essay on my friend in french with english translation

Never Say “Mon Ami” in French (And What to Say Instead)

• June 2, 2020

Today, I want to talk to you about one of the most common clichés in French — “ mon ami ” — and why you should never use it in French conversations.

People in France never use “ mon ami ” the way you might use “my friend” in English. It’s another common mistake that I hear all the time, like using “ bien fait ” or saying bonjour twice.

“But Géraldine,” you might say, “ I do hear it a lot in movies! Even with Lumière in Beauty and the Beast! Are you saying Disney lied to me?”

Yes, I am! If you use “ mon ami ” (on its own) in France, you’ll sound like a tourist who only knows French clichés. Let’s fix that.

Today, we’ll look into why you shouldn’t say “ mon ami ” so much, and what to say instead.

Bonjour I’m Géraldine, your French teacher. Welcome to Comme une Française. Today, like every Tuesday, I’ll help you get better at speaking and understanding everyday French.

C’est parti !

Want all the vocabulary of the lesson ?

Want to read this lesson later , 1) “mon ami” is just a cliché.

Mon ami (or mon amie in the feminine) means “my friend.”

If there’s a French character in an American movie, they basically have to say it at some point. Like in this scene of Beauty and the Beast.

It’s kind of like saying Bonjour with a really heavy accent. Sure, it shows that the character is French, but it’s not something you’d actually hear in France.

Using “ Mon ami ” alone as “ Hello my friend” will make you sound like you only know French clichés – and you deserve better!

It’s basically the oral version of Marcel Gotlib’s SuperDupont : a funny stereotypical representation that doesn’t exist.

By the way, in the French (dubbed) version, Lumière is… Italian! At least that’s what his accent implies , with his rolled R’s – for example in “ Y’a l’pour et y’a l’contre ” (= “There are pros and cons,” casual spoken French) Can you hear it?

Other works used the same “trick” of turning a French character (in the original version) into an Italian one (in the French dubbed version), like Pepe le Pew / Pépé le Putois.

2) “Mon ami” in French: what it really means

Mon ami(e) is used for very close friends.

You can use it in a sentence. To introduce your friend, for example: Je te présente mon amie Marie. = “I introduce you to my friend Marie” / “Here’s my friend Marie.”

But using it on its own, such as Bonjour, mon ami, comment ça va ? to mean “Hello my friend” , is a cliché.

When I was working in Leeds, England on July 14th, kind people would wish me a “Happy Bastille day” in French. That’s very nice! But “Le jour de la Bastille” does NOT exist in French – it’s just “ Le 14 Juillet ” . Another misconception!

You can find more in my lesson: Le 14 Juillet

3) “Mon ami” : What you can say instead

Instead of “ mon ami ”, you can simply use your friend’s name. For instance: Je suis là, mon ami ! → Je suis là, Marc ! = I’m here, my very close friend! → I’m here, Marc!

Or you can also just say… nothing!

Bonjour, mon ami. → Bonjour. = Hello, my friend. → Hello.

The scary thing is, this is a common mistake you might be making without even realizing it. And it’s not the only one!

You’ll find more examples of common French mistakes in this short playlist , like using “ Bien fait ” for “ well done ” (when it actually means “ Serves you right ”), or saying “ bonjour ” twice in the same day to the same person!

À tout de suite. I’ll see you in the next video!

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Allez, salut 🙂

Join the conversation!

I love your site and appreciate all that you’re sharing with us! Merci!

Question about this saying, <> Is that like saying, “Cheers, my friends,” in english? As in a written sign off for a message to a large group, including people that aren’t close friends. Kind of like when english or american people say endearingly to a stranger they just met or non-close friend, “Good luck, my friend.”

My quote didn’t show… The saying in question is – Santé, mes amis!

In my opinion, vocatives such as “my friend” in casual, direct conversation sound silly at best (and manipulative at worst) in any language, including mine (Brazilian Portuguese).

In such a context, they should not be understood as terms of “endearment”, but rather as entraining terms or terms for narcissistic self-supply.

Hi, Is it old fashioned to call a group of people mes braves?

Indeed, it is not a very common way to call a group of people.

Fabien Comme une Française Team

Ok what I have understood from this is ‘mon ami’ is suitable to use strictly for a close friend…and not for ‘just anyone’ Thank you . I am actually enjoying your lessons

That is a great lesson. But in New Orleans we call our friends, friend or my friend or my girl or my boy. Like we say “Hey Friend!” We use it as a term of endearment. So we do use my friend quite a lot in our dialogue whether it’s French or English! I will have to remember not to do that if I ever visit France!

The name’s Gambit, mon ami! Remember it!

