Useful French Phrases
#76
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Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Palaja, near Carcassonne, Department of Aude, France
Posts: 518
Re: Useful French Phrases
Je suis tombé de mon cheval et mon bras est cassé. Pouvez vous me dire ou se trouve l'hôpital le plus proche, s'il vous plait?
I've fallen off my horse and my arm is broken. Can you tell me where is the nearest hospital please?
I've fallen off my horse and my arm is broken. Can you tell me where is the nearest hospital please?
#77
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2008
Location: VIELLA GERS FRANCE ( WEST SOUTH )
Posts: 7
Re: Useful French Phrases
Hello,
I see that you are located near Carcassonne. I was there yesterday, one of my sons is living there. Are you french or British?
By the way, your french and english sentences are correct. Only "ou" is "où". "où" means where; "ou" means or.
I see that you are located near Carcassonne. I was there yesterday, one of my sons is living there. Are you french or British?
By the way, your french and english sentences are correct. Only "ou" is "où". "où" means where; "ou" means or.
#78
Re: Useful French Phrases
Do pedants usually ask for help in writing?
#79
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Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Palaja, near Carcassonne, Department of Aude, France
Posts: 518
Re: Useful French Phrases
I'm English (originally from Torquay) but moved to Switzerland (Zürich) in 1970 to work for Amexco, then changed to Swissair where I stayed till 1994. During that time I met my (second) wife Annaïck at a Swissair staff conference in Interlaken (She was working in our Nantes office and comes from Concarneau) - we married in 1981 in England as the administration side was simpler than in France or Switzerland. In 1994 - Swissair was already in trouble due to the Swiss EU-no vote in 92 - I moved to Amadeus - http://www.amadeus.com/amadeus/amadeus.html - in Sophia Antipolis (near Antibes/Nice) where I stayed till retirement in 2003, while Annaïck worked at Swissair/Swissport Nice.
In 2003 we moved to the PO near Perpignan where we had bought a house a year before - but after some difficult experiences with the Catalan mentality experienced by our daughter Alizée (now 18) we moved up here to Palaja 5 km from Carcassonne about a year ago. Still settling in - but much easier here than down there.. people are much more "open" to non-locals.
As to the ou and où, I was just too lazy to press the AltGr on my AZERTY keyboard, as most people don't notice the difference and take the word in context.. but I guess I should be more exact when translating!
Languages? I am totally bilingual in English/Schwiizerdüütsch (the local Swiss "dialect" of Zürich which I used at work during 24 years) with French running a close third (orally, though my written French is not so good - Annaïck takes care of most local admin here as I did in Zürich when we lived in Kloten, nearby).
So now you know the story! By the way, hobbywise I'm a keen herpetologist - if you happen to know anyone around here with the same mad passion for reptiles and amphibians!!
Cheers,
Roger
PS - after moving here, I discovered with pleasure that we have Swiss neighbours 4 houses away from us - so I can practice my "Swiss" with them, as well as with my two big daughters (43 and 42) from my previous marriage who both have dual nationality (UK/CH) and live not too far from Zürich.
#80
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Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Normandy, France and occassionally Nova Scotia!
Posts: 3,373
Re: Useful French Phrases
Hi Chris
I'm English (originally from Torquay) but moved to Switzerland (Zürich) in 1970 to work for Amexco, then changed to Swissair where I stayed till 1994. During that time I met my (second) wife Annaïck at a Swissair staff conference in Interlaken (She was working in our Nantes office and comes from Concarneau) - we married in 1981 in England as the administration side was simpler than in France or Switzerland. In 1994 - Swissair was already in trouble due to the Swiss EU-no vote in 92 - I moved to Amadeus - http://www.amadeus.com/amadeus/amadeus.html - in Sophia Antipolis (near Antibes/Nice) where I stayed till retirement in 2003, while Annaïck worked at Swissair/Swissport Nice.
In 2003 we moved to the PO near Perpignan where we had bought a house a year before - but after some difficult experiences with the Catalan mentality experienced by our daughter Alizée (now 18) we moved up here to Palaja 5 km from Carcassonne about a year ago. Still settling in - but much easier here than down there.. people are much more "open" to non-locals.
As to the ou and où, I was just too lazy to press the AltGr on my AZERTY keyboard, as most people don't notice the difference and take the word in context.. but I guess I should be more exact when translating!
Languages? I am totally bilingual in English/Schwiizerdüütsch (the local Swiss "dialect" of Zürich which I used at work during 24 years) with French running a close third (orally, though my written French is not so good - Annaïck takes care of most local admin here as I did in Zürich when we lived in Kloten, nearby).
So now you know the story! By the way, hobbywise I'm a keen herpetologist - if you happen to know anyone around here with the same mad passion for reptiles and amphibians!!
