might be one or more French meetups in your city that you can attend regularly. Another option is finding a tandem partner for a language exchange. You can even become friends and visit each other in the future.

Get a French Tutor/Teacher

There are two approaches you can take here: you can either attend traditional, in-person classes or online classes. In-person classes allow you to interact and socialize with other students, but it can be expensive or hard to fit into your schedule. On the other hand, online classes are more convenient in terms of affordability and time management.

Getting a tutor/teacher is especially recommended for those people that struggle with self-learning. Some people need someone who guides, supervises, and motivates them.

Regardless of your level and learning style, I recommend taking classes at some point. Not only will you learn more, but you will also reinforce the things you’ve learned so far.

Make It a Way of Life

Don’t think of French as something you have to do. It doesn’t have to be boring and limited to just classes. Instead, make it a way of life. How can you do that? You can do that by incorporating it into your daily routine.

There are many ways to fit French into our busy routines. For instance, you can listen to a French podcast while sitting in traffic. You can also listen to French music while working out at the gym. When you have free time. watch a French movie instead of an English-speaking one. Watch a YouTube video before going to bed. Attend a French meetup or talk to your French friends online once or twice a week.

It’s the small things in life that lead to greater things. This is the best way to immerse yourself in French culture if you can’t move to France.

Be Realistic and Consistent

Now, although it’s possible to learn French in a year or less, you can’t expect to achieve that if you rarely study or don’t do anything to learn. Learning French is like working out. To get results, you need to work for them. You have to do your part.

Now, I’m not saying you have to spend hours studying without any rest. Twenty or thirty minutes a day is enough. The key is consistency. Try to do something every day: read a book, listen to a podcast, take a grammar lesson, play on Duolingo, talk to your French friend, etc. As long as you do something to practice, albeit minimal, you will be getting nearer your goal.

Conclusion

The best way to learn French may not necessarily be the easiest way, too. For many, the best way is to move to France and immerse themselves in the culture. However, for various reasons, that’s not possible for everyone.

Luckily, there are many things we can do to learn French without leaving home. We just have to understand that we all learn differently and that we can learn French if we really want to. When there’s a will, there’s a way. Find something that works for you. In the end, it all comes down to personal preference.

What do you think? In your experience, what is the easiest way to learn French? Let me know in the comments 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!

I often receive many questions regarding French for beginners. Some people say French is hard, while others say they can understand it if they see it written but can’t speak it or understand it when they hear it. Grammar and pronunciation are other common struggles for beginners as well.

A new language can be intimidating, especially if it’s too different from your native language. Where do you start? What should you do? What should you NOT do? What is the best way to learn it? How long will it take you?

There are so many questions, but luckily, there are answers to all of them. Today I will share with you some tips for beginners in French. It’s not that hard if you follow a few simple tricks. Allons-y!

Focus on Pronunciation

Just like any kid learning to speak, you will have to learn new sounds. Some French sounds don’t exist in English or other languages. Take the u and an/en sounds as examples. It takes some time to master them, but once you do, you will be on the other side.

For starters, learn the French alphabet. Memorize each letter along with its pronunciation. Practice, rinse and repeat. Remember practice makes perfect.

The alphabet is the foundation of any language. Focus on this, and in no time, you will be able to start learning harder things. If you don’t master pronunciation in the beginning, you will struggle to understand French speakers down the road. There’s no turnaround to this.

Learn Basic Vocabulary

Once you master French pronunciation, the next step is learning some basic vocabulary. Think numbers, colors, members of the family, articles, foods, and a few verbs like be, have, etc.

You can learn vocabulary in many ways. There’s the traditional flashcard approach. I know people who still use this method, and they say it helps them a lot. You can write words on sticky notes and put them on different objects. In no time, you will familiarize yourself with each object.

The more vocabulary you have, the easier it will be for you to express your ideas.

Learn to Conjugate Verbs

Probably, the most common French verbs are être (be) and avoir (have). Not only are they used alone but also in conjunction with other tenses.

French verbs are a little bit more complicated than English verbs, but the more you practice them, you will notice that they follow a pattern. Once you understand this, you will be able to conjugate verbs to express your ideas in the past, present, future, etc. However, I strongly recommend you focus on present verbs first as they’re easier to learn and then switch to other tenses.

Read Kids’ Books

As I mentioned earlier, when we learn a new language, we’re like little kids trying to learn how to speak. From this perspective, it makes sense to consume material catering to kids.

I know what you may be thinking. You’re not a kid. But there’s nothing embarrassing about this. Always have your goal in mind. There is always more than one way to accomplish things.

If you focus on beginners’ materials (which you should when starting), your materials will probably overlap with those kids use to learn.

I’m not talking necessarily about grammar books but short stories and the like. This is a good way to start building some vocabulary and getting used to the language.

Play Games

They say boys will always be boys, right? Well, there’s some truth to that. No matter how old we are, playing games can be a good way to do something new, including speaking a new language.

There is a myriad of apps online for both iOS and Android to choose from. You have probably heard about Duolingo or Memrise. If you haven’t, I recommend you check them out and see if they work for you. There are way many more, but these are some of the most popular.

The good thing about all this is that most apps are interactive and are not necessarily games per se. However, they’re an excellent alternative to the traditional, boring lessons students used to take at school.

Find a Language Exchange Partner

Some people would not consider looking for a language exchange until they’re at an advanced level, but why would you wait until then? In theory, this sounds like a good idea, but in practice, you will find a language exchange partner is of great help regardless of your level.

