French language is very rich in idioms.
Some are very well known and some do not even make sense to the French themselves.
Let’s see some idioms as well as their meaning and history.
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Category: French Language
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How to SMS messages in French
Nowadays, text messages have been implemented in all languages. French is no exception to the rule, and has its own style playing on the pronunciation of letters and words.
Here you will find some simple to use French text messages that are used for SMS messages and also on the internet.
Hi, or rather Bonjour.
I’ve been living in France for more than 25 years now.
Living and working every day with French speaking people.
My sons are both French, the youngest is 14 and the oldest has just turned 18 and is awaiting the results of the famous “Bac” exams.
We live in the countryside, in a small farming village with about 120 inhabitants. A very typical village with mainly old houses and barns, no pavements, no stop signs on the road and the street lights are turned off by the mayor before midnight.
Basically, I never speak English, as there are no English speakers in the village. I would say that my spoken French is very fluent, although I do admit that I have difficulty with the spelling and conjugation.
On a daily basis, when I’m dealing with people who do not know me, they assume that I am a French native, not that I pretend to be one. We can talk about this and that, politics, sports, gardening and many subjects.
Then suddenly… I will pronounce a word.
Let’s have a quick look at three French words, with different spelling and different meanings, but to the unaccustomed ear, they sound very similar and can lead to confusion.
Toi, trois & toit
Toi which means “you” or “yourself”
Trois which is the number “three”
Toit which means “roof”
The best way to avoid confusion is to understand the context of the phrase where these words are being used. If you practice and listen to the French language, you will eventually be able to notice the difference in the pronunciation of these words.
Here are some other examples where words have the same sound but different spelling:
- Moi and mois, which mean me and month
- Soi and soie, self and silk
- Pois and poids which gives peas and weight
Another example where French comprehension can but difficult is with the words Dessus and Dessous.
Dessus means on or on top of
whilst the opposite is
Dessous means under, beneath, or below
There is also very little difference in the pronunciation of both of these words; so you must really lend an ear and listen.
An excellent method in practicing your French and overcoming the problem of comprehension and vocabulary is to use “Audio-comparative” exercises. I strongly recommend using the French 4U language course, which is available on the Internet and offer such exercises as part of the language program. You can test the demo course now and learn French.
Web site French language course
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Become Fluent in French
- Is it easy to learn to speak French ?
- Why should I learn French ?
- I’m too old to do that !
- All the verbs and conjugation are difficult !
These are just some of the questions and comments that you often hear from people who would like to learn to speak French.
How to become fluent in French ?
First of all, it is difficult to learn any other language apart from you own language.
Generally your first spoken words were learned by simply listening to your mother’s voice and you with repetition, you began to speak your native language.
You did not have to study or read lists of verbs to do this !
Use a proven method to learn French naturally, where your accent and understanding improves all the time.
Advantages of learning a foreign language
“Running two parallel language systems throughout life has had positive benefits in a number of ways”
(Prof Virginia Gathercole, Bangor University)
Travel, communication, business, career opportunities, culture.
Travel : Discover more of the country you are visiting. Feel relaxed when having to ask questions and finding your way around.
Career opportunities : Enhance your chances of obtaining that job opportunity you need. Having a second language is a real PLUS. Imagine your competitors who have a second language at your next job interview. Put all the chances on your side, you’ll never regret it.
Business : Understand what your customer really needs and improve your sales. When the telephone rings or you have to call “Jean-Paul”, no more hesitation or misunderstandings.
Culture : Open the world of a different way of living and traditions. Understand and appreciate the differences. The films, art, music, history and cuisine will be meaningful and tasty !
What should I do then?
For learning French, the best opportunity and guaranteed results is the French4U course.
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The 8 steps to THINKING in French.
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