Pronunciation rules around the verb "acheter" (and more!) Listener Nuvia is in doubt on how to pronounce the verb "acheter" in the present tense. There are indeed a few opportunities for you to learn or brush up various aspects of the French language in this seemingly short and simple question. Let's dive in! Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode ACHETER J'achète Tu achètes Il / elle / on achète Nous achetons Vous achetez Ils / elles achètent épousseter, épeler, crocheter, déceler (to detect / discover / spot), congeler, acheter, se racheter, peler, (se) … Read More →

If you haven"t taken the challenge yet, grab your pen and paper and test yourself with the free French dictation I ran live in August! This is a great opportunity for you to brush-up your French listening, grammar and phonetic skills. As always, I"ll also comment on and explain a few tricky points ;-) The text used for the dictation is below, no cheating! Do it by yourself first! You can also find the video recording (and downloadable notes) on my YouTube channel. Check out my Upcoming Events page so you don"t miss the next live sessions! (Games in French, Grammar Clinics and … Read More →

This episode complements episode 217 ("How to convert a verb into a noun or adjective in French?") and sheds light on some special spelling rules that may happen inside a same family of words. You'll get a grammar brush-up and become a French spelling Jedi if you can remember these rules! Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode pratiquerIl se donne toutes les chances de réussir son concours en pratiquant le piano tous les jours.Nous avons grandi dans une famille très pratiquante.Les pratiquants se retrouvent à l'église du village le dimanche matin.Un pratiquant du … Read More →

I have to thank Abdulelah from Saudi Arabia for inspiring me to make this episode because what follows is just what I l LOVE to explain: you’re both going to work on your grammar AND increase your vocabulary in a blink of the eye (or so I hope!) In English, you may convert a verb into a noun by adding _ing to it (sail à sailing, read/reading, etc) The -ING added to a verb being generally translated by the present participle in French, Abdulelah wanted to know whether in French we can apply the same rule and therefore convert a verb into a noun by using its present participle. Vocabulary and … Read More →

While the topic of the previous episode was light and rather fun (How to talk to your pet in French), today’s episode is more serious and I hope will be very useful to you. Listener Kate emailed me the following question: “I am a relatively new French learner and there is something important that I need to get right.  I have a severe nut allergy (the type that will put me in the hospital or even kill me if I accidentally eat nuts!).  It's important that I'm able to communicate this when I'm out to eat, but I'm a bit confused about the terminology.  I've been told that 'nut' in French is 'la … Read More →

This episode inspired by a question from Philip was a particularly fun one to prepare. Philip lives in Saint-Tropez, a beautiful and town on the Mediterranean coast in the South of France which attracts many visitors and celebrities in the summer. He did pet sitting for French friends and had many questions around how to talk to your pet in French. Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode Un poisson rouge = a goldfish Marine : « Haha je peux te parler de ce que je dis à mon chien seulement ;) mais bon je suis un peu débile/gaga avec lui. Je ne vouvoie aucun … Read More →

Many episodes ago, I recorded a series of lessons about the use of the various French pronouns. I think it’s time for a quick brush-up! Here’s the question I received from a Joanna, a listener of French Your Way podcast: "Why would the pronoun for the Louvre not be "y" in the following example: Tu visiteras le Louvre - Tu le visiteras (you’ll visit it) " ? In this episode, I’ll clarify a few points to help you better understand the use of the place and direct pronouns in French. I’ll also clarify the position of the French pronouns in the sentence! Also (re)listen to: Episode 88 : Direct and … Read More →

Listen to a real French lesson that I recorded with John, a student from the USA! John wanted to focus on a general conversation. I interrupted him here and there to correct or point out a few grammatical or pronunciation points and give him relevant vocabulary. If you've enjoyed learning from a real French lesson situation, I encourage you to participate. This is a great opportunity to get my personal feedback on your French and ask me anything that you need help with. Book you session The session may become a podcast episode...like today! This way, my feedback is both personal and still … Read More →

What is the difference between "Bonne chance" and "Bon courage" in French? Can they be used interchangeably? Find out in this episode and learn a few more common French expressions to wish someone well! This episode was inspired by a question from Joan. If you also have a question about the French language or French culture, email me Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode La chance = luck, good fortune Le courage = courage, bravery, fearlessness, gut, heart, strength un entretien d’embauche Bonne chance pour ton entretien ! Bonne chance pour ton concours Un … Read More →