For the exchange to be effective, though, you need to find someone who is at the same level as you. That is the key. It doesn’t matter if your native language is English, German, or Chinese. As long as your partner is a native French speaker and a beginner in your native language, you’re good to go!

You might even make a few friends from these conversations. I know from experience.

You can try sites like Conversation Exchange or Tandem.

Take French Lessons

If you’re serious about learning French, your best option is to take French lessons. Try looking for Alliance Française schools, but if there are none in your area, there is probably another language school you can attend.

By taking classes, you will be able to interact with others, get corrected when making mistakes, and ask questions when necessary.

You can even take private lessons from home, and they’re not that expensive. Many French teachers offer free trials so you can test the waters. Give it a try.

Learning from a teacher has many benefits and will certainly give you an advantage over others. You can study with a teacher until you reach an intermediate/advanced level, and then you can continue on your own.

Be Realistic

Learning French is like dieting or working out. You won’t see any results if you don’t practice. You don’t have to study for hours every day. Twenty or thirty minutes a day is enough. As long as your practice every day, you will improve your French.

Setting goals is also important. However, your goals have to be reasonable. According to a study, it takes an English speaker around 600 hours to speak French proficiently. While you can reach this level in as little as six months, it will depend on how much time you dedicate to it. Just do the math and set goals accordingly.

Think of French as a journey. Enjoy every single stage you go through, and the process will be much better.

Conclusion

I hope these French for beginners tips help. Try to follow the tips and see which ones work for you. Once you find what works for you, stick to it and practice every day.

Have you followed any of the tips mentioned above? Which ones would you add to the list? I’d love to know.

As always, feel free to leave your questions and comments in the section below, and I will be more than glad to get back to you as soon as possible. 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!

When we learn a new language, we will inevitably make mistakes. They’re an essential part of our learning journey. While it’s normal to make mistakes, we should try to note them to avoid them in the future. Maybe it has something to do with vocabulary, grammar, or pronunciation. Whatever it is, it needs to be addressed.

French learners tend to make mistakes that follow a somewhat specific pattern, probably because they tend to compare French to their native languages. Would you like to learn more about these mistakes? Then read my list of the most common mistakes in French. Allons-y!

Confusing Genders

If your native language is gender-neutral, then this probably sounds familiar to you. Remember everything in French has a gender, even objects and countries! Who would have thought? Look at the words below:

ami/amie (male friend/female friend)

canadien/canadienne (male Canadian/female Canadian)

joyeux/joyeuse (happy masculine/feminine)

How in the world can you tell them apart? Well, luckily, you can distinguish the gender in most cases by looking at the ending. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule, but if you learn the most common endings of masculine and feminine words, you will make fewer mistakes in this regard.

Pluralizing Words

This is another common mistake. In French, we commonly pluralize words by adding -s at the end. However, that is not always the case. Look at the following examples:

animal –> animaux (animal –> animals)

réseau –> réseaux (network –> networks)

travail –> travaux (work –> works)

As you can see, in some cases we pluralize words by adding -x instead of -s, while in others, we change the spelling.

Tip: Most of the time, we pluralize words ending in -eu or -eau by adding -x. In the case of the words ending in -al or -ail, we pluralize them by adding -aux.

Expressing Negation

In English, the double negative is incorrect, but in French, it’s mandatory. The most common pair used to express negation is ne + pas. It doesn’t have an English equivalent, but we use this pair to express a negative idea. Look at the following examples:

Je ne bois pas de soda. I don’t drink soda.

Il n’aime pas la tomate. He doesn’t like tomatoes.

We always use ne + another word to express negation. Some words commonly used with ne include jamais, guère, que, and ni. French learners tend to omit ne, but that is a mistake. Although native speakers omit it, too, it’s important to be aware that it is a mistake.

Confusing Partitive Articles

Partitive articles are confusing, mainly because they don’t have an English equivalent. However, they’re widely used, and as such, we have to understand them.

We use partitive articles to indicate a part of something, hence the name. It’s something similar to English some or any. The four French partitive articles are du, de la, de l’, and des.

We use du with masculine singular nouns, de la and de l’ with feminine singular nouns, and des with plural nouns (regardless of gender).

A common mistake students make is expressing negation with partitive articles. In the negative, we only use de whether the noun is masculine/feminine or singular/plural. Look at the following examples:

Je bois du soda –>> Je ne bois pas de soda (I drink soda –> I don’t drink soda).

Je mange des bananes –> Je ne mange pas de bananes (I eat bananas –> I don’t eat any bananas).

Not Using Articles at All

In English, we don’t use “the” to talk about general things. For example, you wouldn’t say “I like the pizza”, right? The correct thing to say is “I like pizza”. Well, French doesn’t work like that. In this case, we would say “J’aime la pizza“. Look at the examples below:

J’aime les pommes de terre. I like potatoes.

Je ne bois pas de soda. I don’t drink soda.

Tu as de l’argent? Do you have money?

We always need some kind of article in French. Definite, indefinite, and partitive articles are necessary in affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences. You will have to choose them accordingly depending on the idea you want to express. There’s no turnaround.

Expressing Origin

As we mentioned earlier, even countries have genders in French. Since they have genders, they must have articles that accompany them, right? Right!

Countries are preceded by either le, la, or des. This creates a big problem for non-native speakers. Let’s take a look at a few examples to see the problem:

Je viens de Canada –> Je viens du Canada (I come from Canada).

Je viens de la Suisse –> Je viens de Suisse (I come from Switzerland).

Students tend to make one of two mistakes: using de instead of du and using de la instead of de. Remember we use du before masculine singular nouns (Canada is masculine). However, when expressing origin, we don’t use de la with feminine singular nouns. In this case, we simply use de.

