Confusions

The following are sentences that initially confused me because I was translating them
literally into English.
C'est pas du franais. It's not grammatically correct, formal French. [not the French
language in general]
La Norvge n'est pas en Europe. Norway is not in the European Union. [not Europe as
a continent]
J'ai laiss un petit mot pour toi. I left a little note for you. [not word]
Tu djeunes pas ? You aren't eating breakfast? [not lunch]
Normalement, elle arrive 15h. If everything goes as planned, she will arrive at 3 PM.
[not normally or usually]
Tes parents s'ennuient de toi ? Do your parents miss you? [not get bored with]
Tu veux te baigner aujourd'hui ? Do you want to go swimming today? [not take a
bath]
J'ai mal aux reins. My lower back hurts. [not kidneys]
On a dj donn manger au chat. We've already fed the cat. [not give to eat]
Elle l'a connu en Italie. She met him in Italy. [not known]

Filling out forms

contact
information
last name
first name
address

les coordonnes passport

le passeport

nom
prnom
adresse

birthdate

date de naissance application

place of birth
Signed [city] ...
date

lieu de naissance enrollment form

le visa
la carte de sjour
le rcpiss
le formulaire / la
candidature
la demande d'inscription

Fait ... le

to apply (for a job)

postuler

l'acte de
naissance

to apply/enroll (in
university)

s'inscrire

birth certificate

visa
residency card
receipt

Remember the date format in France is day/month/year instead of month/day/year and

that you generally capitalize your last name, but not your first name: Jean-Paul
BOUCHER.

Asking for clarification or help

Excusez-moi de vous dranger, monsieur/madame, mais j'ai un problme. Sorry for
bothering you, mister/miss, but I have a problem.
Est-ce que je peux vous poser une question ? Can I ask you a question?
Qu'est-ce que vous avez dit ? What did you say?
Pourriez-vous rpter, s'il vous plat ? Can you repeat that, please?
Je n'ai pas entendu ce que vous avez dit. I didn't hear what you said.
Comment est-ce qu'on crit a ? / a s'crit comment ? How is that written?
Comment est-ce qu'on prononce a ? / a se prononce comment ? How is that
pronounced?
Qu'est-ce que a veut dire? / a veut dire quoi ? What does that mean?

Food & Eating

beefstew with
carrots
beefstew in red
wine

cold cuts

la charcuterie

raw vegetables

les crudits (f)

salad (with bacon)

une salade (avec des

lardons)

chicken in red wine du coq au vin

onion soup

la soupe l'oignon

Steak & French

fries

un steak-frites

la raclette

potatoes au gratin

le gratin
dauphinois

melted cheese (w/

potatoes & cold cuts)
cheese, ham & potato
casserole
melted cheese (with
bread)
grilled ham and cheese
grilled ham & cheese
with egg

du buf-carottes
du buf
bourguignon

le croque-monsieur

ham & cheese

la quiche lorraine
quiche
dumplings
(flavored w/ meat les quenelles
or fish)
vegetarian
vgtarien/ne

le croque-madame

vegan

la tartiflette
la fondue

vgtalien/ne

Qu'est-ce que je vous offre ? / Qu'est-ce que je vous sers ? What can I get you?

Quelque chose boire ? Something to drink?

J'ai la dalle ! J'ai les crocs ! Je meurs de faim ! I'm starving!
J'ai trop mang. / J'ai trop bouff. I ate too much.

On the phone / Au tlphone

All, est-ce que je pourrais parler ... ? Hello, may I speak to...?
C'est de la part de qui ? Who is calling?
Qui est l'appareil ? Who is on the phone?
Un instant, s'il vous plat. One moment, please.
Ne quittez pas. Please hold.
Je vous la passe. I'm putting you through to her.
Il ne rpond pas. He is not answering.
Il n'est pas l. He is not here.
Est-ce que vous voulez laisser un message ? Do you want to leave a message?
Pouvez-vous rappeler plus tard ? Can you call back later?
La ligne est occupe. The line is busy.
Vous vous tes tromp(e)(s) de numro. You have the wrong number.
Je me suis tromp(e) de numro. I got the wrong number.
Cell Phone Vocabulary
pay as you go plan

sans engagement

text message
photo
message

SMS

credit/minutes

le crdit

to recharge your
account

recharger votre
compte

call waiting

le double appel

contract plan

le forfait

caller ID

la prsentation du
numro

extra charges

hors forfait

payment plan
land line
voicemail
account summary
empty / no credit

le plan tarifaire
la ligne fixe
la messagerie vocale
le suivi conso
puis

unlimited
calls
PIN code
SIM card
locked
to download
ringtone

MMS

les appels illimits

le code PIN / secret
la carte SIM
bloqu
tlcharger
la sonnerie

Le suivi conso is short for le suivi de consommation.

