La vie en rose: The true meaning behind the famous song

Voir la vie en rose (To see life in rose/pink) is the French equivalent to the expression “to see life through rose-colored glasses” in English. That is, seeing the world in an idealized, naïve, sometimes romantic, way. You may know this phrase because of Edith Piaf’s iconic song, La vie en rose.  Written mostly by Piaf, …

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All about the classic French children’s song “Au clair de la lune”

Au clair de la lune is a popular French children’s song that’s been around since the 18th century, or possibly even longer.  Its title in English is usually translated as “By the Light of the Moon” or “In the Moonlight”. Au clair de la lune  is often referenced in French popular culture, and is still an extremely popular …

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All about inclusive language and gender neutral pronouns in French

The world is changing, and inclusive or gender neutral language is becoming increasingly common. At least, that’s the case for English. But what about French? You may be wondering if inclusive language exists in French – and if it does, how does it work? Let’s look at the most notable ways French is becoming more …

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All about the Phryges, Paris’s 2024 Olympic mascots

The mascots of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France are the Phryges (les Phryges). Based on the Phrygian cap (le bonnet phrygien), an iconic symbol of freedom and the French Republic, these mascots are revolutionary in a few ways, and have already caused some (funny) controversy. Let’s take a closer look at the Phryges. Who …

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10 must-read French and French learning blogs

Looking for French blogs to help you practice your language skills – and maybe learn some other interesting things besides? Blogs aren’t quite the hot item they used to be, but many still exist, and they can be a great way to dive deeper into a subject, as well as a language. Since they don’t …

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