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LE BOUQUIN French Fr ench Essentials Essentials for for Beginners Beginners
Cécilia Jourdan & Marie-Lola Sendra
Le Bouq Bouquin: uin: French French Essentials Essentials for for Beginners Beginners
by Cécilia Jourdan and Marie-Lola Sendra. Copyright © 2022 Cécilia Jourdan All rights reserved. reserved.
No portion of this book may be reproduced or distributed in any form without prior written permission permission from from the authors. authors. For For information information about about permissions, permissions, contact contact
[email protected] Design & Layout: J&P Illustrations: Criselis Pérez Photography: Hello French NYC Names: Cécilia Jourdan, Marie-Lola Sendra Title: Le Bouquin: French Essentials for Beginners Description: First edition | New York
Bonjour! Bonjo ur! We’re Cécilia and Marie-Lola, two French natives living in New York City with a decadelong experience making French accessible (and fun!) for all. We co-authored Le Bou Bouqui quin n to ll the gaps we found in most French learning materials: books so grammar-focused, they often result in impractical and boring lessons. Similarly, Similar ly, many books for beginners can come across as made for children.
Le Bouqu Bouquin in is a modern and elevated French language learning resource—the one we always wanted our students to have. What this book is NOT:
• An overwhelming and indigestible book (want 300+ pages of over-comprehensive French grammar? grammar? —try something else!) • A grammar-exclusive book that feels unrelatable (we assume you won’t need to say “My cat is in the kitchen at my parent’s house” every day.) By the end of this book, you’ll know:
• How to describe yourself, have conversations, and make friends • How to navigate, make make appointments, and get what you need (without relying on Google!) Googl e!) • Everyday slang and idiomatic expressions Most of all, we want you to feel condent and excited to practice what you’ve learned with us, whether you’re traveling abroad or impressing your French waiter. For questions, feedback, or just to say bonjour : email us at
[email protected] We hope you enjoy Le Bou Bouqui quin n as much as we loved creating it for you!
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Préface Learning French is no easy endeavor, so congratulations on embarking on this journey! We’re glad to be part of it! Since you are starting to learn French (or reviving it), we chose to write this book in English to facilitate the understanding of the key concepts (but be aware the next level up may not be!) There are a few principles and some general information we’d like to share with you before you dive in and learn French with us:
Challenges: French has a complex grammar and unusual spelling which makes learning the language a challenge for many (including French native speakers themselves!)
Origins & Pronunciation: French words don’t always sound like they are written (unlike the Spanish language, for example). Why? French has multiple origins: Latin, Gallic and Frankish, with many inuences language, from Greek. It is also constantly inuenced by other languages, our evolving societies, and the digital world (internet, social media, etc).
Examples: Examp les:
Femme (woman) (woman) is is pronounced faahm Août (august) (august) is is pronounced oot (monsieur) is is pronounced muh-see-uh Monsieur (monsieur)
Nouns & gender: In French, nouns are gendered. Most nouns are always either masculine (we’ll use the letter m. in this book) or feminine (the letter f.) and some can vary in gender (such as for nationalities or job). job ). Fo Forr exa exampl mple, e, a teac teacher her ca can n be be une professeure (f.) or un professeur (m.)
Agreement: In French, the words that surround a noun in a sentence (like articles or adjectives) have have to reect (to ‘agree with’) the gender and number of the noun. Every noun will have both a singular (refers to one item) and a plural form (refers (refers to two or more items). This is what we call the number of the noun.
Gender agreemen agreementt
Agreement in number
Masculin: Un Un profess professeur eur intelligen intelligentt (m. s.)
Singular: Une professeure intelligente (f. s.)
Feminine: Un Une e profess professeur eure e intelligen intelligentte (f. s.)
Plural: Des Des professeure professeuress intelligente intelligentess (f. p.)
An in inte telli llige gent nt te teach acher er
Intelligent teachers
Grammar Terms LES PRONOMS - Pronouns Pronouns replace replace the noun in a sentence. Juliet iette te lik likes es st stra rawbe wberri rries es → → She likes strawberries strawberries Ex: Juliette aime les fraises → Elle aime les fraises - Jul LES ADJECTIFS - Ad Adjec jectiv tives es describe/modify describe/modify nouns/pronouns nouns/pronou ns with which they agree in gender gender & number. Ex: Elle aime les fraises rouges - She likes red strawberries LES ADVERBES - Ad Adver verbs bs change change the meaning of a verb, adjective or other adverb. Ex: Elle aime vraiment les fraises - She really likes strawberries
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Préface Inclusive Writing You will see in this book some inclusive writing (l’écriture inclusive) or neutral language (le language neutre), a language that ensures an equal representation of women and men, and aims to remove gender stereotypes in the French Frenc h language. For example, the noun teacher will be written this wayun.e professeur.e in inclusive writing instead of using the masculine version un professeur. Although l’écriture inclusive appeared in France in the 1970’s with the feminist movement, the French Education Educat ion Minister has formally banned the use of inclusive writing in ofcial texts. There is an old gramma grammarr rule in place that “the masculine prevails over the feminine” (le masculin l’emporte sur le féminin), and many are against the use of inclusive writing in French. We still chose to teach you French this way in our book as equal representation is essential. The way we speak, read, and write a language inuences how we think. Also, note that the gender-neutral pronoun iel (equivalent to the ‘they’ in English) was introduced in the French language recently (and integrated integrated in Le Robert dictionary in 2021). It is slowly (but hopefully surely!) being accepted and used in France. Iel was formed by blending the pronoun il - he he and and elle - she she and is sometimes written yel or ielle. The plural version is iels. We’ll use the abbreviation n-b to indicate non-binary in this book.
Abbreviations Abbr eviations Below you will nd a recap of some of the abbreviations you’ll see in this book: Masculin: m. Feminine: f. Non-Binary: n-b Various genders: mixed
Plural: p. Singular: s. Formal: for. (polite, used mostly in formal situations) Informal: inf. (casual/spok (casual/spoken en French, used in informal situations)
Subject Pronoun Pronounss Person
Singular
English
Plural
English
1st
je / j’j’
I
nous
we
2nd
tu
you yo u (inf.)
vous
you yo u (for. s. / inf. p.)
3rd
il
he / it
ils
they (m. pl. or mixed)
elle
she / it
elles
they (f. pl.)
on
one / we / they
n/a
n/a n/ a
iel
they (n-b)
iels
they (n-b . mixed)
Verbs The verb is the most important word of a sentence as it expresses the action or the state of the subject. The verb says what the subject does or what the subject is. The action or state expressed by the verb can be presented in several ways through tenses tenses ( (temps) and modes ( modes (modes). The tense tense indicates indicates when the action takes place (past, present, future), and the mode mode i is s the way in which the verb expresses the state or action (for example, example, is it a condition, advice, advice, a command?)
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Préface Conjugation of Verbs Verbs are formed with a root (a stem) and an ending. In French there are three groups of verbs depending on the ending of their innitives. The innitive is the non-conjugated form of the verb. Here are some examples of verbs and their forms in the present tense and conditional mode. INFINITIVE
PRESENT TENSE
CONDITIONAL TENSE
1st Group
parle parl er - to speak
Je parle parle
Je parlerais parlerais
2nd Group
nir n ir - to end
Je nis nis
Je nirais nirais
partir part ir - to leave
Je pars pars*
Je partirais partirais
prendre prend re - to take
Je prends prends
Je prendrais prendrais
pouvoir pouv oir - can
Je peux peux**
Je pourrais pourrais**
savoi sav oirr - to know
Je sais sais**
Je saurais saurais**
connaîtr connaî tre e - to know
Je connais connais
Je connaîtrais connaîtrais
aller all er - to go
Je vais vais**
J’irais J’ irais**
3 Group rd
*French is full of irregularities and rules usually have exceptions. While endings are usually added to the root, this may not always be the case. This is why it is important to learn the fully conjugated form of the verb.
Book Structure Structure This book is divided into 10 themes, them es, with color-coded categories to help you along the way. way. We recommend you start with Thème 1 rst and work your way to Thème 10.
Grammaire
Vocabulaire
Communication
grammar
vocabulary
communication
You can listen to recordings of how to pronounce words, sentences and also listen to conversations when you see the sign icon on the left. Simply tap on the icon and you will be led to a new page to listen!
Attention !
Culture culture
Tap here to listen to le dialogue
We’ve added notes to expand on particular topics (grammar rules, cultural explanation, explanation, and other tips) in the book, so pay attention to the asterisks (*) and read our comments in the blue “Attention” box.
French Fr ench Word ordss We decided to write a few words only in French consistently throughout this book as they are repeated repeated in each theme: theme:
Thème Exemple(s) Prononciation Verbes
theme example(s) pronunciation verbs
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Adverbes Attention Singulier Pluriel
adverbs warning
Féminin Masculin
feminine masculine
singular plural 6
La Prononciation Pro Pronunci nunciation ation Below is an overview of the basics of French pronunciation to help you condently tackle the themes ahead. Note that various French sounds do not exist in English. The French alphabet is the same as the one in English, but many letters and letter combinations differ in pronunciation. We chose to teach you with English sounds/words you know instead of using the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) because we doubt most of you are familiar with its symbols ([ɛ], [œ̃], [ɥ] anyone?) Don’t be discouraged if you can’t distinguish the difference between certain sounds below. It takes time to train your ear to a new language! We recommend you listen to each audio several times and repeat the sounds, too. You’ll also learn (or review) more than 100 French words with this pronunciation guide. Before your review, we want to remind you that a syllable is part of a word that contains a single vowel and is pronounced as one unit. So for example, “read” has one syllable and “reading” has two syllables.
Les voyelles vowels Vowel
French examples
Tips & English reference
a
la (the) (the),, ma (my)
Similar to ah ah or or the a in father
à
là (there) (there),, déjà (already)
Same as above
â
pâte (pasta) (pasta),, âne (donkey)
Same as above but where the a sound is a bit longer
e
cher (expensive) (expensive),, mer (sea)
In a middle of a syllable, similar to the sound ai in in pair
e
je (i) (i),, le (the)
angel.. When at the end of a syllable, similar to e in angel The tongue stays at the bottom of the mouth which is rounded in an oval shape
e
voiture (car) (car),, facile (easy)
E is is silent at the end of a word
é
été (summer) (summer),, élégant (elegant)
This sound doesn’t exist in English. The closest sound would be ey in in he hey y but but with your mouth being less open, and with the shape of a slight smile
è
mère (mother) (mother),, père (father)
Similar to the sound ai in in pair
ê
fête (party) (party),, rêve (dream)
Same as above
i
lit (bed) (bed),, rire (laugh)
Similar to the sound ee ee in in feel but shorter in length
y
name), cyclisme ( (cycling cycling ) Yves Yv es (a rst name),
Sometimes when starting a word or between 2 consonants, same as above (y = i sound in French)
o
mot (word) (word),, dos (back)
When o is the last sound of a syllable, then similar to o in cold cold..