Mon amie, je ne suis pas d’accord 🙂

I don’t agree with this opinion about using « mon ami ». This article, as well as the author’s responses in the comments, is not researched; it is a personal opinion.

First of all, there is no language rule against using clichés, or against using an expression with a twist of irony or humor (see this comment’s first line).

Second, the use of « mon ami » will not sound cliché depending on what country you are in and on the immediate context. French is widely and correctly spoken in many places outside France, although many French-speakers have trouble accepting that reality.

I am a native mother tongue French speaker from Quebec, and I hear French used in ways that sound funny even just inside Quebec, including what seems like grammar mistakes from immigrants from France. As long as you get the gender and number of « mon ami » right in your sentence, the rest is all about context.

In France it’s even worse than what the author describes here .

Someone saying “mon ami” should even be seen as a highly hypocritical person .

Saying “my friend” in France is almost equivalent to put an advertisement on oneself where it would be written ” hey , liar and hypocritical person just here , beware ”

Maybe in Quebec or elswhere in french speaking countries it’s okay , but absolutely DON’T USE IT in France .

It shouldn’t be seen as a cliche that “the french do”, but rather it’s simply what we americans will say in english to dear friends that we love. If i say it in my own language (and it’s not a cliche here), why should i all of a sudden change who i am because im speaking a new language? That’s silly. It’s a term of endearment where im from so that doesn’t make sense for me not to use it. Sometimes it feels like some french people look for reasons to judge americans, because it’s really not that serious.

I do not speak French, but I am fluent in 2 languages and lived in different countries. There are things you need to understand/know about the culture you want to immerse yourself in, to engage and conduct yourself properly. there are non-translatable situations/phrases and things, in the case of Spanish to English and vice versa, (and every other country, I am sure) that just are not said/experienced in the same manner, because it’s perceived as weird or simply it does not exist in that particular context. it does not mean that one culture is better than the other, it just means that they are different. And as different we must learn (in my opinion) the do’s and don’t of the culture or language that we wish to communicate/immerse ourselves in. Learning things properly not only expands your knowledge of the language but also of the people and the culture. I think it makes us better humans. We do not have to agree with everything, but my opinion is that we can try to understand and respect it, regardless of our language or culture. It seems that French like many Latin cultures is more structured in its language and “American” culture is more relaxed. I don’t think it’s a judgment issue. It’s just different.

In American English it would be like saying trust me. An innocent comment with conflicting undertones. If you have to tell someone they are your friend you might come off as disingenuous.the same as telling someone they can trust you. Generally a phrase overused by people you can’t trust.

This is a comment on Jeremy’s comment. Your comment made a lot of sense to me, I am also an American and “trust me” would immediately make me not trust you. Thank you.

This entitlement is typical and terrifying

We say my friend to everyone in New Orleans even strangers. We call people baby, honey, etc. it’s our culture. I can see how people would think it’s over the top or scammy but we really feel that in our hearts. We are just fun loving people down here in Cajun country! Lol

THANK YOU FOR THIS (these) useful, informative videos. I’ve found your “insider”/native guidance quite helpful. You packed a lot into such a short video. BUT,,, what about using “MES AMIS”? When, for example, you arrive for a dinner with friends, all of whom arrived before you, to address the table? Merci

Mes amis can sound formal, as in saying ‘Friends…’ except if they are people you know well, in which case it will sound cute/warm depending on how you say it and what follows.

If you’re calling out to a group in an informal way, you might say ‘Les amis’, which sounds something like ‘You guys’

Very interesting,thank you

How about Poirot in Agatha Christie’s films? does he says “mon ami” because he is Belgian and not French? LOL

How about n’est pas, which I hear and read a lot from non-French speakers? Isn’t it n’est ce pas and therefore pronounced somewhat differently? (I am not French and I am not a wannabe. I can barely speak English. I’m an American.)

“n’est-ce pas” is like “isn’t it”, used as part of a question. “n’est pas” is the modifier “not”.

Like the details for the (e.i.n’est pas—–n’est -ce pas )very close ,similar, modifiers;!expression differs slightly .

Merci our vos cours… Often in films I hear a girl or young woman addressed <>, why not <>?

Bonjour Geraldine et Arthur, In Quebec my teen and 20-something children use “ma blonde” or “mon chum” to refer to a girlfriend or boyfriend informally, in the casually dating sense. I think it’s adorable as it can be tricky to introduce or talk about someone that’s more than a friend, but not long term relationship that everyone knows. What would be a similar ‘label’ for a person you’re dating in France, I’m not “copain” would always work. Maybe these Canadian French words are more specific to the generation as well…

Bonjour Mélanie, In France, you would use “copain” or “copine” or “petit copain” or “petite copine” and there is no direct equivalent to “ma blonde” or “mon chum” unless one wishes to use “mon amoureux” or “mon amoureuse”. You can also use “mon Jules” or “ma Julie” which may get closer to the “blonde” and “chum” in Québec. Fabien Comme Une Française Team

Are you in México?