Going shopping / Faire les magasins

department store
outlet store
second-hand shop
discount store (such
as Aldi)
flea market
department
to go windowshopping
to go grocery
shopping
mini market
supermarket (food)
super store
(everything)
shopping center

la grande surface
le magasin d'usine
la boutique d'articles
d'occasion

fitting room
la cabine d'essayage
club/loyalty card la carte de fidelit
heels

des talons

le magasin hard discount

flip-flops

des tongs

le march aux puces

le rayon

tank/halter top
underwire bra

le dbardeur
le balconnet

faire du lche-vitrine

thong

le string

faire les courses

spotted

pois

la suprette
le supermarch

flowery
frilly

fleurs
frous-frous

l'hypermarch (m)

glittery

paillettes

le centre commercial

striped

rayures

Est-ce que je peux vous aider ? / Je peux vous renseigner ? / Vous dsirez ? Can I
help you?
Non, je regarde seulement. No, I'm just looking.
Je vais rflchir. I'll think about it.
Quelle est votre taille ? Vous faites du combien ? What is your size? What size do you
wear?
Quelle est votre pointure ? Vous chaussez du combien ? What is your shoe size? What
size shoe do you wear?
a va, la taille ? Cest la bonne taille ? Is the size right?
Cest trop grand. / C'est trop serr. Its too big / too small.
a cote combien ? How much does this cost?
C'est en solde ? Is it on sale?
Quelle escroquerie ! / Quelle arnaque ! What a rip-off!
Avez-vous une carte de fidlit ? Do you have a club card?
Vous rglez comment ? / Vous payez comment ? How are you paying?
En espces/par carte bleue. Cash/with a bank card.
A good way to increase your vocabulary is to look at ads for stores that are available
online, such as Carrefour, Gant, Monoprix, etc.

Going to the doctor / Chez le docteur

allergy
illness

l'allergie (f)
la maladie

swollen
dizziness

enfl/e
le vertige

cold
fever
flu
migraine
bump
itching
poisoning
sting / bite
scratch
scar
scab
blister
sprain
ear infection

le rhume
la fivre
la grippe
la migraine
la bosse
les dmangeaisons (f)
l'intoxication (f)
la piqre
l'gratignure (f)
la cicatrice
la crote
l'ampoule (f)
la foulure
l'otite (f)

drops
pills
tablet
ointment
bandage
prescription
medicine
vitamins
lozenge
sleeping pills
to skin
to sprain
to crush
to break

les gouttes (f)

les pilules (f)
le cachet
la pommade
le sparadrap
l'ordonnance (f)
les mdicaments (m)
les vitamines (f)
la pastille
les somnifres (m)
s'corcher
se fouler
s'craser
se casser

Je voudrais prendre rendez-vous, s'il vous plat. I'd like to make an appointment,
please.
O est-ce que vous avez mal ? Where does it hurt?
Est-ce que vous tes allergique quelque chose ? Are you allergic to anything?
Je me suis corch la main en tombant. I skinned my hand by falling.
Je me suis fait mal. I hurt myself.
The French health care system (called la Scurit Sociale) generally reimburses 70% of
your health costs (including dentist and eye doctor visits). If you want to be reimbursed
for the other 30%, you have to join a mutuelle and pay a monthly fee. Everyone covered
by la Scu receives a Carte Vitale to use at the doctor's consultation and when filling
prescriptions at any pharmacie. If you are a recent immigrant to France and have not yet
received your Carte Vitale, you will receive feuille de soins forms to fill out in order to
be reimbursed.
The emergency medical service in France is called SAMU (Service d'aide mdicale
d'urgence) and the phone number is 15. You can dial 17 to reach the police, and 18 to
reach the pompiers (firefighters). The general emergency number used throughout the
European Union is 112. In Belgium, you can also dial 100 for emergency services; in
Switzerland, it's 144, and in Canada, it's 911.

Going to the dentist or eye doctor / Chez le dentiste ou l'ophtalmologiste

cavity
wisdom tooth
baby tooth

la carie
glasses
la dent de sagesse frames
la dent de lait
glasses case

les lunettes
la monture
l'tui de lunettes (m)

gums
jaw
crown
filling
cleaning
root canal
to pull out, remove (tooth)

la gencive
la mchoire
la couronne
le plombage
le dtartrage
le canal dentaire
arracher

contact lenses
cleaning solution
contact case
near-sighted
far-sighted
clear
blurry

les lentilles
la solution de nettoyage
l'tui de lentilles (m)
myope
hypermtrope
net
flou

Getting your eyes checked and then choosing your frames are two different processes in
France. You go to an ophtalmologiste to get your eyes checked and you will receive a
prescription for your glasses/contacts. Then you must go to an opticien in order to choose
your frames and turn in your prescriptions. They are not in the same office like in the US.

At the hair salon / Chez le coiffeur

bangs
highlights
hair cut
blowdry
curly
wavy
frizzy
straight
dyed
lightened
layered

la frange
les mches / le balayage
la coupe de cheveux
le brushing
boucls
onduls
friss / crpus
raides
teints
dcolors
dgrad

braid
ponytail
barette
head band
hair clips
hairband
hairpin
buzz cut
completely shaved head
bald
part

la natte / les tresses

la queue-de-cheval
la barrette
le serre-tte
les pinces cheveux
l'lastique (m)
l'pingle cheveux (f)
la coupe en brosse
la boule zro
chauve
la raie

There is a slight difference between se couper les cheveux (to cut one's hair - by oneself)
and se faire couper les cheveux (to get one's hair cut - by someone else). The same is
true of se teindre les cheveux (to dye one's hair - by oneself) and se faire teindre les
cheveux (to get one's hair dyed - by someone else).

Opening a bank account / Ouvrir un compte bancaire

savings account
checking
account
deposit

le compte
d'pargne

bank / debit card la carte bancaire / la carte bleue

le compte-chques ATM
le dpt

check

le distributeur / le guichet
(automatique)
le chque

direct deposit
cash
credit card
loan
debt
wages
estimate
automatic
payment
to deposit
to withdraw
to earn
to spend

le dpt direct
les espces / du
liquide
la carte de crdit
l'emprunt (m) / le
prt
la dette
le salaire
le devis

checkbook

le carnet de chques

balance

le bilan

sum, amount

le montant

le prlvement

transfer/deposit le virement

dposer / remettre
retirer
gagner
dpenser

to write a check
to cash a check
to pay cash
to save money

bank statement le relev de compte

salary
raise
payment

le traitement
l'augmentation de salaire (f)
le versement

faire un chque
encaisser / toucher un chque
payer en espces
faire des conomies

Je voudrais ouvrir un compte. I would like to open an account.