ô
hôtel (hotel) (hotel),, hôpital (hospital)
Same as above
o
notre (our) (our),, bol (bowl)
If followed by a consonant, like the o of the English word ton
u
tu (you) (you),, rue (street)
ee (like This sound doesn’t exist in English. Say ee (like in feel)) while making a tiny O shape with your mouth feel
û
mûr.e (ripe) (ripe),, sûr.e (sure)
Same as above
ou
fou (m. crazy), crazy), nous (we, us)
Similar to the oo oo in in food food but but shorter in length
ai, ei
lait (milk) (milk),, seize (sixteen)
Similar to the e in met
au, eau
beau (m. beautiful), beautiful), chaud.e (hot)
Similar to the letter o in English
eu
euro (euro) (euro),, neveu (nephew)
Similar to the e in her but but with your mouth almost closed and in a u shape
eu
heure (hour/time) (hour/time),, œuf (e)
Similar to the e in her
(closed)
(open)
(closed) (open)
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Listen
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Les semi-voyelles semi semi-vowels vowels French examples
Tips & English reference
ie, y
dieu (god) (god),, voyage (trip)
Similar to the y the y sound sound in yel in yellow low
ui
pluie (rain) (rain),, nuit (night)
Similar to the ui sound sound in ennuie (loanword: boredom)
oi
soir (evening) (evening),, boire (to drink)
Similar to a wah wah sound sound
Listen
Les nasales nasal vowels These sounds do not exist in English! French examples
Tips & English reference
on, om
non (no) (no),, ombre (shadow)
Similar to on on in in song but but with more rounded lips (like you are making a very small O shape)
an, am, en, em
enfant (child) (child),, ambiance (ambiance)
Your mouth is wide open and relaxed, and your tongue touches the back of your mouth
un, in, im, ain, ein*
un (a/an) (a/an),, main (hand)
uh-huh Similar to the sound u when you say uh-huh (while smiling)
Listen
* Other spellings for this sound: aim, eim, en, em, im, um, ym, yn, um. Some consider there are 2 different sounds in this third category of nasal sounds (in the South of France, for example) where the words un and main are pronounced slightly differently. differently. Watch Cécilia say a fun French sentence (about wine) with all these nasal vowel sounds and repeat after her HERE.
Les consonnes consonants All French consonants (except r ) are pronounced closer to the front of the mouth than in English. Also, note that the French tongue is alway alwayss ‘tensed’ for consonants. Unlike in English, French consonants do not have an initial aspiration. In the word potato, for example, when you say the initial p, you release a little puff of air. In French there isn’t such a thing at the start of words, but there is a slight aspiration at the end of words (ending with certain consonants consonants). ). Patate Vs.
Potato
Carotte Vs.
Carrot
French examples
Tips & English reference
b
bébé (baby) (baby),, bizarre (weird)
Similar to the English b but with a tight mouth position
d
dame (lady) (lady),, drôle (funny)
Similar to the English d
f
femme (woman) (woman),, frère (brother)
Same as the f in in English
j
jupe jup e (skirt) (skirt),, job (job)
It sounds as if you remove the d sound of the j the j in in the Joh the John n. For English loanwords, the j the j is is the same as in English
k
kiwi (kiwi) (kiwi),, kiffer (to like in slang)
Very similar as in English but with a tight mouth
v
voir (to see), see), vivre (to live)
Same as English v
(soft)
(cider),, silence (silence) cidre (cider)
When paired with an e, i, y, it’s a soft s sound like in English
c
sucre (sugar) (sugar),, café (coffee)
When followed by a consonant or the vowels a, o , u, it sounds like a k
ç
ça (that) (that),, garçon (boy)
It sounds like an s
c
(hard)
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Listen
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c+h c+ h
château (castle) (castle),, charisme (charisma)
Same as the sh in shake shake.. In some loanwords (from Greek), it’s a k sound sound
g
gentil (nice) (nice),, gilet (cardigan)
When followed by an e, i, y it’s similar to the g the g sound sound in English like in gen in genre re
g
gâteau (cake) (cake),, grand.e (big, tall)
When followed by an a, r, o, it’s similar to g sound f the g the sound in English like in gol in golf
g +n
champagne (champagne) (champagne),, gagner (to win)
Almost always found in middle of words, it’s like gn sound lasagna (with the gn the sound in lasagna (with a few exceptions)
h
homme (man) (man),, huit (eight)
The letter h in French is always silent. Consider it a mute sound
l
livre (book) (book),, lune (moon)
Same as the l sound in English
ll
lle (girl) (girl),, elle (she)
Between an i and an e, it sounds like the y the y in yes in yes (some exceptions), otherwise it sounds like an l
l
bal (ball) (ball),, ail (garlic)
At the end of words, it’s often pronounced like an l, except with semi-vowels, then same pronunciation as above
m
mec (guy) (guy),, comme (like) (like),, ami (friend)
Same sound as the m sound in mom mom when when the m starts words, is doubled in the middle of a word, or in between two syllables
n
nu.e (naked) (naked),, année (year) (year),, canard (duck)
The n sound behaves the same way as m (see above)
p
pomme (apple), après (after)
Pronounced like a p in English
q
qui (who) (who),, cinq (ve)
q is always pronounced like a k . Almost always paired with a u, and rarely found by itself
r
(red),, plaisir (pleasure) (pleasure),, rouge (red) parler (to speak)
r at at the start or middle of a is pronounced audibly and distinctively, less so at the end of a word, and is silent in -IR and -ER innitive verbs
s
sain (healthy) (healthy),, poison (poison) (poison),, poisson (sh)
At the start of a word, s sounds like the English s. Within words, s makes a z a z sound, sound, but when doubled, it remains an s sound
t
tante (aunt) (aunt),, patience (patience) (patience),, tout (all)
t sounds sounds like a t like like in team team in in most words. t can can also sound like an s when followed by ion, ien, ia, ie. ie.
w
wagon (wagon) (wagon),, wi (wi)
It can sound like an English v or or a w depending depending on the word (and if it’s a loanword)
x
examen (exam) (exam),, sexe (sex) (sex),, dix (ten)
3 ways to say x in French: sounds like a [gz], [ks] or and s sound
y
on y va (let’s go), go), yeux (eyes)
Y is ee.. At the is a preposition by itself and is pronounced ee llow w start or certain words, it’s the sound of the y the y in ye in yello
z
zèbre (zebra) (zebra),, assez (enough)
At the start of words, z words, z has has the same sound as the z. English z. At the end of words, z English words, z is is often silent
(soft)
(hard)
(nal)
Les consonnes muettes silent consonants Six consonants are usually silent at the end of a word (they may be subject to liaison, described in Thème 2): d (grand - tall tall), ), p (beaucoup - a lot ), ), s (trois - three three), ), t (petit - small small), ), x (prix - price price), ), z (riz - rice rice))
L’accentuation stress Unlike in English, in French we stress (or accentuate) the nal syllable of a word Parris Vs. Pa
Paris
Normandie Vs.
Normandy
In sentences, stress is placed on the nal syllable of the phrase. (In English, words retain their individual stress in a sentence) Je visite la ville de Paris. Vs.
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I’m visiting the city of Paris.
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Table des Matières Table of Contents Contents 13
THEME 1
The Basics 14
The geography of France
14
Introduction
15
L’alphabet
16
Denite and indenite articles (le/la/les/une/un/des)
16
Cities and places in France
17
THEME 2
Identity & Greetings Greetings 18
ID Card
18
How to introduce yourself
19
Numbers 1-20 1-20 | Verbs: être & avoir | Regular -ER verbs: parler & habiter
20
Preposition à | Contracted article article | Liaison
21
Jobs and nationalities
22
Greetings and manners (tu vs. vous)
23
Addressing someone you don’t know
24
THEME 3
Paris Pa ris & Tran Transportation sportation 25
Paris districts (arrondissements) & monuments
26
Conversations in public transportation (subway, taxi, bus, biking or walking)
26
Means of transportation & Directions
27
Verbs: prendre, aller, faire | 3 ways to ask questions questions | Prepositions for places
27
Fun facts about the Parisian subway
28
THEME 4
Accommodation Acco mmodation 29
Hotel conversation
30
Verbs: dormir, partir, devoir | Locution il y a | How to ask for the time
31
Negation (ne…pas)
31 32
Hotel vocabulary vocabulary | Accommodation Accommodation | Moments of the day Hotels in Paris
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Table des Matières Table of Contents Contents 33
THEME 5
At the Bakery & Café Café 34
Conversation at the bakery and at a café
35
Breakfast pastries pastries | Breads and coffees
36
Verb: vouloir | Adverbs
37
Tense: Near future fu ture (le futur proche)
37
What not to say at a bakery, café and restaurant!
38
THEME 6
At the Restaur Restaurant ant / Bar 39
Dialogue at a restaurant with a server
40
Partitive article (de la, du, de l’, des, de, d’) | Expressions with avoir
41
Tense: Conditional (le conditionnel)
41 42
Vegetables | Fruits Vegetables Fruits | Restaurant menu items
43
Cécilia’s dad’s dad’s restaurant in Paris (Le Colimaçon) and a secret password to get VIP treatment there
44
Meals of the day day | Paying at a restaurant
THEME 7
Cultural places 45
Conversation at the museum
46
Demonstrative Demonstrativ e adjectives (ce, cet, cette, ces)
47
The imperative mode
47
Types of cultural places places | Museum vocabulary
48
Paris museum recommendations recommendations | Types of museum tickets in France
49
THEME 8
Shopping 50
Conversation at the clothing store store | Conversation between friends
51
Reexive verbs
52
Verbs for shopping
53
Qualifying and possessive adjectives (mon, ma, mes, ton, ta, tes, son, sa, ses )
53
Clothing items items | Beauty Beauty | The bookstore
54
French slang slang | Where to shop in Paris (best streets and store recommendations) recommendations)
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Table des Matières Table of Contents 55
THEME 9
Emergency Emerg ency kit 56
Numbers to call in France in case of an emergency
57
How to make an appointment appointment | Dialogue at the doctor’s ofce
58
Modal verbs (devoir, falloir, pouvoir)
59
How to express pain with avoir
59
Health issues issues | Types of doctors doctors | Self-care places
60
THEME 10
French Fr ench in real real life life 61
Speak like a native (expressions, slang, and curse words)
62
French music
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thÈme 1
Les Bases The Basics
La Carte de France The map of France
Communication Bienvenue!