No, I am at your house…

Is there some form of saying “mon ami/e” to refer to your boyfriend/girlfriend? Or is that “mon petit”?

Bonjour Sara,

You can use “mon copain” or “ma copine” in reference to a boyfriend or a girlfriend, even though it has the meaning of a pal/buddy as well.

Belle journée,

Fabien Comme Une Française Team

Hi Fabien, What about “mon compagnon/ma compagne” in reference to a boyfriend and girlfriend? Or are those nouns used only by “older” people? ☺️ Merci bien!

Bonjour Kiki, Oui, “un compagnon” est celui ou celle qui partage la vie de quelqu’un comme époux/épouse ou comme concubin. Merci et belle journée, Fabien Comme Une Française Team

Mon amie la Rose – d’aprés Françoise Hardy, caused me some difficulty, but Géraldine sorted it:

This is so informative. I got used to Cajun French but never learned the ral French.

Instead of using bonjour more than once, try doing and saying as mon chien “BOOZER”…..He says…”BONE APPETIT ” all of the time. many times a day !! Just stumbled onto your site, Geraldine, and it’s terrific, as are all the comments and questions. Kudos !

This just makes me really sad, like I’m a fool for even trying to speak french. Why even try if you’re going to be this judgmental for trying to call someone “my friend”? 🙁

Dear Alexander,

On Comme une Française, I guide students in the language to make them avoid the common mistakes of the language and the culture. It’s not a matter of being judgmental.

Love your tips, always! There’s clearly no judgement happening there and the information is very useful for those truly making an effort to speak with proper pronunciation as well as for those wanting to speak as locals do. If that’s not important I think it’s always been made clear on this site that your efforts are always appreciated by French speakers and it’s up to you how deeply you want to dive. 🙂

Don’t give up, my friend! I teach English as a second language, and I have made my way in Survival Spanish and Fractured French in various countries. Just enjoy the people you are with and take a light-hearted view of mistakes. If you are kind and well-meaning, people will look at that much more than your actual words.

I noticed your examples are all cases of one individual speaking to another individual, but does it still applies in more general statements? Like if a public speaker says it to a group to imply a more general intimacy, or maybe in fiction literature where a character is talking more directly to the reader. For example, I think I’ve heard the phrase ‘Au contraire, mes amis’ used a couple of times, but that was in English language fiction, so I’m wondering if that would still come off as cliche if it was part of a full French sentence to a speaker.

Bonjour Danielle, You can use it, knowing that it’s a cliché. What matters here is knowing that it is one. Then you can make what you want of it. Because it adds a certain effect to your sentence.

Like “Hello Old Chap” in English.

Why isn’t it ‘ma amie’ for female friends? Or is it the fact that you’d have two vowels right next to each other?

Bonjour Alex,

Thanks for your question. Mon, ton or son are used before a feminine word starting with a vowel or silent -h. This is to help with pronunciation. Thus, you will have mon amie (even though it is a feminine noun).

I hope this helps.

Bonne journée,

So helpful!

Dear Friends at Comme une Française, I enjoy your blog and find it helpful. Having lived in Paris for three years as a professor, I do cringe when one makes blanket statements like “no one in France says _________________ (fill in the blank.) In my experience, French is fluid, at least in Paris, and French people speak with a variety of vocabulary, word choices, et cetera. Yes, there are some absolutes. However, it is a danger to make blanket linguistic statements. These types of statements might be taken as arrogant and elitist. When I moved to France in 2018, I was informed that “No one says , enchanté”, only to be greeting countless times with, enchanté. Thank you!

So, what could you say when seeing a french friend after many, five, years besides just saying their name? We had a French foreign exchange student, a young woman, live with us years back. She has visited us many times since, our daughter stayed with her family in Paris several times, we have had dinner at her parents house in Paris … anyhow, she is like another daughter to me. We are all meeting up in Dublin soon (hopefully covid continues to settle down) and I wanted to joyfully express my affection for her in french when we first see her …

Bonjour Alan, Saying her name and being cheerful is great! It will convey what you want to share with her. You can also say “je suis tellement content de te revoir” or “tu nous as tellement manqué !”

How would you pronounce the French last name of my family Bolduc in French language???

Bolduc = /boldyk/ – u pronounced like in salut

i’m a American trying to learn french is realy nice

I love everything about this! My family is francophone northern Ontario/Quebec border. I’ve been speaking Acadian English? French? Back and forth? My whole life? So much slang, so many interpretations. Geraldine, thank you for clarifying.

