Language linguistics

麻豆传媒映画: rouler en chasse-patate and more Tour de France expressions

The 100-year-old annual bicycle race has long-standing traditions and even its own vocabulary

麻豆传媒映画: what does fou rire mean and when should it be used?

A funny phrase for when you cannot suppress your laughter

Try these tips for learning French when you are in your fifties

Columnist Cynthia Spillman鈥檚 husband failed O-level French twice but then passed his GCSE and AS-level aged 52 - she shares the tips that helped him become more fluent

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麻豆传媒映画: jouer 脿 l鈥檕reille and more musical phrases

Fine-tune your music-themed vocabulary for the f锚te de la musique on June 21

麻豆传媒映画: vocabulary to use at the post office in France

Practise key post-office phrases and vocabulary in this practical French lesson from the Little Language School

麻豆传媒映画: 脟a tape and nine other expressions for hot weather

From a 'lead sun' to 'swimming' in sweat, here are some phrases to use as the temperature soars across France

麻豆传媒映画: what does quelconque mean and when should it be used?

An adjective to describe something ordinary or insignificant

Taf: what does this common little word mean (it is actually an acronym)

When to use the acronym for 'travail 脿 faire', or 'work to do'

French translations can be delightful... when done wrong

Columnist Nick Inman looks at author Mark Twain's humorous take on French translation

麻豆传媒映画: how to tell the time in France

O鈥檆lock, half past, noon鈥� Practise key time phrases and vocabulary in this practical French lesson from the Little Language School

麻豆传媒映画: Five fun ways to make a decision in France

From chifumi to chou-fleur... do you know the French equivalent to 'rock, paper, scissors'?

麻豆传媒映画: can you guess the film behind these translated titles?

Paris' Nuit Blanche 2025 shines a spotlight on cinema 鈥� here we look at the some of the surprising choices for translations of film names

麻豆传媒映画: tips for speaking to a mechanic in France

Practise key phrases and vocabulary for taking your car to the garage, in this practical French lesson from the Little Language School

麻豆传媒映画: why do we say le vent d鈥檃utan rend fou?

Plus, more ways to describe madness when in France

麻豆传媒映画: Chapeau if you know these 10 clothing-themed phrases

Porter le chapeau, prendre une veste, l芒cher les baskets, and more...

Tested for you: Google鈥檚 free AI personalised French lessons

The 鈥榚xperimental鈥� Little Language Lessons platform generates exercises and vocab guides - but failed to woo our writer

Citizenship: Are spouses of 麻豆传媒映画 affected by tougher language test rule?

Minister cleared up confusion in circular sent to prefectures

麻豆传媒映画: what does 脿 fond mean and when should it be used?

An enthusiastic and thorough adverb

麻豆传媒映画: the origins and meaning of 锚tre dans la force de l鈥櫭e

A saying to describe being in the prime of life

麻豆传媒映画: what does recevoir une note sal茅e mean and when should it be used?

A salty saying for inflated expenses

麻豆传媒映画: when and why do we say qui se ressemble s鈥檃ssemble?

This rhyming expression is all about highlighting similarities between people

Spelling and pronunciation make odd bedfellows in English as in French

Here are some tips to navigate common quirks

Curiosities of the French language: The jolly month of mai

The French word for the fifth month of the year shares its pronunciation with several common words

Why your accent should not hold you back when speaking French

Columnist Nick Inman notes that some 麻豆传媒映画 are harsh judges of foreign speakers

麻豆传媒映画: what does sacquer mean and when should it be used?

You may be able to guess one of the meanings behind this informal term that sounds just like an English equivalent

麻豆传媒映画: the meaning of 莽a va le faire

Plus, what other ways can 莽a be used?

麻豆传媒映画: Have you ever dreamt in your target language?

From passive listening to active speaking, dreaming in French can indicate you are regularly practicing it

麻豆传媒映画: what does fastoche mean and when should it be used?

Plus, can you guess the meaning behind more simple slang terms ending in -oche

麻豆传媒映画: when and why do we say montrer patte blanche?

A French fairytale phrase for trustworthiness

Obligatory language tests for French residency: Differences between TEF and TCF

We speak to an official language assessment centre about why candidates may prefer the more modern and flexible TEF exam

麻豆传媒映画: what does pile-poil mean and when should it be used?