Tap here to listen to le dialogue
Welcome!
Bonjour,, je m’appelle Cécilia et je viens de Paris. Bonjour Hello, my name is Cécilia and I’m from Paris.
Coucou (inf.), moi c’est Marie-Lola et je viens du Sud de la France. Hi, I’m Marie-Lola and I’m from the South of France.
Et toi? Tu viens d’où? (inf.) And An d you you?? Wher Where e are are yo you u fro from? m?
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thÈme 1
14
L’alphabet The alphabet Let’s practice what you just learned in the pronunciation guide as we go through each letter of the alphabet in French. Every word below is associated with Paris, whether it is a monument, a school, a museum or a French brand.
A
Arrondissement
B
Bistro
C
Cimetière Père-Lachaise
D
Défense
E
Elysée
F
Faubourg Saint-Honoré
G
Grand Palais
H
Halles
I
Institut du Monde Arabe
J
Jardin du Luxembourg
K
Kiosque
L
Louvre
M
Musée
N
Notre-Dame de Paris
O
Opéra Garnier
P
Panthéon
Q
Quai D’Orsay
R
Musée Rodin
S
Sacré-Cœur
T
Tour Eiffel
U
Université de la Sorbonne
V
Versailles
W
Wagon de métro
X
L’école X
Y
Yves Saint Laurent
Z
Zoo de Vincennes
Tap here for la prononciation From top: la rive gauche - the left bank (7ème (7ème arrondissement), Cécilia at Le Jardin du Luxembourg, Croissant in front La Bourse subway station, Cécilia and her wife Criselis at La Place des Vosges, le musée d’Orsay, la tour Eiffel, La Bonne Franquette in Montmartre
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de l’alphabet
If you’re planning a trip to Paris and would like to experience the French capital like a Parisian, check the guide Hello Paris!
thÈme 1
15
Vocabulaire le pays the country une carte a map un euve a river des montagnes mountains la mer Méditerranée the Mediterranean sea la Manche the English channel
l’océan Atlantique une ville un village une frontière une île
the Atlantic ocean a city a village a border an island
la ville the city un monument un musée un jardin un quartier
a monument a museum a garden a neighborhood
une gare un cimetière une cathédrale une école
a train station a cemetery a cathedral a school
Grammaire In French, we always use an article in front of a noun (or another determiner). determiner). In this book, you will see either a denite or indenite article preceding nouns. This will indicate their gender. gender. Both the denite and the indenite article can be used depending on the context. The denite article must be used when it refers to a concept, a broad category or a specic place.
Article défini definite article It refers to a person or a thing that is identied or specied
The
Singulier
Féminin
Pluriel
La Less Le
Masculin
Le
Article indéfini indefinite article It refers to a person or a thing that is unidentied or unspecied
Féminin
a / an
some (or no article at all)
Singulier
Pluriel
Une Des
Masculin
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Un
thÈme 1
16
thÈme 2
Identité et Salutations Identity Ide ntity & Greetin Greetings gs
Identité ID Card Card Attention !
*French people can have various middle names. Sometimes it can be the names of their grandparents, grandparen ts, for example. **Note that in France, we write dates in this order: DD/MM/YY. The day comes rst, then the month, and nally the year.
NOM NO M
Dubois
Nationalité
Française
Last name / Surname
Nationality
Prénoms
Date de naissance
Florence, Sylvie, Louise
16/01/1994
*
First names
Sexe
Birth date
Féminin
Gender
Taille
1.65 m
Height
Communication How to introduce yourself:
Je m’appelle Florence Dubois.
Tap here to listen
My name is Florence Dubois.
to l’introduction ↳ Slow French in
Je suis une femme / un homme / une personne non-binaire.
↳ Native Speed Speed
I am a woman / a man / non-binary non-binary..
Je suis française (f.) I am French.
J’ai vingt-neuf ans.
Attention !
I am 29 years old.
Je suis professeur professeure e (f.) de français.
Note that we use the verb to have (avoir) in French to express age, not to be (être) like in English. How do you feel about this linguistic difference? Do you prefer the concept of ‘having ’ or ‘being ‘being ’ your age?
I am a French teacher.
Je parle français et anglais. I speak French and English.
J’habite à Cannes. I live in Cannes.
@HELLOFRENCHNYC
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Grammaire COMPTER JUSQU’À Count until 20 Numbers are essential to learn, especially when you visit a French speaking country. You’ll need them to understand and express the time of day, dates, and the cost of things, for example. 1
Un
11
Onze
2
Deux
12
Douze
3
13
4
Trois Trois Quatre Quatre
14
Treize Treize Quatorze Quatorze
5
Cinq Cinq
15
Quinze Quinze
6
Six Six
16
Seize Seize
7
Sept Sept
17
Dix-sept Dix-sept
8
Huit Huit
18
Dix-huit Dix-huit
9
Neuf Neuf
19
Dix-neuf Dix-neuf
Dix
20
Vingt
10
Tap here for la
Verbes
prononciation from ↳ 1 - 10 ↳ 11 - 20
ÊTRE to be
AVOIR to have
Je suis suis Tu es Il/elle/on/iel est est Nous sommes sommes Vous êtes êtes Ils/elles/iels sont
J’ai J’ai Tu as as Il/elle/on/iel a Nous avons avons Vous avez avez Ils/elles/iels on ontt
ÊTRE et AVOIR are the two most common verbs in French. They are used as single verb but can also be used in past tenses as an ‘auxiliary’ verb (a helping verb) like in the passé composé (we will cover this tense in Le Bouquin Volume 2). The conjugation of these two verbs is very irregular, so you must learn them by heart.
REGULAR VERBS As mentioned in the Preface there are three groups groups of verbs in French. Le premier groupe (the rst group) is group) is composed of regular verbs ending in -ER. Some of them include: manger - to eat , marcher - to walk , parler - to talk , écouter - to listen, listen, habiter - to live. To conjugate a regular -ER verb you need to replace la terminaison (the ending) “ ending) “er” by the corresponding ending for each subject pronoun you’ll see below:
LES TERMINAISONS DES VERBES EN ER AU PRÉSENT endings of -ER verbs in the present tense: tense: Je Tu Il/elle/on/iel Nous Vous
e s e ons ez
Ils/elles/iels
entt en
Exemple: Exemp le:
parler to speak
Je parl parle e Tu parle parless Il/elle/on/iel parl parle e Nous parl parlons ons Vous parl parlez ez Ils/elles/iels parl parlent ent
Tap here to listen to
être, avoir, parler
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Try to practice and conjugate manger - to eat , marcher - to walk , écouter - to listen. listen. Just replace the -ER ending with the correct ending just like you see below with the verb habiter:
HABITER to live
Attention !
J’habite J’habit e Tu habit habites es Il/elle/on/iel habit habite e Nous habi habittons ons Vous habit habitez ez Ils/elles/iels habit habitent ent
In J’habite the J’ apostrophe is called an elision. An elision consists in replacing the nal vowel of a word with an apostrophe when it is placed in front of a word beginning with a vowel or a silent h. Examples: Examples: J’ai 30 ans I am 30, 30, l’amour - love love,, l’histoire - the story , l’animal - the animal. animal. Elisions are sometimes mandatory, sometimes optional, and sometimes absent, depending on the words, context, and register (formal or informal).
We use the preposition à often in French. It can mean ‘at ’,’, ‘to’, and ‘in’ Here are a few examples on how we use it:
Location:
Going towards a location:
Indicates a time:
J’habite à Paris
Je vais à Paris
Je mange à midi
I live in Paris
I go/am going to Paris
I eat at noon
A contracted article (un article contracté) is formed with the preposition à and a denite article le, la, les, l’. We contract the article in front of a noun to simplify pronunciation. à + le = au
à + les = aux
à + la = stays the same à la la
Exemples: Exemp les:
Ils sont au au cinéma cinéma
Tu es aux aux toilettes toilettes
Elle est à la la boulangerie
They are at the movie theater
You are in the restrooms
She is at the bakery
Prononc Pr ononciatio iation n LIAISON The liaison is a rule in French pronunciation. When a word ends with a silent consonant (like mon = my , where the n is silent) and is followed by a word that begins with a vowel (such as argent = money ), ), we often pronounce the silent consonant (oui, there are some exceptions). So the n in mon will be voiced and connected to the a of argent. That is what we call “liaison” (linking).
Mon argent → My money Tap to hear it
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Exemples: Exempl es:
les adultes
the adults
The s becomes a ‘z’ sound. Note that the liaison with ‘s’ is the most common
mon petit ami
my boyfriend
The ‘t’ sounds like ‘t’
deux amis
two friends
The ‘x’ sounds like ‘z’ Tap to hear the liaison the
un grand homme
a great man
The ‘d’ sounds like ‘t’
Let’s prac practice tice liason liason in in a sentence now:
Deux amis sont au restauran restaurant: t: un anglais et un américain. Ils habitent à Paris.
Two friends are at a restaurant: an English and an American. They live in Paris.
Vocabulaire You will see below that we use inclusive writing to represent both the feminine and masculine genders for profess professions ions and nationalities nationalities..
Exemples de professions Examples of jobs
Inrmier.ère Journaliste Photographe Banquier.ère Professeur.e Vendeur.euse Chef.fe Serveur.euse
nurse journa jou rnalis listt photographer banker teacher sales associate/clerk chef waiter/server
Exemples de nationalités Examples of nationalities
américain.e anglais.e australien.ne canadien.ne japona jap onais. is.e e mexicain.e sud-africain.e
Americ Ame rican an
South african
Notice that in French we do not capitalize nationalities when they are adjectives. For example, in the sentence Je suis américain - I I am American American (m.). or Le vin français est délicieux - French wine is delicious. delicious. However, when you use nationalities as proper nouns, capitalization occurs. Example:
indien.ne
Indian
- Au Austr stralia alians ns are nice nice.. Les Australiens sont gentils. -
Attention !