Using Être vs Avoir for Passé Composé

Passé composé is a nightmare for many students. To express something that happened in the past, we use passé composé. The problem arises when we have to choose between the auxiliaries être and avoir. This depends on the verb it modifies.

In some cases, you have to use être, while in others, you have to use avoir. But how do you decide which one to use?

Luckily for us, we use avoir in most cases. However, when using verbs of movement or reflexive verbs, we use être instead.

The problem is that some verbs can be used with both auxiliaries depending on the idea expressed. Look at the following examples:

Je suis sorti (I went out).

J’ai sorti la poubelle (I took out the trash).

The key is the direct object. If there is none, then use avoir.

Not Using Liaisons

Have you noticed that the French tend to combine words? This is called a liaison. Some liaisons are optional, but others are mandatory. Students tend to omit liaisons, but that is incorrect in many cases.

For example, how do you pronounce les hommes? The answer is something like layZom. This is a mandatory liaison.

To learn more about French liaisons, I recommend you read this article.

Confusing C’est and Il Est

Both mean “it is”, but they are not interchangeable. The key is the word they precede. Generally speaking, we use c’est before a noun and il est before an adjective. Look at the following examples:

C’est mon cousin. This is my cousin.

Il est mexicain. He is Mexican.

You can read more about the differences here.

Final Thoughts

The mistakes mentioned above are some of the most common mistakes in French. Of course, there are way more, but this would be a super long post. We will talk about other mistakes in future articles.

Do you make any of the mistakes we talked about today? Which ones? Let me know in the comments below. As always, feel free to leave your questions and comments, and I will be more than glad to answer them. 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!

Did you ever think that the French or other foreigners speak too fast? Well, while there may be some truth in that, it is usually a subjective conception. They could say the same thing about other languages they’re not used to speaking. When we learn another language, it’s not always easy to speak at the same speed we speak in our native languages.

Many French students get discouraged because no matter how hard they try, they speak slowly. Some may have even studied for a long time and understand written and spoken French, but when it comes to speaking, they stutter or simply can’t speak as fast as they wished they did. But don’t worry. It’s completely normal, and today, I will give you a few tips on how to speak faster in French. Allons-y!

Read Aloud

I have always read aloud ever since I can remember. Do you ever do it? If you don’t, I highly recommend you start doing it. Reading aloud helps us increase our speaking speed considerably.

Reading aloud is much different from reading in our heads. When we read aloud, we can listen to ourselves and correct any mistakes if necessary. We get used to speaking at a regular pace and gain more confidence to do it in public.

It doesn’t matter what you read…newspapers, books, magazines, blogs, etc. What matters is that you start reading aloud from now on. You will gain speed in no time. Trust me.

Practice Tongue Twisters

This can be applied to any language, and French is no exception. There are many French tongue twisters that you can practice. They range from easy to advanced.

Practicing tongue twisters has many advantages. You can improve your pronunciation, your listening skills, and of course, you can increase your speaking speed.

Start easy. Don’t rush. Practice each tongue twister as many times as necessary. Each time you dominate a new one, you will be climbing one step on the road to speaking faster.

Listen to French Music and Sing Along

Just like tongue twisters, certain songs move at a brisk pace and are perfect to help you increase your speed. Just look up some French music on YouTube. You can easily find lots of videos with their lyrics. Read the lyrics (or even better, sing!) as the song progresses. Try to do it at the same speed as the singer.

Some singers with fast-paced songs are Camille and Stromae. The video below, for example, is called Ta douleur, and is a good exercise to increase your speaking speed.

I don’t recommend this if you’re a beginner. You have to be at least at an intermediate level.

Use Contractions and Clipping

Just like English, French is full of contractions. The French love cutting off words to speak faster. For example, instead of saying “tu as“, they simply say “t’as“. The same goes for “j’suis” (je suis), ya (il y a), etc.

Have you ever heard the words “fac“, “d’ac“, “anniv“, and “resto“? Well, they’re the short forms of faculté, d’accord, anniversaire, and restaurant, respectively. Even McDonald’s has its French name: Macdo. The French love cutting words in half, don’t they? This technique of shortening words is known in linguistics as clipping or truncation.

Breathe

We may not think too much about it, but it’s extremely important to breathe properly. Did you know that singers spend years training in this? Well, speaking is no different. If we don’t breathe correctly, we will have to make more pauses than necessary, thus making our speech slower.

You can try the same breathing exercises for singers. Look them up online and see how far you can go. Apply it to your speech, and you will speak faster little by little.

Pick up a Pace

As you progress, you will have to increase the difficulty. Start with short phrases or sentences, and once you dominate them, move on to harder stuff. We cannot run before walking and crawling first. It’s a process. Sometimes it’s longer for others, but you will eventually get there.

The goal is to pick up a pace you’re comfortable with. If it feels too easy, it’s time to look for more advanced stuff. If it’s too hard, maybe you’re forcing yourself too much. Make an effort, but don’t overdo it.

Don’t Think in Your Native Language

Last but not least, avoid thinking in your native language all the time. This is easier said than done, but it’s a must. When we learn a new language, we tend to think every word and/or phrase in our native language and then translate it to our target language. This consumes a lot of time and will be a major roadblock in your learning process.

To do this, you will have to speak, listen, read, and write your target language until it becomes second nature to you. Remember when you were little. Each day you learned a new word or phrase. You may not have realized it then, but each day you were improving your communication skills until you got where you are today. Well, you have to do that again, but this time in French.

