Spectator N0 2682 - Exchanges By Doc
Crosswords16 mins ago
useful french phrases
41 Answers
We're going to france for a week in July, so would like to amalgamate some useful phrases, which, not being rude, i probably won't learn for a couple more weeks yet, after my exams have finished.
I can do some basic stuff like salut, comment ca va?
ca va bien merci! et toi?
but i haven't done it since year 9 and then i was rubbish. I need important stuff like horse steak and frogs legs in french as i don't want to end up eating them.
merci, molly xx
I can do some basic stuff like salut, comment ca va?
ca va bien merci! et toi?
but i haven't done it since year 9 and then i was rubbish. I need important stuff like horse steak and frogs legs in french as i don't want to end up eating them.
merci, molly xx
Answers
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This one looks really good
http://www.amazon.co....qid=1275930946&sr=8-4
Horse steak is 'chevaline' - in many supermarkets you will find a specific horsemeat section, so as long as you remember it looks like beef but is callled chevaline you'll be OK.
Frog's legs = cuisses de grenouille. They look like very small chicken drumsticks but joined together in twos. Occasionally shrink-wrapped in supermarkets but not so very often.
I think the most important way in with French people is to remember that they are always, initially, quite formal, so it's always 'bonjour monsieur / madam' etc, not just 'bonjour' on its own. Also it is customary to greet everyone in a small shop or cafe, just a look around and a smile and nod, if you can manage it a sort of slurred 'syer-dam' (short for bonjour messieurs et mesdames).
Coca cola = coca
chips = frites
crisps = chips (pronounced 'sheep')
Have a bon vacances.
Frog's legs = cuisses de grenouille. They look like very small chicken drumsticks but joined together in twos. Occasionally shrink-wrapped in supermarkets but not so very often.
I think the most important way in with French people is to remember that they are always, initially, quite formal, so it's always 'bonjour monsieur / madam' etc, not just 'bonjour' on its own. Also it is customary to greet everyone in a small shop or cafe, just a look around and a smile and nod, if you can manage it a sort of slurred 'syer-dam' (short for bonjour messieurs et mesdames).
Coca cola = coca
chips = frites
crisps = chips (pronounced 'sheep')
Have a bon vacances.
Why do you not want to "end up" eating frogs' legs ???
You will be in France.
They eat frogs legs.
That's what they do.
Try them. There's not much meat on them, and they mostly taste of the garlic in which they are cooked, but ... well, it's an experience.
Actually, I quite like them.
But not as much as snails ("escargot") which are just scrummy.
You will be in France.
They eat frogs legs.
That's what they do.
Try them. There's not much meat on them, and they mostly taste of the garlic in which they are cooked, but ... well, it's an experience.
Actually, I quite like them.
But not as much as snails ("escargot") which are just scrummy.
I can honestly say that in three decades of visiting France I have never seen anyone eating or ordering frog's legs in a restaurant. Snail yes, but I have the impression that far more conventional prepared / processed food is now the norm and the frog's legs are very much a minority dish. I suppose, about as likely as being offered plovers' eggs in England.
Watch salut, unless you are speaking with friends it could come across as impolite, especially with the older generation.
Stick to a more polite bonjour unless they are young and you know them well, to be on the safe side.
Better to appear overly polite than to risk offence.
Same with toi and similar, more informal ways of speaking. If not said in the right circumstances it could be construed as rude.
They will obviously realise you have little command of the language, however, if you are going to make the effort then make the effort to get it right.
Best tip is keep it very simple, you would be amazed what you could end up saying without realising as some words you might think are quite innocuous can have all kinds of meanings you never imagined.
You will get credit for trying so you don't need to go overboard and risk saying all sorts.
Don't assume things are said in the same way over there if that makes sense? I've heard all sorts! An example is a friend trying to express he was full at the dinner table but actually managing to announce he was pregnant.
I'd avoid phrases related to kissing (I won't go into detail, just take my word for it!).
Stick to a more polite bonjour unless they are young and you know them well, to be on the safe side.
Better to appear overly polite than to risk offence.
Same with toi and similar, more informal ways of speaking. If not said in the right circumstances it could be construed as rude.
They will obviously realise you have little command of the language, however, if you are going to make the effort then make the effort to get it right.