English Aust Au stral ralian ian Canadian Japane Jap anese se Mexican
@HELLOFRENCHNYC
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Salutations Greetings Tu and Vous are subject pronouns and both mean “ you you” in French. The use of one pronoun versus the other depends on who you are and who you are talking to.
Vous
formal “you”
for Spanish speakers, this is the equivalent of ‘usted’
Tu
informal “you”
for Spanish speakers, speakers, this is the equivalent of ‘tu’
Below,, is a visual Below vi sual aid that will help you choose between bet ween tu and vous in context. Who you are (your age) and who you are addressing (their age and relationship to you) and whether they are alone or in a group are all important considerations when choosing the right subject pronoun.
tu
OR
VOUS?
tu
situation informelle informal situation
vous
situation formelle formal situation
je suis I am
un enfant
un adulte
a child
an adult
des enfants
des enfants
children
children
famille + amis
famille + amis
family + friends
family + friends
des collègues
autres adultes
colleagues
other adults
des supérieurs bosses
des inconnus strangers (especially if they’re older than you)
un group a group (two people or more)
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How Ho w to gre greet et in Fr French: ench: Quand je rencontre quelqu’un
Quand je pars
When I meet someone
When I leave
Bonjour Salut (inf.) Coucou (inf.) Bonsoir Vous allez bien ? (for.)
Hello
Have a good evening
How are you?
Bonne soirée Bonne nuit Au revoir ! À bientôt ! À plus tard !
Ça va bien ? / Ça va ? (inf.)
How are you?
À lundi
See you Monday
Hi / Hey Hi / Hey (inf.) Good evening
Good night Good bye See you soon See you later
French people also sometimes say ‘Bye’, ‘Salut’ and ‘Ciao’ to say goodbye informally. informally.
Do I give a hug when meeting/leaving people ?
Tap here to listen
No, not usually!
greetings & manners
INFORMAL SETTING
se faire la bise - to kiss each other (on each cheek)
(friends, family members, acquaintances)
the number of bises (kisses) is usually 2 (one on each cheek) but in some regions/cities, it can be 3 or even 4
FORMAL SETTING
se serrer la main - to shake hands
(work environment, with people you jus justt met met or sho show w resp respect ect))
Manners Ma nners merci merci beaucoup je vou vouss reme remerc rcie ie (for.) encore merci
you’ yo u’re re we welco lcome me
thank you thank you very/so much thank you thank you again
de rien (the most common) je vo vous us en pri prie e (the most formal way to say it) je t’ t’en en pri prie e (polite but used in informal settings) avec plaisir (literally “with pleasure” )
Culture In French, we have two verbs to describe the act of addressing someone with tu or vous: tutoyer or vouvoyer. When you’d like to switch from vous to tu once you feel comfortable enough with the person you’re exchanging with, you can ask them:
On peut se tutoyer? - which would translate to something like: Can we say “tu” to each other?
@HELLOFRENCHNYC
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Paris et less Tr le Trans anspo ports rts Paris P aris & Public Transpo ansportati rtations ons
La Carte de Paris The map of Paris
Les monume monuments: nts: L’Arc L’ Arc de Triomphe
Le Louvre
La Place de la République
Le Grand Palais
La basilique du Sacré Cœur
Le Moulin Rouge
Le Centre Pompidou
La tour Eiffel
La tour Montparnasse
Le Jardin du Luxembourg
Le Panthéon
Notre-Dame de Paris
Les arro arrondisse ndissements ments Paris is divided into 20 urban administr administrative ative districts called arrondissement, each having its own particularities, feel and attractions. We use les adjectifs ordinaux to name them (ordinal adjectives are used to classify in numerical order and are formed by adding ‘ième’ to the number). Premier is the only exception.
Adjectifs Ordinaux
e ième (th) 1er premier 2e deuxième 3e 4e 5e 6e
troisième quatrième cinquième sixième
@HELLOFRENCHNYC
7e septième 8e huitième 9e neuvième 10e 10e 11e 11 e 12e 12 e 13e 13 e
dixième onzième douzième treizième
14e quatorzième 15e quinzième 16e seizième 17e 17e 18e 19e 20e 20 e
dix-septième dix-huitième dix-neuvième
To understand the various districts in Paris and get special recommendations on what to visit, you can get the guide Hello Paris! Tap here for
la prononciation
vingtième
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Communication le metro the subway
le taxi the taxi
Je prends le métro.
Bonjour, où allez-vous ? (for.) / vous allez où ? (inf.)
I am taking the subway.
Hello, where are you going ?
Je suis à la station de métro St-Michel.
Bonjour, 15 rue Beauregard. Merci !
I am at the Saint-Michel train station.
Hello, 15 Beauregard Street. Thank you!
Je prends la ligne 12 vers Mairie d’Issy. I am taking the 12 line towards Mairie d’Issy.
À PIED on foot Comment on va à la station Bastille ?
vÉlo bike On fait du vélo sur le pont.
How do we get to the Bastille subway stop?
We are biking on the bridge.
You go straight.
Vous allez tout droit.
Tap here to listen to le dialogue
Vocabulaire le métro le bus le train une ligne un arrêt la carte le vélo la trottinette un trajet / une itinéraire
the subway
aller tout droit tourner à gauche tourner à droite traverser la rue
to go straight
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the bus the train a metro line a stop the map the bike the scooter an itinerary
to turn left to turn right to cross the street
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Grammaire Verbes PRENDre to take
ALLER to go
faire to do
Je prends Tu prends Il/elle/on/iel prend
Je vais Tu vas Il/elle/on/iel va
Je fais Tu fais Il/elle/on/iel fait
Nous prenons Vous prenez Ils/elles/iels prennent
Nous allons Vous allez ils/elles/iels vont
Nous faisons Vous faites Ils/elles/iels font
Questions
There are 3 ways to ask questions in French:
With Wi th an in inte tero rog gat ativ ive e adv adver erb: b:
With Wi th ‘E ‘Est st-c -ce e que que’: ’:
With a rising intonation:
(answer is always OUI or NON)
Où vas-tu Où vas-tu ?* / Tu vas où où ? ?
Est-ce que tu que tu vas à la gare ?
Tu vas à la gare ? (inf.)
Where are you going ?
Are yo you u goin going g to to the the tr train ain st stat ation ion? ?
You’re going to the train station?
*We invert the subject (tu) and the verb (vas) for questions in formal/ written French and we start with the interrogative interrogativ e adverb.
Prépos Pr éposition itionss vers sur dans
towards
de is also a preposition, and we use it often in
on
French! It can mean of, from, about, by, with and with and
in
replaces the ’s after a noun (to express possession).
Exemples: Exempl es:
Je vais vers vers la la gare.
Culture
I am going towards the train station.
Elle arrive dans dans 5 5 minutes. She is coming in 5 min.
Je fais de la trotinette sur sur le le trottoir. I use my scooter on the sidewalk.
Tap here to listen to les verbes,
questions, prépositions
@HELLOFRENCHNYC
Did you know know? ? There are 14 subway lines in Paris (and most of them don’t have AC!) with over 300 stations.
The train “Porte desused Lilas-cinema” was closed in station 1989 and is now by directors to shoot movie scenes in the Parisian subway.
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Hébergements Accommo Ac commodatio dation n
Communication Conversation à l’hôtel hotel conversation Bonjour, nous avons une réservation.
Tap here to listen to le dialogue
Hello, we have a reservation/bo reservation/booking. oking.
Bonjour, à quel nom ? Hello, under what name?
Desage.
Vous restez combien de nuits ? How many nights are you staying?
On reste trois nuits. We’re staying three nights.
D’accord. Alrigh Alr ightt / Ok.
Est-ce que vous avez une pièce d’identité et une carte bancaire ? Do you have ID and a credit card?
Voilà. Est-ce Est-ce qu’il y a un téléphone et le wi dans la chambre ? Here you go. Is there a phone and wi in the bedroom?
Oui, bien sûr madame. Yes, of course, ma’am.
Est-ce que le petit déjeuner est inclus ? Is breakfast included?
Oui, le petit déjeuner est inclus et servi ser vi de 7h (sept heures) à 10h (dix heures) le matin. Yes, breakfast is included and served from 7 am to 10 am every morning.
Merci. Est-ce qu’il y a une piscine dans l’hôtel ? Thanks. Is there a pool in the hotel?
Non, il n’y a pas de piscine mais nous avons un spa. No, there isn’t a pool but we have a spa.
Ah d’accord, merci beaucoup ! Ah ok, tha thank nk yo you u so so much much!!
@HELLOFRENCHNYC
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Grammaire Verbes DORMIR to sleep
PARTIR to leave
DEVOIR have to
Je dors Tu dors Il/elle/on/iel dort dort
Je pars Tu pars pars Il/elle/on/iel part part
Je dois Tu dois dois Il/elle/on/iel doit doit
Nous dormons dormons Vous dormez Ils/elles/iels dorment
Nous partons partons Vous partez partez Ils/elles/iels partent
Nous devons devons Vous devez devez Ils/elles/iels doivent
LOCUTION: IL Y A The expression il y a can mean there is and is and there are. are. Most of the time, it is followed by an indenite article + noun OR a number + noun.
Exemples: Exemp les:
Il y a une a une piscine dans l’hôtel.
Il y a dix a dix chambres dans le château.
There is a pool in the hotel.
There are ten bedrooms in the castle.
What time is it? In French, when we ask for the time we ask for the hour:
Quelle heure est- il ? (for.) / Quelle heure il est ? (inf.) (inf.) / Il est quelle heure ? (inf.) What time is it?
Il est 9h15 ( neuf neuf heures et quart, which means nine hours and a quarter)
Tap here for
It’s 9:15 AM
la prononciation
9h30
Neuf heures et demi
9h45
Dix heures moins le quart
22h10**
Vingt-deux heures dix
Attention !
*Don’t forget the liaison between the number and heures (the silent h). In the above example, the “f” in neuf transforms into a “v” sound when the liaison happens. **In France we use the military time to indicate the hour of the day. For example, example, 4 am is 4h (quatre heures) and 4 pm is 16h (seize heures).
L’horloge du musée d’Orsay - The clock of the Orsay museum
@HELLOFRENCHNYC
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Négation: Nég ation: ‘ne’ ‘ne’ [...] [...] ‘pas’ ‘pas’ The easy way to form a negative sentence is to add the adverb pas (not) (not) after after the verb in spoken French.
Je (ne) dors pas. I do not sleep.
Attention !
Nous (ne) partons pas. We do not leave.
