The true meaning of c'est la vie
As a dramatic person, I often get a bit carried away when something bad, frustrating, or even simply surprising happens. But under the same circumstances, I’ve seen m…
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Everyday words and phrases, slang, grammar, verbs, pronunciation and life in France, plus honest guides to the apps, courses and resources that help you speak French.
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Everything you need to know about "Qu’est-ce que c’est"
Qu’est-ce que c’est means “What (is it)” in French. Despite being a mouthful, it’s an extremely common phrase in both everyday and formal French, and also has several…
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The ultimate guide to the passé composé (and a handy rule)
“Please don’t use the passé simple tense in your essay.” This is the first sentence our professor told us, a group of French college students, as we were about to take…
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12 Polite and Not So Polite Ways to Say “You’re Welcome” in French
Someone says merci and you have about a second to answer. Here's the short version: je vous en prie is the safe, polite choice that works everywhere, je t'en prie is i…
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7 surprising differences between French and Anglo-Saxon parenting
Thanks to books like Bringing Up Bébé, the French parenting style means well-behaved children who’ll eat just about any kind of food, and parents who are impeccably gl…
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How to use and conjugate the French verb nettoyer
Are you one of those people whose house is clean but cluttered, rather than neat and tidy? If so, the French verb nettoyer is for you! Nettoyer means “to clean” but…
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Who is Marianne, symbol of the French Republic?
While studying or visiting France, you might have noticed a woman with unbound hair and a strange bonnet on her head cropping up in different places. Sometimes she’s t…
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The ultimate list of French conversation starters and topics
It’s finally happened: You’ve learned enough French that you can carry on at least a simple conversation with a French person! F__é__licitations ! But now that you c…
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12 common ways to say "welcome" in French
Bienvenue is the most common way of saying “welcome” in French but as with most common words and expressions, there are variations. And there’s also a totally differen…
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The 22 Best French Books to Read in 2026
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