Best tip is keep it very simple, you would be amazed what you could end up saying without realising as some words you might think are quite innocuous can have all kinds of meanings you never imagined.
You will get credit for trying so you don't need to go overboard and risk saying all sorts.
Don't assume things are said in the same way over there if that makes sense? I've heard all sorts! An example is a friend trying to express he was full at the dinner table but actually managing to announce he was pregnant.
I'd avoid phrases related to kissing (I won't go into detail, just take my word for it!).
Mollykins, don't forget that if you are talking to a person who you don't know that well (and who is not a member of your family), you must refer to them as "vous" and not "tu". When you get to know that person better, you have to ask them if you can call them "tu". The French are a bit funny like that. We have a friend in France who we address as "tu", but it took a few years of knowing his wife before she called us "tu".
And when you go into a shop, you must always say "bonjour" to the shop assistant. The French are so polite in that way.
I think this has already been mentioned in an earlier post.
If you want to do supermarket shopping, you will need a 1 euro coin for the trolley ("chariot" in French).
Also, how about "quelle temps fait-il?" - what's the weather? Il fait beau, etc.
Il ya beaucoup de soleil - there's lots of sunshine.
"les magasins - ce sont pres d'ici? Are the shops near here? Ou se trouve le marche? Where is the market.
Frogs legs - "cuisses de grenouille"
Snails: "escargots" (but I expect you know that one).
Eau minerale gazeuse (sparkling mineral water)
Eau minerale sans gaz (still mineral water)
Definitely worth taking a small phrase book, even a small french dictionary, just to check things that you see along the street.
Hope you have a great time - we're going to the South of France in July.
And when you go into a shop, you must always say "bonjour" to the shop assistant. The French are so polite in that way.
I think this has already been mentioned in an earlier post.
If you want to do supermarket shopping, you will need a 1 euro coin for the trolley ("chariot" in French).
Also, how about "quelle temps fait-il?" - what's the weather? Il fait beau, etc.
Il ya beaucoup de soleil - there's lots of sunshine.
"les magasins - ce sont pres d'ici? Are the shops near here? Ou se trouve le marche? Where is the market.
Frogs legs - "cuisses de grenouille"
Snails: "escargots" (but I expect you know that one).
Eau minerale gazeuse (sparkling mineral water)
Eau minerale sans gaz (still mineral water)
Definitely worth taking a small phrase book, even a small french dictionary, just to check things that you see along the street.
Hope you have a great time - we're going to the South of France in July.
Bonjour Molly. Je suis content que vous allons bien ....
Sorry to be teacherish, but you say: "Il pleut en Suffolk a ce moment". You use different words depending whether it;s in a town or city, in a county or in a country. Oh, and it's "j'habite" (not je suis habite). But I am sure they'll understand you anyway, whatever you say. They will love it that you are trying to speak their lingo.
When you are telling a person your age, you say "I have 16 years". Not "I am" So it would be "j'ai dix-six ans"
No more French lessons, you'll be glad to hear, Mollykins.
Bon voyage, j'espere que vous aurions des bonnes vacances en France. A bientot ....
Oh yes, you can say "a bientot" to people when you're going to see them again soon.
Sorry to be teacherish, but you say: "Il pleut en Suffolk a ce moment". You use different words depending whether it;s in a town or city, in a county or in a country. Oh, and it's "j'habite" (not je suis habite). But I am sure they'll understand you anyway, whatever you say. They will love it that you are trying to speak their lingo.
When you are telling a person your age, you say "I have 16 years". Not "I am" So it would be "j'ai dix-six ans"
No more French lessons, you'll be glad to hear, Mollykins.
Bon voyage, j'espere que vous aurions des bonnes vacances en France. A bientot ....
Oh yes, you can say "a bientot" to people when you're going to see them again soon.
D'accord - I agree, don't use salut, bonjour to everyone is far more polite. Also, use vous rather than tu with people you don't know, comment allez-vous, ca va bien? goes down well. Tu/toi is familiar so used with people you know well, or with people younger than you. The most useful phrase to learn is to ask where the toilets are! Seriously though, go to Smiths or Menzies and buy a cheap French phrase book, that will contain all the handy phrases you need.
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