The French phrase faire voir literally means “to make see.” It combines the verb faire (to make, to do) with voir (to see). Its core idea is causing someone to see something—whether literally, figuratively, or idiomatically. The expression is widely used in both formal and informal French, often with meanings extending beyond its literal sense….
The French phrase faire savoir means “to let someone know,” “to inform,” or “to make known.” It is a versatile expression used in both formal and informal contexts. Its structure is formed by the verb faire (to do/make) followed by the infinitive savoir (to know), and it often requires an indirect object to indicate the…
If you’ve ever listened to French people chatting informally, you’ll know that much of what they say doesn’t appear in textbooks. Here’s a practical list of French slang expressions you’re likely to hear — all with phonetic pronunciation and clear English meanings. 🗣️ Table of French Slang Expressions French Expression Pronunciation (approx.) Meaning in English…
The French expression on dirait is widely used in spoken and written language. It comes from the verb dire (to say), conjugated in the conditional third person singular (on dirait = one would say / it would seem). The subject on is impersonal, and the phrase often introduces an impression, resemblance, assumption, or hypothetical situation….
The French phrase coûte que coûte literally means “cost what it may” or “whatever it costs.” It expresses determination to achieve something regardless of the cost, difficulty, or risk involved. It is one of the most common French idioms for expressing absolute resolve. It comes from the verb coûter (to cost) and the conjunction que…
The French expression bel et bien is an adverbial phrase used to assert that something is unequivocally, undeniably, or definitely the case. It translates to “well and truly,” “clearly,” “definitely,” or “without a doubt.” The grammatical form of “bel et bien” The phrase is an immutable locution, meaning its form does not change. It is…
The French phrase à partir de is used to indicate a starting point in time, space, or quantity. It is usually translated as “from” or “starting from.” It marks the moment, place, or amount from which something begins, and often implies continuation beyond that point. Temporal meaning When referring to time, à partir de means…
In English, looking forward to expresses anticipation or excitement about a future event. In French, there is no single direct equivalent, and the translation depends on context, formality, and grammatical structure. Common strategies include using the verb avoir hâte de, phrases with être impatient de, or more formal constructions with se réjouir de. 1. Avoir…
Asking questions in French can be done in several ways, ranging from very formal to very informal. The choice of structure depends on the context, the level of formality, and the degree of emphasis or clarity desired. There are three main structures for forming a question when no interrogative pronoun or adverb is involved. Subject-verb…
Both “despite” and “in spite of” can usually be translated into French with the same expressions. The most common translations are “malgré,” “en dépit de,” and “quand même.” Malgré “Malgré” is the most straightforward and frequent translation of “despite” and “in spite of.” It is followed directly by a noun or pronoun. Examples: En dépit…