Interjections

  • quoi at sentence end

    In conversational French, quoi is often placed at the end of a statement that is not a question. It does not carry its literal meaning of “what.” Instead, it softens statements, signals resignation, emphasises a point, or adds an informal tone. It appears frequently in speech but rarely in formal writing. Core functions of final…

  • ouf, ben, chut, na, etc

    French uses many short, spoken fillers and interjections that express reactions, attitudes, hesitation, or emotional responses. They are common in informal conversation and often have no exact English equivalent. Words like ouf, ben, chut, na, and several related sounds. Ouf Meaning Ouf expresses relief, surprise, or amazement. It is informal and common in spoken French….

  • animal sounds

    French uses a distinct set of onomatopoeic forms to represent animal sounds. Many differ significantly from their English equivalents because French phonology shapes how sounds are imagined and expressed. These forms appear in children’s books, everyday conversation, idioms, and descriptive narrative. Several verbs of sound also derive from these onomatopoeias, and both forms often coexist….