informalities

Informal French

Français familier

This index includes a variety of French words, expressions, pronunciations, and grammatical and structures reserved for informal communication.

For an explanation of the difference between informal, familiar, and slang see What is register?

Expressions

10 clichés français

Work on your French listening comprehension with this funny video by a French teen, with lots of expressions and informalities.

  C1 French Lessons and Practice - Advanced French • informalities 

Current Events

À la une

This lesson on the French expression à la une should be headline news.

  informalities 

Expressions

À la vôtre !

Toast your friends and colleagues with the French expression à la vôtre.

  informalities 

Expressions

À peine

Why barely understand the essential French expression à peine when you can read this lesson?

  informalities 

Expressions

À peu près

It will take you about 5 minutes to read this lesson on the French expression à peu près.

  informalities 

Expressions

À poil

You don't have to be in your birthday suit to learn about the familiar French expression à poil.

  informalities 

Abîmer – to damage, ruin; (familiar) – to beat up

Simple and compound conjugations for the regular -er verb abîmer.

  conjugation tables • informalities 

Expressions

Ah bon ?

Be sure to read this lesson, it's an essential French expression. Ah bon ?

  exclamations • fillers • informalities 

Expressions

Aller Expressions

The French verb aller, "to go," is found in many idiomatic expressions, including to suit, to fetch, and to go without saying. Learn these and dozens of other French expressions featuring aller.

  informalities 

Expressions

Allez les Bleus !

Support the French team one more time during the World Cup finals by learning about the slogan allez les Bleus !

  exclamations • informalities 

Expressions

Allons-y !

Let's go learn about the French expression allons-y!

  informalities 

Vocabulary Lists

Apocopes

Many French nouns and adjectives have shortened forms called apocopes, which are created by dropping one or more syllables at the end of the word. Some of these are further modified by adding o to the end.

  adjectives • French Abbreviations - Acronyms - Apocopes • informalities • nouns 

Expressions

Arriver comme un cheveu sur la soupe

Turn up at the right time with the French idiom arriver comme un cheveu sur la soupe.

  informalities 

Expressions

Arriver Expressions

The French verb arriver, "to arrive," is found in many idiomatic expressions, including to get one's way, to be completely irrelevant, and to get into trouble. Learn these and dozens of other French expressions featuring arriver.

  informalities 

Arroser – to water, sprinkle, spray; (informal) to drink alcohol; to bribe

Simple and compound conjugations for the regular -er French verb arroser.

  conjugation tables • informalities