It may be hard to accomplish, but once you do, you will be able to express yourself way faster.

Speed vs Fluency

This is a debatable topic among experts and students alike. Some will tell you that it doesn’t matter how many mistakes you make as long as you speak fast, while others will tell you the opposite. It becomes a debate between speed and fluency. Many people think they’re synonyms, but that’s not necessarily true.

According to the dictionary, fluency is the ability to speak or write a language easily, well, and quickly. See? Not just quickly. Fluency not only involves speed but also mastery of the language and accuracy.

I think fluency should be every learner’s ultimate goal. Why? Because someone may speak too quickly and make a lot of mistakes. While mistakes are a normal component of our learning process, the purpose of learning another language is to expand our communication skills. But what happens if others don’t understand us when we speak? There is no communication. We don’t want that, right?

Final Words

Today we saw a few tips that will help us speak faster in French and other languages. Some tricks are as simple as breathing correctly, while others are more elaborate. Remember we all learn differently. Don’t despair if you don’t learn as fast as others. You will get there. Practice makes perfect.

What do you think? Have you tried any of the tricks mentioned above? Which ones? How did it go? What would you add to the list? 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!

Each language is different. We may be used to ours and not question words or expressions we use every day, but when someone who studies it tells us something doesn’t make sense or asks us why we say certain things, we start thinking about it and maybe we don’t have the answer. We just say it like that. Everybody does. But it doesn’t make sense, right? Well, French is no exception.

The French language is full of words and expressions that confuse us and may not make sense in English or other languages. Well, today we will take a look at some commonly confused words in French. This is not a comprehensive list by any means, but rather a list of some of the most common words non-native speakers have a hard time with. Let’s get started, shall we?

Au vs Chez

Some words in French change their spelling when combined. Such is the case of au. Au is the combination of à + le. We use it before masculine singular nouns. Remember all nouns in French have a gender, that is, they’re either masculine or feminine.

Examples:

au magasin (to the store)

au supermarché (to the supermarket)

Based on this logic, we could say “au médecin ” (to the doctor’s), right? Wrong! We go chez le médecin, not au médecin .

French learners commonly confuse au and chez. Look at the following examples:

au salon/chez le coiffeur (to the salon / to the hairdresser’s)

au boulangerie/chez le boulanger (to the bakery / to the baker’s)

So, when do we use which? It’s simple. When we mention a person, we use chez. For the rest, we use au or its variations.

Matin vs Matinée, Jour vs Journée, Soir vs Soirée, An vs Année

All these pairs are confusing. I don’t blame you. When do we use which? Why do both have a masculine and feminine form? They all have something in common. Look at the examples below:

Je vais à l’école le matin. I go to school in the morning.

J’etudié toute la matinée. I studied the entire morning.

Le vendredi est mon jour préféré. Friday is my favorite day.

Le musée est ouvert pendant la journée. The museum is open during the day.

Ce soir j’irai chez mon ami. Tonight I’m going to my friend’s.

Je me suis ennuyé toute la soirée. I was bored the whole evening.

J’habite en France depuis 5 ans. I have lived in France for 5 years.

J’ai habité à Paris pendant ma première année. I lived in Paris during my first year.

Did you notice any patterns? No? The key to telling them apart has to do with two concepts: time unit and duration. Look at the examples above again. We use the masculine forms to talk about general time units, but when we want to emphasize the duration of something, we use the feminine forms. It’s tricky, so all we can do is practice.

Emmener vs Emporter vs Ammener vs Apporter

These two pairs of verbs are tricky, too. Emmener and emporter mean “to take”, while ammener and apporter mean “to bring”. Examples:

J’emmène mon fils à l’école tous les jours. I take my son to school every day.

J’ai emporté un cadeau pour mon cousin. I brought a present for my cousin.

Mon frère a amené sa petite amie à la fête. My brother brought his girlfriend to the party.

Tu vas apporter les sodas demain? Are you going to bring the sodas tomorrow?

Did you notice the difference? If not, I’ll explain. We use emmener/ammener with people, animals, and vehicles. On the other hand, we use emporter/apporter with inanimate objects. In practice, though, these verb pairs are used interchangeably, but you will get the hang of it the more you speak with natives.

Rentrer vs Retourner vs Revenir

This is one of my favorites. I still make mistakes using them now and then.  Look at the following examples:

Je suis rentré chez moi il y a 2 heures. I came back/returned home 2 hours ago.

Je voudrais retourner en Espagne un jour. I would like to return to Spain one day.

Je reviens tout de suite. I’ll be/come right back.

Wait a minute! Are they all the same? No! The problem is they don’t have exact equivalences in English. They can all be translated as “return”, but they can’t be used interchangeably. You will have to learn how to use them properly.

Now, the verb rentrer is pretty straightforward. We only use it to imply that we’re coming back to our place of residence such as our home or hometown.

So, how do we tell retourner and revenir apart? We use retourner to talk about a place we were in and we would like to go back to. Imagine you visited Spain last year, and you’re talking about how much you’d like to go back. Which verb would you use? Retourner, right? Right!

On the other hand, we use revenir to imply we left/will leave but will come back. Imagine you are at a party talking to someone, and then you need to go to the bathroom. In this case, you would use revenir to let the other person know you’ll come back.

Entendre vs Écouter

French learners tend to confuse these two verbs, but there is a subtle difference. Entendre means “to hear”, while écouter means “to listen to”. It’s just like English in this case. We use entendre to imply we hear or are aware of some sound close to us, and we use écouter to imply we listen to something or someone.  Écouter is deeper as it requires our full attention. Examples:

J’écoute de la musique classique. I listen to classical music.

