Lesson 20

Question 1

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

Je vais me faire à manger plus tard

Answer 1

J’vais m’faire à manger plus tard

In informal French, all monosyllabic words that end in “e” – like je, me, ne, se, etc. – are usually shortened to just the sound of the consonant in front of other consonants.

Question 2

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

Je suis au courant, mais je ne sais pas si elle va partir

Answer 2

J’suis au courant, mais j’sais pas si elle va partir

Note the informal pronunciation of both j’suis and j’sais pas, including how the ne has disappeared completely.

Question 3

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

Tu ne veux pas sortir, mais je t’assure, je ne vois personne! Il n’y a rien à craindre

Answer 3

Tu veux pas sortir, mais je t’assure, je vois personne! Y’a rien à craindre

In informal, spoken French, the ne in negative sentences is usually dropped, but the second negative word (pas, personne, rien, etc.) is retained. Also note how il y a is pronounced y’a.

Question 4

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

Tu as raison mais tu es quand même coupable

Answer 4

T’as raison mais t’es quand même coupable

In colloquial French, when tu is in front of a vowel, it usually contracts just like te. Keep in mind that this is grammatically incorrect but very common in everyday speech.

Question 5

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

Quand est le prochain film? Où est le cinéma? Qui est le protagoniste du film?

Answer 5

C’est quand le prochain film? C’est où le cinéma? C’est qui le protagoniste du film?

In everyday spoken French, it is common to ask questions with the formula c’est + question word + noun.

Question 6

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

It’s the guy I saw last night!

Answer 6

C’est le mec que j’ai vu hier soir!

a guy, a man - un mec. This is a slang word that is very commonly used. When paired with a possessive adjective, as in mon mec or son mec, it usually means “boyfriend.”

Question 7

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

Don’t invite her! I can’t stand that girl

Answer 7

L’invite pas! Je peux pas supporter cette meuf

a girl, a woman - une meuf. This is the commonly used, informal word for a girl or woman, although it can be viewed as derogatory depending on context. When paired with a possessive adjective, as in ma meuf or sa meuf, it usually means “girlfriend.” Note how ne has been dropped from the two negative sentences.

Question 8

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

That guy over there is a friend of my brother’s

Answer 8

Le mec là-bas est un pote de mon frère

a friend, a pal - un pote. This informal word is usually reserved for one’s close friends.

Question 9

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

This book is really interesting!

Answer 9

Il est vachement intéressant, ce bouquin!

really, very - vachement. This is an informal adverb. Notice the tendency to use a pronoun in the beginning of the sentence and then mention the actual noun at the end. Also note that bouquin is slang for “book.”

Question 10

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

Your girlfriend is super nice

Answer 10

Elle est hyper sympa, ta meuf

very, super - hyper. This is a slang word. Also note how the pronoun is used at the beginning of the sentence, then how the actual noun is used at the end.

Question 11

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

What are you talking about?!

Answer 11

Qu’est-ce que tu racontes?!

What are you talking about? - Qu’est-ce que tu racontes?. Notice that this is not the regular verb for “to talk.” Raconter usually means “to tell,” “to recount,” or “to narrate.”

Question 12

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

You really annoy me! Shut up!

Answer 12

Qu’est-ce que tu m’énerves! Ta gueule!

shut up - ta gueule. This common informal expression is shortened from ferme ta gueule – “shut your face/mouth.”

Question 13

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

I don’t care (about) what you think

Answer 13

Je m’en fiche de ce que tu penses

to not care - s’en ficher. Note how de is used to mean “about.” A more vulgar version of this expression is s’en foutre.

Question 14

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

Wow, you bought that car? No way!

Answer 14

Waouh, t’as acheté cette voiture-là? La vache!

no way - la vache. This expression is comparable to “holy cow” in English. Also note the informal contraction of tu here.

Question 15

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

I don’t like this restaurant. Let’s leave!

Answer 15

J’aime pas trop ce resto. On se casse!

to leave - se casser. This verb should only be used colloquially. It is often considered rude in the imperative form, casse-toi, which is like “scram” in English. Also note that resto is slang for “restaurant.”

Question 16

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

He has put on so much weight, you can tell

Answer 16

Il a tellement grossi, ça se voit

you can tell, it’s obvious - ça se voit

Question 17

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

Did you enjoy the film?

Answer 17

Et le film, t’as kiffé?

to love, to enjoy - kiffer. This is an informal term.

