Mar 9
Seriesspeaking
What Does "Je Suis Excité" Mean in English?
"Je suis excité" in English usually means sexually aroused, not just excited. Learn safer French alternatives like "j'ai hâte" and "je suis ravi(e)."
4 min readRead
Vocabulary13 articles
Articles about Vocabulary
Browse all our articles related to vocabulary. Learn tips and techniques to improve your language skills.
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Mar 9
Seriesspeaking
Better Than Translation: "I'm Just Kidding"
"Je plaisante" works, but French speakers have a whole range of ways to signal they're joking. Here's how humor actually sounds in spoken French.
5 min readRead
Mar 9
Seriesspeaking
Better Than Translation: "No Worries"
"Pas de soucis" works but it's only one option. French has a whole toolkit for reassurance, and here's what native speakers actually reach for.
5 min readRead
Mar 9
Seriesspeaking
Better Than Translation: "That Makes Sense"
"Ça fait sens" is a calque that makes French speakers wince. Here's what they actually say when something makes sense, and why the real phrases work better.
5 min readRead
Mar 9
Seriesspeaking
How to Say "I Am Fine" in French: What Native Speakers Say
"I am fine" in French is usually "ça va," not the textbook "je vais bien, merci." Learn the casual, honest, and natural replies.
6 min readRead
Mar 9
Seriesspeaking
What to Say Instead of "Je Voudrais" in Real French
"Je voudrais" is polite, but it sounds textbook in many everyday transactions. Learn the more natural French phrases people use in cafés and shops.
5 min readRead
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
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