The richness and variety of the French language stem from the influences of neighboring languages. Which are the French words borrowed from German? Here are a few examples.
There are several rules in French spelling that you should be aware of to read accurately. You can check here if you are able to pronounce the word ‘oiseaux’ correctly (meaning ‘birds’).
The French language often refers to animals to express the weather. The phrase ‘cold as a duck’ is used to describe intense cold, while ‘dog weather’ is used to describe very bad weather (wind, rain, etc.). Finally, the expression translated literally as ‘it’s raining like a cow peeing’ is used to express pouring rain.
France, steeped in tradition, has chosen to retain the base-20 numbering system from the number 70 onwards. See below:
Please note that in Belgium and Switzerland, the numbers 70 and 90 are logically expressed as “septante” and “nonante”, respectively. In Switzerland, this logical progression extends to 80, which is referred to as “huitante”. However, Belgium has opted to retain the term “quatre-vingts” for 80.
The terminology within the realm of French legal language is highly precise. Specifically, do not confuse the terms “légal,” “juridique,” and “judiciaire,” which may appear to be similar.
While it’s undeniable that French and English share the same linguistic origins, their similarity in appearance doesn’t always reflect similar meanings. Here are a few examples.
Understanding French time perception is crucial to avoid misunderstandings.
Consider this conversation:
Don’t forget that “8 jours” simply refers to a 7-day week and “15 jours” means 2 weeks.
In the same vein, one might say “lundi en 8” to refer to the Monday occurring a little over a week from now, not to be confused with “lundi prochain” (next Monday).
Good luck scheduling your next meetings and vacation days!