Hello! I just found this article and I love the comment section! I have a question, this man I have been speaking with (dating?) for months now has referred to me as his girlfriend in many occasions. But then he wrote “ma très chère amie” to me that got me confused. Does that mean just a friend? Thank you for your help!

Thanks for your question, Mia. This would translate as “My very dear friend”.

What should you say instead of saying bonjour twice to the same person on the same day?

You could use “rebonjour” in certain situations.

Another drawn out way for the French to incessantly criticize Americans- even if they are trying to speak the language and say something pleasant.

Can I use Bon appetite mon amis ??

Bonjour Viktoria,

Oui, or simply, “bon appétit”.

Bonnes fêtes,

Mes amies in France say mon ami or mon Cher ami quite often, oddly enough more to be polite to acquaintances than dear friends

is there a French word for ‘heck’, the American expression?

Zut could work. It’s like drat or heck. https://www.wordreference.com/fren/zut

Yes, you can say “mince, zut” or even “sacré”. A lot of options based on the context.

In British English we are continually using terms of endearment with strangers – most commonly “mate” (also pal, love, pet, duck, hinny, fella, chum, mucker and many more, with some being gendered terms). Basically just for anyone whose name we don’t know.

Is there a French equivalent?

Bonjour Bob,

Oui, tout à fait ! We also have terms of endearment in French, I included a few of them at the end of this message.

Bien à toi,

Mon amour: my love Mon chou: My cabbage, but chou can also be short for a French cream puff called chou chantilly or chou à la crème. Chouchou: Derived from chou Mon ange: My angel Mon bébé: My baby Doudou: What kids call their favorite toy or blankie Mon coeur: My heart Mon trésor: My treasure Ma chérie (F), mon chéri (M): My darling Ma puce: My flea

Thanks Fabien, but I was referring to terms you might use with a stranger or someone with whom you were not close.

Typically, you will not use those terms of endearment with someone with whom you are not close. You may use the name or the title instead (Monsieur, Madame, etc.)

Flea..??????are you serious 😅😅😅😅 nobody likes fleas in England….sounds insulting. Might as well say my cockroach….lol

I agree. The Great Plague of London, the epidemic that ravaged London, England, from 1665 to 1666 has city records to indicate that some 68,596 people died during the epidemic, though the actual number of deaths is suspected to have exceeded 100,000 out of a total population estimated at 460,000. The plague was caused from fleas living on rodents. The fleas would bite humans and spread the disease, so no wonder no one in England would want to use the word flea as a term of endearment. I never heard about this great pandemic until I studied world history as a freshman in college. It had to be horrifying for all of London and the undertakers couldn’t even keep up with burials.

I have a dear friend who is fluent in French. She studied at Sorbonne in Paris. Speaking with her will help me learn faster. I love French and the country and people! Can I say to her Tres Chere Amie? Merci!

You can certainly use this expression with your friend, however particularly so in writing.

What does Ma douce amie mean? is it romantic or sweet. a man said it to me after bouts of flirting and giving mixed signals.

Bonjour Rose,

Indeed, even though “ma douce amie” means “my sweet/precious friend”, it can have a bit of a romantic connotation.

That being said, this is very common in Cajun French culture and used very often. That also being said Cajun French is completely foreign to French spoken in France as it’s a broken dialect of Canadian French.

Really like your Website. I have met a frensh man that I really like so now I am trying to pick up some frensh words. Did I understood you right, that I can use “mon ami” if it is a close/special friend like the man I met ;-)? We are not at the point yet were I would call him “mon cheri” 🙂

Yes, oui, tout à fait, it is possible to use “mon ami” for a close friend.

This is literally the first and only page I’ve read from your lesson thus far. So when I engage in some more, it is then I will comment on something. Merci beaucoup

I do like this but am from Oklahoma and. Am afraid no one could understand my french. I ha e a very slow and southern drawl.some people in us can’t understand my english.

I’m trying to learn French and I came across this when trying to figure out what “ami” means and I love this website already!

Thanks Venus!

Keep browsing around on the website, lessons and courses, and have a wonderful day 🙂

– Arthur, writer for Comme une Française

You may present your friend as in “voici mon ami Pierre,but you dont say “bonjour mon ami to a close friend ,perriod!

Love the way you explain it – am sold on the concept already!

Merci, mon ami!

I think the use of “my friend” in English is also a bit odd. It’s can be used in introducing someone and not sound weird (“Hi, John, this is my friend, Sharon”) or it can sound strangely old-fashioned or even anachronistic (“Hello, my friend”). Most people don’t use “my friend” in a standard greeting. I had a professional acquaintance who said it often to me in phone conversations but I would never say it to an actual close friend. So I can see the subtleties in using “mon ami” in French.