Elle (ne) parle pas anglais.
The ne is optional in spoken French. Most French native speakers omit the ne and we only use it in a formal setting/ written form. Similarly in English, we rarely say do not for for negations. Instead we contract it and say don’t when when we speak.
She doesn’t speak English.
On (ne) mange pas le soir. We don’t eat in the evening.
Vocabulaire Hébergements accomodation un hôtel
a hotel
une auberge un appartement une maison un immeuble un airbnb une location un château
an inn / hostel an apartment
Une chambre à l’Hôtel Amour - A room in Hotel Amour
a house a building an airbnb a rental a castle
À l’hôtel at the hotel la réception
the reception
un lit simple
twin size bed
la clé la chambre la salle de bain les toilettes la piscine
the key the room
un lit double un lit king size des serviettes un balcon un sèche-cheveux
queen size bed king size bed
the bathroom the restrooms/toilets the pool
towels a balcony a hair dryer
Moments de la journée moments of the day le matin le midi l’après-midi
the morning
le soir la nuit
the evening the night
midday (noon) the afternoon
@HELLOFRENCHNYC
Tap here to listen to le vocabulaire
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Culture Did you know know? ? There are over 1,500 hotels in Paris so you will have many choices when you visit! Depending on your budget, you can nd many options (from renting a whole apartment with Paris Perfect to staying at a small Boutique hotel like Adèle & Jules, or even staying at a 5-star hotel such as Le Crillon). You can nd a list of hotel recommendations recommendations in the guide Hello Paris!
Restaurant L’Oiseau Blanc at Le Peninsula
Hôtel Amour
Hôtel de Crillon
Hôtel Molitor
@HELLOFRENCHNYC
Hôtel Lutetia
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Boula ulang ngeri erie e À laetBo au Café At the Bake Bakery ry & Café Café
Communication À LA BOULANGERIE at the bakery: Bonjour, une baguette s’il vous plaît.
Tap here to listen to le dialogue
Hi, a baguette please.
Et avec ceci ? Anythi An ything ng els else? e?
Je vais prendre un croissant aussi, s’il vous plaît. I’ll have a croissant as well, please. ( je vai vaiss pren prendre dre literally means “I will take”)
Et voici, 2€40 s’il vous plaît. Here you go, 2€40 please.
Merci, bonne journée ! Thank you, have a good day!
AU CAFÉ at the café: Bonjour, je vais prendre un café s’il vous plaît. Hi, I’ll have an espresso please.
Très bien, est-ce que vous voulez aussi un verre d’eau ? Very well, do you want a glass of water as well?
Oui, merci beaucoup. Yes, thank you very much.
Avec plaisir. You’re welcome. welco me.
You’ll notice that we are teaching you the two ways most French natives order items at boulangeries, cafés, and restaurants:
Tap here to listen to Cécilia order a croissant in a boulangerie in France.
1. Je vais prendre + [the item] + s’il vous plaît 2. [the item] + s’il vous plaît #1 is more formal than #2 because you make a complete sentence with a verb. If you feel comfortable enough with the person who serves you, you can try #2 (but make sure to end with “please”!)
@HELLOFRENCHNYC
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Vocabulaire VIENNOISERIES breakfast pastries
un croissant
un pain au chocolat
un chausson aux pommes
un pain aux raisins
a croissant
a chocolate croissant
an apple turnover
a raisin bread
PAINS breads
une baguette a baguette (daily white bread most French people eat, about 1 euro)
une celle
un pain complet
a crispy and thin baguette
a wholewheat bread
(if you’re not a fan of “la mie”, the inside of the bread, this is for you!)
une baguette (de) tradition
une brioche a brioche bread
un pain de campagne
a gourmet baguette (a little more expensive than a regular baguette due to the time it takes and the ingredients used to make them)
a country bread (usually made with sourdough)
Tap here for
la mie
the white part of the bread (inside)
la croûte le crouton
the crust (outer layer of bread) the very end of the baguette
la prononciation
Watch Cécilia describe her favorite pastries pastries
(the favorite part for many French people!)
CAFÉS coffees un café un café serré un café allongé un grand crème un cappuccino un thé une tisane le sucre un verre d’eau
a coffee (an espresso) a coffee (a ristretto) a long black coffee (or americano) a coffee with milk (swirled (swirled milk) same as everywhere! a tea an herbal tea sugar
un jus d’orange le lait le lait d’avoine le lait d’amande le lait de soja le lait de riz le lait de coco le lait de noisette
an orange juice milk oat milk almond milk soy milk rice milk coconut milk hazelnut milk
a glass of water
@HELLOFRENCHNYC
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Be careful! If you ask for un café in France, they’ll bring you an espresso! France usually only has ltered coffee in specialty coffee shops.
Attention !
France has started to offer various milk options (but not everywhere). ever ywhere). Here’s Here’s how you can ask:
Vous avez du lait végétal ? Vous avez du lait d’amande ?
Do you have plant-based milk? Do you have almond milk?
Grammaire Verbes VOULOIR to want
Exemples: Exempl es:
Vous voulez plus de pain ? Do you want more bread?
Je veux Tu veux veux Il/elle/on/iel veut veut Nous voulons voulons Vous voulez voulez Ils/elles/iels veulent veulent
Oui, nous voulons du beurre aussi, merci ! Yes, we want some butter too, thank you!
Adverbe Ad verbess Adverbs are words that modify the meaning of a verb, an adjective, a noun or another adverb. They usually appear after the verb and are invariable (they do not agree in number or gender). Here are a few common adverbs:
De quantité - quantity:
De temps - time:
De négation - negation:
beaucoup
a lot / many
hier
yest ye ster erda dayy
non plus
peu moins plus trop très
little less
aujourd’hui demain avant après bientôt
today tomorrow
more too much very
before after soon
De fréquence - frequency:
De manière - manner:
toujours souvent parfois de temps en temps rarement jamais jam ais
mal bien mieux presque plutôt vite
@HELLOFRENCHNYC
always often sometimes from time to time rarely never
either / neither
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badly,, poorly badly well better almost rather quickly
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All the -ly adverbs adverbs in English, translate into -ment in French:
vraiment seulement certainement lentement gentiment doucement
really
Exemples: Exempl es:
only
Je veux beaucoup beaucoup de de chocolat. I want a lot of chocolate.
certainly/for sure
Aujourd’hui, je veux vraiment vraiment voir voir ma soeur.
slowly
Today, I really want to see my sister.
nicely
Parfois, je dors mal mal la la nuit.
softly
Sometimes, I sleep poorly at night.
Le futur futur pr proche oche Let’s learn a new tense! We’ve been using the present tense so far, but if you need to express something that you are going to do in the near future you can use le futur proche. How to build the FUTUR PROCHE: ALLER (conjugated in the present tense) + infinitive of the action verb (Check Thème 3 for how to conjugate aller )
Examples Examp les with regul regular ar -ER verbs:
Je vais marcher lentement dans la rue.
Nous allons certainement danser après.
I am going to walk slowly in the street.
We are certainly going to dance afterward.
Tu vas mieux manger ce soir.
Vous allez vraiment aimer ce café.
You are going to eat better tonight.
You guys are really going to like this coffee shop.
Iel (n-b) va parler un peu demain.
Elles vont beaucoup rééchir rééchir cette nuit.
They are going to talk a little tomorrow.
They are going to think a lot tonight.
Note that we translated the French near future to “going to + [verb]” but you can also translate to “will + [verb]” depending on the context.
Culture When you arrive at a bakery, café, restaurant or bar in France, don’t ask the waiter how they are doing (Ça va?? - How are you? ) since it is considered too informal va (it should be used with people you already know). Simply say Bonjour or Bonsoir, ask what you want, want, and end your sentence with s’il vous plaît (please) (please).. For recommendations of the best Parisian boulangeries and cafés, check the guide Hello Paris!
@HELLOFRENCHNYC
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Auu Rest Restau aurrant / Bar A At the Resta Restaur urant ant / Bar
Communication conversation au restaurant conversation at the restaurant AU DÉBUT DÉBUT - at the beginning Bonsoir, est-ce que vous avez une table pour deux, s’il vous plaît ? Hi, do you have a table for two, please?
Bonsoir, vous avez une réservation ? Hi, do you have a reservation?
Non. No.
D’accord, suivez-moi. suivez-moi. Et voici notre menu et notre carte des vins. Ok, follow me. And here’s our menu and our wine list.
PENDANT - during Est-ce que je peux prendre la commande des boissons ? Can I take your drink order?
Oui, je voudrais un verre de vin rouge, s’il vous plaît. Je voudrais aussi un verre d’eau, merci. Yes, can I have a glass of red wine, please. And I would also like a glass of water, thanks.
Ok, et pour vous ? Ok, and for you?
Je vais prendre une bière blonde, s’il vous plaît. I’ll have a beer (ale/pale ale type), please.
APRÈS - after Excusez-moi, est-ce qu’on peut avoir l’addition s’il vous plaît ? Excuse-me, can we have the check/bill, please?
Oui, j’arrive tout de suite. Yes, I’ll be right with you.
On va payer par carte. We’ll pay with a credit card.
Ça marche! Je viens avec la machine. Sounds good! I’ll come with the card terminal.
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Tap here to listen to
le dialogue between a
waiter and two friends at a restaurant
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Grammaire Article Art icle Partiti Partitif f In French, we use l’article partitif ( (partitive partitive article) article) in front of a noun that is uncountable (usually with food and drink and consumption related related verbs). English has no equivalent article, it may be translated into the word some or an any y . Note that in English, no words are needed to express a quantity that you can’t count: I eat avocado every week versus versus in French: Je mange de l’avocat l’avocat toutes les semaines.
L’article partitif “de” + article défini
Singulier
Féminin
De + la → De la
Masculin
De + le → Du
In front of a vowel:
Pluriel
Négatif
Des
De D’
De l’
Exemples: Exempl es: Are Ar e you you ha havin ving g sh sh? ?
For negative sentences the partitive articles transform into de or d’, even for plural nouns.
Vous mangez de la salade la salade ?
Exemples: Exempl es:
Are Ar e you you gu guys ys ea eatin ting g sala salad? d?
Je ne mange pas de de dessert. dessert.
Elle boit de l’eau. l’eau.
I don’t eat dessert.
She drinks water.
Il n’y a pas d’ d’amandes. amandes.
Iels mangent des des escargots. escargots.
There are no almonds.
Tu prends du du poisson poisson ?
They (n-b) eat snails.