As-tu entendu ce bruit? Did you hear that noise?

Écoute moi! Listen to me!

Je ne t’entends pas. I don’t hear you.

Entendre vs Comprendre

These verbs can be tricky for some learners, especially native Spanish and Portuguese speakers. For instance, in Spanish, we could confuse entendre (hear) with entender (understand), but they’re false cognates. To mean we understand something/someone, we use the verb comprendre instead.

This shouldn’t surprise us since French shares Latin roots with other languages like Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian. There are more cognates I could mention here, but I will do it in a future post.

Conclusion

As we saw today, there are many commonly confused words in French. Each language has its peculiarities, and French is no exception.

We tend to confuse some words because we translate them literally or we try to use them like we would in our native languages. Remember all languages are different, and that means there will always be exceptions.

Some languages share similarities due to their Latin origin, but we have to pay close attention to avoid making mistakes when using certain words.

I hope you enjoyed today’s lesson. As always, feel free to leave your questions and comments in the section below, and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Au revoir, les amis!

We all may think that our native language is easy to learn. However, you may have heard others tell you otherwise. Have you taken a moment to analyze how you acquired your first language? You have spoken it ever since you were a child, but what steps did you take to achieve proficiency? It just came naturally, right?

I have heard a lot of complaints when it comes to learning French. It’s hard! I can’t do it! I can’t have a conversation! Native speakers speak too fast! Don’t worry, though. Today I will show you how to understand native French speakers. It’s not easy, but there are some steps you can take. Ready?

Master your Pronunciation

Pronunciation is the building block of any language. When learning a new language, the first thing you have to do is learn pronunciation. There may be sounds that don’t exist in your native language. In the case of French, there are nasal sounds that don’t exist in English or Spanish. U also has a special pronunciation. And let’s not forget liaisons, elisions, and enchaînement.

But why is pronunciation important? It’s fairly simple. If you don’t master French sounds and pronunciation rules, you will have a hard time understanding spoken French. You may think that a particular word is pronounced one way, but then it turns out the way you pronounce it is incorrect. As a consequence, you will likely miss it when you listen to a native speaker.

French pronunciation has many rules that we have to learn. Click here to learn more.

Learn Vocabulary

Just like any new language, one of the basics is vocabulary learning. Many English words come from French.  We have words like boutique, bouquet, buffet, fiancé, and résumé that we borrowed from French and use commonly in everyday speech. In fact, did you know that nearly 45% of English words have a French origin?

Once you learn more vocabulary, you will have more chances of understanding French when you hear it.

Learn Slang

Now, what you learn in school is one thing, but what you learn on the streets, TV, and the internet is something else. If you take a French course, you will learn pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary…formal French that is. But it turns out that French people speak differently in real life.

One of the most common features in this respect is verlan. It’s some kind of slang that has been used for years in France. It is commonly used, albeit by the younger generations. Be that as it may, it’s something you need to be aware of.

Expose Yourself to the Language

This is key if you’re serious about understanding spoken French. The more you expose yourself to the language, the more you will understand it. The good thing is we have so many resources at our disposal. Think TV shows, podcasts, music, vlogs, tutorials, audiobooks, movies, games, etc. The list of options is endless!

The best of it all is that you can do it from home! All you need is a laptop, tablet, or smartphone and internet. That’s it. There are no more excuses. Just be honest with yourself regarding your level, and don’t push yourself with something too advanced.

Talk to Natives

This goes without saying, but in order to understand French native speakers, you have to talk to them! But how can you accomplish that if you don’t live in France or any French-speaking country?

Don’t despair just yet. There are several options you can consider:

For starters, investigate if there are any French conversation groups in your city. If you live in a major city, chances are there is at least one.  You can try Meetup or Internations. That is how I met several of my French friends in Houston.

You can also look for a language exchange partner. There are thousands of native French speakers looking to learn your native language. It’s just a matter of looking for someone that shares your interests. I recommend the conversation exchange site for that. It’s free!

Now, if you are willing to spend some money, you can hire a French teacher. There are many sites online where you can find one. You can try platforms like italki or Verbling.

Finally, if you have the chance to move to France or another French-speaking country, by all means, do it! You might find education or job opportunities there, or you could save up and move to France for a few months on your own. It’s not easy, but remember “when there’s a will, there’s a way.”

Practice, Practice, Practice

We have to understand that learning French is a process. Not all people learn at the same pace. Some people will learn faster than others. Having said that, it’s important to understand the following:

• Written and spoken French are different. Focus on spoken French, and you will have a big advantage.
• It’s not that all French speakers speak fast. Some do but not all. They could say the same thing about native English or Spanish speakers. It’s a matter of getting used to hearing the language.
• It’s okay to make mistakes. If you didn’t understand something, you can always ask for confirmation.
• Practice is key. Remember practice makes perfect.

The Bottom Line

It’s true that learning a new language when we’re grown-ups is not the same thing as learning it when you’re a kid. Our brains function differently, and we may not have as much time to study as we would like to. It may be hard, but it’s doable.

We mentioned above several steps that you can take to enhance your listening skills. Just follow them as much as possible, and you will be able to understand native French speakers.

Have you used any of the tips covered in this article? What would you add? Let me know in the comments section below. Salut, les amis!

Learning a language is not an easy task. That’s why it’s essential to learn how to find a language exchange partner. This does not replace a teacher by any means but is rather a useful complement.

There are several benefits of engaging in a language exchange with a native speaker of your target language. But where do you find such people? What should you look for when choosing someone? Is it easy to find a language exchange partner? What should you avoid? Is it even worth it?

