Speak French Without Sounding Like a Tourist
How to Use Colloquial Phrases to Fit in With the Locals in France
It is polite, when visiting any foreign country, to at least try to speak some of the native tongue. The French are particularly proud of their culture and protective of their language and rightly so. They can be unforgiving, especially in Paris, of anyone who marches up to them and begins to speak in anything other than French.
French Good Manners
On the other hand, it can be embarrassing for an English-speaking visitor who does make the effort to speak French to be replied to in English. They can feel as if the native French speaker is somehow mocking their attempts. This is usually not the case, however. Rather, when French people reply in English, it should be seen as their way of being polite in return.
When Visitors Don't Understand the Language
A person who does not speak a single word of French may at least want to learn how to explain that. Textbook ways of saying this are "Je ne parle pas Francais" or "Je ne comprends pas." However, saying "Je suis nul en Francais" (I am hopeless at French) or "Je ne saisis pas" (I'm not quite with it) is likely to raise a smile and be met with "Ce n'est pas grave" (This is not serious).
Finding Ways to Connectin French
It seems that in French classes, a disproportionate amount of time is spent on asking the way to the train station, and scant time spent on learning how to actually connect with the people visitors may meet.
Sharing a joke is always a good way to make a connection and French has some great phrases related to enjoyment. For example: "C'est astap!" (It's a hoot!); "Banco!" (You're on!); "Pouce!" (I surrender!); "Chapeau!" (Hat's off to you); "Le pompon" (the tops); "Chic alors!" (great!); "Il faut arroser ca," (We must drink to that); "La boum" (party); and "Chiche!" (I dare you).
French Words for Food
Food is important to the French. They may have "Un diner a tout casser" (a slap-up meal); "Le rab" (an extra helping); or "L'amuse-gueule" (a tasty morsel). They may decide to have a quick bite "Manger sur le pouce" or to have a picnic "Saucissonner".
Language of Love
Love is another thing high up on the French agenda and interesting phrases include: "Avoir un ticket avec quelqu'un" (To hit it off with someone); "Draguer" (To make passes); "La bisou" (A kiss); "Cette fille me botte" (I fancy that girl) and "Avoir quelqu'un dans la peau" (To be smitten with someone).
Being masters of discretion, they have phrases such as "Entre quatre-z-yeux" (Between me and you); "Motus!" (Don't say a word) and "Le telephone arabe" (The grapevine).
Useful and Unusual French Expressions
A visitor may also have use for the following sayings: "Quelle barbe!" (How boring); "Pas de vagues!" (Don't make waves); "La balle est dans votre camp" (Ball's in your court); "File-moi une cibiche" (Slip me a cig); "Assez de boniment!" (Enough smooth talk); "Ma voila chocolat!" (I've been had); "On aura tout vu!" (Whatever next!); "Du vent!" (Scram!) and "Faites-moi une fleur" (Do me a favour).
Saying Goodbye to France
On parting company, a tourist may leave a memorable impression with colourful expressions such as "Fouette cocher!" or "En voiture!" which roughly translate as 'Let's hit the road'.
In summary, by using colloquial phrases, a visitor is likely to find that getting along with the locals is fun and easy, or as the French would have it: "C'est du gateau."
Le toutou - a French doggie
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