Key takeaways:
- School-taught French differs significantly from everyday spoken French, focusing on informal expressions.
- The importance of context in language usage, especially when it involves colloquial and familiar terms.
- Practical phrases for various situations, including making plans, navigating town, dining, discussing weather, expressing frustrations, and social greetings.
# Introduction
French, as taught in schools, often diverges from the French used daily by native speakers. This summary explores essential expressions that enrich understanding and speaking of real French.
# Organizing Plans
- Expressions for Agreement: Use "Ça marche" or "Ça roule" to signify agreement, similar to "That works" or "Sure."
- Invitations and Suggestions: "Ça te dit que/de" for proposing activities, and "Après, on pourrait aussi..." to offer alternatives.
- Rescheduling: Use "reporter" or "décaler" to propose changing the date of an event.
# In Town
- Shopping: "Ce sera tout?" to inquire if a customer's order is complete.
- Finding Places: "Do you know where I can find ...around here?" for directions to nearby locations.
# Mealtime Phrases
- Deciding What to Eat: Ask "Qu'est-ce qu'on mange ?" or "On mange quoi ?" to discuss meal options.
- Lunch Invitations: Propose lunch with "Shall we eat lunch together?" or "On dej' ensemble à midi ?"
- Expressing Hunger: "J'ai la dalle." indicates a strong hunger.
# Discussing Weather
- Heat and Cold: Use "Je crève de chaud !" or "On se les gèle / pèle !" for extreme temperatures.
- General Cold: "Ça caille aujourd'hui !" is another way to comment on the cold weather.
# Expressing Frustrations
- Being Fed Up: "J'en ai marre." or "Ça me saoule." for frustrations and annoyances.
- Dismissing Concerns: "Laisse tomber." for suggesting to give up or forget about an issue.
- Pointing Out Nonsense: "C'est n'imp' !" for illogical or absurd situations.
- Struggles and Hassles: "Ça craint !" or "Je galère" to describe difficult or unsatisfactory situations.
# Social Interactions
- Arrivals and Departures: "À toute !" for soon-to-be-repeated meetings, and "Je vais y aller." when leaving.
- Catching Up: "Il faut qu'on se capte bientôt." for expressing the desire to meet again soon.
# Expressing Happiness or Surprise
- Positive Reactions: "C'est ouf !" for something amazing or unbelievable.
- Showing Enthusiasm: Use "Kiffer" to express love or liking for something.
- Acknowledging Humor: "C'est marrant." for finding something funny.
# Daily Expressions
- Apologies and Reassurances: "Désolé" for apologies, "T'inquiète !" to reassure someone not to worry.
- Caution and Encouragement: "Fais gaffe." for caution, and "Allez !" to encourage agreement or action.
Understanding and using these expressions can significantly improve your conversational French, making it more natural and relatable to native speakers.
Summary for: School French vs Real French