Learning the French language is not only about the language itself. If you would like to master French, then it is also important for you to master French culture, traditions and how to sound French. Native French speakers (from France) will have their own daily expressions. When you meet a French speaker, you might notice something that is very particular in their way of speaking.
“This isn’t what I’ve learned in French class…“, you might think. Don’t panic! I have listed right below, 10 tips to sound more French, exactly just like a native speaker. It is also very important for you to note that most of these situations are used in spoken French.
1. Saying “euh”
Informal
First of all, let me introduce you to the first element of this list: the sound “euh“. Not only is it very similar to the English “uhh”, but is also used the same way. Most of the time, we will use “euh” when we are hesitating, or thinking about what to say next.
An example:
« Quelle est la météo pour demain?
– Je sais pas… euh… nuageux, je crois. »
Translation: “What is the weather forecast for tomorrow?” / “I don’t know … uhm, cloudy, I think.”
How to pronounce it: Uhh.
2. Using “Ouais” instead of “Oui”
Although this should be kept within informal situations, it is actually something quite common in spoken French.
If you’re looking for an equivalent in English, try “yeah”.
How to pronounce it: Weh.
3. Using “on” to replace “nous”
How do we do it?
Nous allons à la plage = On va à la plage
We are going to the beach.
Nous avons mangé du poulet = On a mangé du pouletWe ate chicken.
We will conjugate the verb with “on” the same way as “il” and “elle”.
4. Adding “quoi” at the end of sentences
Example:
« Je ne peux pas aller au cinéma avec toi ce soir.
– Pourquoi?
– J’ai beaucoup de choses à faire. J’ai un rendez-vous chez le dentiste et je dois aller voir ma mère… je n’ai pas le temps, quoi. »
” I can’t go to the cinema with you tonight.”
“Why?”
“I have many things to do. I have an appointment at the dentist’s and I have to go see my mother… Basically, I don’t have time.”
5. ” T’ ” instead of “tu”
T’as mangé quoi, à midi?
T’es parti tôt.
Translation: What did you eat for lunch? / You left early.
It is very common to shorten or simplify sentences in spoken everyday French. To sound more French, you can use T’ before a verb that begins with a vowel. This way, you can transform sentences like this:
Tu as mangé quoi? = T’as mangé quoi?
Tu es parti tôt = T’es parti tôt.
6. “Ah” or “Oh”
« Qu’est-ce que t’as fait aujourd’hui?
– Oh, pas grand chose. Je suis allée au restaurant avec une amie. »
Translation: What did you do today? / Oh, not much. I went to the restaurant with a friend.
“Oh là là”, “Ah”, “Ah bon”, “Oh non!”, “Ah oui!” and “Ah oui?” are typical expressions you can hear in everyday French.
7. Removing “ne” from the negative sentence
Je sais pas.
Je pense pas.
J’aime pas les épinards.
As you can see, all of these sentences are examples of when you can actually remove “ne” from a negative sentence.
Reminder
Negation in French is formed with this pattern:
Subject + ne (or n’ before a vowel) + verb + pas.
Je ne sais pas.
Je ne pense pas.
Je n’aime pas les épinards.
Removing the “ne” part of negations while speaking French will definitely make you sound more French, however, this will also make you sound much less formal.
8. Asking questions with intonation instead of inversion
Tu vas à la plage?
Instead of
Vas-tu à la plage?
Literally:
You are going to the beach?
Instead of
Are you going to the beach?
//
Quelle heure il est?
Instead of
Quelle heure est-il?
Literally:
What time it is?
Instead of
What time is it?
I actually have excellent news for you. This tip can also be used in most formal situations, in spoken French.
Inverting SUBJECT and VERB while asking a question in French can be applied in written or very formal French. Nowadays, our language is being simplified, especially regarding spoken French, to the great disappointment of the Académie Française!
9. Removing “il” from impersonal structures
Oh là là, ‘faut aller au supermarché!
Si tu veux grandir, ‘faut manger de la soupe.
Y’a du pain.
Translation: Oh dear, we need to go to the supermarket! / If you want to grow up, you need to eat soup. / There is bread.
It’s indeed very common as well to hear French people remove “il” from some impersonal structures such as “il faut” (to have to or must) and “il y a” (there is, there are)
10. “Voilà”
This last one might sound very cliché, but it is definitely true. You may use “voilà” for many reasons, in order to sound more French!
Here are some examples:
There you go. // Done! // Exactly.
It also means that you share your approval of something.
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Now that we’re done with this little chapter, I’d like to know if you also have some tips to share on how to sound more French. Tell us what you think in the comments below! I’d love to hear from you!
À très bientôt!
