8 of our favourite French Words of the Day
This month’s countdown of our favourite French words and phrases features the most useful word ever in the French language, a pastry-based cultural thing, and one word that could lead to a generational misunderstanding.
Every weekday The Local publishes a French word or phrase of the day. We try to focus on colloquialisms, slang, sayings (and a bit of swearing) – you know, the type of French you won’t learn in the classroom, but will hear all the time in the street.
This daily habit means we have a very extensive back catalogue – find it here – and we’ve picked out eight of our recent favourites.
Un truc
Quite simply, this great multi-tasking words that can stand in as a placeholder for just about any noun you may have temporarily forgotten is arguably the most useful single syllable in French…
Don’t believe us? Read more here.
Ça te dit
This handy expression – one you’re most likely to hear when making social plans – doesn’t mean anything and means everything at the same time… Think ‘do you feel like it?’ or ‘do you want to?’, or ‘what do you think?’.
Lean more here.
Pantois
Did you know that French has a word that literally means lost for words? This is it – and you’ll probably hear it a lot this summer.
We explain here.
Front républicain
A phrase we’re hearing a lot in France at the moment, with an election looming, as figures from across the political spectrum join forces to keep parties such as the far-right Rassemblement National from the corridors of power.
Find out more here.
READ ALSO 10 essential French phrases to help you understand France's snap election
Ici on dit chocolatine
Only in French could centuries of regional culture wars be distilled into four words about delicious pastry – and an unofficial slogan for south-western pride.
You have to read all about it to believe it.
Faire du lèche-vitrine
France’s officially mandated summer sales are fast approaching – and you’re salivating at the prospect of some bargains. Enter the French phrase for window shopping, which literally translates as ‘to do the window licking’.
Find out more, here.
Nana
Our quest to have this word added to the list of linguistic ‘false friends’ between French and English starts here. While English-speakers would associate this word with their sainted grandmothers, in French it’s a slang term for girlfriend or girl.
Read more here.
Clap de fin
And finally… A phrase from the 1980s, born of cinema and TV, is used to signal an approaching or just-passed deadline – in English, you might say ‘the grand finale’ or ‘the end of the road’ or ‘the final curtain’.
Get to the end of it all, here.
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Every weekday The Local publishes a French word or phrase of the day. We try to focus on colloquialisms, slang, sayings (and a bit of swearing) – you know, the type of French you won’t learn in the classroom, but will hear all the time in the street.
This daily habit means we have a very extensive back catalogue – find it here – and we’ve picked out eight of our recent favourites.
Un truc
Quite simply, this great multi-tasking words that can stand in as a placeholder for just about any noun you may have temporarily forgotten is arguably the most useful single syllable in French…
Don’t believe us? Read more here.
Ça te dit
This handy expression – one you’re most likely to hear when making social plans – doesn’t mean anything and means everything at the same time… Think ‘do you feel like it?’ or ‘do you want to?’, or ‘what do you think?’.
Lean more here.
Pantois
Did you know that French has a word that literally means lost for words? This is it – and you’ll probably hear it a lot this summer.
We explain here.
Front républicain
A phrase we’re hearing a lot in France at the moment, with an election looming, as figures from across the political spectrum join forces to keep parties such as the far-right Rassemblement National from the corridors of power.
Find out more here.
READ ALSO 10 essential French phrases to help you understand France's snap election
Ici on dit chocolatine
Only in French could centuries of regional culture wars be distilled into four words about delicious pastry – and an unofficial slogan for south-western pride.
You have to read all about it to believe it.
Faire du lèche-vitrine
France’s officially mandated summer sales are fast approaching – and you’re salivating at the prospect of some bargains. Enter the French phrase for window shopping, which literally translates as ‘to do the window licking’.
Find out more, here.
Nana
Our quest to have this word added to the list of linguistic ‘false friends’ between French and English starts here. While English-speakers would associate this word with their sainted grandmothers, in French it’s a slang term for girlfriend or girl.
Read more here.
Clap de fin
And finally… A phrase from the 1980s, born of cinema and TV, is used to signal an approaching or just-passed deadline – in English, you might say ‘the grand finale’ or ‘the end of the road’ or ‘the final curtain’.
Get to the end of it all, here.
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