What to know about the French phrase “Mais pourquoi”

Mais pourquoi is “But why” in French. But why?  Let’s look at the words that make up Mais pourquoi, and how to use this phrase. What does Mais pourquoi mean? Mais pourquoi means “But why” in French. As you may know already, mais usually means “but” and pourquoi means “why”. This means that mais pourquoi can be translated …

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7 ways to use the French preposition “chez”

Chez is a French preposition that can mean “at/to ___’s house”, “to”, “among”, or “in ___’s work,” depending on the context. Overall, the word expresses a sense of “home”, whether someone’s actual dwelling, or a characteristic that’s innate to a person or group. This may sound confusing, but its somewhat flexible meaning makes chez very useful, which …

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How to use “jamais”: The essential guide

Jamais usually means “never” in French, but when used a certain way, it can mean “ever” instead. Let’s learn about how to use jamais, so that you’re never unsure of yourself when it comes to this common and useful French word! The different ways to use jamais Jamais usually means “never” in French, although sometimes it can …

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The essential guide to common shapes and shape expressions in French

The word for “shape” in French is une forme. Let’s learn how to say the most common shape names in French – and discover some common expressions related to them along the way! Basic shapes and shape expressions in French Here’s how to say the most common shapes in French. Many of these are also …

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The ultimate guide to the French conditional

The conditional is one of the most important French tenses and one you have probably already used without realizing. A common example of French phrase using the conditional is Je voudrais un croissant s’il vous plait, I would like a croissant please. Like “would” in English, the conditional has a few different tenses. Let’s take …

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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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