80/20 French Learning
Learn the 20% of French words that will help you understand 80% of French conversations and quickly speak French with confidence!
Most of the French vocabulary in these lessons comes with audio recorded by native speakers to help you improve your pronunciation.
According to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s annual Worldwide Cost of Living survey, Paris is the 8th most expensive city in the world.
Upon arrival, you’re almost guaranteed to think “wow that’s expensive”.
But how do you say that in French?
That’s what this article will show you! [Read more…] about 19 Words and Phrases Locals Use to Say “Expensive” and “Cheap” in French
Every time I go abroad, I always try to learn a few basic words and phrases.
My pronunciation is often atrocious and I make lots of mistakes but it always makes my trips much nicer because people appreciate the effort and don’t see me as yet another tourist.
If you go to Paris and only speak English, locals will often feel that you don’t respect them and may treat you rudely.
They may also avoid you because they are afraid to speak English, a language they don’t necessarily know well.
That’s why it’s essential to learn a few basic French words and sentences before going to France.
This article won’t make you fluent but it will teach you all the words and phrases you need to know to be polite in French. [Read more…] about Do You Know the Basic Words and Phrases Needed to Survive in France?
Imagine that your French friend Marie just picked you up at the airport in Paris and hosted you in her lovely home for 3 days.
You are grateful and would like to thank her so you say merci when you leave and give her a box full of delicacies from your hometown.
Then you wonder: wasn’t there a better way to say thank you? Merci did feel a bit…short.
While merci is a safe choice in almost all situations and will rarely offend people, it’s not always the best way to thank people in French.
Here are 19 other ways to say thank you in French!
[Read more…] about 20 Ways to Say Thank You in French
7 years of bad luck (or bad sex depending on who you ask).
That’s what anyone who doesn’t respect the subtle rules of the French toasting ritual should expect.
That’s at least what the tradition says.
Truth is, French drinking traditions are totally insane.
You need to use the right words with the right people but also follow a precise set of rules that were created in the Middle Ages so people could make sure their drink didn’t contain poison (such a lovely period). [Read more…] about How to Say “Cheers” in French (and Avoid 7 Years of Bad Luck)
Have you ever read or heard a sentence you couldn’t understand despite knowing all the words?
A sentence whose meaning was as mysterious as the meaning of the French words on Forever 21 t-shirts?
You just discovered the wonderful world of French idioms.
These are expressions equivalent to “alright”, “to go the extra mile” or “to get laid”.
They’re everywhere.
And you’ll never truly sound French if you don’t know their meaning.
[Read more…] about 100 Strange Idioms That’ll Help You Sound More French
Ordering food in a French restaurant can be stressful.
How should you order? What does entrecôte mean? How do you ask for water? Do you need to pay for it? Should you leave a tip?
The answer to all these questions is in this article.
After reading it, you’ll know exactly what each item on a French menu is, how to order food like a local and whether you should leave a tip or not. [Read more…] about These 105 Words Will Make Ordering Food in French Restaurants Much Easier
Greeting French people the way you greet American, British or even Spanish people is a recipe for disaster.
You see, the French follow a strange greeting ritual and breaking its unspoken rules is guaranteed to land you into the “rude tourist” category.
Luckily, greeting the French like a local is simple once you know a few basic principles. These are the secret rules you’ll discover in the first part of this article.
Once you know the basics, check out the second part of this article to learn the essential French greeting words that’ll help you unlock French people’s hearts.
[Read more…] about 8 French Greeting Words That’ll Help You Sound Like a Local
When someone thanks you, you only have a few seconds to answer with the appropriate “you’re welcome”.
This can be very stressful if you don’t know the differences between “de rien”, “je vous en prie” and “ya pas de quoi”.
Is your answer polite enough? Is it too formal? Do French people actually use that phrase?
After reading this article, you’ll know which French equivalent of “you’re welcome” to use in every situation! [Read more…] about 9 Polite and Not So Polite Ways to Say “You’re Welcome” in French
