Argot is a form of informal, often colorful French slang used to express ideas in a more vivid, humorous, or coded way than standard French allows. It emerges from everyday life — shaped by youth culture, the working class, suburbs (banlieues), and even criminal circles — and constantly evolves to reflect changing attitudes, trends, and…
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…
In French history, « la Saint-Barthélemy » refers not to a feast day but to a massacre. On 24 August 1572, during the religious wars between Catholics and Protestants (Huguenots), thousands of Protestants were killed in Paris and across France. The event remains one of the most infamous episodes in the French Wars of Religion…
The French expression « le nez de Cléopâtre » (“Cleopatra’s nose”) comes from a famous line by the 17th-century philosopher and mathematician Blaise Pascal. In his Pensées (1670), he wrote: « Le nez de Cléopâtre, s’il eût été plus court, toute la face de la terre aurait changé. »If Cleopatra’s nose had been shorter, the…
“Loger” is a transitive verb meaning to accommodate, house, or provide lodging for someone or something. The subject provides housing to the object. “Se loger” is a reflexive verb meaning to find accommodation, to house oneself, or to settle somewhere. The subject finds or secures housing for themselves. Key structural differences Loger (transitive) This verb…
The French verb ressasser means to go over something repeatedly in one’s mind or to keep bringing it up. It describes a mental or verbal repetition, often obsessive or negative. It can refer to thoughts, memories, worries, or conversations that someone cannot let go of. It is a regular -er verb: je ressasse, tu ressasses,…
French learners often wonder when to use monter dans and when to use monter à. Both can be translated as “to get in” or “to get on,” but their use depends on the type of transport or the situation. Monter dansThe expression monter dans is used when someone goes inside a closed or enclosed vehicle….
France does not have an exact equivalent to Australia’s long service leave, which typically grants employees extended paid leave (e.g., 8-13 weeks) after a long period of continuous service (usually 7-10 years) with the same employer. However, France has several labor provisions that provide leave entitlements, some of which partially align with the concept of…
French uses acronyms extensively in formal writing, news media, and digital communication. An acronym is a word formed from the initial letters of a phrase, like NATO or NASA. Understanding them is essential for reading French texts and following informal online exchanges. Informal and online acronyms These acronyms are used in texting, on social media,…
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…