Don’t worry. Today we will try to answer as many questions as you might have about this subject. We will also give you some tips to make the most out of this experience. Are you ready? C’est parti!

Conversation Exchange

This is one of the best sites to find a language exchange partner. I’ve been using it successfully for years and am sure you can benefit from using it, too.

Here you can find people from all over the world. French is one of the most popular languages on the platform, and many French speakers are looking to practice another language with a native speaker, probably yours!

Most people meet online through Skype, Zoom, or some other video platform, but others prefer to meet in person or exchange emails/texts/letters. What’s even better, it’s absolutely free!

I highly encourage you to try it out. You can read a full review here.

My Language Exchange

This is similar to Conversation Exchange but is more limited if you’re a free member. For instance, if you would like to contact someone, you cannot initiate a conversation with that person unless you’re a gold member. You would have to wait until someone contacts you, and then, you can reply. That’s the only thing I don’t like about this site.

My Language Exchange allows you to filter users by language, country, age, gender, and contact preference. The site also provides a few lesson plans to help you in case you don’t know what to talk about during your sessions.

It’s a good platform, but to make the most out of it, it’s necessary to get a gold membership. It’s not that expensive, though. Prices range between $6 and $24. You can do one, three, or twelve months.

Tandem

Unlike the two sites mentioned above, Tandem has an app for your convenience. Many people use their smartphones to surf the web, so this comes in handy.

Both the desktop and mobile versions have integrated video software to talk to your partner. However, be advised that not everyone likes video calls, so make sure that doesn’t pose a problem.

I have mixed feelings about Tandem since I haven’t been very successful at using it. However, your experience may be different from mine. Why don’t you try it out? Read my full review here.

Facebook

The truth is, language exchange sites are a dime a dozen. I can’t list all of them here, but the ones I mentioned above are the most important. However, did you know you don’t have to limit yourself to those sites? You can also use Facebook!

Loved by some, loathed by others, Facebook is a great tool to connect with potential language exchange partners. There are many language groups on this platform. Some of them focus on specific languages.

I recommend you check out the following groups:

• Language Exchange (Culture & Humanity)
• Let’s Exchange Languages
• Foreign Language Students Worldwide
• Let’s Learn French
• Learning French

italki

Many people think of italki as a site where you can find a teacher/tutor and nothing more. However, there is nothing further from the truth. italki offers much more, and that includes language exchange opportunities.

italki hosts an international community of language learners looking to practice their target languages with native speakers. If you haven’t checked it out, now’s the time!

Meetup

This is not a language site/app per se, but you can find language groups in it nonetheless. Unlike the other sites and apps we mentioned above, the purpose of Meetup is to connect people by organizing face-to-face events based on their interests/hobbies. Languages are one of the most popular categories.

The good thing about language meetups is that most people are serious about learning, not to mention it’s a good opportunity to make some friends. You can eventually share phone numbers or social media and keep in touch outside of the official events.

Miscellaneous Sites

Just as you can find a language exchange partner on Facebook, you can do so too on Twitter, for example. I’ve seen threads where people look for someone to practice with.

You can also engage with others in YouTube comments. You can reply to their comments or start a thread yourself, and someone might be interested in contacting you. It’s a long shot but still worth a try.

Last but not least, you can try forums like Reddit or Quora. Millions of people visit those sites every day. Who knows? You might find someone interested right there. Don’t discard this possibility.

A Few Tips

To make the most out of your language exchange experience, I recommend the following:

• Find someone around your age. It’s more likely you will share interests, and the conversation will just flow. It may be complicated to talk to someone way younger or older than you.
• Be careful with your personal information. Do not share your phone number or social media right away. Get to know the other person first.
• Be clear about your intentions. Many people use language sites/apps to flirt with the opposite sex. If you’re not looking for that, let them know about it. Don’t yield to anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. If the other person insists, stop all contact and report that person so they ban him/her.
• Try to decide on a basic structure for your sessions. How often will you meet? How long will your sessions be? Will you talk about anything in particular? Will you correct the other person each time he makes a mistake?
• If you don’t know what to talk about, look for a few lesson plans online. There are many of them to choose from.
• When looking for someone, contact as many people as possible. Not everyone will get back to you. Many will not even reply to your message. It’s not always easy to find the right person. It’s unfortunate, but it is what it is.
• Be considerate. If for some reason you will be late or can’t make it to your session, let the other person know in advance and reschedule if necessary.
• Only meet in public places when meeting face to face. Also, don’t forget to let someone you trust know where you will be. Better safe than sorry.

Are Language Exchanges Worth It?

Why, yes! You may have heard horror stories about them, but they’re definitely something you should try. Your experience may differ from that of others, but you won’t know it if you never try.

As I mentioned earlier, language exchanges do not replace formal instruction. However, that does not mean you should avoid them. In fact, they’re a good way to complement and practice what you learned with your teacher.

Final Thoughts

Finding a language exchange partner is not always easy, but it’s not impossible. There are many resources available at our fingertips. It’s just a matter of looking.

Each site/app has its pros and cons. I recommend you try them all and decide which one works best for you. With the right mindset, you will succeed if you’re serious about learning.

I hope you found this useful. As always, feel free to leave your questions and comments in the section below, and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Au revoir, les amis!

Chances are you are interested in learning French, but you don’t have much money to spare. Same here. Money has been tight these days, and the financial situation worldwide doesn’t seem to get any better.

What if I told you it’s possible to learn French online…for free?! Yes, you don’t have to spend a single dime to learn this beautiful language. I know from experience.