Question 18

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

I love/like your new car

Answer 18

Je kiffe ta nouvelle caisse

a car - une caisse, une bagnole. These are slang terms.

Question 19

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

That guy is really weird

Answer 19

Ce mec est vraiment chelou

weird, sketchy - chelou. Note that this word is the verlan of louche. Verlan is a French backward-slang whereby the syllables of words are reversed.

Question 20

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

Doing homework on Sunday – that sucks!

Answer 20

Faire les devoirs le dimanche – ça craint!

that sucks - ça craint. This is an informal expression.

Question 21

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

He was so drunk, he couldn’t even manage to speak

Answer 21

Il était tellement bourré, il arrivait même pas à parler

drunk - bourré. Note that this is a colloquial term.

Question 22

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

They freaked out when they saw me

Answer 22

Ils ont flippé quand ils m’ont vu

to freak out - flipper. Keep in mind that this is a slang term.

Question 23

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

You got kicked out of the club? That’s embarrassing!

Answer 23

Tu t’es fait virer de la boîte? La honte!

that’s/how embarrassing - la honte. The “h” in honte is aspirated so it does not contract.

Question 24

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

He wrote her a love poem? That’s crazy

Answer 24

Il lui a écrit un poème d’amour? C’est ouf

crazy, absurd - ouf. Note that this term is the verlan of fou.

Question 25

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

Don’t you find Sophie’s boyfriend annoying?

Answer 25

Tu le trouves pas relou, le mec de Sophie?

annoying - relou. This word is technically the verlan of lourd, but takes on meanings like “annoying,” “difficult,” or “lame.”

Question 26

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

I am fed up with this class

Answer 26

J’en ai marre de ce cours

to be fed up with something - en avoir marre de quelque chose

Question 27

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

I’m sick of seeing the same clothes everywhere

Answer 27

J’en ai marre de voir les mêmes fringues partout

clothes - des fringues. This is a feminine plural slang word.

Question 28

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

He dumped his girlfriend by text? That’s crazy!

Answer 28

Il a largué sa copine par texto? C’est dingue!

mad, crazy, nuts - dingue. Note the informal term for “text message,” texto. Meanwhile, larguer (quelqu’un) is the slang alternative to rompre avec (quelqu’un), “to break up with/dump (someone).”

Question 29

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

I don’t like to eat pizza with my hands, I think that’s disgusting

Answer 29

J’aime pas manger la pizza avec les mains, je trouve ça dégueu

dirty, gross, disgusting - dégueu. This is a shortened form of the adjective dégueulasse.

Question 30

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

You should go home, you’re totally drunk

Answer 30

Tu devrais rentrer, t’es vachement défoncé

drunk, wasted - défoncé. Alternatives include déchiré and bourré.

Question 31

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

I really like Moroccan food

Answer 31

Je kiffe trop la bouffe marocaine

food - la bouffe. Note that bouffer is the slang verb for “to eat.”

Question 32

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

If I had money, I would gladly go out with you guys

Answer 32

Si j’avais du blé, je sortirais volontiers avec vous

money - le blé. This is an informal term. Also note the adverb volontiers, which means “gladly” or “willingly.”

Question 33

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

I don’t have any money, I need to work this weekend

Answer 33

J’ai pas de blé, j’ai besoin de bosser ce week-end

to work - bosser. Keep in mind that this is a slang term.

Question 34

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

If only you knew how mad I am right now!

Answer 34

Si tu savais comme j’ai les boules là!

to be mad/annoyed - avoir les boules. This is an informal expression. Avoir les glandes means “to be scared.”

Question 35

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

They broke my cell phone last week

Answer 35

Ils ont pété mon portable la semaine dernière

to break - péter. Note that the literal meaning of this verb is “to fart,” so be careful how and when you use it.

Question 36

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

You want us to break up? Are you kidding me?

Answer 36

Tu veux qu’on rompe? Mais tu te fous de ma gueule?

to kid/mock/mess with someone - se foutre de la gueule de quelqu’un. A shorter alternative is se foutre de quelqu’un. Foutre is a common slang term that can also mean “to do”: Qu’est-ce que tu fous dehors? – “What (the heck) are you doing outside?”

Question 37

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

We should clean the house today. I’m kidding!

Answer 37

Nous devrions faire le ménage aujourd’hui. Je rigole!

to be kidding - rigoler. Note that this verb also means “to laugh.”