Bordereau de remise de chques. Checks deposited slip.

Post Office / La Poste

accus de rception

acknowledgement of
receipt

imprims

printed matter

avis de rception

notice of receipt

lettre
recommande

registered letter

return address

mandat cash

money order

forwarding address

par avion

air mail

parcel / package

port pay
retour
l'envoyeur
tarifs postaux
trier

postage paid

adresse de
l'expditeur
adresse de
rexpdition
colis
destinataire

addressee

expditeur
envoi en nombre

sender
bulk mail

return to sender
postage rate
to sort

Currently, the price of timbres (stamps) is 56 Euro cents to send mail within France, 70
cents within the EU & Switzerland, and 85 cents to the rest of the world (for a letter or
postcard under 20 grams).

Renting an apartment / Louer un appartement

housing
apartment
rent

le logement
l'appartement
le loyer

rent receipt

la quittance de loyer

utilities / fees les charges / les frais

expenses
les dpenses
(rental)
les charges (locatives)
charges
les honoraires / frais
agency fees
d'agence
private
le particulier
landlord
security
la caution / le dpt de
deposit
garantie
guarantor
le garant exig
needed
short-term
location courte
rental

lease
le bail
bill (telephone, etc.) la facture
insurance
l'assurance (f)
conditions / evaluation
l'tat des lieux (m)
of apt.
taxes
les impts (m)
furnished
meubl
building

immeuble

landlord

le propritaire

renting

location

renter

locataire (m) / locatrice

(f)

renting with
colocation
roommates
roommate / flatmate / colocataire (m) /
housemate
colocatrice (f)

Apartments are generally listed as F1/T1, F2/T2, F3/T3, etc. regarding the number of
rooms. This number does not include the kitchen or bathroom, but it does include the
living room. If a kitchen is quipe, it will probably have a refrigerator and burners, but
may or may not have an oven. If a kitchen is non-quipe, there will be no appliances at
all. Some apartments do not have ovens, but they might have plaques lectriques /
plaquettes (burners, similar to a stove). A cuisinire is also electric burners without an
oven.
J'habite en colocation. I live with roommates.
Je cherche un colocataire pour un appartement avec 2 chambres. I'm looking for a
roommate for a 2 bedroom apartment.
Le bail sera sign ds votre arrive la rsidence. The lease will be signed as soon as
you arrive at the dorms.
Les charges sont comprises dans le prix (eau, lctricit, chauffage). Utilities are
included in the price (water, electricity, heat).

Cooking & Kitchen Utensils

to chop /
grind
to grate
to peel
to pit
to mix
to stir
to beat
to whip
to sift
to pour
to cook
to roast
to fry
to steam
to boil
to simmer
to melt
to stew
to broil /
grill
to moisten
to soften
to sprinkle
to drain

hacher

cooking pot

la marmite

rper
peler / plucher
dnoyauter
mlanger
remuer
battre

lid
saucepan
frying pan
skillet
casserole dish
baking sheet

griller

rolling pin

le rouleau ptisserie

mouiller
faire revenir
saupoudrer
goutter

can opener
aluminum foil
plastic wrap
wax paper

l'ouvre-bote (m)
le papier d'aluminium
le film transparent
le papier cuisson

le couvercle
la casserole
la pole
la sauteuse
la cocotte / daubire
la plaque gteaux
la grille de
fouetter
cooling rack
refroidissement
tamiser
cake tin
le moule gteaux
verser
pie tin
la tourtire
le bol mixer / le
cuire
mixing bowl
saladier
rtir
strainer / colander la passoire
frire
peeling knife
l'conome (m)
cuire l'touffe / faire cuire slotted spoon /
l'cumoire (f)
la vapeur
skimmer
bouillir
ladle
la louche
mijoter
spatula
la spatule
fondre
(cheese) grater
la rpe ( fromage)
cuire en ragot
whisk
le fouet

For verbs that involve cooking methods, you add faire before them when they are
transitive verbs (when they take a direct object). So to cook something is faire cuire, to
fry something is faire frire, to boil something is faire bouillir, etc. If you bake American
foods in France, you will most likely need to look for certain ingredients that are not used
very often in French cooking: condensed milk - lait concentr sucr; evaporated milk lait concentr non-sucr; baking soda - bicarbonate alimentaire; baking powder levure chimique and yeast - levure du boulanger. It is also very common to use le
sopalin instead of essui-tout for paper towel.

Christmas Vocabulary
Merry Christmas!

