In this series of mini-lesson tweets on Twitter, we help you perfect your house-related vocabulary to become a master in knowing French homes. Here is the recap of this week’s phrases for your reference: Where you hang out with family and friends : "le salon", "the living-room". Where the magic happens (or not) : "la cuisine", "the kitchen". Where the magic also happens (or not) : "la chambre", "the bedroom". Have you ever waited for someone to get out of the bahtroom, "la salle de bain"? Usually in France the bathroom is separated from "les toilettes", "the restrooms". It's always nicer to work from home, in your  "bureau", "office". Hope you enjoyed!  

In this series of mini-lesson tweets on Twitter, we help you perfect your public transportation vocabulary to become a subway master in France. Here is the recap of this week’s phrases for your reference: When users are mad at strikers from the Paris subway they say "RATP: Rentre Avec Tes Pieds", "RATP: Go home by foot". Need you daily dose of caffeine while riding the train? Ask "Où est le wagon-restaurant?", Where is the restaurant car? When you missed your train and try to negotiate with an agent, start with "J'ai raté mon train", I missed my train". Tired of public transportation? Get in a cab! Tell the driver where you go with "Je vais à ...", I am going to... Using public transportation allows us to avoid "les embouteillages",... Show more

In this series of mini-lesson tweets on Twitter, we help you perfect your public transportation vocabulary to become a subway master in France. Here is the recap of this week’s phrases for your reference: Don't wait for ever at that bus stop on a Sunday, and ask "Ce bus fonctionne le dimanche?", Does this bus work on Sundays? Are you given the look by someone you just bumped into? The basics: "Excusez-moi", Sorry. You'd better validate your ticket before you get on the train, "Où est-ce que je composte mon billet?", Where do I validate my ticket? Going to the Riviera and nver coming back? Ask for "un aller simple", a one-way ticket, at the ticket booth. Taking a day trip outside Paris and need a round trip ticket? Ask for "un... Show more

In this series of mini-lesson tweets on Twitter, we help you perfect your public transportation vocabulary to become a subway master in France.  Here is the recap of last week’s phrases for your reference: When the bus map doesn't make any sense to you, "Quel est le prochain arrêt?", What is the next stop?   Don't take the wrong bus, "Vous vous arrêtez à ...(name of the stop)?", Do you stop at (name of the stop)?   You need to find the right platform, "Où est le train pour (name of the city)?", Where is the train for Bordeaux?   To be able to sit on the subway train, ride during "l'heure creuse", off hours. Vous descendez ici?   Someone stubbornly standing in the way of the bus door? Say "Excusez-moi, je descends ici",... Show more

In this series of mini-lesson tweets on Twitter, we help you perfect your public transportation vocabulary to become a subway master in France.  Here is the recap of last week’s phrases for your reference:   Because you don't want to ride the subway without a ticket, "Un ticket, s'il vous plait", "One ticket please".   When you stopped paying attention: "Quel est cet arret?", "What is this station?"   One thing you want to avoid in the subway is "l'heure de pointe", rush hour. If someone tells you "Prenez le 58" when you're asking your way, understand "Take the 58 bus".   If you couldn't avoid rush hour, stepped on someone's foot and want to stay out of trouble: "Excusez-moi", "I am sorry."   Stay tuned daily for our tweets, and... Show more

In this series of mini-lesson tweets on Twitter, we help you perfect your media-related vocabulary in order to beat French people at conversing about the news.  Here is the recap of this week’s phrases for your reference: When you don't want to stain your fingers with newspaper's ink: "Je lis l'actualité en ligne.", "I read the news online." An easy one: "un magazine" is "a magazine"...but it's always good to know. You probably know that French people hate to find a typo, "une coquille", in their newspaper. To talk about all newspapers in general: "la presse écrite". "La presse écrite attire moins de lecteurs." "Newspapers are attracting less readers." Do you follow the news, "l'actualité"? "L'actualité de la semaine est... Show more

It is always useful to know the slang for "money" in a foreign language, if only not to get ripped off and to understand when people talk about what is in your wallet...  So many different ways to say "money" in French! Those greedy French.  Before we get to those words I would like to mention a French argot specialist. His name is Michel Audiard and even if you probably never heard this name before, you need to know that he is one of France's pride. Michel Audiard (Born in 1920, died in 1985) was a famous screenwriter who is known for his acid, humorous, and "argotique" writing. And, if you happened to watch movies written by Michel Audiard, you surely came across  a multitude of French money-related slang. If you would like to... Show more

In this series of mini-lesson tweets on Twitter, we help you perfect your media-related vocabulary in order to beat French people at conversing about the news.  Here is the recap of this week’s phrases for your reference: "Un éditorial" gives you the paper's opinion."L'éditorial est sévère avec le président.", "The editorial is tough on the president." Just so you know, the French for "buzz" is also "un buzz". "Le discours de Barack Obama a fait un buzz en France." Subscribe to "un hebdomadaire" to get news every week. "Time" est un hebdomadaire", "Time" is a weekly." Today's word "un rédacteur en chef", "an editor-in-chief". "Le rédacteur en chef a le dernier mot sur le contenu.", "The editor-in-chief" has the last word on the... Show more

In this series of mini-lesson tweets on Twitter, we help you perfect your media-related vocabulary in order to beat French people at conversing about the news.  Here is the recap of this week’s phrases for your reference: If you're reading a trashy French magazine, then you're reading "un torchon", which is also the word for "a dish cloth".  You want to say you know what is going on throughout the world? Then say "Je suis au courant", "I am current with the news". When TV disappoints us, "Mon émission préférée ne passe plus.", "My favorite TV show is not on anymore." An easy one : "un site internet" is "a website"..."Ce site internet est incontournable.", "This website is a must see." Hey couch potatoes! A word for... Show more

Have you ever heard of the word l'argot? You might have heard of it as being the French slang. Well, it is true to some extent. But there is more to l'argot than just being slang.  Today we'll introduce you to one argot French word. But before we do, let's talk about what l'argot really is. The initial meaning appeared in the XVIIth century in France to generally designate professional thieves, beggars and  bohemians.  This group of people was literally called l'argot. The word evolved to later designate the language used by this group of people. Just like any social group, they would use a vocabulary that would only exist among themselves. Now, having their own language not only identified each other as a group, it also allowed... Show more