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Students of French often mix “écouter” and “entendre”, so let’s clarify these! You will also learn a bunch of common expressions with “écouter” and “entendre” to boost your French vocabulary!
Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode
Entendre = to hear (as in, to not be deaf)
écouter = to listen
Reflexive verbs
S’entendre, s’écouter = to hear oneself, to listen to oneself
On ne s’entend pas parler, avec ce bruit ! = We can’t hear ourselves/each other speak with this noise!
S’entendre bien/mal avec quelqu’un = to get along well/poorly with someone
Je m’entends très bien avec mon frère = I get along very well with my brother
Aimer s’écouter parler / aimer s’entendre parler = to like the sound of one’s own voice (arrogant, self-centered)
Il aime s’écouter parler = He likes the sound of his own voice /hearing himself talk
Other expressions with “entendre”
Entendre = to mean, to intend
Quand je dis « vendredi prochain », j’entends « vendredi de la semaine prochaine ». = When I say « next Friday », I mean « next week Friday ».
Entendre = to want, to intend
J’entends bien lui montrer que j’en suis capable! = I intend/want to show him that I’m capable of it.
Entendre parler de = to hear about
Avez-vous entendu parler du dernier film de Luc Besson? = Have you heard about Luc Besson’s last movie?
entendre différents sons de cloche = to hear different versions
Tu es sûr de ce que tu dis ? J’ai entendu différents sons de cloche… = Are you sure about what you’re saying ? I’ve heard different things…
Entendre le même son de cloche = to get the same story, the same version of events
entendre du bien de = to hear good things about
Je n’ai jamais rencontré sa nouvelle petite amie, mais j’ai entendu beaucoup de bien d’elle. = I’ve never met his new girlfriend but I’ve heard many good things about her.
Qu’est-ce qu’il ne faut pas entendre ! = That’s nonsense!
Sous-entendre = to imply
Un sous-entendu = an implicit
Other expressions with “écouter”
Ecouter aux portes = to eavesdrop
écouter en boucle = to listen in a loop / on repeat
LINKS and RESOURCES
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