Question 38

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

It’s not worth it, just forget it

Answer 38

Ça vaut pas le coup, laisse tomber

forget it - laisse tomber. This is a common colloquial expression. Note how the negative ne has been dropped.

Question 39

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

Never mind

Answer 39

T’inquiète

never mind, don’t worry - c’est pas grave, t’inquiète. Note that these common expressions are shortened from ce n’est pas grave and ne t’inquiète pas, respectively.

Question 40

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

We need to find a restaurant, I am starving!

Answer 40

Il faut qu’on trouve un resto, j’ai la dalle!

to be starving - avoir la dalle. This is an informal expression.

Question 41

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

See you next time!

Answer 41

À la prochaine!

see you next time - à la prochaine (fois)

Question 42

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

See you later!

Answer 42

À plus!

see you later - à plus (tard). Note how when tard is dropped from this expression, the “s” in plus is pronounced.

Question 43

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

That’s completely brilliant!

Answer 43

C’est carrément génial!

completely, real - carrément. This is an informal use of this adverb, which technically means “squarely.”

Question 44

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

Which one do you want? Either one. It doesn’t matter to me

Answer 44

Tu veux lequel? Ça m’est égal

It doesn’t matter to me - Ça m’est égal

Question 45

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

It’s OK it doesn’t matter

Answer 45

Ça fait rien

It’s OK it doesn’t matter - Ça (ne) fait rien. Note that in spoken French, the ne is dropped.

Question 46

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

That isn’t done

Answer 46

Ça se fait pas

That isn’t done - Ça (ne) se fait pas. Another way of translating this expression is “We don’t do that/One doesn’t do that.” Also recall that in spoken French, the ne is dropped.

Question 47

Rewrite in INFORMAL French:

Watch out!

Answer 47

Fais gaffe!

Watch out! - Fais gaffe! This is an informal expression.

Question 48

Translate to French:

Let me see

Answer 48

Fais voir

Let me see - Fais voir

Question 49

Translate to French:

Sophie is fooling herself

Answer 49

Sophie se fait des illusions

to be fooling oneself - se faire des illusions

Question 50

Translate to French:

That will do him some good

Answer 50

Ça lui fera du bien

That will do him/her some good - Ça lui fera du bien

Question 51

Translate to French:

Make yourself at home

Answer 51

Faites comme chez vous

Make yourself at home - Faites comme chez vous. This is a common, polite expression that is used formally.

Question 52

Translate to French:

Don’t hesitate (feel free) to ask me questions

Answer 52

N’hésitez pas à me poser des questions

to hesitate - hésiter

Question 53

Translate to French:

Paul is acting like a child

Answer 53

Paul fait l’enfant

to act immature/like a child - faire l’enfant

Question 54

Translate to French:

Well, I don’t know anything about that

Answer 54

Alors là, je n’en sais rien

Well, I don’t know anything about that - Alors là, je n’en sais rien

Question 55

Translate to French:

That’s another thing

Answer 55

Ça, c’est autre chose

That’s another thing - Ça, c’est autre chose

Question 56

Translate to French:

It’s hopeless

Answer 56

Rien à faire

It’s hopeless - Rien à faire

Question 57

Translate to French:

Isaac was sulking after his birthday

Answer 57

Isaac faisait la tête après son anniversaire

to pout, to sulk - faire la tête

Question 58

Translate to French:

No problem

Answer 58

Pas de souci

no problem - pas de souci. This is a shortened way of saying il n’y a pas de souci. Souci is a masculine noun meaning “worry.”

Question 59

Translate to French:

As a result, they had to leave

Answer 59

Du coup, ils ont dû partir

as a result, thus, then - du coup. This construction is very common in everyday spoken French.

Question 60

Translate to French:

Well, there it is

Answer 60

Et bien, le voilà. / Tiens, le voilà

well - et bien, tiens. These are used as interjections, often at the beginning of sentences. Tiens is often used to mean “Hey!”

Question 61

Translate to French:

Don’t hold it against me

Answer 61

Ne m’en veux pas

to hold something against someone - en vouloir à quelqu’un

Question 62

Translate to French:

There’s no point in repeating his name several times

Answer 62

Ce n’est pas la peine de répéter son nom plusieurs fois

it’s not worth it to, it’s pointless to, there’s no point in - ce n’est pas la peine de