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? ## Footnote 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 ## Footnote 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 ## Footnote 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_! ## Footnote 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_ ## Footnote 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_ ## Footnote 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 ## Footnote 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 ## Footnote 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 ## Footnote 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! ## Footnote 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 ## Footnote 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_? ## Footnote 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_! ## Footnote 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_ ## Footnote 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 ## Footnote 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_! ## Footnote 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! ## Footnote see you next time - *à la prochaine (fois)*

Question 42

# Rewrite in INFORMAL French: See you later!

Answer 42

À plus! ## Footnote 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! ## Footnote 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_ ## Footnote 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 ## Footnote 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 ## Footnote 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! ## Footnote Watch out! - *Fais gaffe!* This is an informal expression.

Question 48

# Translate to French: Let me see

Answer 48

Fais voir ## Footnote Let me see - *Fais voir*

Question 49

# Translate to French: Sophie _is fooling herself_

Answer 49

Sophie _se fait des illusions_ ## Footnote 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 ## Footnote 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 ## Footnote 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 ## Footnote to hesitate - *hésiter*

Question 53

# Translate to French: Paul _is acting like a child_

Answer 53

Paul _fait l'enfant_ ## Footnote 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 ## Footnote 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 ## Footnote That's another thing - *Ça, c'est autre chose*

Question 56

# Translate to French: It's hopeless

Answer 56

Rien à faire ## Footnote 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 ## Footnote to pout, to sulk - *faire la tête*

Question 58

# Translate to French: No problem

Answer 58

Pas de souci ## Footnote 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 ## Footnote 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 ## Footnote 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 ## Footnote 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 ## Footnote it's not worth it to, it's pointless to, there's no point in - *ce n'est pas la peine de*