There are a range of different accents used on vowels in French. Two of them are very useful in helping you to guess the meaning of a word, even if you don’t know it. The circumflex accent ^ (un accent circonflexe) and the acute accent ´ (un accent aigu) are often used to replace a…
In French, stress pronouns (also known as disjunctive or emphatic pronouns) are used to emphasize a person or to differentiate between people in a sentence. They serve a different purpose compared to other types of pronouns like subject pronouns (je, tu, il, etc.) or object pronouns (me, te, le, etc.). Stress pronouns can stand alone…
The French verb “éditer” is a regular verb that belongs to the first group of verbs ending in “-er.” It is most commonly translated as “to edit” in English, but it can also mean “to publish” depending on the context. Conjugation of “éditer” Like other regular “-er” verbs, “éditer” follows a predictable pattern in its…
Understanding the French Verb “Censer” The verb “censer” is a bit unusual in French because it’s primarily used in its passive form “être censé(e)” which translates to “to be supposed to.” Note: There is no need to use “de” or “à” with “être censé.” “To be supposed to do” is simply “être censé faire.” “Etre…
The French word “besoin” is a noun that translates to “need” in English. It is commonly used to express necessity or desire for something. Basic Meaning of “Besoin” The word “besoin” is mostly used to indicate that someone needs something or has a requirement. The typical structure for expressing need in French is: “Avoir besoin…
One of the essential differences between the English and French languages is the concept of “le flux sonore,” or “sound flow” in French. A French sentence should sound like a more or less continuous flow of sound, interrupted only by small pauses for commas and longer pauses for full stops. In order to achieve this,…
These three French expressions are frequently used. They combine a reflexive pronoun (“se”) with the adverbial pronoun “en,” which can mean a variety of things, including “of it,” “of them,” “some of them,” “any of them,” “any of it,” “some of it,” “from it,” “from them,” etc. s’en aller Meaning: to leave, to go away…
The pronunciation of the French words “six” (6) and “dix” (10) is a bit unusual. There are three ways of pronouncing the final “x.” When counting, eg from 1 to 10, “six” is pronounced SEESS and “dix” is pronounced DEESS. So the last letter sounds like a soft “s” sound. When saying something like “six…
Talking About Success in French When it comes to expressing success in French, there are a few common verbs and adjectives that can help you communicate this idea. 1. The Verb “To Succeed” – Réussir The most common verb for “to succeed” in French is réussir. You can also use réussir in a more general…
The French noun “un coup” is versatile and widely used in various contexts. It can mean “a blow” or “a stroke,” but its meanings extend far beyond these basic definitions. Basic Meanings Idiomatic Expressions “Un coup” appears in many idiomatic expressions, each with its own unique meaning. Here are some common ones: