French students in love: Photo of a window by stained glass artist Achim Herget of La Turbie on the Côte d'Azur.
I know lots of couples who are learning a language ensemble. It’s a nice sort of marital activity, to take language lessons so you can work on your French (or whatever language you’re learning) together. Ron and I have done this, and just today I talked to our friends Melaina and Clarence, who have started private lessons as a couple.
The other day a French person suggested to me that couples who are both learning French should speak a couple of hours of French together at home each day. This made Ron and I laugh. We’ve tried it a couple of times, I think we lasted five minutes.
This might work if you’re advanced students, and/or at the same level. But most likely, you’re just going to compound each other’s mistakes, or the better student will be continually correcting the other, not necesssarily the healthiest situation in a relationship. We do sprinkle our conversation with French phrases now (some expressions just work better in French), but speaking only French to each other at home, now that’s a hard one.
But for those of you who would like to try it, I have listed some of those delicate marital expressions for those special moments that occur in most relationships from time to time. These will also come in handy should you ever snag yourself a French Significant Other. Bonne Chance.
Lynn’s List of Handy Marital Expressions, in French
You’re right. Tu as raison.
You’re wrong. Tu as tort.
I screwed up. Je me suis trompé. (NOT to be confused with Je t'ai trompé, an admission of adultry).
Well in my opinion… À mon avis…
As you wish. Comme tu veux.
Stop your bitchin’. Ne grogne pas.
You don’t care/I don’t care. Tu t’en fiche/Je m’en fiche.
I’m very busy. Je suis débordé.
When you’re in hot water:
It’s my fault. C’est ma faute.
Calm down, let’s talk about it. Calme-toi, il faut en discuter.
I’m sorry, can you forgive me? Désolé. Est-ce-que tu peut me pardonner?
I was just kidding. C’était une blague.
I love you so much. Je t’aime tant.
Please, let me do that. S’il te plaît, permets-moi de le faire.
Many of these expressions will work better if prefaced with a terms of endearment:
Mon Lapin—My Bunny Rabbit
Mon petit chouchou–fuzzy origins: either my little cabbage or my little cream puff
Mon Trésor–My Treasure
Mon Cheri, Ma Cherie–My Darling
Mon Ange–My Angel
Or you can preface them with an exclamation:
Ma foi! Good Grief
Merde! (you know this one)
Mon Dieu! (OMG)
Good luck with that. Now, speaking of language: I’m in the process of writing an e-book on the very BEST methods for learning a language as an adult. I’ll be adding input from our readers and fellow bloggers for the book soon, so please stay tuned for more info!
Favorite Reads: Our BOOK GIVEAWAY continues this week, and we'll pick the four winners just before next week's post. Kristin Espinasse of the French Word a Day blog has given us four copies of her fabulous new book, Blossoming in Provence
Our Reader's Blogs: Winter is a perfect time to head over to Rachel's blog, And Then Make Soup. This week you can double-dip: she's makig a white bean dip which then morphs into a lovely soup. Find more winter cheer over at Herm's place: Poems, Photos and Such. Herm, that gorgeous photo looks just like my neighborhood. And speaking of Kristin, her husband Jean-Marc Espinasse blogs about wine and his vineyard at Rouge-Bleu. See photos of the harvest and more.
34 thoughts on “French ‘On the Pillow’: The Language of Love, or Not”
I totally love this post
Hi Lynn,
One of the best ways to learn, or improve one’s french, is to dedicate some time each day. When we knew that we were going to retire to France,I used to sit down after breakfast with my Hugo complete french and work through the exercises. I found the Hugo very user friendly.
I also receive regular e-mails from Laura K Lawless on the About/French language website. This is totally free and you can also test yourself.
I love your blog and all things French, no matter how annoying! Would love to read “Blossoming in Provence”.
many thanks
I have been reading Kristin’s blog for years and have some of her books. I love to read about France. I travel to France when ever I can about once a year.
I really enjoy your blog. I love the south of france and I love to see and read your recipes. I love your table settings. I have some “jars” brand dinnerward that reminds me of what you show on your table at times. Thanks for keeping me intouch with francy and the belief that dreams can come true! I would love a copy of the new book but whoever winds will surly enjoy!
Andrea Jane Robinson
Get outa here….Do you really call Ron a cream puff?
