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Income Tax in France

Healthcare in France

Inheritance Law and Wills in France

Visas and residency cards for France

Expressions

Why being told to go cook an egg in French is rarely a good thing

We look at seven colourful expressions to brighten up your conversations

Petit lapin, coup du lapin: 6 commonly used French rabbit expressions

A potential new penalty for missing a doctor’s appointment has also been nicknamed la taxe lapin - we explain why

Speak butter French: six expressions around the word beurre

See if you can guess the meaning of these phrases just from their English translations

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Test your French with these nine expressions linked to insects

Gober les mouches, fier comme un pou, avoir le bourdon - learn how to use these everyday French phrases

Eight ways to express surprise in French apart from Oh là là

Oh la vache, macarel, mon dieu - learn how to be surprised like a native with these expressions

Speak like a local: seven phrases specific to the north of France

Il drache, bénache, biloute - try the language of the Ch’tis

Nine words and phrases from Brittany

Yec’hed mat, trugarez, Ma Doué - find out how to use these typically Breton expressions

Seven words and phrases from the south of France

Pitchouns, avoir la cagne, gâté - how many do you know?

Eight French expressions around the word apple

From fainting to high-quality, pomme can be used for a variety of different meanings

Why it’s risqué but never passé to use a double entendre in France

Just because we use the French word in English, it may not have the same meaning in French

'Mamie-gâteau', ‘mère courage’ - 12 French expressions about mothers

We share some of our favourite words and phrases about mothers and motherhood

‘Un temps de Toussaint’: Our French expression of the week

We look at a phrase relating to today’s All Saints’ Day public holiday in France

Hein? A little word that helps you sound much more French

We look at its meaning, when to use it and how to pronounce it ‘comme un Français’

Hungry, peckish, stuffed: 15 French phrases to do with food and eating

'Eat like a bird' or 'stuff your face'? You will need these phrases to talk about one of the most important subjects in France - food

‘Faire la pluie et le beau temps’: Our French expression of the week

As storms chase hot weather into western and southern France today, we look at an expression relating to rain and sunshine

‘Prendre la mouche’ and other expressions you may hear today

Midwives went on strike this weekend again in France. We look at French idiomatic expressions that can be used to describe their anger...

Religious cartoons planned as France honours Samuel Paty

A booklet is to be distributed in lycées as the country pays homage to the teacher murdered by an Islamic extremist

Where does the French word grève come from?

The French word ‘grève’ which now refers to protest movements and strikes originally came from the Gallic word grava, meaning thick sand and gravel.

French language notes – November 2019

Use your loaf in Breton art of talking gibberish

Why is ‘Bryan in the kitchen’?

Why do French people sometimes say “Bryan is in the kitchen” when they find out you are British? R.W.

Five French ways to say you are angry

It’s Monday but hopefully you don’t have mustard in your nose ( avoir la moutarde qui monte au nez )… a French expression which means to see red, to be on the verge of losing your temper. Here we look at this and four other ways to say you are annoyed or angry in French. Please share others you may know…

French Language notes - June 2019

A l’aise, Blaise... and other names to drop

French Language notes - May 2019

See the light with these childhood phrases

Chapeau if you know our French phrases about clothes

Porter le chapeau, prendre une veste… There are many expressions that include pieces from your wardrobe in French. Here we pick 12 and explain their meanings.

11 French expressions using the word mouth

Ça t’en bouche un coin! You might hear this when someone opens a letter... but what has it got to do with your mouth? Here we have a look at 11 expressions in French that use the word mouth ( bouche ).

French Language notes - April 2019

Get what you give with some kindly phrases

Oups, hop, paf: French mini expressions that say a lot

The government is about to launch a new website to help people correct mistakes they have made on official documents such as tax declarations – and it is aptly named Oups.gouv.fr. The site name reminded us that there are lots of mini expressions in French just like ‘ oups ’ (oops in English). Here we have a look at some other expressions you might hear in French...

Why do we say ‘pardon my French’?

‘Pardon my French!’ is a quaint English-language expression used to excuse oneself for using a rude word – but why the reference to French?

So long, farewell... goodbye

With everyone talking about Brexit, we thought you might enjoy some French expressions based around leaving and saying goodbye.

Expressions

Why being told to go cook an egg in French is rarely a good thing

Petit lapin, coup du lapin: 6 commonly used French rabbit expressions

Speak butter French: six expressions around the word beurre

Test your French with these nine expressions linked to insects

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Residency rights and border changes: What's new in France in 2025

Storms and snow: French weekend weather outlook December 21 - 22

French inheritance law: couples anxiously await EU decision as discussions continue

Police warn drivers of car headlights rules in France

Half of UK election postal votes - including from France - 'did not count'

Father’s anger at wine used in meals served to girl, 3, at state creche in Nice

Fines levied for failure to declare bank accounts held out of France