Learn French from a podcast! This clip is from ep. 1 of Balades. It’s 32 words in 11 seconds. How much can you understand? Quiz yourself with us, try it now!
Learn French with a podcast snippet! This clip is from Balades Episode 1. Listen and fill in what you hear below. Read more and find a translation below. Find the full podcast here.
Every day
Let’s continue with lesson 22. I love the contrast in this one, from not seeing each other for a long time to the “every day”.
A few more expressions are common throughout France, I believe. “Chez nous” is something I see and hear often. Here Google translates it as “with us”. However I believe it could also be “at home”. Chez is home or at the house of. So I’d almost be tempted to think of this as the expression “In our house”.
I love the start and end of this clip as being two commonly heard expressions referring to daily life.
How much of this snippet are you understanding?
Can you only hear the articles or are you catching keywords?
What’s your favorite part about this?
There’s absolutely no way that I could get through an entire podcast in French without melting my brain, that’s why I broke it up into snippets like this. Join me for the next snippet.
The snippet in English
Find a translation of this snippet here, how much of this did you hear?
Chez nous, le nombre de bises dépend plutôt de la situation. Si on ne s’est pas vus depuis longtemps, ce seront quatre bises, et seulement trois pour « tous les jours ».
With us, the number of kisses depends more on the situation. If we haven’t seen each other for a long time, it will be four kisses, and only three for “every day”.
The above text courtesy of Google Translate. Source
What does “tous les jours” mean?
“Tous les jours” means “every day” in English. It’s a way to express that something happens on a daily basis, it’s a way to express frequency of an action or event.
How does it compare to “toute la journée”
“Tous les jours” means “every day”, it refers to the frequency of an action or event that happens daily. It’s similar in meaning to “daily” in English.
On the other hand, “toute la journée” means “all day” in English. It refers to the duration of an action or event. It’s similar in meaning to “all day long” in English. It expresses that something happens for the entire day, from morning to evening. It emphasizes the duration of an action or event rather than its frequency.
How can I remember the difference in French?
Here are a couple of tips to help you remember the difference between “tous les jours” and “toute la journée” in French:
- “Tous les jours” is all about frequency and it uses the word “les” which is the plural form of “day” in French. So, it’s a good reminder that it is talking about the frequency of something happening every day.
- “Toute la journée” is all about duration, and it uses the word “la” which is the singular form of “day” in French. So, it’s a good reminder that it is talking about the duration of something happening all day long.
- Another way to remember the difference is by thinking about the phrases “daily basis” and “all day long” in English, as they are similar in meaning to “tous les jours” and “toute la journée” respectively.
It’s also important to note that while “tous les jours” refers to everyday, “toute la journée” refers to the whole day and not necessarily everyday.
What does “chez nous” mean?
“Chez nous” translates to “at our place” or “at our home” in English.
Usage and Interpretation
- “Chez” is a French preposition used for indicating a location, often relating to someone’s home or place of residence.
- “Nous” means “us” or “our.”
- Combined, “chez nous” refers to the home or residence of the speaker and their family or household.
Examples
- “Vous êtes toujours les bienvenus chez nous.” (You are always welcome at our place.)
- “Chez nous, on dîne à 20 heures.” (At our home, we have dinner at 8 PM.)
Context
- “Chez nous” is commonly used in everyday French to talk about one’s own home environment or the practices and traditions of one’s household.
- It can also extend to refer to a broader sense of place, such as a community or country, especially in phrases like “chez nous en France” (in our home in France).
Summary
“Chez nous” means “at our place” or “at our home” in French. It’s used to refer to the home or residence of the speaker and their family or household. The phrase is a staple in French language, frequently employed in conversations about one’s living environment, household practices, or in the broader context of community or cultural identity.
What does “depuis longtemps” mean?
“Depuis longtemps” translates to “for a long time” in English.
Usage and Interpretation
- “Depuis” means “since” or “for,” and “longtemps” means “a long time.”
- The phrase is used to indicate that something has been occurring over an extended period or that a significant amount of time has passed since an event began or occurred.
Examples
- “Je te connais depuis longtemps.” (I have known you for a long time.)
- “Il n’a pas voyagé depuis longtemps.” (He hasn’t traveled for a long time.)
Context
- “Depuis longtemps” can be used in various contexts, both in spoken and written French, to refer to ongoing situations, long-term experiences, or the duration since an event occurred.
- It’s often used in conversations about personal experiences, historical events, or ongoing conditions.
Summary
“Depuis longtemps” means “for a long time” in French. It’s a phrase used to express the duration of time that something has been happening or the length of time since something occurred. The phrase is versatile and commonly used in a variety of contexts, conveying a sense of extended duration or longstanding continuity.
What does “seront” mean?
“Seront” is the future tense conjugation of the verb “être” (to be) for the third person plural, translating to “will be” in English.
Usage and Interpretation
- This conjugation is used to indicate what will or shall happen in the future, specifically referring to multiple subjects (they or a plural noun).
- It expresses a future state, condition, or situation for more than one person or thing.
Examples
- “Ils seront là demain.” (They will be there tomorrow.)
- “Les résultats seront annoncés la semaine prochaine.” (The results will be announced next week.)
Context
- “Seront” is used in various contexts where discussing the future state, actions, or conditions of plural subjects.
- It’s suitable for both spoken and written French, and can be used in casual conversations, formal writing, or professional settings.
Summary
“Seront” means “will be” in French, used in the future tense for the third person plural form of “être.” It’s a fundamental verb conjugation in French, used to discuss the future status, actions, or conditions of plural subjects across a wide range of contexts.
This clip is from the Balades podcast
“Balades” is a great podcast for those new to French. Its slow pace and clear speech make it easy to follow and understand. The episodes are fun and cover a variety of topics, ideal for beginners. While designed for learners, the podcast stays in French, offering a full-dive into the language. It’s part of a wider group of French podcasts aimed at all levels, focusing on real-life use rather than just vocab and grammar. Regular listening, along with tools like transcripts and quizzes, helps boost understanding and speaking skills. “Balades” is a top pick for anyone starting their French learning journey.
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