Although free resources are limited and don’t compare to private lessons with a teacher, they’re a good start nonetheless. You can learn the basics and gain some confidence before trying the real thing.

But how and where can you find free online resources to learn French? Don’t worry. We’ve got your back. If I caught your attention, keep on reading to find out.

Language Apps

If you have an Android or iPhone, you have access to a myriad of mobile apps. Not all of them are totally free, but many offer basic features that can help you a lot if you make good use of them.

The good thing about apps is the wide variety you have at your disposal. Some are gamified, while others take a more academic approach. You can be a kid, a teen, a housewife, a businessman, a retiree, or someone in between. It doesn’t matter. There are apps for everyone and everything!

I recommend the following apps to start learning French:

• Duolingo
• Memrise
• Rosetta Stone
• Babbel
• Bluebird
• HelloTalk

For a comprehensive list of apps and their most important features, you can read this post.

Free Courses

Believe it or not, there are free French courses for all levels. You can learn basic grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, slang, among other things. I recommend you try a few, pick one or two, and stick to them.

Below are some cool sites to start with:

The French Experiment. Great for beginners! You can learn lots of vocabulary and grammar. Oh, and you can also listen to short stories while reading the transcript provided.

BBC. Free courses for kids and adults of all levels. The site is no longer updated but contains a lot of learning resources for your review.

E-Learning French. The site offers two free courses: one for beginners and one for intermediate learners. Each course comes with 12 lessons, including quizzes and exercises to test your knowledge.

French by French. Great for all levels. You have access to audio, songs, text, comics, and more.

TV5Monde. One of the most complete courses out there. You have access to free exercises, quizzes, dictations, articles, games, and videos. Besides, if you teach French, you also have access to free teaching resources.

Free Podcasts

Podcasts have been in vogue in the last few years. They became especially popular with the advent of the iPod in the early 00s and have remained popular ever since. They cover a wide array of topics from business to food to travel, etc. Think of them as radio On-demand.

Podcasts are more convenient than videos since you don’t have to stare at a screen the whole time. You can go about your business while listening to your favorite podcast. You can listen to them while you clean your house, on your lunch break, or on your way to the office.

Podcasts can be found on platforms like Spotify or iTunes. All you need is a computer, a tablet, or a smartphone and an internet connection.

Some sites worth checking out are:

• Coffee Break
• Learn French by Podcast
• Learn Out Loud
• PodBean
• French Podcasts

Some of them offer free transcripts for your convenience, while for others you’ll have to pay.

French News, TV, and Radio

You don’t have to live in France to access French media. Thanks to the magic of the internet, you can keep up to date with what’s going on in the world. No TV, radio, or newspapers needed.

The good thing about traditional media is that the French used there is generally more proper and easier to understand for non-native speakers. TV presenters, radio hosts, and journalists are people that studied for many years, so they know the importance of enunciating and writing everything correctly to get their message across.

Some excellent resources in this regard are:

• Radio France Internationale
• BBC Afrique
• TV5Monde
• France 2
• France 24
• Le Parisien
• Le Monde

Free Movies

If you’re a cinephile like me, you will probably be interested in finding French movies. Not everything has to be boring lessons, news broadcasts, or long articles.

Sure, there’s Netflix and Amazon Video, but they’re not free. You have to pay for a membership, and the selection of movies is not that good. Luckily, there are sites where you can watch French movies for free!

You can check out the following sites:

• HDSS
• FilmsRIP
• Filmfra
• French Flicks

Disclaimer: These sites are for reference only, and I’m not endorsing them in any way. Make sure it is legal in your country of residence before streaming or downloading any movies.

Language Exchanges/Tandems

Practice is key when learning French. You can read a thousand articles, watch a lot of videos, and study for hours, but all of that will be useless if you can’t speak it. Some people say they speak a language because they kind of understand it, but when they try to speak it, they just can’t do it.

The best way to practice a language is by practicing with native speakers. But how can you do that if you don’t live in France or another French-speaking country? It’s quite simple: engage in a language exchange.

All you have to do is find a native French speaker that wants to learn your native language. There are many online platforms out there, but the one I highly recommend is Conversation Exchange.

Once you find a language partner, you can establish communication via Skype, Zoom, Google Hangouts, Facetime, Whatsapp, or whatever you both agree on. I have met several French speakers this way, and we have even become good friends.

Alternatively, you can try Facebook. You can connect with people through some groups such as:

• French Language Learner
• Let’s Learn French
• Learning French
• Let’s Exchange Languages
• Language Exchange (Culture & Humanity)

YouTube

Last but not least, we have YouTube. It hosts one of the largest collections of learning and entertainment resources in many languages, including French.

By using YouTube, you have access to a ton of language courses, music videos, podcasts, news broadcasts, vlogs, radio stations, tutorials, and even some movies! Lots of resources to enhance your learning and make it an enjoyable experience.

Who would have thought you can use YouTube to learn a language, huh?

Final Thoughts

As you can see, it’s not that complicated to learn French online for free. The possibilities are endless! It’s just a matter of searching.

Money shouldn’t stop us from pursuing our goals. If learning French is one of your goals in life, you can make it happen. Education has changed and continues to change. We don’t have to attend live classes anymore. We can study from the comfort of our own homes.

Thanks to the advancement of technology, we can study wherever we are, and best of all, at a low cost or even for free!

As I mentioned earlier, all of these resources are great, but you will eventually need to study with a teacher. Don’t worry if you can’t afford one just now. You can start taking advantage of all the free resources available, and by the time you hire a teacher, you will have a good foundation to continue your learning.

