Improve your French listening comprehension with this super fast clip from an advertisement. It’s 83 words in 20 seconds – 249wpm! Improve your ear for French
Totally lame
I do not think this quiz is totally lame. Quite the contrary, it’s a doozie – it’s the fastest on site to date (200+ quizzes). It’s 249 wpm. That’s like an auctioneer in English. Definitely fast, but in French it can be a commercial with a brief dialogue. Even the voiceover at the end is fast. Again, culture comes into play. It’s not a lot of pain to understand 120-150 wpm, but that’s the speed of most teachers. Not actual French in the wild. Hm, French in the wild might be a better name for this site…
The snippet in English
What does “pas ouf” mean?
“Pas ouf” is a French slang expression, which can be translated to “not cool” or “not great” in English. It’s used as a way to express disappointment, dissatisfaction or to describe something as not very impressive or interesting. It’s often used to give a quick evaluation of something and to express a negative opinion about it.
For example, “Ce film était pas ouf” (This movie was not cool) or “Cette soirée n’était pas ouf” (This party wasn’t great)
It’s a casual expression, often used in a informal setting, and it’s not appropriate to use it in a professional or formal setting. It is not considered to be a strong or harsh criticism but rather a light, casual way to express dissatisfaction.
What does “complétement naze” mean?
“Complétement naze” is a French slang expression which is used to describe someone or something as completely uninteresting, dull or worthless. It is similar in meaning to the English phrase “totally lame” or “completely worthless” and it’s an informal way to express a negative opinion about something or someone.
The word “naze” is a slang term that means “worthless” or “lame” and “complétement” means “completely”
For example “Ce concert était complétement naze” (This concert was completely worthless) or “Il est complétement naze” (He’s completely worthless)
It’s a strong expression and it’s not appropriate to use it in a professional or formal setting, and it should be used with caution in any situation.
What words did I look up in this snippet?
me fait presque regretter
“Me fait presque regretter” is a French phrase that translates to “almost makes me regret” in English. It is used to express that something is making you feel close to having regret about a decision or an action you previously took. It’s usually used to express dissatisfaction or disappointment about something or someone.
For example, “Ce service me fait presque regretter d’avoir choisi cet hôtel” (This service almost makes me regret choosing this hotel) or “Cette attitude me fait presque regretter d’avoir embauché cette personne” (This attitude almost makes me regret hiring this person)
It’s an expression that is used to express dissatisfaction with a situation or a person, and it’s not a strong criticism but it’s an expression that implies that the speaker is disappointed and close to regretting something. It’s often used in a casual setting, but it can also be used in a formal setting when talking about a decision or an action that was taken in the past.
en même temps
“En même temps” is a French expression that can be translated to “at the same time” in English. It is used to express a sense of simultaneity, meaning that two or more things are happening at the same time. It can also be used to express that two or more things are related or connected to each other, or to point out that two different perspectives or opinions coexist.
For example, “Il a beaucoup d’expérience, en même temps il est très jeune” (He has a lot of experience, but at the same time he is very young), “Je comprends tes arguments, en même temps je ne suis pas d’accord” (I understand your arguments, but at the same time I disagree)
It’s often used in a conversational context to express a nuance or to provide additional information.
tu faisais que de te plaindre là bas
“Tu faisais que de te plaindre là bas” is a French phrase that translates to “you were only complaining over there” in English. It is used to express that someone was complaining a lot or was only focused on complaining about something or someone. The phrase is used to point out that someone was not happy and was only focusing on the negative aspect of a situation.
It is usually used in a negative context to criticize someone who is not satisfied with their current situation and is only focusing on the things that are not going well. It can be used in a variety of situations such as work, school, or in a personal relationship.
For example, “Tu faisais que de te plaindre là bas, tu devrais plutôt être reconnaissant” (You were only complaining over there, you should be grateful instead) or “Tu faisais que de te plaindre de la nourriture, pourtant c’était délicieux” (You were only complaining about the food, even though it was delicious)
It’s a colloquial expression and it’s not appropriate to use it in a professional or formal setting.
Ben t’es gentille
“Ben t’es gentille” is a French phrase that translates to “Well, you’re nice” in English. It is often used as a sarcastic or ironic comment to mock or dismiss someone’s words or actions. The phrase is used to express that someone’s behavior or words are not in line with what is expected or desired.
It is usually used in a negative context to criticize someone who is being insincere or not genuine in their words or actions. It can be used to indicate that someone is not being honest or truthful or that they are acting in a way that is not consistent with their words.
It is a colloquial expression, and it’s not appropriate to use it in a professional or formal setting. It can be perceived as rude or impolite, so it’s important to use it with caution.
je râle
“Je râle” is a French phrase that can be translated to “I’m grumbling” or “I’m complaining” in English. It is used to express that someone is expressing their dissatisfaction or frustration with something or someone. It’s an idiomatic expression that refers to the action of expressing one’s dissatisfaction or frustration in a way that is often considered as complaining or grumbling, but sometimes can be seen as being nagging.
For example, “Je râle depuis ce matin, je n’arrive pas à me concentrer” (I’ve been grumbling since this morning, I can’t focus) or “Il râle tout le temps, il est jamais content” (He’s always grumbling, he’s never satisfied)
It’s a colloquial expression, and it’s not appropriate to use it in a professional or formal setting. It can be used in a variety of situations, depending on the context, it can be seen as more or less severe.
chut
“Chut” is a French word that means “shh” or “quiet” in English. It is used to tell someone to be quiet or to stop talking. It is often used to get someone to lower their voice or to stop making noise in a place where it is not appropriate. The word “Chut” is often used as an interjection to get someone to stop talking or to be quiet.
For example, “Chut, on va réveiller le bébé” (Shh, we’ll wake the baby up) or “Chut, je travaille” (Quiet, I’m working)
It’s a casual word, and it’s not appropriate to use it in a formal setting. It can be used in different situations where it’s needed to ask for silence or to get someone to lower their voice.
