Wouldn’t it is embarrassing to yell I eat in a dirty method? ”“ We have always been horny” to your French buddy rather than “. As impractical because it seems, it really took place to a pal of mine.
To prevent (hilarious) errors, listed below are 13 sentences and terms you need to say in French never. Until you genuinely wish to feel embarrassing needless to say.
1. Tu es bonne
Congratulating friends and family is just a good notion, you should be careful whenever you do so in French.
“Tu es bonne”, thought to a lady are frequently interpreted as “you are good…in bed”, and that is the most interpretation that is polite.
If you ever wish to congratulate a friend that is female don’t forget to obviously explain exacltly what the buddy is great at.
Or simply just avoid this phrase and make use of the safer “tu es doue(e)” (you are gifted).
Wouah, elle est bonne ta soeur! QUOI?
Elle chante bien
Wow, your sibling is great
Have a look at Bien vs Bon: What Type in case you utilize? To find out more about the various methods to say “good” in French.
2. Connard/ canard
French learners usually mistake “canard” and “connard”. Two terms with a meaning that is radically different.
While “canard” means “duck”, “connard” means jerk.
You might like to avoid requesting a jerk when you look at the restaurant.
Bonjour monsieur, je vous sers du canard ou du poulet?
Du connard s’il vous plait
Hello sir, do we serve you duck or chicken?
3. Baiser
You think that “baiser” means “to kiss”, and that utilizing that expressed term could be actually attractive.
While “un baiser” does mean “a kiss”, “baiser” used as a verb means “to f***”.
Less glamorous, right?
Take a look at this informative article to understand the 2 and don’ts of French greetings.
4. Je suis chaud(e)
In English, “I’m hot” implies that you’re…well hot. In French though, “je suis chaude” (I’m hot said by a female) means “I’m horny”.
You’re hot, use “J’ai chaud” (lit: I have hot) instead if you’re a woman and would like to say.
This will be one of the main cases where the verb “to be” in English becomes “to have” in French.
- I’m hungry j’ai faim| j’ai that i (lit: I have hunger)
- I’m thirsty j’ai soif (lit: We have thirst)
5. Preservatif
You would like your meal without preservatives?
You might be lured to request food “sans preservatifs” thinking you’re utilizing one of the many French terms whoever meaning is identical in French and English.
Regrettably for you personally, “preservatif” is really a faux-ami, one of the terms whoever meaning is radically different in French as well as in English despite being written nearly the way that is same.
Once you require food “sans preservatifs”, you ask for meals without condoms.
Excusez-moi, est-ce que ce plat contient des preservatifs?
Pardon me, performs this meal contain condoms?
Non, par contre il contient des conservateurs
No, but it has preservatives
6. Chatte
Kitties are adorable, right?
“Chat” (cat) is just one of the first terms pupils often learn in French.
Exactly what your French program might not have mentioned though is that the version that is female “chatte” has two definitions.
It is both the animal that is feminine feminine sex!
In order to avoid confusion, don’t usage this term!
7. Putain
This might be a magical term.
Since the movie below demonstrates, you can absolutely use it for every thing, but definitely not with every person.
Utilized alone, it indicates you may be tired, frustrated or mad.
Utilized to generally share somebody, it indicates “whore”.
Whatever meaning you select, keep in mind that this term is very informal!
You problems if you ever go on American TV, using “putain” could cause. Ask Jean Dujardin exactly what he believes about this!
8. Ca suce
Tu penses quoi de ce movie? Il suce!
Exactly exactly just What do you consider about it film? It sucks!
Appears proper, right?
Well, maybe maybe not exactly…
In French “sucer” (to draw) primarily possesses meaning that is sexual.
The next occasion you intend to state one thing sucks, say “c’est nul” (it’s lame) alternatively.
9. Je suis plein(e)
You merely consumed in a great French restaurant rue Mouffetard (an attractive road in the exact middle of Paris) along with your stomach is mostly about to explode.
Happy with your self, you appear at your friend that is french and “Je suis plein(e)” (i will be complete).
Complete? Complete of exactly just what?
Your buddy wonders.
You merely can’t say “je suis plein” in French,
It seems strange.
Alternatively you might desire to utilize:
- Je n’ai plus faim (lit: we don’t anymore have hunger)
- J’ai trop mange (we ate a lot of)
10. Jouir
That is amazing your conversation that is french partner asked you in the event that you enjoyed your check out of Paris.
After starting a dictionary, that“jouir” was found by you means “to enjoy”.
So that you proudly respond to your friend “oui j’ai bien joui”.
Your buddy begins laughing and you’re confused.
You truly simply stated “yes we had an orgasm”.
“Jouir” just means “to enjoy” in an official context. In most cases, French people make use of it to state that they had an orgasm, not to imply they enjoyed one thing.
11. Cochonne
We once had meal with a number of Korean and French buddies. At some time, noodles dropped on a single for the Korean girls’ t-shirt and she yelled “JE SUIS COCHONNE”.
She desired to state she consumed in a dirty means. She didn’t understand that “cochonne” frequently posseses a meaning that is entirely different…
That it also means that you eat in a dirty way if used as an adjective (it’s rarely used as such though) if you open a French dictionary, you will read that “cochonne” is the feminine form of “cochon” (pig) and.
Exactly what your dictionary does not inform you is the fact that this has a far more typical and even more meaning that is embarrassing. For some French people (especially youngsters), “cochonne” means “someone who really really really loves sex”.
When my friend yelled ‘je suis cochonne”, individuals didn’t realize “I consumed in a dirty way”, but “ we love sex”.
12. J’ai envie de toi
When French Together audience Candy said to her buddy “j’ai envie de toi”, she intended she envied her buddy.
What Candy didn’t understand was that “j’ai envie de toi” doesn’t suggest “I envy you”, but “i would you like to rest with you”. It’s this that you tell your companion, to not your friend.
To express “I envy you”, you’d say “je t’envie” or “je vous envie” in a formal context.
13. Beau cul
To an ear that is foreign “beaucoup” and “beau cul” may seem comparable, but they’ve radically various meanings. “Beaucoup” means “very”, while beau cul” means ass” that is“nice.
The next time you thank someone, be sure you state “merci beaucoup” and never “merci beau cul”. You may avoid a situation that is awkward.
Maybe you have made funny errors in French? Share your stories into the remarks below!
Benjamin Houy
Benjamin Houy is just a indigenous speaker that is french the founder of French Together. He assists English speakers learn the 20% of French they have to comprehend 80% of conversations and talk French with full confidence. You will find him providing blogging suggestions about Grow With Less.
242 ideas on “13 Awkward French Mistakes That Will Make You want you had been Invisible”
On dit “agent de conservation” et non “conservateurs”!
Comments are closed