Expressions

French Expressions

Expressions, tournures, idiotismes, locutions

Idiomatic expressions (idioms), proverbs, everyday expressions – lots of lessons to help you speak French like the natives.

French expressions à gogo: All 400+ on one page!

Expressions

Vive la France !

Vive la France is a French expression near and dear to the heart of every Francophile. You've undoubtedly heard it many times, especially in mid-July and during the World Cup. Get le scoop on what vive la France actually means as well as how it's spelled and pronounced with this detailed analysis.

  French in English 

Expressions

Vive la République !

Vive la République is a companion expression to vive la France. While the French generally use them together, Francophiles of other nationalities only say the latter. But what's the difference?

Expressions

Vivre au jour le jour

Live for the day with the French expression vivre au jour le jour.

Expressions

Vivre d’amour et d’eau fraîche

Read about the French expression vivre d'amour et d'eau fraîche to learn how to live on love and cold water.

  informalities 

Expressions

Vivre Expressions

The French verb vivre, "to live," is found in many idiomatic expressions, including to live hand to mouth, to keep someone going, and to pay the bills. Learn these and dozens of other French expressions featuring vivre.

Expressions

Voilà

This is a comprehensive lesson on a very useful French expression, voilà.

  fillers • French in English • informalities 

Expressions

Voir Expressions

The French verb voir, "to see," is found in many idiomatic expressions, including to think big, to be completely fooled, and to picture it. Learn these and dozens of other French expressions featuring voir.

Expressions

Voir le jour

This lesson on the French expression voir le jour has just come into existence.

Expressions

Voir, c’est croire

Seeing is believing in this lesson on the French proverb Voir, c'est croire.

  proverbs 

Expressions

Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir ?

Learn what the French expression voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soi ? means so that you know why you should never use it.

  French in English • informalities 

Expressions

Vouloir Expressions

The French verb vouloir, "to want," is found in many essential and idiomatic expressions, including to be determined to, to mean, and inadvertently. Learn these and dozens of other French expressions featuring vouloir.

Expressions

X Expressions

The French letter x has a number of different meanings, including unknown, umpteen, and a particular school in France. Learn these and more meanings behind the letter x.

Expressions

Y compris

This lesson has everything you need to use the French expression y compris, including a sound file.

Expressions

Y Expressions

The adverbial pronoun y is packed with meaning, especially in idiomatic expressions. Learn how to say let's go, don't count on it, it was to be expected, and more French expressions with y.

Expressions

Yes – oui, ouais, ouah …

Saying yes in French is pretty simple, but there are quite a few synonyms and precisions to be aware of. Check out this lesson to learn how to say yes, yeah, sure, and more.

  informalities • synonyms