Category Archives for French culture
A Guide to Shopping in France: Tips and Vocabulary
There are few places where shopping is more iconic than France. From the charming farmers’ markets in tucked away villages to the glorious glitz of the ultra-luxe flagship stores on the Champs-Elysées, there is something for everyone. Shopping is one of those cultural experiences everybody should experience when traveling in a new country, and even more […]
Continue readingAll About Bastille Day: History, Traditions, and Vocabulary
As you may already know, the 14th of July is France’s national holiday. However, the French may be very surprised if you wish them a happy Bastille Day as it is locally known as “La Fête Nationale” or more simply, “le quatorze juillet” (the fourteenth of July). It is a bank holiday, and as it […]
Continue reading10 Best French Documentary Films of All Time
Documentary films have long been popular in France. Since the first movies shot by the Lumière brothers, like Sortie de l’usine Lumière à Lyon (1895), there has been a steady stream of high-quality French documentaries. If you are ready to deepen your knowledge of the French language and your favorite subject, we gathered a list of […]
Continue reading22 Colorful But Fascinating French Insults When You Can’t Help Being Rude
The French belong to an extremely polite society, so there are plenty of ways in which you can unintentionally insult someone. While most of the time everyone goes to great lengths to avoid being offensive, how about those rare instances when you just want to be intentionally rude? Well, there are a lot of French […]
Continue readingFrench Weddings: Everything You Need to Know About Wedding Celebrations in France
A wedding is always a joyful occasion. However, it can also be intimidating if you are not very familiar with the culture. After all, you don’t want to commit a faux-pas in front of all of your friends and their family! Although French weddings may seem familiar in some respect, some of the customs may […]
Continue readingHow to Say Thank you in French: The Ultimate Guide
Wondering how to say thank you in French? You’re on the right track because in a polite society like France, a simple merci goes a long way. But what about the times when merci just wouldn’t suffice? Here in this article, we’ll take a look at the different ways to say thank you in French. Quick […]
Continue readingHow to Ace a Job Interview in French
No matter how many you have gone through before, a job interview is always intimidating. It is even more so when you must conduct that interview in a language different than your mother tongue—like a job interview in French, for instance. Have no fear! These tips will help you get ready for your meeting and put […]
Continue reading5 Popular French Nursery Rhymes with English Translation
If you’re planning to teach your kids French and raise bilingual children, French nursery rhymes can be one good way to expose them to the language. Here in this article, you’ll find five popular French nursery rhymes with a video, a copy of its lyrics in French, followed by the English translation.A quick warning though–some of […]
Continue reading5 Lovely French Poems with English Translations
The French language is beautiful, but when strung together to paint lovely pictures and create lyrical melodies in French poems, it becomes even more so. This is why the French have always been immensely proud of its poésie (poetry), and the enduring works of great masters such as Victor Hugo, Pierre de Ronsard, Alphonse de Lamartine, […]
Continue readingBirthday Traditions in France: How do the French Celebrate Birthdays?
If you grew up in a western country like Europe or North America, you will be pleasantly surprised to know that French birthday traditions are not very different from the ones you are familiar with. A good French birthday celebration involves a party, some cake, blowing candles and presents. However, here are some small differences […]
Continue readingThe Ultimate Guide to French Regional Accents
If you have ever traveled in France outside of Paris or watched a movie set in province, you might have noticed that a lot of French speakers do not quite sound like what you are used to. France is home to dozens of different regional accents, each linked to the culture and history of the area […]
Continue readingHow to Meet New People in France and Make French Friends
Let’s face it, making new friends can be quite challenging. Now imagine making friends in a place away from your home–like France, for instance. A place where natives have a reputation for being snobs, the language is tricky, there’s a lot of cultural differences, and the opportunity to meet people let alone befriend them seems […]
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