Category Archives for Speaking
French Silent Letters: A Quick Guide
Have you ever looked at a word in French after pronouncing it and thought: “that’s a lot of letters for such a short word”? You are not alone. That’s why we need to discuss French silent letters! All French school children must suffer through a dreaded exercise: la dictée as they learn to spell their language […]
Continue readingPardon My French! 20 French Curse Words that are NSFW
Every language has its own share of bad words and French is no different. Today, we’ll be taking a look at some of the commonly used French curse words (les gros mots)—and no, it’s not just “merde”! There’s plenty more French swear words where that came from. Quick Navigation 1. Merde – shit2. Zut alors […]
Continue readingFrench Pronunciation: The Ultimate Guide for Beginners (+ free MP3)
French Pronunciation Guide: Learn how to pronounce French words the right wayThere’s that charming sound to the spoken French language that everyone seems to find delightful. How French words seem to melt together to form pleasant sounds–it can be both enchanting and intimidating at the same time. No need to get intimidated though. You’re on the […]
Continue readingHow to Greet Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in French
Do you have French friends and family whom you want to greet this holiday season? Or do you simply want to know how to say Merry Christmas and a happy new year in French? Here in this article, let’s look at the different ways you can wish someone a happy holidays in French. From the most […]
Continue readingHow to Make Polite Requests in French Using ‘Je Voudrais’
One of the most useful French phrases that beginners and travelers should learn is “je voudrais…”. This little phrase can be used when you’re out in restaurants ordering food or drinks, or in everyday conversations when you need to to ask for something or make a little polite request. In this lesson, you’ll learn how […]
Continue readingQuiz: If you can pass this quiz, you understand how French pronunciation works!
Do you already understand how French pronunciation works? Take this quiz to test how much you know!
Continue readingHow to Make Small Talk in French: A Quick Guide to French Conversations
Small talk is the polite (sometimes dreadfully awkward) conversation usually shared between people who are strangers or mere acquaintances. But what if you’re in France or any other French-speaking area? How can you navigate small talk *and* speak French at the same time??? How do you make small talk in French? Well, you’re in luck because […]
Continue readingThe French Cuisine and When to Pronounce the s in “plus”
Salut, ça va? If you have already subscribed to the weekly Talk in French newsletter, you’ll know that in every issue that comes out on Sundays, I feature a Question of the Week. These questions are sent by different subscribers and covers everything from French language, culture, and even random questions. (If you’re not yet […]
Continue reading22 Embarrassingly Awkward English-French Translation and Pronunciation Mistakes
Have you ever had an embarrassing translation faux pas that is so cringe-worthy it made you want to duck to the nearest restroom and hide there forever? Or probably pronounced a French word so inappropriately that it made everybody snicker? French words, with its subtle nuances and undertones, is quite easy to bungle. You might be […]
Continue readingThe Simple Guide to Informal French Grammar
Are you already speaking French so well but still sound as if you just came out of a French grammar book? Do you feel so formal and out-of-place when speaking with native French speakers? Well, let me let you in on one practical tip: try to speak a little bit informally! When speaking in your own native language, you most […]
Continue reading7 Ways to Overcome Anxiety in Speaking French
Speaking a foreign language can be totally nerve-wracking. Especially French where there are so many ways to fumble on the word genders, mispronounce the words to the point of incoherence, forget the right vocabulary, or probably use the wrong tense. Scary, right? I can almost hear you shuddering from here. Don’t worry, a lot of French people […]
Continue readingPodcast #32 Discover a new area of France: Pays Basque/ How to pronounce the sound U in French.
Here is the 32nd session of Talk in French Podcast! You can download the podcast to your computer or listen to it here via iTunes. There is a button where you can download the Podcast. In this episode: – Some information about French culture. Discover a new area of France that you might not have heard of […]
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