Discover French culture, learn everything you have always wanted to know about France and the French and avoid embarrassing mistakes.
When you think of iconic French things to eat, what comes to mind? Maybe you’d say croissants, baguettes, cheese, wine, pastries, coq au vin …. But did you think “butter” ? For some people, French butter is a rich, delicious treat. And the more you think about it, butter is a major ingredient in a lot …
France has a long history of racism, police brutality and oppression against Black people. That’s something I never wrote about because I didn’t know what to say. I’m still not sure what to say. Growing up in France as a white kid, I always knew that Black people and minorities were treated differently. I could see my …
From medieval innovators to avant-garde modern artists, France has a long history of talented painters. Some have risen to worldwide fame and even single-name recognition. Here are 16 French painters whose work has had a major influence on artists and the general public alike…and a few others you may also know. A brief history of …
READ LESSON16 Famous French Painters (And a Few Others You May Not Know)
In France, Mademoiselle is a complicated word! Most of us learn three basic titles in French: Monsieur (abbreviated M.), Madame (abbreviated Mme.), and Mademoiselle (abbreviated Mlle.). The latter is used, we’re taught, for very young and/or unmarried women. Pretty straightforward, right? Well, due to the conflicting dynamics of social changes and a certain aspect of …
READ LESSONShould You Ban the Word Mademoiselle from Your Vocabulary and Use Madame Instead?
There are some things that typically come to mind when people think of France. One of them may be some kind of castle or palace. It might be a particularly famous one, like Versailles, or maybe it’s just a composite, an idea of light-colored stone and high, elegant towers, possibly with a medieval princess or …
Quick – name a French cookie! If you couldn’t, don’t be disappointed. The French are known for their pastries, but they’re not a cookie culture. No, “cookie culture” isn’t an actual term used to categorize civilizations. I made it up. But hopefully you get what I mean. There are some cultures, like the Anglo-Saxon one …