Thanks to Tina for suggesting to talk about French expressions on the podcast. Idiomatic expressions can be so difficult for language learners because they often don't make sense when they are translated literally. However, they're rather fun and also commonly used, therefore it is always useful to know them. Of course, I also find it very interesting to research the ORIGIN of the expressions!
Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode
Donner sa langue au chat
LINKS and RESOURCES

 	Upcoming events (Games in French, French Grammar Clinic workshops)
 	FYW 043 : French Expressions With Colours
 	FYW 048 : French Expressions with Animals (Part 1)
 	FYW 051 : French expressions with animals (Part 2)
 	FYW 060 : French Food Expressions
 	FYW 064 : French Expressions with Body Parts (Part 1)
 	FYW 068 : French expressions with body parts (Part 2)

FYW 221: Idiomatic French expressions: “Donner sa langue au chat” (and more !)

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By popular demand, I have recorded a series of episodes to help you learn or recognise common French slang expressions. As you may know, the French you learn in the classroom and the French you hear in the street or in the movies can sometimes sound quite different!

In this episode we’ll go through some expressions meaning “to understand” (and a few more!)
Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode
Piger = comprendre
On lui a montré une fois comment utiliser le logiciel et il a tout de suite pigé le truc.
Je pige que dalle à cet exo de maths !
Un exo = un exercice
Capter
J’ai rien capté / pigé / compris au cours de français !
capter l'attention (de qn)
capter un signal
Le voleur m’a pris le téléphone des mains et est parti en courant, j’ai rien capté / calculé !
Capter, calculer = se rendre compte (de qch)
J’ai dit à mes vieux que j’avais mal au crâne et que j’allais me coucher, puis j’ai fait le mur, ils ont rien capté !
Faire le mur = to sneak out = sortir en douce
Links and Resources

 	French slang expressions (1) - French Your Way Podcast episode 233
 	French slang expressions (2) - French Your Way Podcast episode 236
 	French slang expressions (3) - French Your Way Podcast episode 238
 	my eBook "How to improve your French conversation skills"

FYW 245 : French slang expressions (4)

Listener Nancy would like to clarify when “ne” can be dropped in French. When is it possible to deliberately forget this common 2-letter word? Is there any change in the meaning? Listen to find out!
Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode
Je n’aime pas quand tu fumes = j’aime pas quand tu fumes.
La famille n’a plus d’argent à la fin du mois. = La famille a plus d’argent à la fin du mois.
Je n’ai rien compris ! = J’ai rien compris !
Vous n’êtes jamais allé en France ? = Vous êtes jamais allé en France ?
La voisine est une mégère, elle n’aime personne = La voisine est une mégère, elle aime personne
Ceux-là ne sont facultatifs qu’à l’oral ! = Ceux-là sont facultatifs seulement à l’oral !
Je peux pas acheter le pain, j’ai que 20 centimes dans ma poche. = Je ne peux pas acheter le pain, je n’ai que 20 centimes dans ma poche.
“ne” explétif
Dites à vos proches que vous les aimez, avant qu’il (ne) soit trop tard.
Nous allons devoir annuler nos vacances à moins qu’on (ne) trouve une solution pour la garde du chien.
Je crains que tu (n’)aies raison…
Docteur aux urgences : J’ai peur que vous (n’)ayez le bras cassé, madame.
Docteur aux urgences : Je vais vous donner un antalgique pour éviter que vous (ne) souffriez.
Docteur aux urgences : Nous allons mettre un plâtre pour empêcher que vous (ne) bougiez votre bras.
Links and Resources

 	Grammar Clinic workshops are resuming! Visit my website and subscribe to my newsletter to know when the next ones are coming!


 	FYW 239: “pas” vs “non” in French
 	How to Pronounce Plus in French
 	FYW 20 : The 3 Ways to Pronounce Plus in French

FYW 244 : When is “ne” optional in French ?

When students write in French, I often see words spelled with an initial uppercase which shouldn’t be: the English language uses capital letters in more situations than the French language does - typically with days of the week or months of the year. Let’s go through a useful checklist of words that require a capital letter in French.
Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode
les Français, les Européens, les Vikings
une Française, une femme française
la langue française, le français
la Joconde
La Nuit des temps (de Barjavel)
La Bête humaine (de Zola)
Le Petit Prince (De Saint Exupéry)
Fables de La Fontaine :
La Cigale et la Fourmi
Le Lièvre et la Tortue
Candide ou l'Optimisme (Voltaire)
Madame la Directrice, Monsieur l’Ambassadeur, Monsieur le Président / le Ministre
lundi, mardi, janvier, février
Links and Resources

 	Book your ticket to the French Dictation (live and in replay)

Get 15% off with the discount code (until Thursday 19th May, midnight Paris time): yes15

FYW 243 : When to capitalise a word in French ?

Live workshops are back!

More information and bookings open on my events page: https://frenchyourway.com.au/events

If you can’t attend, don’t worry: you will receive the replay video as well as the worksheet and answers.

Upcoming events:

 	Dictée en français / French dictation

Sunday May 22nd at 9pm Paris time.

 	Imparfait vs passé composé

Thursday May 26th at 10pm Paris time.

Check out my events page

Subscribe to my newsletter to receive special discount codes for the workshops.

Looking forward to working with you!

Jessica

FYW : Live workshops are back! May 2022

As if it were not challenging enough to get to understand French spoken at normal speed, how to understand a French conversation when there is background noise/music, or a piece of French audio that’s not clearly audible? In this episode inspired by a question from Fiona, I will share some tips on how you can work on this and improve and I will also stress the importance to accept that you ARE always going to miss some words (and how to work on that, too).
Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode
“C’est une idée très schtroumpfante ! »

« Tu as bien dormi ? Tu as l’air bien schtroumpf aujourd’hui. »

« ça fait longtemps qu’on n’a pas schroumpfé ensemble ! Vendredi, ça te dirait ? »
Links and Resources

 	My Schtroumpf activity (with free downloadable worksheet):
 	French Voices podcast: on your favourite podcast app or at https://frenchyourway.com.au/category/frenchvoices

FYW 221: Idiomatic French expressions: “Donner sa langue au chat” (and more !)

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