Have you used any of the resources covered in this post? How did it go? Let me know in the comments below. Au revoir, les amis!

Learning another language takes time and hard work. Not only do you have to learn vocabulary and grammar, but you also have to struggle with pronunciation. After all, some French sounds don’t exist in our native languages. This gets especially harder as we grow up.

Eliminating an accent is really hard and may even be impossible. At most, we can reduce it, but it’s not as easy as it sounds. However, that’s a whole different subject. Today, I want to share some tips with you on how to sound more natural when you speak French. I’m not talking about accents but words or expressions that native French speakers use in daily life. Let’s learn how to sound more French when speaking, shall we?

Stop Using Nous

When we studied subject pronouns, we learned that we translates as nous in French. This is standard French, and you shouldn’t have any problems when using it in a formal setting. However, in an informal setting, the French don’t really use it. Instead, they use the pronoun on.

Look at the following examples:

Nous sommes heureux = On est heureux (We are happy).

Nous avons faim = On a faim (We are hungry).

You can use them interchangeably, but remember that on is more common in informal settings.

Drop Ne

In another lesson, we learned that negation is expressed by using ne + pas in most cases. However, in real life, French natives usually drop ne and just use pas. Look at the following examples:

Je ne sais pas = Je sais pas (I don’t know).

Je ne peux parler anglais = Je peux pas parler anglais (I can’t speak English).

Your French teacher might cringe at this, but it’s important to learn how real people talk and not just proper French.

Use More Contractions

Although contractions are common and mandatory in most cases, in some they’re still optional. Look at the examples below:

Tu as faim? = T’as faim? (Are you hungry?)

Tu es content? = T’es content? (Are you happy?)

Je suis fatigué = J’suis fatigué (I’m tired).

Il y a 5 ans… = Y’a 5 ans (5 years ago).

Use Filler Words

Just like English and other languages, French also has its own filler words. These are some of the most common ones:

• Alors = So
• Euh = Uh, um
• Quoi? = You know?
• Hein? = Huh?
• Bref = Basically, long story short
• Bah oui/Bah non = Well, yes/Well, no
• En fait = In fact, actually
• Genre = Like

Examples:

Alors, tu viens? So, are you coming?

Est-ce que je peux avoir, euh…un café? Could I have, um…a coffee?

J’adore les hamburgers, quoi? I love burgers, you know?

Hein? T’as dit quoi? Huh? What did you say?

Bref, il est un crétin. Long story short, he’s a jerk.

T’en veux? Bah, oui. Would you like (some)? Well, yes.

J’aime Paris. En fait, je l’adore. I love Paris. Actually, I adore it.

Tu as, genre, un autre stylo? Do you have, like, another pen?

*Important note: except for alors and en fait, the rest of the filler words are only used in informal settings.

Use Voilà as Much as You Can

Voilà literally means see there, but it also serves other purposes depending on the context. These are some of the most common uses:

Presentation

Voilà notre église. (There’s/Here’s our church).

Explanation

Voilà pourquoi il n’y va plus. That’s why he doesn’t go anymore.

Agreement

J’ai fait une erreur. Voilà! I made a mistake. Exactly!

Filler Word

C’est mon copain, voilà. He’s my boyfriend (and that’s all).

Grave, Grave, Grave

Grave is used in both formal and informal situations, but its meaning depends on the context. It means serious in French. However, in informal spoken French, it translates as seriously, for real, absolutely, or indeed. Examples:

Il fait chaud, hein? Grave! (It’s hot, huh? Absolutely!)

C’est un peu loin! Grave! (It’s a little far. Indeed!)

Learn Slang

It’s impossible to list all the slang words there are, but you should be aware that younger people tend to use words older people don’t. If you learn slang and incorporate it when you speak French, French people will be impressed. Check the video below for a few ideas:

Throw In A Few Curse Words

The French curse a lot. It’s not uncommon to hear your neighbor, your friends, or even a stranger on the street curse. Probably, the most used curse word is putain, which translates as f**k. Another common word is merde (sh*t), but there are many more.

People of all ages and social classes swear. Of course, there are exceptions, but swearing is extremely common in France. You can tone it down if there are children around or if you don’t feel comfortable swearing.

Use Salut Instead of Bonjour

The French use salut a lot as a common way of saying hi or goodbye. Confusing, huh? However, be advised that this is only okay in informal settings. It’s okay to use it with friends and family, but other than that, it’s considered inappropriate. Be careful whom you say it to.

Don’t Say Oui

Okay, here’s my favorite. Do you remember Inspector Jacques Clouseau from The Pink Panther Show? He would always scold Sergeant Deux Deux for saying si instead of oui. Well, this is slightly different. Instead of saying oui, you should say ouais. They mean basically the same thing, but oui translates as yes, while ouais translates as yeah. Therefore, only use ouais in informal situations.

Conclusion

If you follow the suggestions above, you will sound more French when speaking the language. Your French friends will be impressed! Summarizing, you will sound more natural by:

• Using on instead of nous.
• Dropping ne and just using pas for negation.
• Using more contractions.
• Using filler words.
• Using voilà.
• Using grave.
• Using slang.
• Saying a few curse words.
• Using salut instead of bonjour.
• Using ouais instead of oui.

Remember these suggestions should only be followed in informal settings. It’s okay to use them with family and friends, but in other situations, stick to proper French.

Also, keep in mind that there are no excuses for not learning proper French. You need to learn it, especially if you’re planning to study or work in France or any other French-speaking country.

What do you think? What other things do you recommend for sounding more French? Let me know in the comments below. Au revoir, les amis!