Cheers,
Roger
PS - after moving here, I discovered with pleasure that we have Swiss neighbours 4 houses away from us - so I can practice my "Swiss" with them, as well as with my two big daughters (43 and 42) from my previous marriage who both have dual nationality (UK/CH) and live not too far from Zürich.
I'm English (originally from Torquay) but moved to Switzerland (Zürich) in 1970 to work for Amexco, then changed to Swissair where I stayed till 1994. During that time I met my (second) wife Annaïck at a Swissair staff conference in Interlaken (She was working in our Nantes office and comes from Concarneau) - we married in 1981 in England as the administration side was simpler than in France or Switzerland. In 1994 - Swissair was already in trouble due to the Swiss EU-no vote in 92 - I moved to Amadeus - http://www.amadeus.com/amadeus/amadeus.html - in Sophia Antipolis (near Antibes/Nice) where I stayed till retirement in 2003, while Annaïck worked at Swissair/Swissport Nice.
In 2003 we moved to the PO near Perpignan where we had bought a house a year before - but after some difficult experiences with the Catalan mentality experienced by our daughter Alizée (now 18) we moved up here to Palaja 5 km from Carcassonne about a year ago. Still settling in - but much easier here than down there.. people are much more "open" to non-locals.
As to the ou and où, I was just too lazy to press the AltGr on my AZERTY keyboard, as most people don't notice the difference and take the word in context.. but I guess I should be more exact when translating!
Languages? I am totally bilingual in English/Schwiizerdüütsch (the local Swiss "dialect" of Zürich which I used at work during 24 years) with French running a close third (orally, though my written French is not so good - Annaïck takes care of most local admin here as I did in Zürich when we lived in Kloten, nearby).
So now you know the story! By the way, hobbywise I'm a keen herpetologist - if you happen to know anyone around here with the same mad passion for reptiles and amphibians!!
Cheers,
Roger
PS - after moving here, I discovered with pleasure that we have Swiss neighbours 4 houses away from us - so I can practice my "Swiss" with them, as well as with my two big daughters (43 and 42) from my previous marriage who both have dual nationality (UK/CH) and live not too far from Zürich.
Could we please keep this thread on track - it is supposed to be just for useful French phrases. Please start other threads or send each other pm's if you want to share other details
thanks
Val
#81
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Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Palaja, near Carcassonne, Department of Aude, France
Posts: 518
Re: Useful French Phrases
Désolé pour l'embêtement!
Sorry for the annoyance!
I would have to move part of Chris' comment to another thread to make sense of my reply - and only an administrator can do that.
May I leave it to your discretion, Val?
Thanks,
Roger
Sorry for the annoyance!
I would have to move part of Chris' comment to another thread to make sense of my reply - and only an administrator can do that.
May I leave it to your discretion, Val?
Thanks,
Roger
#82
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2008
Location: VIELLA GERS FRANCE ( WEST SOUTH )
Posts: 7
#83
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Joined: Jan 2009
Location: South Charente
Posts: 546
Re: Useful French Phrases
Hi everyone, newbie here. I used to live in France in the 60s (when Gen. de Gaulle was still President!) so my French slang is almost certainly out of date, but here goes:
Might as well bang your head against a brick wall
Autant pisser dans un violon
which, in my own modest redition would be
Might as well piddle in a fiddle
Bonne journée
BL
Might as well bang your head against a brick wall
Autant pisser dans un violon
which, in my own modest redition would be
Might as well piddle in a fiddle
Bonne journée
BL
#84
Just Joined
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8
Re: Useful French Phrases
Hi,
I just discovered the British Expats website today, and have really enjoyed learning all those words and phrases one is not taught at school. I wonder why this is?
My French isn't (yet) up to contributing anything further, but I hope to be able to read and learn a lot more....!
At present, I manage to follow French conversations, but whenever I speak, I get funny looks. I will blame my accent. For some reason, all the French seem to know 'je suis anglaise'.
I just discovered the British Expats website today, and have really enjoyed learning all those words and phrases one is not taught at school. I wonder why this is?
My French isn't (yet) up to contributing anything further, but I hope to be able to read and learn a lot more....!
At present, I manage to follow French conversations, but whenever I speak, I get funny looks. I will blame my accent. For some reason, all the French seem to know 'je suis anglaise'.
#86
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2008
Location: Hérault (34)
Posts: 8,883
Re: Useful French Phrases
I shouldn't worry, I've been here almost 40 years and can't get rid of my accent, unless I copy the Languedoc one, but then I feel I'm mocking the locals. I still have problems with genders, if that's any encouragement...
#87
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,551
#89
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8