French/Lessons/Formal speech

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Image:50%.png Lessons
Image:100%.png Introductory
Image:100%.png 0.01 Introduction
Image:100%.png 0.02 Learning French
Image:100%.png 0.03 The Alphabet
Image:100%.png 0.04 Accents
Image:100%.png 0.05 Greetings
Image:100%.png 0.06 Formal Speech
Image:100%.png 0.07 How are you?
Image:100%.png 0.08 Numbers
Image:100%.png 0.09 Dates
Image:100%.png 0.10 Telling Time
Image:100%.png Review • Image:00%.png Test
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Contents

[edit] D: A formal conversation

French Dialogue • Formal speech • audio (info •65 kb • help)
A Formal Conversation Une conversation formelle
Two people—Monsieur Bernard and Monsieur Lambert—are meeting for the first time:
Monsieur Bernard Bonjour. Comment vous appelez-vous ?
Monsieur Lambert Je m'appelle Jean-Paul Lambert. Et vous ?
Monsieur Bernard Moi, je[1] suis Marc Bernard. Enchanté.
Monsieur Lambert Enchanté[2].

^ I (I is not capitalized in French (unless, of course, beginning a sentence))
^ Nice to meet you (lit. enchanted)

[edit] G: Vous vs. tu

This is an important difference between French and English. English no longer distinguishes between the singular and the plural, formal version of "you", although "thou" used to be the informal singular version in the days of Shakespeare.

In French, it is important to know when to use "vous" and when to use "tu".

"Vous" is the plural form of "you". This is somewhat equivalent to "you all", "you guys", "all of you", except that it does not carry any familiarity when used with the plural. You'd use it to address your friends as well as when talking to the whole government at a press conference.

"Vous" is also used to refer to single individuals to show respect, to be polite or to be neutral. It is used when talking to someone who is important, someone who is older than you are, or someone with whom you are unfamiliar. This is known as Vouvoiement. Note the conversation between M. Bernard and M. Lambert above as an example of this use.

Conversely, "tu" is the singular and informal form of "vous" (you) in French. It is commonly used when referring to a friend or a family member, and is also used between children or when addressing a child. If it is used when speaking to a stranger, it signals disrespect. This is known as Tutoiement. As a rule of thumb, use "tu" only when you would call that person by his first name, otherwise use "vous". French people will make it known when they would like you to refer to them by "tu". The use of "vous" is less common in Quebequois than in French from France.

[edit] V: Courtesy

French Vocabulary • Formal speech • audio (info •160 kb • help)
Courtesy La politesse
Please S'il te plaît. (Lit: If it pleases you.)
S'il vous plaît. (formal).
Thanks (a lot) Merci (beaucoup).
You're welcome. De rien. (Lit: It's nothing.)
Pas de quoi. (Lit: Not of what.) (No problem.)
Je t'en prie. I pray you (informal)
Je vous en prie (formal)

[edit] V: Titles

French Vocabulary • Formal speech • audio (info •99 kb • help)
Titles Les titres
French Abbr. Pronunciation English, Usage
Singular
Plural		 Monsieur
Messieurs.		 M. muhsyeu
mehsyeu		 Mr., Sir.
Gentlemen.
Singular
Plural		 Madame
Mesdames		 Mme mahdamn
maydahm		 Mrs., Ma'am.
Ladies
Singular
Plural		 Mademoiselle
Mesdemoiselles		 Mlle mahdmwahzell
mehdmwahzell		 Miss, Young lady
Young ladies

[edit] Formal lesson - Titles

The titles monsieur, madame, and mademoiselle are almost always used alone, without the last name of the person. When beginning to speak to a professor, employer, or generally someone older than you, it is polite to say monsieur, madame, or mademoiselle.

[edit] V: Asking for one's name

French Vocabulary • Formal speech • audio (info •110 kb • help)
Asking For One's Name Demander le nom de quelqu'un
Comment vous appelez-vous ?
Quel est votre nom ?		 How do you call yourself? (formal)
What is your name?
Tu t'appelles comment ? What is your name? (informal)
(lit: How do you call yourself?)
Je m'appelle... My name is... (lit. I call myself...)


Introductory Lessons Image:100%.png

0.01 Introduction Image:100%.png • 0.02 Learning French Image:100%.png • 0.03 The Alphabet Image:100%.png • 0.04 Accents Image:100%.png • 0.05 Greetings Image:100%.png • 0.06 Formal Speech Image:100%.png • 0.07 How are you? Image:100%.png • 0.08 Numbers Image:100%.png • 0.09 Dates Image:100%.png • 0.10 Telling Time Image:100%.png • Review Image:100%.png • Test Image:25%.png

Lessons Image:50%.png

Information • Introductory image:100%.png • Level One Image:75%.png • Level Two Image:50%.png • Level Three Image:25%.png • Level Four Image:00%.png • Q&A • Planning

Introductory Image:100%.png : 0.01 Introduction Image:100%.png • 0.02 Learning French Image:100%.png • 0.03 The Alphabet Image:100%.png • 0.04 Accents Image:100%.png • 0.05 Greetings Image:100%.png • 0.06 Formal Speech Image:100%.png • 0.07 How are you? Image:100%.png • 0.08 Numbers Image:100%.png • 0.09 Dates Image:100%.png • 0.10 Telling Time Image:100%.png • Review Image:100%.png • Test Image:00%.png
Level One Image:75%.png : 1.01 Basic Grammar Image:100%.png • 1.02 To Be Image:100%.png • 1.03 Description Image:100%.png • 1.04 Family Image:100%.png • 1.05 Recreation Image:100%.png • 1.06 The House Image:100%.png • 1.07 Weather Image:100%.png • 1.08 Travel Image:50%.png • 1.09 Art Image:50%.png • 1.10 Science Image:50%.png • Test Image:00%.png
Level Two Image:75%.png : 2.01 School Image:75%.png • 2.02 Culture Image:50%.png • 2.03 Shopping Image:75%.png • 2.04 Going out Image:75%.png • 2.05 Transportation Image:25%.png • 2.06 Everyday Life Image:50%.png • 2.07 Rural Life Image:25%.png • 2.08 Food and Drink Image:75%.png • 2.09 Dining Image:50%.png • 2.10 Communication Image:75%.png • Test Image:00%.png
Level Three Image:75%.png : 3.01 Vacations Image:75%.png • 3.02 Work Image:75%.png • 3.03 Health Image:75%.png • 3.04 Money Image:50%.png • 3.05 Youth Image:50%.png • 3.06 Adolescence Image:50%.png • 3.07 Ancient History Image:50%.png • 3.08 Revolution! Image:50%.png • 3.09 Modern France Image:50%.png • 3.10 Current Events Image:75%.png • Test Image:00%.png
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