French Blabla

Coucou à tous ! Merci d'être là aujourd'hui avec moi pour un nouvel épisode. J'espère que vous allez bien et que vous profitez de l'été. This episode, once more, is a request. from you guys, Tony and Sneha. I'm sure I've butchered your name, sorry. They wanted me to review how to use the words tout, tous, toutes… the word meaning all and especially its pronunciation because it can be tricky. After this episode, you'll see that there's nothing that difficult, it's just puzzling sometimes, that's all.

In this Episode

• When to pronounce and when not to pronounce this damn last letter in a word
• The mistake almost every learner makes when they say "monde"
• Tout, tous... when to pronounce the S and when you don't

This episode is a request from a dear listener, her name is Samin. She contacted me on Instagram and told me about the difficulties she has when she wants to compliment in French. We're going to study different phrases so that you'll be able to say something more than "c'est beau". You'll know several phrases to compliment and to show admiration. Don't forget to download the infographic that sums up all the things you'll learn today. Head over to frenchblabla.org

In this episode

• Compliment like a native
• Several techniques to add emotions to your speech
• Review the repetition

All the great news regarding the French Blabla community

Music by Podington Bear - Wavy Glass

This episode is a confession, I think I should feel a smidgen of shame by revealing the kind of litterature I read on the beach but what wouldn't I do for the French language. If you have a little guilty pleasure like me, you're very welcome to share in the comment section, so that I feel a little bit less lonely. The grammar focus today is for A levels but please, B levels, I suggest you review it too if you don't master the demonstrative pronouns. Check them out in your grammar book to know what I'm talking about. As for the vocabulary, we're going to study or review a lot of phrases and words about books and litterature. If you're interested in the transcription, all the vocab and the grammar focus, you know where to go, I say it every time. Head over to frenchblabla.org to download the study guide. Ok, time for the story guys, c'est parti !

In this episode

• The shameful books I read during the summer
• Review the demonstrative pronouns
• A challenge for you to shine

Music by Podington Bear

Today, our episode is inspired by my partner. I said it many times already but he's not French. Despite that I tend to forget that he's a foreigner and I make zero effort to adapt my French to his level. Sorry. I want to point out though that his level is really good so I'm not being cruel here. He understands pretty much everything that I say but there are occasional conversational phrases that he doesn't get. I thought it would be good to talk about this so that you don't end up completely confused like my partner if you happen to hear such a phrase.

There are several phrases that we use regularly that actually mean the opposite of what they're supposed to mean at first glance.

In this Episode

• Three conversational phrases untangled
• A personal story
• An infographic to download

As you could see from the title, we'll talk about something light. It will be surprising for you maybe but it was my first time going to a circus show. It was a good experience but don't imagine I went to a kind of Cirque du soleil performance. Anyway, with the pandemic, I don't think that they have shows going on. This episode is full to the brim with words and phrases regarding the circus. I know it's not really your typical vocabulary you would learn in a lesson or in a french news podcast, but maybe you'll be interested in going to a show in the future. When you do, I hope you'll think about me. There's no grammar focus today but there's a little nugget for B levels. I created a tricky sentence with several compound relative pronouns. Google it if you have no clue what i'm talking about but I have to tell you, you're going to sweat when you see what it is.

In this Episode

• Learn the vocab you need to talk about the circus
• My first time at the circus
• A challenge for you to shine

Music by Wonder Happens by Podington Bear - Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

I've been sick and it's still going on this week. I've spent a lot of days in bed, in the dark because I suffer from migraine every month. I thought I would talk about this today and I will use this excuse to infuse this episode with phrases and words you will need if you ever get sick in France and need to see a doctor or if you go to the pharmacy. In episode 6 of "A day in French", we covered several useful phrases to explain your symptoms, go listen to it if you need a refresher. As for the grammar focus, today will be for B levels as we will review how to express goals with and without the subjunctive.

If you'd like the transcription, the vocabulary and the grammar focus, head over to French Blabla.org to download it.

In this Episode

• Learn the vocab you need to talk at the pharmacy
• My story with episodic migraine
• A challenge for you to shine

Music by Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

I hope you're fine because I was not happy for sure when the week started. I happened to find leaky pipes in my home. I wasn't planning on talking about this today but I couldn't let this occasion pass. I don't know if you remember but it's not the first time I'm not happy with something.

In episode 16, I got angry at a sales rep. Go listen to it if you want to know the full story, and in today's episode I get very displeased again. To make it short, if you happen to rent a place in France and you face a leakage, then after this episode you'll know what to say, because that's what happened to me this week. No grammar focus this time as there's a lot of very specific vocabulary for you to learn that will allow you to explain in detail if you ever need to call a plumber or your rental agency. Everything can be found in the study guide I have created.

In this Episode

• Learn the vocab you need to call a plumber
• My story of an unfortunate event involving pipes
• A challenge for you to shine

Music : Wonder Happens by Podington Bear - Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

I hope you enjoyed last week's episode. If you have missed it, I suggest you go listen to it as in today's "A day in French" we will use what we have learnt. Last week, we did the theory and today we'll practice. I will tell you about my dreams and things I wish I could do. The grammar focus is for everybody, that's quite unusual, since we will review the verb "manquer" and there will also be some B level grammar with a review of the hypothesis. Everything can be found in the study guide I have created. Go to frenchblabla.org to download the transcription, the vocabulary and the grammar focus. Don't forget to download it. Stay tuned!

In this Episode

• Practice your verb "manquer"
• Review the hypothesis and how to talk about dreams
• A challenge for you to shine

Music by Podington Bear

With the pandemic still going strong, I'm sure that most of us are longing for better days and we may feel a bit nostalgic. I've been thinking all week about the things I'd like to do. I, then, asked you on Instagram what you were nostalgic about and today's topic hit me. Today is going to be short and sweet as we will talk about how to express "I miss you" in French. I know that the way we build this phrase is very confusing as everything is inverted so we're going to untangle all of this in the episode. Obviously, you know me, we won't just cover the "I miss you" part, we will do an overview of this verb as well as some natural keyphrases you need to add in your speaking repertoire.

In this Episode

• Simple rules to understand how to use the verb "manquer"
• Express nostalgia for people and for activities
• A challenge for you to shine