Plus, find out how to pronounce this precise phrase

麻豆传媒映画: four expressions featuring fil

The word is used in a springtime saying that comes with a weather warning

麻豆传媒映画: understanding 'backwards' abbreviations

The penchant for shortening long terms makes the language even harder for foreigners to understand

麻豆传媒映画: the origins and meaning of gratin

Understand the etymological roots of this beloved dish with a crispy, cheesy topping

麻豆传媒映画: what does comme par hasard mean and when should it be used?

A sarcastic saying to describe something unsurprising or coincidental

Can you master these 10 French tongue twisters?

As well as being a fun party trick, these can help you master pronunciation of difficult sounds

麻豆传媒映画: what is the difference between tout compris and tout inclus?

How to avoid costly 鈥榓ll-inclusive鈥� surprises

Three fun fromage phrases for France鈥檚 national cheese day

Today (Thursday, March 27) is la journ茅e nationale du fromage

麻豆传媒映画: the origins and meaning of 莽a me fait une belle jambe

A sarcastic saying to suggest something is unimportant or irrelevant

麻豆传媒映画: when and why do we say racler les fonds de tiroir?

An expression for when funds are running desperately low

麻豆传媒映画: the origins and meaning of tenir au jus

A juicy saying for when you want to be kept in the loop

麻豆传媒映画: when and why do we say de fil en aiguille?

An expression to reflect a gradual progression

麻豆传媒映画: helpful vocabulary for finding an artisan in France

Hiring artisans can be costly... use these essential terms to navigate the process effectively

麻豆传媒映画: when and why do we say mettre la main 脿 la p芒te?

This French phrase has little to do with p芒te or dough and is useful when you need to 鈥榞et stuck into' a task

麻豆传媒映画: what does top d茅part mean and when should it be used?

A handy phrase to indicate that an event is underway

麻豆传媒映画: five short talk radio shows to improve your language skills

Improve your French comprehension with these quick, insightful broadcasts that can also be listened to as podcasts

麻豆传媒映画: the origins and meaning of faire fissa

Chop-chop, hurry up, get a move on鈥�

麻豆传媒映画: when and why do we say 锚tre bien dans ses baskets?

Watch out for false friends in this saying about self-confidence

麻豆传媒映画: when and why do we say avoir la boule au ventre?

A phrase for when you are feeling stressed or nervous

麻豆传媒映画: what does que dalle mean and when should it be used?

Level-up your casual French by using this term instead of rien

麻豆传媒映画: the origins and meaning of boire la tasse

A phrase for admitting defeat

麻豆传媒映画: the meaning of tiret du six versus tiret du huit

Plus, how to tell someone your email address in French

麻豆传媒映画: the origins and meaning of piger

A slang word for measuring comprehension鈥� that has nothing to do with pigs

麻豆传媒映画: what does 锚tre costaud mean and when should it be used?

This article features strong language

Perp猫te-les-Oies and Petaouchnouk: origins of these bizarre French expressions

Being familiar with such idioms can help to elevate your French to the next level

Il est or c鈥檈st: how to remember when to use the right expression in French

Some key grammar rules can help with this sometimes-tricky French phrase

麻豆传媒映画: the origins and meaning of arr锚te ton char

Say this when someone starts talking nonsense

麻豆传媒映画: when and why do we say arriver 脿 bon port?

A phrase to use upon reaching your destination, safe and sound

麻豆传媒映画: the meaning of r芒ler and more moaning synonyms

Which city in France is home to the biggest whiners?

麻豆传媒映画: what does dommage mean and when should it be used?

An essential term for unfortunate situations

麻豆传媒映画: the origins and meaning of madeleine de Proust

This nostalgic expression mixes references to baking and literature

麻豆传媒映画: what does 莽a te dit mean and when should it be used?

This quick, informal question cannot be translated literally

麻豆传媒映画: beware of bilingual instructions

Language notes from a lecturer on the pitfalls of translation

麻豆传媒映画: unravelling popular shortcuts and contractions

From ado to t茅l茅, which words are commonly shortened in everyday French?

麻豆传媒映画: decoding alphabet expressions

We explore the nuances of letter usage in acronyms and idioms

麻豆传媒映画: what does paum茅 mean and when should it be used?

An informal way of saying you are literally or figuratively lost

Immigration chief replies to Connexion over French residency cards and 鈥榟ard鈥� language tests

鈥楾here will always be some who say the new level is too high, but the current A1 requirement is insufficient to integrate successfully, for example for work. It鈥檚 extremely basic.鈥