Now that I think of it, I’ve heard it said by people, in English, but they are usually foreign and I’m wondering if it’s commonly used in Spanish. Mi amigo for example.

The usage of mi amigo – or similar – is common in Spanish, but the context is different. It is extremely regional what is used, for me (I speak Columbian Spanish) I would be comfortable talking with acquaintances with the opening ‘Bienvenidos, mi Amigo.’ but I would not say that to a stranger. If I was talking to a stranger, I would most likely use ‘Bienvenidos, señor.’ or ‘Bienvenidos, señora/señorita’ for their respective gender/age. Another option for saying this would be to just drop the honorific and use implied target with ‘Bienvenidos’. I hope this helps!

*Colombian. Also, Bienvenidos is plural, so you would need to use Bienvenido with all the examples you presented.

Hi Harise. Yes, it is used in some parts of México. The intention is to make anyone feel welcome. There are other words that can be used with the same purpose depending of the region the person is from: pariente (relative), primo (cousin), etc.

Those were the days, my friend, we thought they’d never end, we’d sing and dance, forever and a day 🙂 When I use “my friend” in English (because I’m English) in that context, it’s either in a jovial manner (and toward a genuine friend), or a very serious manner toward a friend. The only reason I found this article was because i just told a friend to “kip well mon ami” and then I wondered what the full French for “sleep well my friend” was (dors bien mon ami, apparently). I think in any situation I’d use “mon ami” in French, it would be exactly the same as I’d use “my friend” in English. So yeah, in films it’s overused as the sole bit of French a French character might use, and that certainly isn’t going to be common. But as a jokingly formal (to a close friend), or very serious matter, I suspect it’s exactly the same as in English.

I really enjoyed my first look at commeunefrancais.com – can’t wait to dig deeper

Merci Lisa!

Good evening Geraldine I just had to comment. You look like a young Judy Garland. So sweet! Hope to visit France soon once this health crisis is over and we can fly in comfort with good food and French wine! Regards Tommy

Absurdité! Pure Merde, eh, Mon Amie!

Thank you for your lessons Geraldine. In the meantime, I am wandering, when I have to use in French “au revoir” and when “a la prochaine” or “a bientot” (sorry, I can’t use the french characters easily on my computer)? What is the difference between these words?

From my point of view, “au revoir” is always used whenever you are not so close to the person or that you don’t know when you might meet him again. Like for a doctor, a medical person or the owner of a shop you’re going often. For this last example you can also used “à la prochaine” or “à bientôt” as you like to see him again soon or regularly (but not for a doctor), like a friend or a good Office colleague we also say “A plus”, A pronounced “Ah” like in M”a”m”a” and written A+ in messages. Hope it’s more clear for you this way.

Hi Mike, ‘Au revoir’ and ‘À la prochaine’ are interchangeable. However, I would NOT use ‘À bientôt’ if I’m not expecting to see or talk (even on the phone) with that person again within a week, since “soon” cannot be weeks or months! ;=)

On most computers, you can use the Windows symbol and the space bar to toggle between languages.

I usually type in English and then toggle to French for just some of the letters I need to appear as French characters. For example, I type

ca va, Mike

then press Windows and space bar together which brings up French characters, hover over the c of ca va, and press the cedilla key; which is the number 9 on the keyboard. Then I toggle back to English characters.

So, I get ça va

Remember to toggle back to English or you will get this. çq vq: ?ike

Hope this helps

So very helpful, thank you!

Terrible article. So I shouldn’t use Mon Ami to refer to my friend, I should just use their name or nothing at all? than what do I say when I want to point that they are my friend who is not my best friend? 2/10, have had better French lessons on Google translate

You just say “Mon pote”. French here, this article is very true. You can refer to a friend as Mon Ami(e) but I would never use these words in a direct conversation with said friend. There might be some cultural aspects here which means that the scope of what friend means in France’s French is different to what it means in English (or even in French speaking places outside of France). No need to be insulting, just accept that there are some untold meanings behind words and that not all words have the exact same meaning in all languages. Cheers

PTDR I’m French and no this article isn’t true. Nothing EVER prevents you from saying “mon ami”. You might just sound a bit old timey but not everyone is familiar enough to say Mon pote or Poto

No need to be insulting. Napoleon. Geraldine is French and is absolutely correct.

But what if I was introducing a friend? Like ¨This is my friend!¨ would I use something different or just like ¨this is (friendsname)¨?

