8 Ways to Say “May” in French

May I have a moment of your time to talk about the word “may” in French? ….Actually, it may take more than a moment, since “may” is one of those words that doesn’t have a single or precise French equivalent.  May I accompany you on this journey to learn about “may” in French? The meanings …

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5 shows to watch instead of Emily in Paris

On October 2, 2020, Emily in Paris was released on Netflix. The series was shot on location here and many cast members are French. But the reality of life in the City of Light is nowhere to be found. Even people who have never been to Paris have called the show out for its numerous …

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What You Really Need to Know About Writing French Letters and Emails

When I was learning French in school, writing letters was one of the most intimidating things we covered. There were so many formules de politesse (polite phrases and salutations) and all of them seemed absolutely required to be included in any formal or business correspondence. Then, I came to France and found that letter (and …

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How to Use (And Not to Use) Au Contraire

Au contraire means “On the contrary”. But if you’re an English-speaker, the phrase’s translation isn’t contrary at all; it turns out we use it the same way the French do. Still, it’s not quite so simple. Let’s take a closer look at au contraire. The meaning of au contraire Important: There is only one way …

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The complete guide to the French school system

What is school like in France? It’s a question you might find yourself pondering as you study French and get to know more about French culture. In some ways, French school is like school in many places in the world, including the US and UK – but there are a number of key differences, including …

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Everything You Need to Know About the French Verb “Savoir”

Savoir means “to know” in French. Let’s explore all things savoir, starting with its conjugation. Savoir conjugation Savoir is an irregular verb, which means you’ll have to memorize its conjugations. A small consolation is that it’s conjugated with avoir in compound tenses, so you don’t have to agree the participle and the subject in a …

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