Expressio Expr essions ns avec avec Av Avoir oir
In French we do not use the verb avoir ( (to to have) have) and être ( (to to be) be) the same way we do in English. For example, sometimes in French we use the verb avoir (to have) to have) to describe certain feelings when in English we would use to be. be.
J’ai faim
Tu as soif
Elle a un peu froid
On a très chaud
(avoir faim / to be hungry)
(avoir soif / to be thirsty)
(avoir froid / to be cold)
(avoir chaud / to be hot)
I am hungry
You are thirsty
She is a little cold
We are very hot
We also use the verb avoir to express when we need something with the expression avoir besoin de:
J’ai besoin de dormir. (besoin de/d’ + verbe)
J’ai besoin d’amour. (besoin de/d’ + nom)
I need to sleep.
I need love.
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Le Conditi Conditionnel onnel Le temps ou le mode conditionnel (the conditional tense or mode) expresses mode) expresses actions that are subject to a condition or that are hypothetical. We also use it in formal situations to be polite. We construct it by adding the future tense stem of the verb to the imparfait (imperfect) (imperfect) tense ending. Imparfait is a French past tense, that describes states and actions that Attention !
were ongoing, repeated or habitual in the past (mostly in written context). You will learn this tense later with Le Bouquin Volume 2.
Examples Examp les of verbs conjugat conjugated ed in the the conditional conditional and present present tense:
VOULOIR au présent
VOULOIR au conditionnel
to want - present
would like - conditional
Je veux veux Tu veux veux Il/elle/on/iel veut veut Nous voulons voulons Vous voulez voulez Ils/elles/iels veulent veulent
Je voudrais Tu voudrais Il/elle/on/iel voudrait voudrait Nous voudrions voudrions Vous voudriez voudriez Ils/elles/iels voudraient
Exemples: Exemp les:
Je voudrais voudrais manger manger une entrecôte ce midi. I would like to eat a rib-eye steak tonight.
Elles aimeraient aimeraient aller aller au restauran restaurantt Le Colimaçon dans le Marais. They would like to go the restaurant Le Colimaçon in Le Marais.
J’aimerais J’ aimerais danser danser ce soir. I would like to dance tonight.
Vocabulaire LES LÉGUMES vegetables une courgette une tomate une aubergine un poivron une carotte
a zucchini a tomato an eplant a pepper a carrot
un concombre un radis les choux de bruxelles les épinards les haricots verts
a cucumber a radish brussel sprouts spinach green gr een bea beans ns
LES FRUITS fruits une pomme une fraise une framboise une banane un citron
an apple a strawberry a raspberry a banana a lemon
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un ananas une poire un avocat une pastèque des cerises
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a pineapple a pear an avocado a watermelon cherries
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LE MENU / LA CARTE the menu un apéritif un hors d’œuvre une entrée* un plat la viande le poisson les pâtes
pre-dinner drink an appetizer rst course/appetizer main course/dish meat sh pasta
un dessert le fromage une glace un gâteau une tarte un digestif un café gourmand
a dessert cheese an ice cream a cake a pie a post-dinner drink a dessert that consists of an espresso and 3-5 bite-sized desserts
*Not to be confused with the English word ‘entrée’ which means ‘main course’
LES BOISSONS drinks une bouteille d’eau une carafe d’eau l’eau gazeuse/plate le vin rouge/blanc/rosé/pétillant l’alcool un cocktail une bière un jus de fruits une limonade un citron pressé
Tap to watch restaurant items:
a bottle of water
↳ Part 1 ↳ Part 2
a pitcher of water sparkling/still water red/white/rose wine/sparkling wine alcohol a cocktail a beer a fruit juice a lemonade fresh squeezed lemons (home style lemonade)
Water at restaurants restaurants and bars is free and should shou ld be brought to your table. You should order une carafe ( (a a pitcher/carafe) pitcher/carafe) and not une bouteille ( (a a bottle) bottle) if you wish to have complimentary tap water water,, what we call l’eau du robinet in French.
Attention !
REPAS DE LA JOURNÉE meals of the day le petit déjeuner le déjeuner le goûter le dîner
breakfast lunch
Attention !
mid-afternoon mid-afterno on snack dinner
*In France, le pourboire (the tip) is tip) is included in your check. But, we highly encourage you to leave an extra tip, especially if you enjoyed your dining experience. Waiters are usually paid the minimum wage (or a bit over), so tip at least between 5% and 15%. For a memorable experience 20% ;)
AU RESTAURANT at the restaurant le pourboire payer/régler une carte bancaire des espèces du change l’addition
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the gratuity/tip to pay a credit card cash
**The way you ask for the check is by using the conditional: Je pourrais avoir l’addition s’il vous plaît ? (May I have the check, please?) Note that many French natives only say L’addition, L’ addition, s’il vous plait (The check, please). please). So if you feel comfortable enough with your waiter, you can skip the verb like the French do :) If you pay with cash, you can say Je vais payer par espèces (I’ll pay with cash). cash). If you pay with a credit card, you can say Je vais payer par carte (I’ll pay with a credit card) so card) so that they bring what’s needed to process your payment with your bill.
change the bill / the check
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Culture Did you know know? ? Le papa de Cécilia (Cécilia’s dad) has a restaurant in Paris! If you’re visiting the City of Light, she’d like to welcome you to Le Colimaçon, a traditional French bistro with a modern twist. Some of the signature dishes are:
Les croustilles d’escargots en persillade Snails wrapped in puff pastry with a parsley butter
Le pain perdu au foie gras, magret magret de canard fumé et sauce au miel Savory French toasts with smoked duck magret and honey sauce
La cuisse de lapin farcie aux pleurotes et roulée au lard Rabbit leg stuffed with oyster mushrooms and rolled in bacon
La noix d’entrecôte et frites fraîches Rib-eye steak with French fries
Le mi-cuit au chocolat ou la crème brûlée Chocolate lava cake or the crème brûlée When you book your table, table, make sure to write “Cécilia’s “Cécilia’s E-Book Guest ” in your reservation notes and mention it when you arrive at the restaurant. restaurant. The staff will gladly speak French to you if you say you’d like to practice what you are learning!
Le Colimaçon, 44 rue Vieille du Temple, 4e arrondissement Le Marais
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Lieux Cultur Culturels els Cultural Places
Communication AU MUSÉE at the museum CONVERSATION À LA BILLETTERIE - conversation at the ticket counter/ofce Bonjour,, combien coûtent deux billets adultes ? Bonjour Hello, how much are two adult tickets?
Bonjour, c’est 17 euros par billet plein tarif donc 34 euros en tout. Hello, it’s 17 euros for a full-price ticket, so 34 euros total.
D’accord, merci. Alors deux tickets s’il vous plaît. Alrigh Alr ight, t, tha thank nk yo you. u. So two tic tick ket ets, s, ple please ase..
Et voilà, avec le plan du musée. Here you go, with the museum map.
Merci, on peut aussi avoir le guide audio s’il vous plaît ? Combien ça coûte ? Thank you, can we also have the audio guide? How much does it cost?
C’est gratuit, les voici. Bonne visite ! It’s free, here they are. Enjoy your visit!
CONVERSATION DANS UNE GALERIE DU MUSÉE MUSÉE - conversation in a museum gallery Bonjour,, est-ce que vous savez où est la salle des antiquités égyptiennes ? Bonjour Hello, do you know where the Egyptian antiquities room is?
Continuez tout droit, traversez la salle des sculptures grecques et tournez à gauche. Go straight, go across the greek sculptures room and turn left.
Ah, d’accord, tout droit, puis à gauche. Merci ! Ah ok, st strai raigh ghtt then then le left. ft. Tha Thank nks! s!
Je vous en prie, bonne visite ! You’re welcome, enjoy!
Tap here to listen to le dialogue
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Grammaire Verbes In French, the verb to know can be two different dif ferent verbs: SAVOIR or CONNAÎTRE. They are NOT interchangeable as they each express knowledge but in a specic sense.
SAVOIR means:
1. to know (facts, data)information
OR
2. to how to do something (youknow must add an innitive verb after savoir)
Tu sais quelle heure il est ? (inf.)
Je sais parler français.
Do you know what time it is?
I know how to speak french. .
Ils savent si le musée est ouvert ? (inf.)
Ils savent aller au cinéma en métro.
Do they know if the museum is open?
They know how to go to the movie theater by subway.
Here is how to conjugate it:
SAVOIR to know Attention !
Je sais sais T u sais Il/elle/on/iel sait sait Nous savons savons Vous savez savez Ils/elles/iels savent
Note that we do not repeat comment ( (how how ) in French because it is part of the meaning of savoir (knowing how to = savoir + verb).
CONNAÎTRE It means to either know someone (you’ve met/seen them before), a place (you’ve been there before), or something (you’ve (you’ve used it) – it usually means to be familiar with something. Connaître is followed by a noun.
Exemples: Exemp les:
Elle connait ce chien ? Does she know this dog? (meaning: has she seen this dog before?)
Tu connais le musée Carnavalet ? Do you know the Carnavalet museum? (meaning: have you been there before?)
Tu connais ces tableaux du peintre Matisse ? Do you know these paintings by the painter Matisse? (meaning: have you heard of them before?)
Here is how to conjug conjugate ate it:
CONNAÎTRE to know (be familiar with) Je connais connais Tu connais Il/elle/on/iel connaît connaît Nous connaissons connaissons Vous connaissez connaissez Ils/elles/iels connaissent
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Adjectif Ad jectifss Démonstr Démonstratif atifss The adjectifs démonstratif démonstratifss (demonstrative adjectives) replace adjectives) replace an article to indicate a specic specic noun. noun. English
Singulier
English
Pluriel
Masculin
ce tableau cet* artiste
this/that painting this/that artist
ces dessins
these/those drawings
Féminin
cette comédienne cette exposition
this/that comedian this/that exhibition
ces peintures ces sculptures
these/those paintings these/those sculptures
*ce→ cet (masculine) in front of a vowel
L’Im L ’Impér pératif atif L’impératif (the imperative) is imperative) is a mode that we use for giving advice, commands or making requests requests.. It is the only mode where the verbs do not need a subject pronoun.
ALLER
OUBLIER
Présent de l’indicatif
Impératif: forme afrmative
Présent de l’indicatif
Impératif: forme négative
Tu vas
Va t’amuser !
Tu oublies
N’oublie pas N’oublie pas ton* livre !
you yo u go go
Go play!
you yo u for forge get t
Don’t forget your book!