Good question 🙂

1 – You CAN use “Je te présente Claude, c’est mon ami / amie.” (= Here’s Claude, he/she is my friend.) You would be understood – but a French person would assume there are cultural differences between you. A French person wouldn’t really say that – it would be really intimate, and/or it could even be a euphemism for “lover.”

2 – As a French person, if I were to introduce a friend, I’d say something like “C’est Martin, on se connaît de la chorale.” (= Here’s Martin, we know each other from the choir club.) or “C’est Martin, un pote de lycée.” (= Here’s Martin, a friend from high school.) –> “Pote” is a more informal, less intimate, synonym for “friend.” It can apply to women too, but we would rather use “une copine.”

The extra mile for advanced learners: The show Bref (= “In short,” 2-min episodes) did a beautiful story on the subject. How “un pote” can become “un ami.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbGrzgcO68A

Have a great day, – Arthur, writer for Comme une Française

Thank you, that was really helpful

Thank you Arthur, it is really helpful.

I am French Canadian. When I reply “mon ami” in an email , it simply means “my friend” (usually someone you consider as a friend be it personal or at work) Merci mon ami! … Thank you my friend! (Feminine: Mon amie!)

So hercule poirot is stupid for saying mon ami all the time?

Hi Penny! Hercule Poirot is speaking old-fashioned French, with a bit of extra cliché to make him “sound French.” That works well for his settings! That’s not something we’d recommend doing for speaking in France, or something that French people do in everyday life 🙂

Keep in mind, Poirot is Dutch…maybe that changes the tone of his quirks.

Poirot is Belgian!

Remember that Hercule Poirot speaks French but is Belgian not Dutch ! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercule_Poirot

Very concise explanation!

Not really, if it’s someone he knows well (my friend) same rule as in english!

Remember that Hercule Poirot speaks French but is Belgian. In Belgium they have other subtile things that they say.

So hercule pioirot is stupid for saying mon ami all the time?

Merci les leçons sont très divertissants et utiles. Vous avez le style, aussi.

But, was it that way or just today’s French? Like, Disney’s Lumiere was around 1480s. Maybe that era’s “mon ami” differs than today’s? Of course it was made recently and for today’s audience lol, but I’m curious that perhaps in historical perspective what sounds wrong today might sounded okay back then. Maybe not in your expertise, I mean, history, but aren’t you curious about this? 😉 Thanks.

So Fabo! With the cartoons included in the lesson. Tellement excellent avec les bd ajouté dans le leçon

Thanks Mary!

(- Arthur, auteur pour Comme une Française)

Merci Géraldine ce leçon est très utile merci Anne

Bonjour tous ! I hope I can say that. Great practical lesson – i never knew not to use that. Could anyone help…. regarding Bonjour… if we bump into the same person/shop assistant/work colleague etc again…. then what are we meant to say…?

Rebonjour…

Now THAT is funny!

could one also say just RE?

The English speaking world is awash with expressions believed to be used by the French ~ mon brave, mon vieux, mon ami, mon cher, mes amis and goodness knows what else .. But the movie Frenchman ~ Englishman Claude Rains does it brilliantly as Captain Louis Renault in that timeless classic Casablanca, and all in an impeccable English accent … “I’m shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here.” “Your winnings sir.” “Oh, thank you very much.” Just fabulous 😀 A great lesson Géraldine, and I love the old cartoons.

Merci, Geraldine. J’aime beaucoup vos commentaires et votre maniere d’explication.

Salut Geraldine You say never use “Mon ami” ? What about if you qualify it? “Merci, ma chère amie” It is OK? My friend in Burgundy uses “mon ami” a lot in messages like “Merci mon ami pour ta magnifique carte” or ” Belle journée mon cher ami ” I am not sure I have understood when you should not use it…. Bisous Brian

Hi Brian W., As long as it’s part of a ‘long context’ and qualify it, you can use ‘Mon ami(e)’ like in English with ‘my dear friend’, etc. But not in expression(s) with only ‘hello,’ or ‘bye, bye’. Then it might sound sarcastic or pedantic, even. Just, as suggested, use their name, ‘Mark’, or Marie’ etc. if you really want to add something to that concise (but totally appropriate and sufficient) ‘hello’ (= ‘bonjour’) or ‘see you’ (= ‘au revoir’). Hope this helps.

Can you use bien fait for work that is done well?

Short answer: no.

Long answer: Not on its own. You can say “C’est un travail bien fait.” (= It’s well done work), but the expression “Bien fait !” on its own wouldn’t mean that. (French people would probably understand your mistake and your intention, though, and not be offended for it.)

Can I say “un travail bien fait monsieur” ?

Beautiful blouse Geraldine!

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Lyceum – Windlesham House School

An Academic Blog

Describing your best friend…in French!

