Podcast Episode #38: Are the French Rude?

Here is the 38th 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. 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”.

Download the Podcast now

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or listen on the website.

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)

French Words in the Podcast

• 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 of the week

• 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  

You can also buy an Ebook:

365 days of French Expressions

It includes:  French Expression/ Meaning / Literal Translation/ MP3/ Weekly Recap and Quiz

Available on:

Also mentioned in this article

• • Ebooks
  • Tutoring services
  • Why Russians smile less than Westerners (in French).  A perspective that can be similar with the French.

Again your opinion are appreciated and a review on iTunes as well.

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