Learning French: practical tips for English speakers

What does lire dans le marc de café mean and when should it be used?

This useful expression draws a connection between coffee grounds and crystal balls

Adding ing does not make a phrase English
What does carré mean and when should it be used?
Télétravail and more words to do with remote working in France

Learning French: practical tips for English speakers

Learning French

Tips on how to make yourself understood and speak French like a native

The meaning of auto-tamponneuses and more fairground vocabulary

When and why do we say à faire pleurer dans les chaumières?

The meaning and origins of ‘staircase wit’

The spooky story behind on n'est pas sorti de l'auberge

What does lire dans le marc de café mean and when should it be used?

Adding ing does not make a phrase English

What does carré mean and when should it be used?

Télétravail and more words to do with remote working in France

Trending

EasyJet offers 17 new winter routes to France, including several from UK

Americans in France: do visitor visas enable free healthcare as French MPs claim?

Homeowner finds gold worth €700,000 buried in his French garden - and can keep it

Five French friends win record-breaking €250m EuroMillions jackpot

Eurotunnel: EES digital border system on pause for cars coming to France

Learning French: when and why do we say être dur de la feuille?

Learning French: les carottes sont cuites and 10 other food idioms

Learning French: what does être à l'ouest mean and when should it be used?

Learning French: enhance your language and cooking skills with TV shows

Learning French: what does clou du spectacle mean and when should it be used?

Learning French: Connexion readers share 12 more tricky words - can you pronounce them?

Learning French: beware of red herrings when using English idioms

What are the rules for correct French email etiquette?

Learning French: when and why do we say noyer le poisson?

Learning French: what does thune mean and when should it be used?

Learning French: pain bénit and six more expressions to do with bread

Learning French: the origins and meaning of être sur un petit nuage and other cloud phrases

Learning French: when and why do we say découvrir le pot aux roses?

Learning French: how native speakers really talk to each other

Learning French: can you pronounce these 12 challenging words?

Learning French: tohu-bohu and more ways of expressing chaos

Learning French: when and why do we say copains comme cochons?

Learning French: the origins and meaning of il n'y a pas le feu au lac

Learning French: when to capitalise 'Français' and other nationalities

RIP Thierry Ardisson, late-night language lover

Learning French: on ne va pas se mentir has become a linguistic tic

Learning French: 'Le Grand Large' and more grand expressions

Learning French: charbonner and more phrases to describe hard work

Learning French: seven phrases that feature dogs (and some cats)

Learning French: phrases overheard in France during la canicule

Beaches: the different words for stone in French

Learning French: when and why do we say se fendre la poire?

Learning French: unlocking slang for money talk

Learning French: what does sursis mean and when is it used?

Learning French: Ça crame and other phrases for when the weather is too hot

Learning French: the origins and meaning of manger les pissenlits par la racine

Five films and TV shows to improve your French during the August grandes vacances

Learning French: mes pensées t'accompagnent and other ways of expressing condolences

Learning French: what is the difference between la mer and l’océan?

Learning French: when and why do we say jeter l'éponge?

Learning French: the origins and meaning of 22 v’la les flics and other police terms

Who do the new French language tests changes affect - and from when?

France’s summer holiday habits: more aoûtiens than juilletistes

Learning French: when and why do we say il y a anguille sous roche?

Learning French: when and why do we say entre chien et loup?

Eight examples of French romanticising everyday language

Learning French: avoir la pêche and other fruit expressions

Learning French: the origins and meaning of avoir la moutarde qui monte au nez

Learning French: 12 words and phrases that are untranslatable in English

Learning French: do acronyms confuse or simplify language learning?

Learning French: test your Bastille Day vocabulary

Learning French: the origins and meaning of ce n’est pas la mer à boire

The French do not follow Brits in their ‘faux’ road-crossing habit

Learning French: what does faire semblant mean and when should it be used?

Learning French: when and why do we say se faire des cheveux blancs?

5 podcasts to improve your French this summer

Learning French: vocabulary to use at a medical appointment in France

Learning French: rouler en chasse-patate and more Tour de France expressions

Learning French: what does fou rire mean and when should it be used?

Try these tips for learning French when you are in your fifties

Learning French: jouer à l’oreille and more musical phrases

Learning French: vocabulary to use at the post office in France

Learning French: Ça tape and nine other expressions for hot weather

Learning French: what does quelconque mean and when should it be used?

Taf: what does this common little word mean (it is actually an acronym)

French translations can be delightful... when done wrong

Learning French: how to tell the time in France

Learning French: Five fun ways to make a decision in France