Joyeux Nol !

angel
bell
bow
bulb
candle
candy cane
chimney
Christmas card
Christmas carols
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve dinner
Christmas market
Christmas tree
decorations
egg nog
elf
fake tree
garland
holly
lights
mistletoe
nativity scene
North Pole
present
present name tags
reindeer
ribbon
Santa Claus
Santas hat
Santas sack
Santas workshop
sleigh
sleigh bell
snow
snowflake
snowman
star
stocking
toy
wrapping paper
wreath
Yule log

lange (m)
la cloche / la clochette
le nud
la boule
la bougie / la chandelle
la canne en bonbon
la chemine
la carte de Nol
les chansons de Nol
la veille de Nol
le rveillon de Nol
le march de Nol
le sapin de Nol
les dcorations
le lait de poule
le lutin
le sapin artificiel
la guirlande
le houx
la guirlande lectrique / lumineuse
le gui
la crche
le ple nord
le cadeau
les tiquettes
le renne
le bolduc / le ruban
le Pre Nol
le bonnet de Nol
la hotte du Pre Nol
latelier du Pre Nol
le traineau
le grelot
la neige
le flocon de neige
le bonhomme de neige
ltoile (f)
la chaussette de Nol
le jouet
le papier demballage
la couronne
la bche de Nol

Transportation
connection
track
platform
restaurant car
intersection
sedan (4 door)
coupe (2 door)
station wagon
convertible
semi-truck

la correspondance
le quai
la voie
le wagon-restaurant
le carrefour
la berline
le coup
le break
le cabriolet
le camion

subway map
book of ten tickets
monthly pass
subway/bus line
bus ticket
van
minivan
pick-up truck
SUV / large truck
trailer

le plan de mtro
le carnet
la carte orange
la ligne
le ticket
la camionnette
le monospace
le pick-up
le 4x4 (quatre-quatre)
le remorque

Merci d'oblitrer votre ticket. Thank you for validating your ticket.
O est l'arrt de bus le plus proche ? Where is the closest bus stop?
Pour aller au centre-ville ? How do I get downtown?
Vous vous installez ici, madame ? Do you want to sit here, ma'am?
Vous descendez ? Are you getting off here?
Je descends ici. I'm getting off here.

School & Education

school district

l'acadmie (f)

middle school
principal

urban district

l'arrondissement
(m)

high school principal proviseur

department /
division

le dpartement

region / area

la rgion

town

la commune

pre-school

l'cole maternelle

elementary
education
elementary
student
secondary
education
middle school
middle school
student

l'cole primaire

exam after middle

school
exam after high
school
mathematics
economics &
sociology
living/foreign
language

principal

brevet
baccalaurat
mathmatiques
sciences conomique et
sociale (SES)
langue vivante (LV)

colier/re

physics

physique

secondaire

chemistry

chimie

le collge

biology

collgien/ne

life/earth science

biologie
sciences de la vie et de la
terre (SVT)

high school

le lyce

high school
lycen/ne
student
higher education suprieur
university student tudiant/e
l'universit / la
university
facult
prestigious
les grandes coles
universities
library
le CDI

engineering

sciences de l'ingnieur
(SI)

history/geography

histoire-gographie

philosophy
literature
research
project/seminar

philosophie
littrature
travaux personnels
encadrs (TPE)
ducation physique et
sportive (EPS)
le bulletin scolaire

P.E. / Gym
report card

La rentre scolaire a lieu dbut septembre. The return to school takes place at the
beginning of September.
Les vacances d't s'appellent les grandes vacances. The summer vacation is called the
big vacation.
Il a eu de mauvais rsultats et il a d redoubler. He got bad marks and he had to stay
in the same grade.
Cette anne, il passe dans la classe suprieure. This year, he's passing into the next
grade.
Si je rate / Si j'choue mon bac, je suis oblig de redoubler ma terminale. If I fail my
final exam, I have to do my last year of school over again.
Ils ont sech les cours aujourd'hui. They skipped classes today.
Tu as eu combien ? What (grade) did you get?
J'ai eu 13, pas mal. I got a 13, not bad.
Note: In French schools, the grades/marks range from 1 to 20 (though 10 is considered
passing, so it cannot be easily changed into percentages); and the grades/years descend
instead of increasing: sixime is the first year of collge, while troisime is the last year.
Ecole maternelle is ages 2-6, cole lmentaire is ages 6-11 (CP, CE1, CE2, CM1, CM2),
collge is ages 11-15 (6e, 5e, 4e, 3e), and lyce is ages 15-18 (2nde, 1re, T).
LG = Lyce Gnral
LT= Lyce Technique
LPO= Lyce Polyvalent
LGT= Lyce Gnral et Technique
CLG= Collge
EE= Ecole Elmentaire
IA= Inspecteur Acadmique
IEN= Inspecteur dEducation Nationale
IUFM = Instituts Universitaires de
Formation des Matres
CP = Cours prparatoire

Bac = baccalaurat
L = Littraire
ES = conomique et sociale
S = scientifique
STT = sciences et technologies tertiaires
STI = sciences et technologies
industrielles
STL = sciences et technologies de
laboratoire
SMS = sciences mdico-sociales
CAP = certificat d'aptitudes
professionnelles
BEP = brevet d'tudes professionnelles

CE1 = Cours lmentaire 1re anne

CE2 = Cours lmentaire 2e anne
CM1 = Cours moyen 1re anne
CM2 = Cours moyen 2e anne
T = Terminale
Premier degr = maternelle & lmentaire

BTS = brevet de technicien suprieur

CPGE = classes prparatoires aux
Grandes Ecoles
CDI = centre de documentation et
d'information
CPE = conseillers principaux
d'ducation
COP = conseiller d'orientation
psychologue
Second degr = collge & lyce

News
les informations / le
journal
news shows le magazine d'actualits
current events l'actualit (f)
weather report la mto
protest
la protestation
demonstration la manifestation
earthquake
le tremblement de terre
hurricane
l'ouragan (m)
flood
l'inondation (f)
le tsunami / le raz-detsunami
mare
drought
la scheresse
burglary
le cambriolage
assault
l'agression (f)
crime
le dlit
robbery
le vol
military
les militaires (m)
army
l'arme (f)
navy
la marine
air force
les forces ariennes
invasion
l'invasion (f)
battle
la bataille
retreat
la retraite
treaty
le trait
truce
la trve
news