Hello Lynn,
I will certainly print this post off to have these phrases handy as I continue my French studies! How useful! Especially loved “quit your bitchin” ! Thankfully, Mark is still isn’t practicing his French, so I won’t be hearing that for awhile!
I got my chuckle for the day just thinking of Ron’s face at the prospect of the two of you speaking only French for hours! Funny guy!
Miss you both!
Belinda
lovely post Lynn.
Advice given to ‘mon marie’ by our French ski guide many years ago; always prefix a request with princesse. As you know he took no notice!
Your list will come in handy, Lynne. Brad and I are trying to speak more at home in preparation for this summer. I’m the one taking the class; he has a better knowledge of the language. But it always feels like a bucket of cold water in the face to touch down in another country, if you haven’t practiced the language, and realize that you don’t understand anything anyone is saying. Like that cold water, it takes some acclimation.
Hi Lynn, thank you for these french expressions, I’ve been trying to learn French for some time now and I just can’t, I guess you need to be forced to speak, otherwise it doesn’t work, but I will keep trying. I can’t wait for your e-book, congratulations!
Have a wonderful weekend!
XXX Ido
Just a simple “”merci” for the mention! I really enjoy your musings… my personal favorite “term of endearment” is “ma puce”…
I’d love a shot at the book; am I allowed to enter the drawing? De toute facon, merci beaucoup et allez!
Hi Lynn — Great tips today – thank you. Most of us here have at least a smidgen of French, but it is textbook. Real world words and expressions are great to hear.
I was a French major in college, even dreamed in French but have lost so much. I’m always trying to refresh b4 a trip. If you are doing a book on methods, you might want to check out something I found this week… http://www.livemocha.com -it appears to be a unique approach for online training in that it actually encourages native speakers from various countries to critique and help the students.
As a former language teacher, Nicole may want to explore – they also have paid positions for online mentors. I just signed up for six months to be ready for my trip to France in September.
I would also like to speak to you and to Nicole about that offline as a trip to the chateau would be lovely! Just need some details to determine if it might work out…
A bientot!
p.s. would love a copy of Kristin’s book – please enter me in the drawing — Jacki Liddell
Oh Lynne, you gave me a good laugh with this post! Frankly, between husband and wife, I think your list of expressions is just about all one needs to know! LOL.
Salut Lynn,
Wow! If you neighborhood looks anything like that photo, it must be very pleasant and no wonder you’re were attracted to the area.
Thanks for useful list of expressions. I have to try some of them out on Sharron, my wife of 49+ years. Also, thanks for the blog mention.
À bientôt
I would love to win her newest book! i read the Words in a French Life a long time ago. Also, anything that will transport me mentally to France is always a good thing!
Here is a podcast I listen to – 3 times a week – 3-4 minutes – in French – a slice of life from a stay at home mom who is darling….
I also listen to a TF1 news podcast (with video) when I’m at the gym.
http://onethinginafrenchday.podbean.com/
My husband and I can’t do the French language thing at home, either. It just feels so unnatural plus I want someone to correct me if I say it wrong and he would know, too! Thanks for the little phrases. The ones I don’t already know will sure come in handy :0
Ashley
I love Kristin’s blog, and it was actually how I found Southern Fried French. I’d love to have her newest book (have the older ones). We are even going to chez Espinasse in May for a wine tasting. As far as speaking French ensemble, it’s problematic when you are at different levels. Mon mari parle comme une vache espanol. I’m a little better than a Spanish cow, but the intervening 45 years since I’ve had a French class don’t help. I watch TV5 for a couple months before a trip to France and my Netflix queue is all French movies for the present. That forces me to listen to French at a native speaker speed and gets my ear in shape. I also review grammar on line (Laura Lawless), and of course, listen to tapes during my commute to work. I loved the marital selections though. A bientot.
Carole
Great post! My husband and I speak Italian together, and I am going to adopt some of your French expressions. Sounds so much better than:” Tu sei un cretino/una cretina!
Lynn, your blog and comments are always great,but today’s(again) just brought a huge smile.
Ah,yes, like you, been there,done that.
“You’re right” “You’re wrong”… perhaps best if we leave out all of the inbetweens!!!!
Also really enjoy learning about favorite reads and new blogs.
