Yes, the letter 't' is usually silent at the end of French words, but there are important exceptions, especially in short words like et (and), but (but), sept (seven), and huit (eight), and when it's part of a word that borrows from Latin or English. The 't' can also become pronounced (a liaison) before a vowel in the next word, like in et-il (and he).
The letters d, p, s, t, x and z may be pronounced whenever there is a liaison.
Many French people pronounce très as if it were written trés, that is \tʁe\ and not \tʁɛ\. But that's not an "ay" sound, do not say \tʁeɪ\.
Yes, the French absolutely say "je voudrais" (I would like), and it's the standard, polite way to order or make requests, especially in shops and restaurants, though native speakers often use alternatives like "je vais prendre" or "je prendrai" for ordering food to sound more natural, while "je veux" (I want) is considered too direct or demanding.
Et toi? (not et tu?)
In English you is used as subject and object personal pronoun but in French we use different words accordingly. Tu is always subject: Tu parles anglais.
The 80/20 rule (Pareto Principle) in French learning means focusing on the 20% of vocabulary, grammar, and phrases that handle 80% of everyday conversations, allowing for rapid progress in real-life situations like the bakery or with neighbors, rather than getting bogged down in less-used details. This involves prioritizing high-frequency words, essential sentence structures, and common tenses to achieve practical fluency faster, using comprehensible input (listening/reading) for the majority of study time and targeted output (speaking/writing) for the rest.
Crème de la crème (French, literally 'cream of the cream') is an idiom meaning "the best of the best", "superlative", or "the very best".
Yes, the French say "je ne sais quoi," but it's less common in casual speech than in English, where it's used to describe an indescribable, special quality; in France, it often sounds formal or a bit old-fashioned, and they'd more likely use phrases like "un certain charme" (a certain charm) or "un petit truc en plus" (a little something extra) for that meaning. While it literally means "I don't know what," its use as a noun for a mysterious allure is largely an English adoption, though French speakers understand it and might use it in specific contexts, sometimes as a hyphenated noun "un je-ne-sais-quoi".
B, k or q aren't common ending in French, and you can remember the most recurrent ones by using the word CaReFuL. However, there are some exceptions to this rule so don't forget to make a mental note if you encounter them. Other letters are rarely pronounced, such as d, g, m, p, s, t, x and z.
3.La cédille (cedilla)
Looks like: ç About: The cedilla or la cédille is the only accent on c in French. It is used to indicate that the 'c' in question is pronounced like an 's', as in français and garçon.
When you're not sure which one to use, always start with vous. If you use tu when you should be using vous it can come across as rude. However, if you're friends with someone, using vous will probably feel quite forced.
Crème de la crème (French, literally 'cream of the cream') is an idiom meaning “the best of the best” or “the very best”. ♥️♥️😘 . . . .
The + masculine noun = le. The + feminine noun = la. The + any noun beginning with a vowel = l'
The "5 to 7 rule" in France, or le cinq à sept, traditionally refers to a secret, after-work rendezvous (5 PM to 7 PM) with a lover for an illicit sexual encounter before returning home to family, but it's also used more broadly for discreet romantic meetings or even just a casual happy hour, though its meaning varies by region, with Québec using it more for social gatherings than affairs.
The hardest French tense is often considered the Subjunctive Mood, especially for English speakers, because it expresses doubt, emotion, or hypotheticals and has unique trigger phrases, but the Imperfect vs. Passé Composé (Past Tense) distinction, irregular verbs, and tricky particles like y and en also pose major challenges. While the subjunctive's use is tricky, its present tense conjugation can be regular; the true struggle lies in knowing when to use it and differentiating it from other past tenses.
These French language levels provide a way of describing a person's French language proficiency. There are six levels of French : A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2. A1 is the lowest level in terms of ability and C2 is the highest. Our French learning courses focus on conversational, reading, writing & listening french skills.
Formal or Polite Ways to Respond