Politics

poverty

la pauvret

homeless
murder
genocide
riot
curfew
harassment
epidemic
plague

les sans-abri
le crime / le meurtre
le gnocide
l'meute (m)
le couvre-feu
le harclement (m)
l'pidmie (f)
la peste

cloning

le clonage

drug addiction
drug trafficking
trial
testimony
evidence
ceasefire
gun
rifle
troops
soldier
hostage
casualty
winners
losers

la toxicomanie
le trafic de drogue
le procs
le tmoignage
la preuve
le cessez-le-feu
le revolver
le fusil
les troupes (f)
le soldat
l'otage (m)
les pertes (f)
les vainqueurs (m)
les vaincus (m)

prime minister
president
vice president
dictator
nationality
community
society
government
election
referendum
vote
environment
democracy
anarchy
capitalism
socialism
communism

le premier ministre
le prsident
le vice-prsident
le dictateur
la nationalit
la communaut
la socit
le gouvernement
l'lection (f)
le rfrendum
le vote
l'environnement (m)
la dmocratie
l'anarchie (f)
le capitalisme
le socialisme
le communisme

citizen
senator
representative
mayor
law
bill
policy
proposal
grant
legislation
negotiation
regulation
democrat
liberal
conservative
socialist
communist

le citoyen
le snateur
le dput
le maire
la loi
le projet de loi
la politique
la proposition
la subvention
la lgislation
la ngociation
la rglementation
dmocrate
libral/e
conservateur/trice
socialiste
communiste

The current major political parties in France include: Parti Socialiste (PS) and Parti
Communiste Franais (PCF) - left-wing, Union pour la Dmocratie Franaise (UDF) centrist, Union pour un Mouvement Populaire (UMP) - right-wing, and Front National
(FN) - far right-wing.

Television
the news
series/program
soap opera
tv movie
documentary
channel
remote control
subtitles
commercials
actor/actress
director
comedian

les infos
la srie
le feuilleton
le tlfilm
le documentaire
la chane
la tlcommande
les sous-titrages
les publicits (pub)
le/la comdien/ne
le ralisateur
l'humoriste

to be on (TV)
to act (in)
to channel surf
to turn on the TV
to turn off the TV
push the button
turn up the volume
turn down the volume
to plug in
to unplug
what's it about?
to be continued

passer
jouer
zapper
allumer la tl
teindre la tl
appuyer sur le bouton
monter le son
baisser le son
brancher
dbrancher
a parle de quoi ?
suivre

Programs do not start at the hour or half hour in France, and the majority of "prime time"
shows begin at 8:50 pm (20h50) with more than one episode each week. The nightly new
is always on at 8 pm (20h). Commercials are rarely shown during the programs, but more
likely between the shows.
There are a few French channels that you can watch without subscribing to a cable
provider: TF1, France 2, France 3, France 5, Arte, M6, and depending on where you live,
there are local channels as well as foreign channels of bordering countries. Canal+ is
available at some times, but you must subscribe and pay extra if you want to watch it at
all times. There are of course several other channels: France 4, France , W9, TMC, NRJ,
Paris Premire, Tva, RTL9, AB 1, NT1, etc.
Most American television shows are eventually broadcast in France, though several
months later than in the US and dubbed in French. (You will find that almost every
foreign program is dubbed rather than subtitled). Not all programs or channels support
subtitling/closed captioning, but if your TV is equipped with tltexte, you should be
able to read the subtitles in French as well. And a series does not have to be a hit in the
US to be broadcast in France; several shows that were cancelled after one year in the US
are still shown here.
A lot of programs have the same names in French (Bones, Heroes, Desperate
Housewives, etc.) while others have French words added (Lost, les disparus). Here are a
few programs that are different in French: Baywatch - Alerte Malibu; Seventh Heaven
- 7 la Maison; CSI - Les Experts; Without a Trace - FBI: Ports Disparus; The Young
& the Restless - Les Feux de l'Amour; One Tree Hill - Les Frres Scott; Crossing
Jordan - Preuve l'appui.
And because I watch several shows that involve solving crime, here is some specialized
vocabulary that you probably won't ever use, but you'll need to recognize if you watch
crime dramas:
assault
blackmail
blackmailer
criminal record
defendant
evidence
federal case
gun
handcuffs
homicide
investigation
kidnapping
laundering

l'agression (f)
le chantage
le matre-chanteur
le casier judiciaire
l'accus (m)
la pice conviction
dlit fdral
le flingue
les menottes (f)
l'homicide (f)
l'enqute (f)
l'enlvement (m)
le blanchiment

prosecutor
rape
sketch
stabbed
strangled
surveillance
suspect
to arrest
to con/cheat
to harass
to press charges
to report missing
to run away

le procureur
le viol
le portrait-robot
poignard
trangl
la filature
le suspect
arrter
escroquer
harceler
porter plainte
porter disparu
s'enfuir

lead
loaded (gun)
murder
paperwork

la piste / l'indice
charg
le meurtre
la paperasse

to shoot
warrant
weapon
witness

tirer
le mandat
l'arme (m)
le tmoin

Soccer
ball
captain
captain armband
cleats

pass
penalty kick
player
playoffs

coin toss
corner kick
defense
fans

le ballon
le capitaine
un brassard de capitaine
les crampons
l'entraneur / le
selectionneur
un tirage pile ou face
un corner
un dfenseur
les supporters