Nous allons
Allons à Allons à Versailles !
Nous oublions
N’oublions pas N’oublions pas nos* tickets !
we go
Let’s go to Versailles!
we forget
Let’s not forget our tickets
Vous allez
Allez tout Allez tout droit
Vous oubliez
N’oubliez pas votre* appareil photo !
we go
Go straight
you yo u for forge get t
Don’t forget your camera!
*ton, nos, and votre are possessive adjectives, go to the next theme for more examples and explanations
Vocabulaire LIEUX CULTURELS cultural places le musée le château le théâtre le cinéma
the museum the castle the theater the cinema
la cathédrale l’église la salle de concert la salle de spectacle
the cathedral the church the concert venue the auditorium
AU MUSÉE at the museum un tableau un peintre une sculpture une oeuvre artistique une exposition un dessin
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a painting a painter a sculpture an artwork an exhibition a drawing
les antiquités les arts décoratifs l’art classique l’art moderne l’art contempor contemporain ain une entrée/un billet
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antiquities decorative decorat ive arts ar ts classic art modern art contemporary contem porary art ar t a ticket
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Culture In cultural places in France you can buy your ticket online to avoid having to wait at the ticket counter (we recommend buying a pass if that makes sense for your traveling plans). plans). For people under 26 years old or students (from the European Union), museums are often free.
This is what you might see regardin regarding g pricing: Billet Plein tarif Full price ticket for adults
Billet enfant / Jeunes moins de 18 ans Ticket for a child / people under 18 years old Some museums or places like le Louvre or Versailles can take days to visit if you want to see everything. We highly recommend you plan your museum visits to decide exactly what you want to see beforehand and book in advance. For example, there are over 130 museums in Paris, and many of them close on Monday or Tuesday so make sure you check the weekly closing days in advance. Some museums are free like le Musée de la ville de Paris (the museum of the city of Paris), Le Musée Carnavalet, La Maison de Balzac and Le Musée du Parfum Fragonard. Fragonard. For more museum and cultural recommendations recommendations in Paris, check the guide Hello Paris!
Left: Le Louvre, Bottom-middle: Le musée des Archives, Top-middle: Le château de Versailles, Right: Le musée d’Orsay
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Le Shopping Shopping Shoppi ng
Communication Conversation Au magasin de vêtements conversation at the store Bonjour,, je peux vous aider ? Bonjour Hello, can I help you?
Bonjour,, oui je cherche cette robe en taille 38 (trente-huit). Bonjour Hello, yes I’m looking for this dress in size 6.
La bleue ou la beige ? The blue or the beige one? Tap here to listen to le dialogue
La beige. The beige one.
Je vais regarder dans la réserve, je reviens. I am going to check our stock, I’ll be back.
Super, merci ! Great, thanks!
Conversation Entre deux amies conversation between two friends Elle est super belle ta robe. Your dress is so beautiful.
Merci ! C’est Sézane, je m’habille souvent chez eux ! Regarde même ma veste bleue, c’est Sézane. Thank you, it’s Sézane, I often wear clothes from them! Look, even my blue jacket is from Sézane.
J’adore cette couleur, ça te va trop bien ! I love this color, it suits you so well! Tap here to listen to le dialogue
Merci ! On y va demain ? Thanks! Let’s go there tomorrow?
Ouais, carrément ! Yeah, denitely!
Attention !
- ye yes s Ouais is the informal way to say Oui (similar to yeah or yep in English). E nglish). To be used with people you know (like your friends)
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Grammaire Verbes LES VERBES PRONOMINAUX/ RÉFLÉCHIS RÉFLÉCHIS pronominal/reexive verbs Pronominal verbs are verbs that are constructed with a pronom rééchis - reexive pronoun pronoun of the same person as the subject. This pronoun is always placed before before the verb. Reexives pronouns ar are e
Je me me Tu te te Il/elle/on/iel se se Nous nous Vous vous vous Ils/elles/iels se se
They can be translated by myself, yourself, herself, himself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves.
Examples Examp les of reflexive reflexive verbs verbs (in the innitive form, the pronoun se se is is in front of the verb):
se maquiller s’appeler s’habiller se souvenir s’amuser
to put makeup on
Exemples: Exempl es:
to call/name (yourself)
Tu te maquilles
Je m’appelle Louise
to get dressed/wear
You put make-up on
My name is Louise
to remember
Iel s’habille
Vous vous souvenez
to have fun
They get dressed
You (plu.) remember
Some verbs are only used in a reexive form (like se souvenir) and others can be reexive to convey a specic meaning. The “reexivity” in those cases expresses expresses that the action of the verb is done but also received by the subject.
SE LAVER
LAVER
(reexive verb)
not reexive) ( not
VS Je me lave les mains
Je lave mes chaussures
I wash my hands
I wash my shoes
The difference is that the action of washing is being done to chaussures (the shoes), shoes), and not to the subject je (I) (I),, hence the lack of reexivity here.
Exemples: Exempl es:
Je me promène I take a walk
VS
(or I walk myself, literally)
Je m’appelle Juliette My name is Juliette (or I call myself Juliette, literally)
VS
Je promène mon chien I walk my dog
J’appelle ma mère I am calling my mom
We often use reexive verbs when describing our routine:
Je me lève ( (I’m I’m getting up) up) - Je m’habille (I’m getting dressed) dressed) Je me brosse les dents ( (I’m I’m brushing my teeth) teeth) - Je me douche ( (I’m I’m taking a shower )
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LES VERBES POUR LE SHOPPING Verbs for shopping Expressions avec FAIRE:
Faire des courses
Exemples Exempl es
Elle fait des courses.
To go food shopping or to run errands
She is running errands.
Faire des achats / faire les magasins / faire du shopping
Exemples Exempl es
On fait les magasins.
To go shopping (clothes, accessoires, perfumes…)
We are shopping.
Other verbs helpful when you shop:
Acheter Payer Dépenser Essayer Renvoyer
to buy to pay to spend to try on to return (an item)
ADJECTIFS QUALIFICATIF qualifying adjectives Qualifying adjectives answer the question: how is? the person or thing that we are talking about. about. They agree in gender (genre: féminin/ masculin) and number (nombre: singulier/ pluriel) with the noun they complete. They are placed before or after the noun.
Masculin
Féminin
singulier
pluriel
singulier
pluriel
un parfum euri
des parfums parfums euri euriss
une jupe bleue bleue
des jupes jupes bleu bleues es
a owery perfume
owery perfumes
a blue skirt
blue skirts
To form the feminine of an adjective or a noun we usually add an ‘e’ to the end of the word. We add an ‘s’ for the plural masculine and ‘e + s’ for the plural feminine but a lot of words that already end with an ‘e’ don’t change in the feminine form. Certain nouns or adjectives have have a completely different form when feminine:
Exemples: Exemp les:
beau/belle beautiful
nouveau/nouvelle new ne w
blanc/blanche white
doux/douce soft or gentle
vieux/vielle old
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ADJECTIFS POSSESSIFS possessives adjectives In French the possessive adjective precedes adjective precedes the noun and agrees in gender and number with it. As opposed to English where it agrees with the subject (her or his).
Singulier
Pluriel English
Masculin
Féminin
Masculin / Féminin
Je
mon
ma
mes
my
Tu
ton*
ta
tes
your you r
Il/elle/on/iel
son
sa
ses
his/her
*If the feminine noun starts with a vowel we will use mon, ton and son instead of ma, ta, sa to facilitate facilitate pronunciation. pronunciation.
Vocabulaire MAGASIN une robe une jupe un t-shirt un short un pantalon une chemise un gilet un pull un manteau une veste
DE VÊTEMENTS clothing store a dress des chaussures a skirt des chaussettes a t-shirt des escarpins shorts des collants a pair of pants une culotte a shirt un boxer a cardigan un soutien-gorge a sweater un maillot de bain a coat une cravate a jacket un costume
shoes socks heels tights panties boxers/briefs a bra a swimsuit a tie a suit
PARFUMERIE/BIJOUTERIE
LIBRAIRIE
perfumery / jewelry jewelry store
bookstore
un parfum une fragrance un collier une bague un bracelet des boucles d’or d’oreilles eilles
un livre un roman un.e auteur.e un cahier/carnet un stylo un crayon
a perfume / a scent a fragrance a necklace a ring a bracelet earrings
a book a novel an author a notebook a pen a pencil
Tap here to listen to le vocabulaire
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Culture French natives often speak informally using colloquialisms colloquialisms.. Here are some expressions you may hear in France:
Ça te dit ?
Ça marche !
Are Ar e you you up fo forr it? it?
Ok great! / sure!
Je suis à la bourre !
C’est pas mal.
I’m running late!
It’s not bad. (meaning: it’s good!)
C’est trop bon !
C’est top !
It’s so good!
It’s amazing!
Attention ! *ça is a contraction of cela and means it or that/this.. You conjugate it the same way you that/this would for il/elle/on/iel. **trop normally means too much but much but in colloquial French, we use it to say so/so much. much. ***These words are considered slang French, and often used by French natives (younger generations)
Carrément / Grave
Tap here to listen
Denitely
Here’s our recommendations for any kind of shopping / budget in Paris, and great streets to shop : Monoprix
Rue Saint-Honoré
Printemps
Rue de Rivoli
Galeries Lafayette La Samaritaine
Boulevard Saint-Germain Rue des Rosiers
Le Bon Marché
Rue Vieille du Temple
For more recs of shops and stores in Paris, check out the guide Hello Paris!
Left: Le Bon Marché, Bottom-middle: Le Primtemps, Top-middle: La Samaritaine, Right: HCS Boutique Galerie
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Kit de Survie Emerg Eme rgency ency Kit Kit
Kit de Survie Emerg Emergency ency Kit Whether you’re going to France for a weekend, a week, or to live, you need to know how to navigate an emergency and where and how to seek care if you need it. In France there are different numbers to call depending on the emergency emergency..
A medical emergen e mergency? cy?
Call 15 - Le Samu: Service Ser vice d’aide médicale d’urgence (paramedics)
Need the police?
Call 17 - La Police (the police)
A re, an accident?
Call 18 - Les Pompiers (reghters)
Emergency?
SMS/Text 114
Sea rescue?
Call 196 - Le sauvetage en mer
Forr everywhere in Europe and every type Fo t ype of emergency call 11 112 2
In France if you are sick during business hours on a weekday you can go and see un médecin généraliste - a primary care doctor with with or without an appointment appointment.. During the weekend or at night you should go to the emergency room in a hospital if you don’t nd a doctor on call. A family doctor’s visit should only cost about 25 euros, and you can usually pay by cash or card.
