Wouldn’t it is embarrassing to yell “I have always been horny” to your French buddy in the place of “I eat in a dirty method? ”. As impractical since it seems, it actually took place to a buddy of mine.
To avoid (hilarious) mistakes, listed here are 13 sentences and terms you really need to never ever state in French. Until you genuinely wish to feel embarrassing needless to say.
1. Tu es bonne
Congratulating your pals is just an idea that is good you have to be careful once you get it done in French.
“Tu es bonne”, thought to a lady are frequently interpreted as “you are good…in bed”, and that is the most courteous interpretation.
When you ever like to congratulate a friend that is female don’t forget to demonstrably explain exactly what your buddy is good at.
Or just avoid this phrase and employ the safer “tu es doue(e)” (you are gifted).
Wouah, elle est bonne ta soeur! QUOI?
Elle chante bien
Wow, your cousin is good
Consider Bien vs Bon: what type if you utilize? For more information about different techniques to state that is“good French.
2. Connard/ canard
French learners usually mistake “canard” and “connard”. Two terms by having a radically various meaning.
While “canard” means “duck”, “connard” means jerk.
You might wish to avoid seeking a jerk within the restaurant.
Bonjour monsieur, je vous sers du canard ou du poulet?
Du connard s’il plait that is vous
Hello sir, do we serve you duck or chicken?
3. Baiser
You think that “baiser” means “to kiss”, and therefore utilizing that term could be actually attractive.
While “un baiser” does mean “a kiss”, “baiser” used as being a verb means “to f***”.
Less glamorous, right?
Have a look at this short article to understand the 2 and don’ts of French greetings.
4. Je suis chaud(e)
In English, “I’m hot” ensures that you’re…well hot. In French though, “je suis chaude” (I’m hot said by a female) means “I’m horny”.
If you’re a female and want to say you’re hot, utilize “J’ai chaud” (lit: I have actually hot) rather.
This is certainly one of several instances when 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: I have thirst)
5. Preservatif
You love your meal without preservatives?
You might be lured to require food “sans preservatifs” thinking you’re utilizing one of the many French words whoever meaning is identical in French and English.
Regrettably for you personally, “preservatif” is just a faux-ami, one of the terms whoever meaning is radically different in French as well as in English despite being written very nearly the way that is same.
Whenever you request food “sans preservatifs”, you may well 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 precious, right?
“Chat” (cat) is just one of the words that are first frequently learn in French.
Exacltly what the 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 intercourse!
This word to avoid confusion, don’t use!
7. Putain
This will be a magical word.
Because the movie below demonstrates, it is possible to absolutely use it for everything, but most certainly not with everybody else.
Utilized alone, it indicates you will be tired, angry or frustrated.
Utilized to talk about somebody, it indicates “whore”.
Whatever meaning you select, keep in mind that this expressed term is very casual!
You problems if you ever go on American TV, using “putain” could cause. Ask Jean Dujardin just just what he believes about this!
8. Ca suce
Tu penses quoi de ce movie? Il suce!
What you think about it movie? It sucks!
Appears proper, right?
Well, maybe not exactly…
In French “sucer” (to draw) primarily includes a meaning that is sexual.
The next occasion you wish to state one thing sucks, say “c’est nul” (it’s lame) alternatively.
9. Je suis plein(e)
You simply ate in a great restaurant that is french Mouffetard (an attractive road in the middle of Paris) as well as your stomach is all about to explode.
Pleased with yourself, you look at your French friend and say “Je suis plein(e)” (I am complete).
Complete? Complete of just just what?
Your buddy wonders.
You just can’t say “je suis plein” in French,
It appears strange.
Alternatively you may wish to utilize:
- Je n’ai plus faim (lit: we don’t anymore have hunger)
- J’ai trop mange (we ate an excessive amount of)
10. Jouir
Suppose your French discussion partner simply asked you if you enjoyed your see of Paris.
After starting a dictionary, that“jouir” was found by you means “to enjoy”.
Which means you proudly answer your friend “oui j’ai bien joui”.
Your buddy begins laughing and you’re confused.
You really simply stated “yes we had an orgasm”.
“Jouir” just means “to enjoy” in an official context. Quite often, French people make use of it to state they’d a climax, not saying they enjoyed one thing.
11. Cochonne
We once had lunch with a lot of Korean and friends that are french. At some time, noodles dropped on a single of this girls that are korean t-shirt and she yelled “JE SUIS COCHONNE”.
She wished to state she consumed in a way that is dirty. She didn’t understand that “cochonne” usually posseses a meaning that is entirely different…
If you start a French dictionary, you are going to read that “cochonne” could be the feminine type of “cochon” (pig) and that in addition it ensures that you consume in a dirty way if utilized as an adjective (it’s seldom utilized as a result though).
Exactly what your dictionary does not inform you is the fact that this has a more typical and a lot more meaning that is embarrassing. For many people that are french youngsters), “cochonne” means “someone whom really really loves sex”.
Then when my friend yelled ‘je suis cochonne”, individuals didn’t realize “I consumed in a dirty way”, but “ we favor 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.
Exactly What Candy did know was that n’t “j’ai envie de toi” doesn’t suggest “I envy you”, but “i would you like to sleep with you”. This is exactly what you tell your spouse, never to your buddy.
To state “I envy you”, you’d say “je t’envie” or “je vous envie” in a context that is formal.
13. Beau cul
Up To an ear that is foreign “beaucoup” and “beau cul” may seem comparable, but they’ve radically various definitions. “Beaucoup” means “very”, while beau cul” means ass” that is“nice.
The next occasion you thank someone, be sure you state “merci beaucoup” rather than “merci beau cul”. You will definitely avoid a awkward situation.
Perhaps you have made funny errors in French? Share your stories into the reviews below!
Benjamin Houy
Benjamin Houy is a indigenous speaker that is french the founder of French Together. He assists English speakers learn the 20% of French they should comprehend 80% of conversations and talk French with certainty. Additionally, you will find him providing advice that is blogging Grow With Less.
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On dit “agent de conservation” et non “conservateurs”!