final

la finale

shinguards

forward
foul/penalty
game
goal
goal post
goalie
goalie box
group (in tournaments)
header
jersey

un attaquant
une faute
un match
un but
les cages
un gardien de but
la surface de rparation
la poule / le groupe
une tte
un maillot
un coup d'envoi / un
engagement

shorts
shot
slide tackle
socks
standings
starter player
team
tie game
to pass
to score

une passe
un penalty
un joueur
le tableau final
les quarts de
finale
carton rouge
l'arbitre
le remplaant
les demi-finales
les protgetibias
la culotte
un tir
un tacle
les chausettes
les classements
le titulaire
une quipe
un match nul
passer
marquer

to shoot

tirer

coach

kickoff
midfield

un milieu de terrain

net
off-sides
out of bounds (behind the
goals)
out of bounds (on the
sides)

le filet
hors-jeu
une sortie de but
en touche

quarter-finals
red card
referee
replacement
semi-finals

to throw in the
ball
tournament
wave
What's the
score?
yellow card

faire une touche

le tournoi
la ola
Quel est le
score?
carton jaune

Zodiac Signs
signs of the Zodiac
horoscope
astrology
Aries
Taurus
Gemini
Cancer
Leo
Virgo
Libra
Scorpio
Sagittarius
Capricorn
Aquarius
Pisces

les signes du zodiaque

l'horoscope (m)
l'astrologie (f)
Blier
Taureau
Gmeaux
Cancer
Lion
Vierge
Balance
Scorpion
Sagittaire
Capricorne
Verseau
Poissons

Marriage & Civil Unions

couple

le couple

date
relationship

le rendez-vous
la relation
le PACS (Pacte Civile de
Solidarit)
les fianailles (f)
le mariage

civil union
engagement
wedding
wedding
announcement
honeymoon

to enter a PACS
contract
to get engaged
to get married

se pacser

to get divorced
to cheat on

se fiancer
se marier
rompre /
quitter
divorcer
tromper

le faire-part de mariage

to meet

se rencontrer

la lune de miel

to separate

se sparer

to break up / leave

Ils sont tombs amoureux l'un de l'autre. They fell in love with each other.
Ils vivent en concubinage / en union libre. They live with each other (without being

married).
C'est mon copain / ma copine. This is my boyfriend / girlfriend.
J'ai une grande amiti pour lui. I have a great friendship with him.
Il a de l'affection pour elle. He has affection for her.
Mais elle n'prouve aucun sentiment pour lui. But she has no feelings for him.
On se disputait sans cesse. We fought all the time.
Tu m'en veux ? Are you mad at me?
Je t'aime bien. / Je t'aime. I like you. / I love you
Si on allait au cinma ce soir ? How about if we go to the movies tonight?
Tu es libre, samedi soir ? Are you free Saturday night?
Je n'ai rien de prvu pour ce week-end. I have no plans for this weekend.
When pulling petals off of a daisy, the French have 5 sayings instead of just He/she loves
me; He/she loves me not:
1. Il/Elle m'aime. He/She loves me.
2. Un peu. A little.
3. Beaucoup. A lot.
4. A la folie. Like crazy.
5. Pas du tout. Not at all.

English used in French

There are many, many English words used in French, but some of them have a different
meaning than in English. Sometimes the French pronunciation is radically different from
the English pronunciation, so you may only be able to understand the word in writing but
not in speech. Almost all English nouns borrowed into French are masculine, unless
otherwise noted below. I've marked which words are used as adjectives in French, even
though the original English word may be a noun.
agenda
baby-foot
barman
basket
baskets
bermudes
black (adj. / noun)
body
bowling
break
brushing
caddie

planner / calendar
foosball
bartender
basketball
sneakers
bermuda shorts
refers to skin color
onesie / body suit
bowling alley
station wagon
blowdry
(shopping) cart

mail
meeting
nickel
parking
people
planning
play-back
pom-pom girl
pressing
radio (f)
recordman
relax

e-mail
rally
clean / perfect
parking lot
celebrities
schedule
lip-synching
cheerleader
dry cleaner's
X-ray
record holder
lounge chair

camping
camping-car
catch
clean (adj.)
clip
cornflakes
dancing
dressing
drive
entourage
fashion (adj.)
fast-food
flipper
foot
footing
hard discount (adj.)
jogging
lifting
light (adj.)
look
lov (adj.)

campground
motorhome / camper
pro wrestling
sober
music video
cereal
dance hall
walk-in closet
drive-thru
group of friends
trendy
fast food restaurant
pinball
soccer
jogging
discount
jogging suit
facelift
diet
style
cuddly / snuggly

relooking
rollers
scotch
self (adj.)
shorty
slip
smoking
speed (adj.)
string
sweat
tennisman
tongs
le top
trench
tube
tuning
type
volley
zapping
zen (adj.)

makeover
rollerblades
tape
self service
boy shorts
boxers / briefs / underwear
tuxedo
hectic, busy
thong underwear
sweatshirt
tennis player
flip-flops
the best
trench coat
hit song
tune up
guy
volleyball
channel surfing
cool / laid-back

Acronyms
Those marked in color are pronounced as a word, rather than each letter individually.
Agence Nationale de l'Accueil des
Etrangers et des Migrations
ANPE*
Agence nationale pour l'emploi
Association pour l'emploi dans
ASSEDIC*
l'industrie et le commerce
BCBG
bon chic bon genre
ANAEM

