11 top French language tips we wish we knew before moving to France
Getting to grips with the language is one of the most important - and difficult - things anyone planning to move to France can do. So, we asked readers what they wish they’d known before they came here.
It goes without saying that learning the language is pretty much a requirement if you want to make the most of your new life in France.
We’re not talking about native-level understanding - though that helps, obviously. But being able to handle day-to-day bureaucracy and elicit a cheery ‘bonjour!’ from your boulanger, rather than a scowl, helps turn a good life in France into a better life.
We asked Local readers what French tips it would have been good to know when they first came to France - whether it was a grammar shortcut, an easy way to explain what you mean, or a faux pas they really wished they had been warned about previously.
READ ALSO Quiz: Test your French language level on the A1 to C2 scale
Alyson Rose, from the Aude, wanted to remind people to remember their manners - and start with a polite greeting. She wrote: “Despite taking French lessons before moving to France we didn't know the importance of starting any conversation by saying, "Bonjour". We were taken aback by the horrified, at times, reaction to our faux pas. Now we know!”
Paris resident Lou Curran pointed out the equally important second rule of saying hello - and one that may require more than a little brain power. “You only say “Bonjour” once to any one person each day - after that, it's “Re-Bonjour!”.
READ ALSO A language expert's top three tips for learning French
Lou added a second useful language-meets-politeness tip: “Also, when leaving a person or place, one adds "-nee" or "-ee", as in “Bon Journée” and “Bon Soirée” in order to say 'have a good day/evening'."
And Ken Bulteel, who lives in Vendée, backed up the importance of greetings and salutations. “Au revoir is significantly less valuable than 'bon journée' in everyday French conversation,” he wrote.
And he pointed out that it’s also good to remember and use the names of your neighbours. “They expect a “Bonjour, Alain”, or “Bonjour, Jacqueline” and look severely at me if I forget to include their names in my cheery “Bonjour”.”
Dave Bennett, who lives in relaxed Aveyron pointed out that he, “was considered a snob for addressing the locals [in the village bar] as vous, not tu - vouvoyer not tutoyer”.
The tu and vous is always a hard one for anglophones - although we've found that most French people accept that language-learners are just confused, rather than impolite, if they get this one wrong.
And in fact plenty of French people struggle with this one too.
Dave also explained that in spoken French 'ne' is - despite what Mrs Watson back in comprehensive school insisted - only rarely used with 'pas' to negate a verb, which may confuse some people getting to grips with the language.
So while you would write 'je ne sais pas', in spoken French it's 'je sais pas' - and in fact some people, especially younger people, tend to slur the words together so that it sounds more like 'chez pas'.
And - very usefully - he added another development your old French teacher never mentioned: “No-one had told me that baiser doesn't always mean to kiss, as I had been taught at school, and that embrasser doesn't mean to embrace!”
READ ALSO Faux ami: 18 of the most annoying French 'false friends'
Here’s an excellent aural tip, too, from Joni Farthing, who lives in Charente, on how to recognise the crucial difference between “plus” (more) from “plus” (less).
“The word 'plus' is pronounced with the final s for a positive and without the s for a negative. En plus (in addition, what's more...), or plus de pain, short for il n'y a plus de pain (no more bread, the bread's finished).”
Lauren Lever added another point that rams home the importance of listening carefully to someone - though, admittedly, that’s not always easy in crowded situations. “As an Anglophone, it can be hard to differentiate between the u and ou sounds, but it turns out there is an important distinction!
“The word 'pull' in French is a perfect example. You may want to tell a friend that you like their sweater/jumper (J'aime bien ton pull), but you may end up telling them that you like their chicken (J'aime bien ton poule), and they will be very confused for a moment until they figure out what you meant … and then have a good chuckle at your expense.”
Strasbourg-based Lever also stressed an important fact that will come as a relief to tongue-tied learners of the language.
Even the French can be bamboozled by French: “Even French people don't always seem to know all the grammar rules and make plenty of mistakes. I always felt like French people were absolute masters of their own language, but that is not always the case.”
READ ALSO 12 French phrases that English really should have too
Peter Goodman, who lives in Haute Vienne, meanwhile, said his biggest problem was with his own name. “I do get some funny looks from the French,” he wrote. You can understand why - péter means fart in French.
You can hear the team at The Local talking about the language tips they wished they had known before moving to France - including use of puis-je and je voudrais - on the Talking France podcast. Download it HERE or listen on the link below.
And please spare a thought for poor Seb Rocco in Montpellier . . .
He told us: "Soon after I moved to France, I had to pick my 10-year-old son up from his sports lesson at school. I enthusiastically asked the teacher how he was doing at football, and the teacher replied that he was very dreamy and not really concentrating.
"Meaning to confirm amusingly that his mother also often has her 'tête dans les nuages' – I blurted out "Oui, comme ta mère ! ".
"There was an awful silence.. the teacher looked rather surprised and not at all amused. My son was white in the face. I was vaguely aware that I made a grammatical mistake, but it wasn't until we got in the car that he explained that I had just seriously insulted his teacher."
For those who don't know "ta mère" is one of the most serious insults in French, it's short for nique ta mère (fuck your mother) and means that Seb had in effect told his son's teacher to 'go fuck yourself'.
