Overused Verbs

Overused French verbs
If you learned French in a classroom, odds are that you overuse certain French verbs, because you were taught a somewhat generic word but not the sometimes subtle distinctions between it and its synonym. Here are 5 French verbs that are useful but often overused.

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Bon – Informal Synonyms

Informal synonyms for bon - French adjectives
Students often ask "how can I sound more French?" and my first recommendation is always to work on vocabulary. In French classes, you tend to learn the most common, basic terms, like bon, which is a typical and very useful adjective that tends to be overused. Read this lesson for some informal ways to say "good," including how to pronounce them.

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Rapporter, redonner, rembourser…

To return - French verbsWhy does French have so many different translations for "to return"? Because this English verb has so many different meanings! The trick to knowing which one to use is to learn another way to say "return" in each situation.

   

Synonyms for French

Synonyms for French
French journalists try to avoid using the same words over and over, and nowhere is this more obvious than when describing something as "French." Français is of course the standard term, but there are several synonyms used to describe government, culture, sports teams, etc.

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Bon Synonyms

Synonyms for bon - French adjectives
Students often ask "how can I sound more French?" and my first recommendation is always to work on vocabulary. In French classes, you tend to learn the most common, basic terms, like bon, which is a typical and very useful adjective that tends to be overused. Read this lesson to learn some different ways to say "good," including how to pronounce them.

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Yes – oui, ouais, ouah …

Yes in French
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.

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Habiter vs Vivre

Habiter vs vivreBelieve it or not, life in France is so great that one verb just isn't enough: "to live" may be equivalent to habiter or vivre, depending on what exactly you want to say.

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Savoir vs Connaître (and Ignorer)

Savoir vs connaîtreDo you know how to say "know" in French? There are two verbs with distinct meanings, and just to keep things interesting, there are also two overlapping meanings. Confused? After you read this lesson, you'll know all you need to know.

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