BD

bande dessine

BN

Bibliothque nationale

BNP

Banque nationale de Paris

BP
CAF

bote postale
Caisse d'allocations familiales

PC

Parti communiste

PDG

prsident-directeur gnral

PJ

pices joints

PS

Parti socialiste
Postes, tlgraphes et
PTT
tlphones
QG
quartier gnral
Rgie autonome des transports
RATP
parisiens
RDC rez-de-chausse
RER Rseau express rgional

CDD
CDI
CDS
DALF
DEA

Contrat dure dtermine

Contrat dure indtermine
Carte de sjour
diplme approfondi de langue
franaise

RF
RMI
RV

Rpublique franaise
Revenu minimum d'insertion
rendez-vous

SDF

Sans domicile fixe

diplme d'tudes approfondies

SIDA

diplme d'tudes en langue

franaise
Dpartements d'outre-mer et
DOM-TOM
Territoires d'outre-mer
DELF

EDF

Electricit de France

ENA
FLQ

Ecole Nationale d'Administration

Front de la libration du Qubec
Fdration nationale des achats de
cadres
Gaz de France
Habitation loyer modr
Institut National de la Statistique et
des Etudes Economiques
Mutuelle Gnrale de l'Education
Nationale

FNAC
GDF
HLM
INSEE
MGEN
MJC
MLF
MRAP
OMI
ONU
OTAN
OVNI
PV

syndrome immunodficitaire
acquis
Salaire minimum
SMIC
interprofessional de croissance
Socit nationale de chemin de
SNCF
fer
Socit protectrice des
SPA
animaux
SVP s'il vous plat
TER Transport express rgional
TGB

Trs grande bibliothque

TGV
TTC

Train grande vitesse

toutes taxes comprises

TVA

taxe la valeur ajoute

UE

Union europenne

Union pour la dmocratie

franaise
Mouvement pour la libration de la
Union pour un Mouvement
UMP
femme
Populaire
Mouvement contre le racisme et
VF
version franaise
pour l'amiti entre les peuples
Office des Migrations
VO
version originale
Internationales
Organisation des Nations Unies
VOST version originale sous-titre
Organisation du trait de l'Atlantique
VTT vlo tout terrain
du Nord
Objet volant non identifi
X
l'cole Polytechnique
procs-verbal
Maison des Jeunes et de la Culture

UDF

* ANPE and ASSEDIC no longer exist. They were merged together in 2009 to form Ple
Emploi.

Regions & Departments of France

Rgions de France mtropolitaine

English Translations

Alsace

Alsace

Aquitaine

Aquitaine

Auvergne

Auvergne

Basse-Normandie

Lower-Normandy

Bretagne

Brittany

Bourgogne

Burgundy

Centre

Center

Champagne-Ardenne

Champagne-Ardenne

Corse

Corsica

Franche-Comt

Franche-Comte

Haute-Normandie

Upper-Normandy

Ille-de-France

Paris-Isle-of-France

Languedoc-Roussillon

Languedoc-Roussillon

Limousin

Limousin

Lorraine

Lorraine

Midi-Pyrnes

Midi-Pyrenees

Nord-Pas-de-Calais

North-Calais

Pays-de-la-Loire

Pays-de-la-Loire

Picardie

Picardy

Poitou-Charentes

Poitou-Charentes

Provence-Alpes-Cte d'Azur

Provence-Alpes-Azur

Rhne-Alpes

Rhone-Alps

Rgions/Dpartements d'outre-mer

Overseas Regions/Departments

Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe

Martinique

Martinique

Guyane

French Guiana

La Runion

Reunion

Each rgion is divided into dpartements, except for the overseas regions (they exist as
rgions as well as dpartements.) Each dpartement is assigned a two-digit number that
begins the zip code (the numbers somewhat correspond to alphabetical order). For
example, the dpartement of Ain is 01 and the dpartement of Vosges is 88.

DOM-TOM means dpartements d'outre-mer and trritoires d'outre-mer. French

territories (also called collectivities) include Polynsie franaise, Mayotte, SaintPierre-et-Miquelon, Wallis-et-Futuna, Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthlemy. Nouvelle
Caldonie has a special status (sui generis) and will vote for independence from France
in the next ten years.

The 96 departments of mainland France, grouped according to their region, are:

67 Bas-Rhin
68 Haut-Rhin

Alsace

24 Dordogne
33 Gironde
40 Landes
47 Lot-et-Garonne
64 PyrnesAtlantiques

Aquitaine

11 Aude
30 Gard
Languedoc34 Hrault
Roussillon
48 Lozre
66 Pyrnes-Orientales
19 Corrze
23 Creuse

Limousin

87 Haute-Vienne
03 Allier
15 Cantal
43 Haute-Loire
63 Puy-de-Dme

Auvergne

14 Calvados
50 Manche
61 Orne

Basse-Normandie

21 Cte-d'Or
58 Nivre
71 Sane-et-Loire
89 Yonne

Bourgogne

22 Ctes-d'Armor
29 Finistre
35 Ille-et-Vilaine
56 Morbihan

Bretagne

18 Cher

Centre

54 Meurthe-et-Moselle
55 Meuse
Lorraine
57 Moselle
88 Vosges
09 Arige
12 Aveyron
31 Haute-Garonne
32 Gers
46 Lot
65 Hautes-Pyrnes
81 Tarn
82 Tarn-et-Garonne