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Communication Conversation Au téléphone conversation on the phone Bonjour, je voudrais prendre un rendez-vous car je suis malade. Hello, I would like to make an appointment because I am sick.
Bonjour,, d’accord vous pouvez venir aujourd’hui à 14h ou demain de 10h à 11h. Bonjour Hello, alright you can come today at 2pm or tomorrow from 10 am to 11 am.
Merci, je vais venir aujourd’hui à 14h. Vous pouvez me conrmer l’adresse ? Thank you, I will come today at 2 pm. Can you conrm the address?
Oui, c’est au 9 rue Mirabeaux, au troisième étage. Yes, it’s 9 Mirabeaux street, on the 3rd oor.
Tap here to listen to le dialogue
Conversation Chez le docteur conversation at the doctor’s office Vous avez mal où ? Where does it hurt?
J’ai mal à la tête et je suis enrhumée. My head hurts and I have a cold.
Vous avez de la èvre ? Do you have a fever?
Oui, j’ai de la èvre et je suis fatiguée. Yes, I have fever and I’m tired.
Je pense que vous avez une grippe, je vais vous faire une ordonnance et vous allez pouvoir acheter des médicaments à la pharmacie. Et il faut vous reposer, reposer, d’accord ? I think you have the u, I will write you a prescription and you’ll be able to pick up the medicine at the pharmacy. You must rest, ok?
Oui, d’accord. Merci docteur.
Tap here to listen to le dialogue
Yes, alright. Thank you doctor.
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Grammaire Verbes VERBES MODAUX Modal verbs A modal verb is used to express the terms and conditions of an action. It can be an obligation obligation,, a possibility , a permission permission,, a will or a desire/need desire/need.. In French, the main modal verbs are pouvoir, devoir and vouloir followed by an innitive. *
1. We use the verb ‘DEVOIR ’ (have to/must) to express an obligation or a probability Structure: Structur e: Je dois prendre mes prendre mes médicaments médicaments.. On doit se reposer. reposer. devOIR + INFINITIF
I must take my meds.
We have to rest.
*You will nd the conjugation of Devoir in thème 4.
Another way to express an obligation is to use the verb falloir (to be needed). needed). Falloir is an impersonal verb, that means it is only conjugated with il (the equivalent of it of it in in English.)
Structure: Structur e: il faut + INFINITIF
Il faut aller aller à l’hôpital.
Il faut appeler les appeler les pompiers.
We have to go to the hospital.
We have to call the reghters.
Note that in English there are no ‘impersonal forms’, forms’, so we use the pronoun we we..
2. We use the verb ‘POUVOIR’ (can/be able to) to express a possibility or or a permission Structure: Structur e:
pOUvOIR + INFINITIF
Tu peux aller à aller à la pharmacie aujourd’hui ?
Ils peuvent peuvent nous téléphoner téléphoner ce ce soir.
Can you go to the pharmacy today?
They can call us tonight.
POUVOIR can Je peux Tu peux peux
Attention! Be careful: contrary to the verb can in English, pouvoir does not express a learned skill. For that, we use the verb ‘savoir’.
Il/elle/on/iel peut peut Nous pouvons pouvons Vous pouvez pouvez Ils/elles/iels peuvent peuvent
Je sais nager.
Je peux nager.
I can swim.
I can swim.
(because I learned to swim)
(because I am allowed to or because the water isn’t too cold, for example)
3. Use the verb ‘VOULOIR’ (to want) to express a desire/need Check Thème 5 for the conjugation of vouloir
Structure: Structur e:
VOULOIR + INFINITIF
Je veux prendre un prendre un rendez-vous pour demain après-midi. I want to make an appointment for tomorrow afternoon.
Elle veut aller chez aller chez le coiffeur la semaine prochaine. She wants to go to the hairdresser next week.
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Expressio Expr essions ns avec avec Av Avoir oir To express that we are in pain or that a part of our body hurts we use the expression: Avoi Av oir r mal mal + ar arti ticl cle e co cont ntra ract cté é = to be in pain
J’ai mal.
J’ai mal au ventre.
I’m in pain.
My stomach hurts.
J’ai mal à la tête.
J’ai mal aux yeux.
My head hurts.
My eyes hurt.
Attention! For a reminder of what un article contracté (a contracted article) is, article) is, go to Thème 2!
Vocabulaire PROBLÈMES DE SANTÉ health issues être malade avoir un rhume/être enrhumé.e avoir la grippe
to be sick
avoir mal au ventre avoir mal à la gorge avoir de la èvre avoir une jambe cassée être en bonne santé
to have a stomach ache to have a sore throat
to have a cold/ a runny nose to have the u
Tap here for
la prononciation
to have (a) fever to have a broken leg to be healthy
LES DOCTEURS / MÉDECINS doctors le/la médecin le/la dentiste le/la pédiatre le/la kinésithérapeute (kiné)
the doctor
le/la chirurgien.ne l’inrmier.ère le/la psychologue (psy) le/la gynécologue-obstétr gynécologue-obstétricien icien
the surgeon the nurse
the dentist the pediatrician the physical therapist
the psychologist the obgyn
autres others (places where you may want to make an appointment) le/la coiffeur.euse l’esthéticien.ne le salon de manucure le studio de yoga/pilates la salle de sport
the hairdresser
le salon de massage
a massage place/spa
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the cosmetician (waxing/facials) the nail salon the yoga/pilates studio the gym
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thÈme 10
Le laFrançais ançais dans FrVraie Vraie Vi Viee French Fr ench in Re Real al Lif Life e
Speak like a native This theme (the last one, bravo!) differs from the previous ones. We’re sharing practical words, expressions, and vocabulary via Cécilia’s video content on her social media platform @hellofrenchnyc . When you learn a new language, hearing it is essential (that’s why we included many recordings for you to listen to throughout the book). Watching a native speaker speak your target language is even more helpful (hence why this last theme exists!) When you watch the content below, please pay special attention to Cécilia’s mouth/jaw movements and how she forms French sounds. You should also try to repeat what you hear (as many times as you feel is needed for you to retain the new words and sentences) You’ll learn informal expressions, slang, and curse words (because who doesn’t like to swear in French?!)
L’essentiel Ess Essent ential ialss Merci
Je (ne) sais pas
Thank you
De rien
Ouais / Nan
You’re welcome welco me
I don’t know Yeah/Nah
Amour et soin Lov Lovee and and car care e Je t’aime
J’aime ton sourire
I love you
I love your smile
Tu me manques
I miss you
À tes souhaits!
Tu es un amour
You’re a sweetheart
Joyeux anniversaire
Bless you! Happy birthday
Argot et Gros Mots Sla Slang ng and Sw Swea earr Wor ords ds Putain
Laisse-moi tranquille
Fuck
Rien à foutre
Je m’en fous
Fuck it
Va te faire foutre
Fuck off/you
Tu me fais chier
You piss me off
Leave me alone
I don’t give a shit
On se casse ?
Let’s get out of here?
Je déteste mon boss
I hate my boss
Vocabulaire par sujet Vocabulary per topic LGBTQ+
Les régions viticoles La santé mentale Psychologie Le cancer du sein Chez le coiffeur Les couleurs (Pt. 1)
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Les accessoires
LGBTQ+
Faire la fête
Wine regions
Les poils
Mental health
Le deuil
Psychology
Partying Body hair Grief/mourning
Le maquillage
Breast cancer
La menstruation
At the hai haird rdre ress sser er
Les couleurs (Pt. 2) 2)
Colors
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Acces Acc essor sories ies/je /jewe welry lry it items ems
Make-up Menstruation Colors
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Expressions idiomatiques Id Idiom iomat atic ic Exp Expre ressi ssions ons
J’ai pas une thune Je suis pompette
I’m drunk
J’ai la gueule de bois
C’est pas mal
Je suis KO
I’m tipsy
Je suis bouré.e
Il pleut des cordes
Ça vaut la peine
I’m broke
I’m hungover It rains cats and dogs
It’s not bad (It’s good)
It’s worth it I’m exhausted
C’est génial
It’s awesome
Quel bordel
What a mess
Tu assures T’es relou
You rock roc k You suck suc k
La Musique Musi Music c Do you want to fully immerse yourself in the French language? language? Listening to French music is an incredible way to learn languages passively (or actively if you want to, by translating lyrics). Below are some of HelloFrench Spotify playlists you may enjoy, tap on them to start listening:
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About
the Authors
Cécilia Jourdan
Marie-Lola Sendra
Cécilia was born and raised in Paris, immersed in traditional French values and Parisian culture—she could often be found lending a hand at her father’s Le Marais bistro.
Marie-Lola grew up in the South of France, surrounded by apricot trees at the foothills of the Pyrenées Mountains. A love of novels and poetry led her to the University of Toulouse, where she graduated gradua ted with a Masters in French literature.
She moved to the US in 2007, studied linguistics at New York University and Romance Languages at Hunter College, and has since made Brooklyn her home. After teaching French for over a decade, privately tutoring and leading group workshops for all ages, Cecilia launched Hello French NYC.
Her teaching journey started at a prison in Perpignan, France, giving French lessons to inmates as part of a university project. Helping students take ownership of their learning and achieve their goals continues to inspire her today.
Since July 2020, this passion project has developed into an engaged community of over 250K Francophiles and French learners. Now, Cécilia splits her time between Hello French and J&P, a creative boutique agency she started with her wife.
In 2018, Marie-Lola moved to New York City to work at the French Embassy, later teaching at various language schools and giving private lessons. She now lives in Connecticut and works full-time as a teacher for the French American School of New York.
When she’s not teaching, Cécilia continues to deepen her knowledge about behavioral psychology, and food and wine. She is currently learning Italian (her fourth language) and preparing a trip to Sicily.
@HELLOFRENCHNYC
She loves nature, indie lms, unexpected bookstore bookstore treasures, dancing to old amenco music, and spending time with her husband and son.
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What’s next?
We’re creating an exercise handbook to help you practice what you learned in Le Bou Bouqui quin n. If you’d like to know when we release it, you can subscribe to the waitlist HERE. To learn more conversational French, follow Cécilia on @hellofrenchnyc
Do you have questions, feedback, or simply want to say bonjour? Email us at
[email protected]
Merci Mer ci !
hellofrenchnyc.com
