Mar 9
Seriesspeaking
10 French Phrases You Learned in Class but Rarely Hear
Your French textbook taught you phrases that native speakers barely use. Here are 10 classroom staples and what French people actually say instead.
6 min readRead
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Mar 9
Seriesspeaking
The French Your Teacher Taught You vs the French You Hear Outside
Classroom French and spoken French are practically two dialects. Here's a side-by-side guide to the biggest gaps, and how to bridge them.
7 min readRead
Mar 9
Seriesmyth-busting
Do French People Actually Say "Comme Ci, Comme Ça"?
You learned 'comme ci, comme ça' in French class. But real French speakers almost never use it. Here's what they actually say when something is just okay.
4 min readRead
Mar 9
Seriesmyth-busting
Do French People Actually Say "Double Entendre"?
English speakers use 'double entendre' to describe a phrase with two meanings. But this expression doesn't exist in French. Here's what French people actually say.
5 min readRead
Mar 9
Seriesmyth-busting
Do French People Actually Say "Je Ne Sais Quoi"?
English speakers love dropping 'je ne sais quoi' into conversation. But do actual French people use it the same way? Here's what they really say, how they pronounce it, and when it sounds natural.
4 min readRead
Mar 9
Seriesmyth-busting
Do French People Actually Say "Merde"?
Merde is the most famous French swear word. But how often do French people really use it, what does it mean beyond the literal, and when is it actually appropriate?
5 min readRead
Mar 9
Seriesmyth-busting
Do French People Actually Say "Oh Là Là"?
Oh là là is one of the most stereotyped French phrases around. French people do say it. They just use it far more casually, and far less flirtatiously, than English speakers expect.
4 min readRead
Mar 9
Seriesmyth-busting
Do French People Actually Say "Voulez-Vous Coucher Avec Moi"?
Thanks to a pop song, everyone knows this phrase. But would a French person ever actually say it? Here's the truth about this infamous line and what French flirting really sounds like.
5 min readRead