“Avec ceux-ci?” [a-v?k' sø-si’]
“With these?”
This is a favorite phrase uttered by pâtisserie [pastry shop] employees all over France. Even if you order just one croissant, the pâtissier [pastry maker] will undoubtedly ask you, “With these?” rather than, “With this?”
So what’s the big idea? The French, you see, are a proud people, and [...]
“Faire la bise”[fer la biz]
“To kiss on the cheek”
To faire la bise is to greet someone in the traditional French fashion: with a kiss on each cheek.
In some regions of France (and in other Francophone countries), three or more kisses is on par, but generally speaking, two is the [...]
“Ça va?” [sa va]
“How’s it going?”
Ça va is easily the most commonly uttered phrase in the French language; and just what is its secret appeal? Why, it’s both a question and its reciprocal answer.
If you want to know how someone’s doing: Ça va?
If you want to tell them right back [...]
Europe is well ahead of the U.S. when it comes to putting environmentally-friendly concepts into action. In France especially, utility prices are high — encouraging people to save money and fuel — energy-saving products line the shelves of grocery stores, and healthy, sustainable living has become an affordable part of European life.
The introduction of public [...]
“Faire la bise”[fer la biz]
“To kiss on the cheek”
To faire la bise is to greet someone in the traditional French fashion: with a kiss on each cheek. In some regions of France (and in other Francophone countries), three or more kisses is on par, but generally speaking, two is the [...]
Anne has studied and spoken French for over a decade and has lived in both France and Francophone Cameroon. She strives to write lessons that reflect her real experiences and represent the way people really speak.
