Tuesday, September 02, 2008

The dummy guide to polite French

I can't say I can speak French (at all). Having a French husband doesn't mean you get a free French language teacher, not especially if he is more familiar with python and c++ language.

While it is my long term goal to master this beautiful language, I am far from being able to converse in it, having only taken lessons for a mere 5 months couple of years ago.

But in case you're planning on a French holiday, it's fast to pick up a few quick French favourite phrases, that will sure boost your image in front of your French hosts.

The usuals:
bonjour - good day
salut - similar to good day, common when you do the cheek to cheek kiss
merci beaucoup (pronounced bu-koo) - thank you
au revoir (pronounced or-voir) - goodbye
bon nuit - good night

The 'extras' to impress:
c'est bon - it's good: said especially after taking the first bite of any food you're trying. If it's not good, you don't say so, but anything else, even if it is just ordinarily nice, say it's good. It'll make your French host very happy. French are optimistic lot and like to give good comments to most things. So why not go with the flow.

c'est magnifique - it's magnificent: if good is not good enough, make it magnificent!

tres bien - very good: again, everything is very good.

c'est jolie - it's beautiful.

How do we say "bad", "ugly", "lousy"...in French? I'm afraid I do not know at all and do not need to know. The above are useful enough in striking a friendly and polite image in a French household.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

i think 'mal' is bad in french.

Rémi and Fangie said...

Thanks for the new word.

You can also say "n'est pas bon", meaning it's not good.

Rémi and Fangie said...

I forgot 2 more "extras":

superbe (pronounced su-pear'b): remi likes to say superbe after almost everything

c'est excéllent (pronounced ex-say-long): like manifique, used when it's better than just good.

 
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