Podcast #38 – Are the French Rude?

4 Comments

Last Updated: June 17, 2023

Follow Us Now

Bonjour, this is Frederic and I would like to personally welcome you to the thirty-eighth episode of the Talk in French Podcast!

This podcast is intended for beginner to intermediate French language learners and French culture enthusiasts. For advanced level learners, I also have an all-French Podcast which you would probably enjoy more.

Talk In French Podcast is included in our Talk in French Membership program.  

are the french really rude

In this episode:

  • Some information about French culture. Are the French rude? My opinion about this common question
  • Some French Words and expressions
  • French nouns with two genders: How the gender of a word changes a sentence immensely. Like saying "This is a basement" to "This is an idiot"

What's in This Podcast?

French Travel and Culture

Discover some interesting aspects of French travel and culture.

Vocabulary and Expressions

Learn useful French vocabulary and idiomatic expressions.

French Grammar Explanation

Get to know important grammar points and learn how to use it.


Listen to This Podcast Episode Now


French Vocabulary Included in This Episode:

des baskets trainers
des chaussures shoes
les vêtements clothes
un haut a top
un jogging a tracksuit
un maillot de foot a football shirt
un pantalon trousers
un polo   a polo shirt
un pull a jumper
un short shorts
un sweat a sweatshirt
une chemise a shirt
une jupe a skirt
une robe a dress
une veste a jacket    

French Expressions from This Podcast Episode:

c’est kif-kif et bourricot  it's even, it's all the same
Sauter au plafond To show extreme signs of happiness
une bonne bête good natured person good beast
Tenir quelqu’un à l’oeil To watch someone 
C'est dans la poche It's in the bag 
Chassez le naturel mais il revient au galop You never hide / can rid of your natural tendencies 
bête à manger du foin dumb enough to eat hay  

Confusing French Words with a Double Meaning

  • le cave - (familiar) idiot, sucker vs  la cave - basement, cellar
  • le livre - book vs la livre - pound (currency and weight)
  • le manche - handle vs la manche - sleeve la Manche - English Channel. Also an expression: "Il s’y prend comme un manche". Listen the podcast to learning the meaning
  • le mémoire - memo, report, memoirs vs la mémoire - memory
  • le mi-temps - (work) part-time vs la mi-temps - (sports) half, half-time
  • le mode - method, way, mood vs  la mode - fashion
  • le moule - mold vs la moule - mussel
  • le physique - physique, face vs la physique - physics
  • le plastique - plastic vs  la plastique - modeling arts, body shape
  • le platine - platinum vs  la platine - turntable, deck, strip of metal
  • le poêle - stove vs la poêle - frying pan
  • le tour - tour, turn, trick vs  la tour - tower, rook (chess)

Speak, Listen, and Write French like a Native with Talk in French Complete Courses

  • Learn French on your own terms with our comprehensive, self-paced beginner, intermediate, and advanced courses, each with a step-by-step plan tailored to your level.
  • Master French pronunciation and sound like a native with our pronunciation course.
  • Receive personalized feedback and guidance from a dedicated French teacher.

Links to Articles and Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Also on iTunes

This podcast is also available on iTunes, so if you prefer to listen on your device, please check it out on iTunes and give me an honest review here . I updated the RSS feed so all the information is available there.

Once again your feedback will be greatly appreciated and it would help me develop more learning resources for you. If you have time, please leave a review in iTunes, too.

Speak, Listen, and Write French like a Native with Talk in French Complete Courses

  • Learn French on your own terms with our comprehensive, self-paced beginner, intermediate, and advanced courses, each with a step-by-step plan tailored to your level.
  • Master French pronunciation and sound like a native with our pronunciation course.
  • Receive personalized feedback and guidance from a dedicated French teacher.

About the author 

Frederic Bibard is the founder of Talk in French, a company that helps french learners to practice and improve their french. Macaron addict. Jacques Audiard fan. You can contact him on Instagram

  • This was so entertaining and informative!! I’m so sad I didn’t discover it till now! I went to France in 2019 and I did find a couple of Parisians “rude” from my point of view, but your clarified the exact reasons I had for them being rude and now I understand. I guess I had to look at it from a different angle. Merci beaucoup! I loved this!

  • {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

    >