Adeline Moore – Head of Modern Foreign Languages

The Twos (Year 7) recently had to describe their best friends using complex French  expressions and vocabulary. Below are some examples of their work. Some were created using the app ‘Pic Collage’.

And one more example…

Ma meilleure amie

Ma meilleure amie s’appelle Erin.

Elle est née au Texas en Amérique.

Son anniversaire c’est le six juin et elle a les yeux verts et un petit peu bleu.

Erin est de taille moyenne et elle est mince et très belle.

Elle est extrêmement polie et vraiment sympa.

Je l’aime bien parce que je la trouve attentionnée.

Je m’entends bien avec elle parce qu’elle m’écoute et nous aimons faire les mêmes choses.

Elle est aussi vraiment chouette et nous aimons jouer ensemble.

Aussi nous faisons beaucoup d’art.

As you can see, the Twos not only are producing excellent French, but are also having a lot of fun while doing so!

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How do you describe your friend in french?

Mon amie s'appelle ( name of your friend ). Elle a quinze ans. Elle est tres serviable et gentille. Elle est dans la meme ecole et la meme class que je vais. Elle aime jourer de la guitar et elle aime chanter. Elle joue au badmenton avec moi chaque jours apres l' ecole. Elle est ma meilleure amie parce qu'elle me comprends mieux que quiconque. J' amie mon amie beaucoup.

shabana sawant ∙

Modesta Nzes ∙

Mariam Ogbordjor ∙

Mawufemor Normenyo ∙

padma arena ∙

John Simon ∙

Mon Amie s'appelle Simona. Elle est belle et intelligente. Elle est de taille moyenne. Elle a les yeux bruns et les cheveux bruns. Elle est timide et tetu. Elle aime chanter et danser.

To describe your friend in French, you would use adjectives to convey their characteristics. For example, you could say "Mon ami est intelligent et drôle" which means "My friend is intelligent and funny." Adjectives in French usually come after the noun they describe, unlike in English where they come before. It's important to match the gender and number of the adjective with the noun it describes.

Ah, describing your friend in French can be a lovely experience. You can say things like "mon ami est gentil" (my friend is kind) or "elle est drôle" (she is funny). Just think about all the wonderful qualities your friend has and let those words flow like a beautiful painting on a canvas.

Well, honey, if you want to describe your friend in French, you could say "mon ami" if your friend is a guy, or "ma amie" if your friend is a gal. And if your friend is a bit of a handful, you might throw in "mon pote" or "ma copine" for a more casual vibe. Just remember, French is all about adding that extra ooh la la to your descriptions!

Oh, dude, describing my friend in French? That's like asking me to do math with words! But hey, I got this. You'd say, "Mon ami est génial," which basically means "My friend is awesome." And that's it. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

Comment tu t'appelles? = Whats your name? (pronounce common too tap- ell )

"mon ami / mon amie se nomme / s'appelle"

"le nom de mon ami / amie est : ...."

Quel est le nom de tes amis?

Comment s'appellent tes amis?

in french, you call your friend "mon ami".

6.Describe the fighting style the French commander liked.?

6. Describe the fighting style the French commander liked.

What does decrivez mean in french?

It means 'Describe your school'

How do you spell best friend in French?

Best friend is "meilleur ami" (masc.), or "meilleure amie" (fem.) in French.

What does the french word Ton ami mean?

"And your friend" is an English equivalent of the incomplete French phrase et ton amie. The feminine singular phrase refers to a girlfriend or a female friend. The pronunciation will be "ey to-na-mee" in French.

How do you say dear friend in french when the friend is a female?

we said : ch&egrave;re amie

Is friend a plural in french?

No, &quot;friend&quot; is not a plural in French. The word for &quot;friend&quot; in French is &quot;ami&quot; for a male friend and &quot;amie&quot; for a female friend.

How do you say the friend in french?

ami / amie is friend in French

How Do You Spell Friend In French?

&quot;Friend&quot; in French is spelled &quot;ami&quot; for a male friend, and &quot;amie&quot; for a female friend.

How do you say will you be my friend in french?

"Will you be my friend?" in French is Serais-tu mon ami?.

What french word meaning stick is used to describe a common french food?

This word is used to describe the French baguette.

What is friend in french language?

The word for &quot;friend&quot; in French is &quot;ami&quot; for a male friend, and &quot;amie&quot; for a female friend.

What words describe a friend that starts with n?

Nicest is an adjective to describe a friend. It begins with the letter N.

Example essay for describe your best friend?

An essay to describe your best friend would include the best traits of the best friend. The essay would also describe why you feel those traits are beneficial to your friendship.

What is the synonymof a friend?

There are many words that can describe a friend. Companion is one of the synonym of a friend.

