Posts Tagged ‘french phrases’
Learn French Phrases – Turn French Words Into Conversations
December 27th, 2009 | 
Author: It’s not difficult to learn French words. Anyone can do it. Repeat the words enough to yourself and eventually they’ll stick. You could teach French words to a parrot – but it’s not language. When you want to turn words into useful sentences, into meaningful conversations, you need to learn French phrases.
So what’s a French phrase? Well a good place to start would be “Bonjour, comment allez-vous” (that’s “hello, how are you?” by the way). The French are normally very polite and almost every time you meet, no matter how well you know them, French will ask “Bonjour, comment allez-vous” or, if they know you well “Bonjour, ca va?” which means the same but is more informal.
I could go on through a whole string of short French phrases, “a fait combien?” (“how much is that?”), “Pouvez-vous m’aider?” (“can you help me?”), “Excusez-moi, ou est le gare?” (excuse me, where is the station?”) all of which you’ll find useful – but there isn’t room here to do any list justice and it’s not really the purpose of this article. The purpose is to point out how important it is to learn French phrases – it’s the whole basis of conversation, the difference between a set of words in a dictionary and the construction of a language. Once you get the hang of learning French phrases a world of possibilities opens up to you. Once you know how the French language is constructed it’s like having the key to a secret lock. Unlock it and you’ll be able to put your own phrases together – and that’s really what speaking French is all about.
But where do you start? Which is the best way to learn? How can you improve your grasp on French and take your learning to a proper conversational level? Well the good news is there’s probably never been a better time to learn, or easier ways to learn. Slightly less good news is that I can’t tell which method is best for you – you’ll have to find that yourself. The great news is that there are many French courses that you can find online that offer free samples – free French lessons or short French mp3s – so you can “try before you buy” if you like. On the other hand maybe you’re the kind who learns best from a book? If that’s you, just visit your local library and see what they’ve got. I think that eventually if you’re serious about learning French you will have to spend a little money but if you use websites and your local library you can find which method suits you best before you part with your cash.
If pushed to make a recommendation I’d say the best way to learn French phrases is in a natural speaking situation and that’s a classroom. If you’re anything like me and you thought your school days were far behind you, I have to say that I shared your lack of enthusiasm for a return to school, but to my mind it really is the best way to learn.
However, I realize it isn’t for everyone – in fact courses aren’t always available or convenient – so my second choice would be the kind of French lessons you can now download online which offer a mix of visual and spoken exercises.
Speaking is the key – even if you feel a bit self-conscious about talking to your pc! Reading is good, writing down is better (there’s something about writing stuff down that reinforces learning) but speaking out loud is by far the best way to learn French phrases. You might sound a bit strange to yourself at first, but after all, there’s no point learning French if you can’t actually talk to people!
Author: Dennis Cordy
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Canada duty rate
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More Handy French Phrases When Travelling in France
Whether on holiday, business, or house hunting, it is useful to be armed with some questions you may wish to ask in French.
There is a wide mixture of phrases that are likely to be needed in various situations, and there will be one or two follow up articles to make sure one can cover as much as possible.
Y at-il quelque part une station service?
Is there a petrol station anywhere?
Y at-il un garage ouvert le dimanche ici?
Is there a garage which is open on Sunday here?
J’ai besoin d’un mecanicien regarder la voiture.
I need a mechanic to look at the car.
Un accident de la route
A road accident
La batterie est a plat
Flat battery
Combien de temps faut-il pour Paris d’ici?
How long does it take to get to Paris from here?
Pouvons- nous payer par carte de credit, nous n’avons pas assez d’argent.
Can we pay by credit card, we have not got enough cash.
Y at-il des toilettes quelque part?
Are there any toilets anywhere?
Le magazin est ouvert le dimanche?
Is the shop open on Sunday?
Existe-t-il un motel pas loin d’ici?
Is there a motel nearby?
l’Autoroute
Motorway
Un agent de police
A policeman
Il y avait trrop de bouchons sur la route
There were a lot of delays on the road
La voiture a cale’
The car has stalled
Une assurance maladie
Medical insurance
Une colonie de vacances
A holiday camp
J’ai un pneu crev
I have a puncture
J’ai besoin d’avoir le pneu re’pare’
I need to have the tyre repaired.
Un permis de conduire
Driving licence
C’est pas loin dici.
It is not far from here from here.
Pouvons nous avoir un medecin privee venir nous voir?
Can we have a private doctor to come and see us?
Y at-il un arret de bus ici queque part?
Is there a bus anywhere here?
Y at-il des magazins pas loin d’ici?
Are there some shops nearby?
Quand arrive le prochain autobus?
When is the next bus?
Existe-t-il un service de taxi ici?
Is there a taxi service here?
Nous sommes vegetariens, que pouvez-vous nous offrir?
We are vegetarians, what can you offer us?
D’accord
OK
Faire des achats
To shop
Une bonne affaire
A bargain
Il faut faire ainsi
It has to be done this way
Dans les alentours
In the area
Nous voulons un aller pour Paris
We want a single ticket to Paris
Nous voulons un aller retour pour Paris
We want a return ticket to Paris
J’ai la grippe
I’ve got the flu
Ca va s’arranger
It will work out OK
l’Aspirateur
A vacuum cleaner
Au dessus de
Above
Au dessous de
Below
La banlieu
The suburbs
Le bistro du coin
The local pub
Un salon de coiffure
A hairdressing salon
La colique
Diarrhoea
C’est combien?
How much is it?
Une cabine d’essayage
A fitting room
La maison est situee dans un beau cadre
The house is situated in lovely surroundings
Le cambriolage
A burglary
Le canard
The duck
Une crise cardiaque
A hear attack
Centre-ville
Town centre
Centre commercial
Shopping centre
Le taux de change
The exchange rate
Le chauffage centrale
Central heating
Attention chien mechant
Beware of the dog
Le chou-fleur
Cauliflower
Le citron
A lemon
La clinique
Private hospital
Blesse
Injured
De bonne heure
Early
Se bronzer
To sunbathe
Le bruit
Noise
La cave
Cellar
Il c’est casse la jambe
He broke his leg
Le bottin
Phone book
La boulangerie
A baker’s shop
La boue
Mud
Le brouillard
The fog
Y at-il un agent immobilier ici en ville?
Is there an estate agent here in town?
Y at-il une banque ici?
Is there a bank here?
l’Inondation
Flood
C’est bien termine
It worked out OK
Le sol
The floor
Les egouts sont bouches
The drains are blocked
Le tuyau d’ecoulement
The drainpipe
Un jus d’oranges
Orange juice
Le rez chaussee
Ground floor
Au premier etage
On the first floor
Le contractuel
Traffic warden
La contravention
A parking ticket
Le cours du change
The exchange rate
Tout droit
Straight on
L’accident a eu lieu hier matin
The accident happened yesterday morning
Laver la voiture
To wash the car
Une voiture d’occasion
A used car
La date de naissance
Date of birth
Faire demi-tour
To turn back
La pression des pneus
The tyre pressure
Le pneu
Tyre
Impasse
No through road
Heuresement, il n’y a eu de blesses
It was lucky nobody was hurt
Un court de tennis
A tennis court
Le service n’est pas compris
Excluding the tip
Le cuteau
A knife
Le trimester
School term
Donner un pourboire
To give a tip
Author: Paul Dubsky
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Programmable Pressure Cooker
