Articles about French
650+ articles on French language topics!
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la chanson française
In French, chanson simply means “song,” but la chanson française also designates a distinct musical category. As a genre, it prioritises lyrics, storytelling, and verbal nuance over production or rhythm. The voice is central, diction is clear, and themes often…
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-er pronunciation
French words that end in -er fall into two groups. The first group sounds like é at the end. The second sounds like ère. The difference follows clear patterns. Verbs in the infinitive All French verbs whose infinitive form ends…
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au moins, à moins de, à moins que
Au moins, à moins de and à moins que are frequent French expressions built on the idea of a minimum, a condition, or an exception. They differ in grammatical function, required verb forms, and meaning. Accurate use depends on whether…
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terms of endearment & affection
French frequently uses terms of affection to express love, fondness, or tenderness. These expressions are common in both spoken and written French and can be directed toward partners, children, friends, or even pets. Many derive from words for food, animals,…
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architecte vs archéologue
In modern French, the letter combination ch can represent two different sounds: a soft sound pronounced [ʃ], as in chat, and a hard sound pronounced [k], as in chaos. The difference between architecte with a soft ch and archéologue with…
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faire la moue
Faire la moue is a French expression meaning to pout or make a sulky face. It describes the physical act of pushing out the lips in displeasure, disappointment, or mock annoyance. The phrase appears in both literal contexts, describing an…
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sur-le-champ
Sur-le-champ is a common French adverbial expression meaning “immediately” or “at once.” It appears in both spoken and written French and conveys urgency, expectation of quick compliance, or a prompt reaction. It is slightly formal but remains widely used. Meaning…
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brun vs marron
In modern French, brun and marron both designate what English generally calls “brown.” Despite this overlap, their usage differs according to grammatical function, register, collocations, and historical development. Understanding these differences is essential for accurate and idiomatic French. Etymology and…
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chauvinisme
The words chauvinisme and chauvin exist in both French and English, but their dominant meanings, typical contexts, and emotional force differ significantly. In French, the terms are primarily linked to excessive national pride. In English, they are most commonly linked…
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macho
The word macho exists in both French and English and ultimately comes from Spanish macho, meaning male. Despite the shared origin and spelling, the dominant meanings, typical contexts, and evaluative force differ between the two languages. In French, macho is…
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passé récent + imparfait
The construction venir de + infinitive expresses an action that has just happened. When venir is in the imperfect, the speaker places this recent action in a past narrative frame, often to set background context or to describe what was…
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sauf
The french word sauf functions primarily as a preposition or an adjective. Its core meaning is “except” or “save for,” indicating an exclusion. It can also mean “safe” or “unharmed” when used as an adjective. Sauf as a preposition meaning…
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c’est à toi de + infinitive
C’est à toi de + infinitive: core structure and meaning The construction c’est à + stressed pronoun or noun + de + infinitive assigns responsibility or expectation for performing an action. It identifies who is responsible, whose role it is,…
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