What are words to describe a friend that starts with L?

Some words to describe a friend that start with L are likable, loyal, and lovely.

How do you say the phrase 'friend' in french?

a friend is translated 'un ami, une amie" in French.

How can you describe a boy who is a friend?

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How to Say “My Friend” in French: A Guide to Formal and Informal Ways

Bonjour! If you are looking to express the phrase “my friend” in French, you’ve come to the right place. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore various ways to convey this term in both formal and informal contexts. We will delve into the subtleties of regional variations if they exist and provide you with plenty of tips and examples to aid your understanding. So, let’s get started!

Table of Contents

Formal Expressions:

When addressing someone formally in French, it’s essential to use appropriate language and an appropriate level of politeness. Here are different ways to express “my friend” formally:

• Mon ami / Mon amie – This is the most common and straightforward way to say “my friend” in French. The word ami is used when referring to a male friend, whereas amie is used for a female friend. For example: “Je vous présente mon ami, Marie” (I’d like to introduce you to my friend, Marie).
• Mon chéri / Ma chérie – This expression translates to “my darling” in English, but it can also be used when referring to a close friend. It adds a touch of endearment to your language. For instance: “Je suis très heureux de vous présenter ma chérie, Sophie” (I am very happy to introduce you to my friend, Sophie).
• Mon camarade – This term is typically used in more formal contexts, such as academia or professional settings. It conveys a sense of camaraderie and implies a closer bond beyond friendship. For example: “Mon camarade de classe est très doué en mathématiques” (My classmate is very talented in mathematics).
• Mon complice – This expression is used when referring to a friend with whom you share a secret or a close connection, indicating a person who understands and supports you unconditionally. For instance: “Lucie est plus qu’une amie, elle est ma complice” (Lucie is more than a friend, she is my partner in crime).
• Mon confident / Ma confidente – If you want to express that your friend is also your confidant, this expression is perfect. It signifies someone with whom you can share your deepest thoughts and secrets. For example: “Robert est à la fois mon ami et mon confident” (Robert is both my friend and my confidant).

Informal Expressions:

When speaking casually or with close friends in French, you have more flexibility in how you refer to them. Here are some informal ways to say “my friend” in French:

• Mon pote – This is a popular and widely used term among friends, similar to “my mate” or “my buddy” in English. For instance: “Je vais chez mon pote ce soir” (I’m going to my friend’s place tonight).
• Mon copain / Ma copine – Although this expression can mean “boyfriend” or “girlfriend” in a romantic context, it is also commonly used among friends to simply mean “friend.” For example: “Viens avec moi, mon copain” (Come with me, my friend).
• Mon p’tit / Ma p’tite – This informal expression is an endearing way to refer to a friend in French. It adds a sense of familiarity and affection. For instance: “Salut, ma p’tite! Ça fait longtemps!” (Hi, my friend! Long time no see!).
• Mon acolyte – This term denotes a friend with whom you share common interests or hobbies, suggesting a partnership or camaraderie. For example: “Cédric, mon acolyte de voyage, est toujours partant pour une nouvelle aventure” (Cédric, my travel buddy, is always up for a new adventure).
• Mon binôme – This expression is used to describe a friend with whom you are paired up for a specific task or activity. It implies a teamwork dynamic and is commonly used in school or work settings. For instance: “Laura est ma binôme pour le projet de science” (Laura is my partner for the science project).

Tips: Adding the possessive pronoun “mon” or “ma” (my) before these expressions helps specify the person as being your friend. This is especially important in French to avoid any confusion or ambiguity in the context of your relationship.

Regional Variations:

French is spoken in various countries and regions, each with slight linguistic variations. However, when it comes to expressing “my friend,” these regional differences are minimal. The above expressions can be understood and used universally across the French-speaking world. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that certain regions may have specific colloquial terms or idiomatic phrases for “my friend.” So, if you encounter any regional variations, embrace them as an opportunity to learn even more about the rich diversity of the French language.

Now that you have a range of formal and informal expressions for “my friend” in French, you’ll be well-equipped to enrich your conversations and build stronger connections with French speakers. Remember to use the appropriate expressions based on the context and level of formality. Happy conversing!

Related Guides:

• Telling Your Friend “My Dear Friend” in Japanese
• How to Say Goodbye to a Friend in French: Formal and Informal Ways
• How to Say Happy Birthday in French to a Friend
• How to Say Happy Birthday, My Friend, in French
• How to Say “Hi Friend” in French: Formal and Informal Ways
• Guide: How to say “My Beautiful Friend” in French
• How to Say “My Friend” in French (Feminine)
• How to Say “Your Friend” in French: Formal and Informal Ways

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Norman Craig

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