READ ALSO What's the worst possible insult you can use in French
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It goes without saying that learning the language is pretty much a requirement if you want to make the most of your new life in France.
We’re not talking about native-level understanding - though that helps, obviously. But being able to handle day-to-day bureaucracy and elicit a cheery ‘bonjour!’ from your boulanger, rather than a scowl, helps turn a good life in France into a better life.
We asked Local readers what French tips it would have been good to know when they first came to France - whether it was a grammar shortcut, an easy way to explain what you mean, or a faux pas they really wished they had been warned about previously.
READ ALSO Quiz: Test your French language level on the A1 to C2 scale
Alyson Rose, from the Aude, wanted to remind people to remember their manners - and start with a polite greeting. She wrote: “Despite taking French lessons before moving to France we didn't know the importance of starting any conversation by saying, "Bonjour". We were taken aback by the horrified, at times, reaction to our faux pas. Now we know!”
Paris resident Lou Curran pointed out the equally important second rule of saying hello - and one that may require more than a little brain power. “You only say “Bonjour” once to any one person each day - after that, it's “Re-Bonjour!”.
READ ALSO A language expert's top three tips for learning French
Lou added a second useful language-meets-politeness tip: “Also, when leaving a person or place, one adds "-nee" or "-ee", as in “Bon Journée” and “Bon Soirée” in order to say 'have a good day/evening'."
And Ken Bulteel, who lives in Vendée, backed up the importance of greetings and salutations. “Au revoir is significantly less valuable than 'bon journée' in everyday French conversation,” he wrote.
And he pointed out that it’s also good to remember and use the names of your neighbours. “They expect a “Bonjour, Alain”, or “Bonjour, Jacqueline” and look severely at me if I forget to include their names in my cheery “Bonjour”.”
Dave Bennett, who lives in relaxed Aveyron pointed out that he, “was considered a snob for addressing the locals [in the village bar] as vous, not tu - vouvoyer not tutoyer”.
The tu and vous is always a hard one for anglophones - although we've found that most French people accept that language-learners are just confused, rather than impolite, if they get this one wrong.
And in fact plenty of French people struggle with this one too.
Dave also explained that in spoken French 'ne' is - despite what Mrs Watson back in comprehensive school insisted - only rarely used with 'pas' to negate a verb, which may confuse some people getting to grips with the language.
So while you would write 'je ne sais pas', in spoken French it's 'je sais pas' - and in fact some people, especially younger people, tend to slur the words together so that it sounds more like 'chez pas'.
And - very usefully - he added another development your old French teacher never mentioned: “No-one had told me that baiser doesn't always mean to kiss, as I had been taught at school, and that embrasser doesn't mean to embrace!”
READ ALSO Faux ami: 18 of the most annoying French 'false friends'
Here’s an excellent aural tip, too, from Joni Farthing, who lives in Charente, on how to recognise the crucial difference between “plus” (more) from “plus” (less).
“The word 'plus' is pronounced with the final s for a positive and without the s for a negative. En plus (in addition, what's more...), or plus de pain, short for il n'y a plus de pain (no more bread, the bread's finished).”
Lauren Lever added another point that rams home the importance of listening carefully to someone - though, admittedly, that’s not always easy in crowded situations. “As an Anglophone, it can be hard to differentiate between the u and ou sounds, but it turns out there is an important distinction!
“The word 'pull' in French is a perfect example. You may want to tell a friend that you like their sweater/jumper (J'aime bien ton pull), but you may end up telling them that you like their chicken (J'aime bien ton poule), and they will be very confused for a moment until they figure out what you meant … and then have a good chuckle at your expense.”
Strasbourg-based Lever also stressed an important fact that will come as a relief to tongue-tied learners of the language.
Even the French can be bamboozled by French: “Even French people don't always seem to know all the grammar rules and make plenty of mistakes. I always felt like French people were absolute masters of their own language, but that is not always the case.”
READ ALSO 12 French phrases that English really should have too
Peter Goodman, who lives in Haute Vienne, meanwhile, said his biggest problem was with his own name. “I do get some funny looks from the French,” he wrote. You can understand why - péter means fart in French.
You can hear the team at The Local talking about the language tips they wished they had known before moving to France - including use of puis-je and je voudrais - on the Talking France podcast. Download it HERE or listen on the link below.
And please spare a thought for poor Seb Rocco in Montpellier . . .
He told us: "Soon after I moved to France, I had to pick my 10-year-old son up from his sports lesson at school. I enthusiastically asked the teacher how he was doing at football, and the teacher replied that he was very dreamy and not really concentrating.
"Meaning to confirm amusingly that his mother also often has her 'tête dans les nuages' – I blurted out "Oui, comme ta mère ! ".
"There was an awful silence.. the teacher looked rather surprised and not at all amused. My son was white in the face. I was vaguely aware that I made a grammatical mistake, but it wasn't until we got in the car that he explained that I had just seriously insulted his teacher."
For those who don't know "ta mère" is one of the most serious insults in French, it's short for nique ta mère (fuck your mother) and means that Seb had in effect told his son's teacher to 'go fuck yourself'.
READ ALSO What's the worst possible insult you can use in French
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