Midi-Pyrnes

59 Nord
62 Pas-de-Calais

Nord-Pas-de-Calais

44 Loire-Atlantique
49 Maine-et-Loire

Pays de la Loire

28 Eure-et-Loir
36 Indre
37 Indre-et-Loire
41 Loir-et-Cher
45 Loiret

53 Mayenne
72 Sarthe
85 Vende
02 Aisne
60 Oise
80 Somme

08 Ardennes
10 Aube
51 Marne
52 Haute-Marne

ChampagneArdenne

2A Corse-du-Sud
2B Haute-Corse

Corse

25 Doubs
39 Jura
70 Haute-Sane
90 Territoire de
Belfort

Franche-Comt

Picardie

16 Charente
17 Charente-Maritime
Poitou-Charentes
79 Deux-Svres
86 Vienne
04 Alpes-de-HauteProvence
05 Hautes-Alpes
06 Alpes-Maritimes
13 Bouches-du-Rhne

Provence-AlpesCte d'Azur

83 Var
84 Vaucluse

27 Eure
76 Seine-Maritime

Haute-Normandie

75 Paris
77 Seine-et-Marne
78 Yvelines
91 Essonne
le-de-France
92 Hauts-de-Seine
93 Seine-Saint-Denis
94 Val-de-Marne
95 Val-d'Oise

01 Ain
07 Ardche
26 Drme
38 Isre
42 Loire
69 Rhne
73 Savoie
74 Haute-Savoie

Rhne-Alpes

Major Cities & Geographical Features of France

The 50 most populous cities in France (including the DOM-TOMs) are:
City

Department

Region

Paris
Marseille
Lyon
Toulouse
Nice
Nantes
Strasbourg
Montpellier
Bordeaux
Lille
Rennes
Reims
Le Havre
Saint-tienne
Toulon
Grenoble
Angers
Dijon
Brest
Nmes
Le Mans
Aix-en-Provence
Clermont-Ferrand
Saint-Denis
Tours
Limoges
Villeurbanne
Amiens
Metz *
Besanon
Perpignan
Orlans
Mulhouse
Caen
Boulogne-Billancourt
Rouen
Nancy
Argenteuil

Paris
Bouches-du-Rhne
Rhne
Haute-Garonne
Alpes-Maritimes
Loire-Atlantique
Bas-Rhin
Hrault
Gironde
Nord
Ille-et-Vilaine
Marne
Seine-Maritime
Loire
Var
Isre
Maine-et-Loire
Cte-d'Or
Finistre
Gard
Sarthe
Bouches-du-Rhne
Puy-de-Dme
La Runion
Indre-et-Loire
Haute-Vienne
Rhne
Somme
Moselle
Doubs
Pyrnes-Orientales
Loiret
Haut-Rhin
Calvados
Hauts-de-Seine
Seine-Maritime
Meurthe-et-Moselle
Val-d'Oise

le-de-France
Provence-Alpes-Cte d'Azur
Rhne-Alpes
Midi-Pyrnes
Provence-Alpes-Cte dAzur
Pays de la Loire
Alsace
Languedoc-Roussillon
Aquitaine
Nord-Pas-de-Calais
Bretagne
Champagne-Ardenne
Haute-Normandie
Rhne-Alpes
Provence-Alpes-Cte dAzur
Rhne-Alpes
Pays de la Loire
Bourgogne
Bretagne
Languedoc-Roussillon
Pays de la Loire
Provence-Alpes-Cte dAzur
Auvergne
La Runion
Centre
Limousin
Rhne-Alpes
Picardie
Lorraine
Franche-Comt
Languedoc-Roussillon
Centre
Alsace
Basse-Normandie
le-de-France
Haute-Normandie
Lorraine
le-de-France

Montreuil
Saint-Paul
Roubaix
Saint-Denis
Avignon
Tourcoing
Fort-de-France
Crteil
Poitiers
Nanterre
Versailles
Courbevoie

Seine-Saint-Denis
La Runion
Nord
Seine-Saint-Denis
Vaucluse
Nord
Martinique
Val-de-Marne
Vienne
Hauts-de-Seine
Yvelines
Hauts-de-Seine

le-de-France
La Runion
Nord-Pas-de-Calais
le-de-France
Provence-Alpes-Cte dAzur
Nord-Pas-de-Calais
Martinique
le-de-France
Poitou-Charentes
le-de-France
le-de-France
le-de-France

People who live in Metz pronounce the city more like mess, whereas most other French
people pronounce it metz.

Geographical Features of France:

la Loire
la Garonne
le Rhne
la Seine
les Alpes (f)
le Mont-Blanc
le Jura
les Pyrnes (f)
le Massif Central
les Vosges (f)
la mer Mditerrane
l'ocan Atlantique (m)
la Mer du Nord
la Manche
le Golfe de Gascogne

Loire river
Garonne river
Rhne river
Seine river
the Alps
Mont Blanc (highest mountain in
W. Europe)
the Jura
the Pyrenees
the Massif Central
the Vosges
Mediterranean Sea
Atlantic Ocean
North Sea
English Channel
Bay of Biscay

Writing Letters
Your name and address should be placed in the top left corner. The receiver's address is
placed below yours, on the right. The city you are in and the date is placed below the
addresses, and on the left. (Remember to use French date formats: le 7 octobre 2008).
Your name
Your address
Zip Code & City
Receiver's Name
Receiver's Address
Zip Code & City
City, le # mois 2009
Madame ou Monsieur,
Common formal endings:

Dans lattente de votre rponse, je vous prie dagrer, Monsieur, lexpression de

mes sentiments respectueux.
Veuillez agrer, Madame, Monsieur, lexpression de mes salutations distingues.
Je vous prie de croire, Monsieur, l'assurance de mes sentiments distingus.

Notice that you should not use sentiments with Madame because it's considered rude.
In less formal situations, such as in certain e-mails, you can just use cordialement.