Especially looking forward to your to your e-book on learning a (French!!) language as an adult.
Bon journee!
HAHAHAHAHA! You totally made me laugh. All I can say is thank goodness Ole and I are just using a French teacher to speak to and not trying to speak to each other – otherwise I know I would be using many of those phrases on a daily basis.
Oh My Gosh, sitting here in Hilton Head,SC and wishing I was in the Luberon Mountains of France…In a French Gourmet Group and trying to master Gateau au Chocolate this month Love to win Karen’s book. So enjoy your Southern Fried French. Bon Appetite…Diane Hess
Hi Lynn
Greetings from Le Morvan where we are “enjoying” the freezing winter temperatures. Loved your post and was thrilled to recognise some of the phrases on your list. I’d like to enter the lucky draw for a copy of Kirstin’s book.
Delia
http://moncoeurestdanslacampagne.blogspot.com
Lynn, when I started learning French about three years ago, I subscribed to the tv5 monde television station and play it several hours a day. Movies are wonderful but what I found really helpful were the game shows and the kiddie cartoons. I will get on my stationary bike and watch but also just having the sound of people speaking french while you go about your daily activities and repeat phrases has really helped me pick it up.
I look forward to your blog every week!
Ooo, oooo, I want to enter the giveaway! Sign me up. As always, I love your blob [sic].
How fun Lynn, merci…good phrases to utilize often. Especially in the month of love and Valentines Day.
Will share them with mon amour.
I may make un gateau au chocolat for our celebration. Would be fun to hear about your fav recipe~!
Hope you are keeping warm and well.
We had 21 inches of snow in Boulder, CO.
I loved this post and your delightful sense of humour. I’m going to print it off just in case I do manage to snag myself a French significant other someday. I only wish you would have included “Je t’embrasse” on your list. I’ve exchanged a few emails with a guy I met while I was in Paris and he always signs off with this phrase. I don’t know if its the equivalent of kissing a stranger on both cheeks, or if its something a little more personal. Those online translators aren’t much help since they only give the most literal meaning. Anyway, thanks for another entertaining post 🙂
I hope that you can find the secret formula that will help an adult to learn/improve their French speaking/listening skills. For me, the speaking and the ‘understanding what you are hearing’ are two different skills. I’ll be interested to know your take on that.
There is an interactive BBC website that is helpful.
I would love to be entered for the book give away.
Salus Lynn
just realized that maybe I didnt respond to your request to have people ask for Kristin Espinasse’s book Blossoming in Provence… but MAIS OUI! Moi aussi! I have been reading her blog and enjoying it for some time,,, that is also how I found you… so please add me to the many people requesting it…
ANd I was amused to read your couple’s phrases.. Je m’en fiche is strong, It is one thing to say in in private to a good friend or husband, but in public je m’en moque is a tad better… Well, I usually say a Je m’en phrase that is a few rachets up… but I wont get into that here! Bon journèe….
Hmmm… the other comment I posted is lost I think… I do want to say I would love to have a copy of Kristin Espinasse’s book … I adore her blog and try to learn a french word a day. Actually I found you thru her blog Lynn…sp getting her book thru you would be a completion of the circle! I think my other comments were lost because I didnt hang around long enough to realize I had to put in the code to separate me from a robot…so now I will carefully leave this one…. Ta!
Great blog–I especially loved what can and can’t be found in French groceries. We’re looking forward to visiting France in March and loved Kristin’s first book. Sounds like the new one would be a good warmup for planning a vacation.
Hi Lynn,
I read your blog regularly, but I have never posted a comment before now. I was just in Manhatten today with my daughter-in-law. We had dinner at a Novitel hotel in the Times Square area. The restaurant there was Cafe Nicole, where I learned a new French cooking term for a layered dessert- “dacquoise”- so perhaps you may have come across this cooking term, yourself, as well? I would appreciate being entered into your giveaway for Kristin’s book.
How lovely to see the comments of so many enthusiastic French learners! I, myself, am a retired high school French teacher, but I’m still always learning.
About learning a language: forget the grammar. Studying the grammar is akin to studying the wiring inside your telephone. Just launch forth and say what you have to say. You can learn to conjugate the verbs later when you’re back from your vacation.
That’s really great, I found also this website where you can read french stories https://frenstoguage.com/