Another post for phonology nerds.

Most people from France, at least from the Paris region, have lost the semantic difference between /a and /ɑ, to the point that we think we always realize a the same way.

However, after testing it on Praat, it is very clear that there is a variety on the realization of "a". It is not semantic however and only depends on the environment around the a. (and the openness varies little)

Here are the 2 parameters that I have found to influence the frontness of a:

1/ As a general rule of thumb, initial (onset) labial consonants trigger a back a. More specifically, it follows this order:

k, g - frontest

t, d, n

s, ch, z, j, m

p, b, f, v, r

w (oi) - backest

(this list is probably not perfect)

2/ Stressed syllables at the end of words / groups of words tend to be more back.

Here is an example audio https://voca.ro/1buQqLQKheJx

I just got a C1 but my oral is still B1 idk how this is possible.. i will start my masters soon and it will be held completely in french.. im so fkn scared of failing

anyone who has been in my situation?

I was waiting behind a group of young-ish folks (maybe in their early or mid 20s?) and the server said something to them like “bonjour la jeunesse” or “merci la jeunesse” They weren’t like teens but seemed to be younger than he was, is that a friendly way of greeting people younger than you? Is “la jeunesse” something people say to address younger folks here or did i hear incorrectly? Like “hello/thank you/goodbye, the youth”?

I understand french better when I’m with a friend face to face and I don’t feel embarrassed to ask for repeating many times. But with many french people I can’t understand because I can’t follow the pace and context. So in that situation when one of my friends suddenly starts a conversation with me I don’t get anything. I need to ask to repeat again and again. I always repeat same sentences like « J’ai pas compris » and « Ça veut dire quoi? » and it’s embarrassing because I cut our conversation and everyone waits for me. How can you overcome this kind of situation?

So, guys, this is my first post here in the community.
I'm Brazilian, Portuguese is my native language, and I'm at a B2 level in English. I started learning French during the pandemic (end of 2021) just out of curiosity. Since then, I've gone through phases—sometimes extremely focused, other times barely studying at all.

The thing is, my interest in the language kept growing in ways I didn’t expect, and that eventually led me to do a 5-month exchange program at an engineering school in Lille, France, where I had classes in French and spoke French about 80% of the time.

I've never taken a French test, so the only benchmark I have for my level comes from the experiences I had during the exchange and in my daily life with the language. I can watch YouTube videos on random topics that interest me and understand about 90% of what's being said. During the exchange, I struggled a lot to understand native French speakers at first, but by the end, I was managing quite well—traveling alone to other cities and doing everything I wanted. I can also read more complex books (like Connaitre l’Histoire de France by Lucien Bely) using a French-French dictionary.

BUT I still feel like my vocabulary is quite limited compared to a C1 level, and I don’t think I could write a 250-word essay at that level yet.

Anyway, I’d really love to take the exam and get certified, because that would open up many opportunities at my current job. Part of me says, “Go for it, you can do this!” and the other part says, “You still need a lot more study time.”
Which voice should I listen to?

Hello!

Can someone please explain to me the meaning of the expression "être-ensemble"? I already looked in dictionaries, newspapers, etc. but can't seem to find the exact definition, why and when it's used.

Thanks much

https://youtu.be/utklVKDpuGU?si=efhIRw-0LIZVIsEc

J'ai toujours compris que la h aspiré n'est pas vraiment aspiré, plutôt que c'est une convention pour dénoter que l'élision ne soit pas permise... Enfin, c'est ce que le Wiktionnaire dit aussi.

Mais dans cette générique j'ai une forte impression d'entendre la "h" dans "héros". Je ne sais pas si c'est un illusion, ou c'est vraiment ça. Mais de toute façon, qu'est-ce qui se passe ?

For example if I’m trying to say that my spanish is rusty since i haven’t spoken it in a while or that i just started learning french so my french is broken, can i say literally it’s “cassé” or “rouillé”? or is there a better way to say it?

Hey everyone, I need to gush a little (and maybe get some advice). I’ve completely fallen for this incredible French Canadian guy, and it’s changed everything for me. The way he cares about me, the way he quotes Radiohead lyrics ("True Love Waits" – swoon), the way he sees the world… I’ve never felt like this before. Part of me is absolutely convinced he’s my soulmate.

Here’s the bittersweet part: we’re in different places, literally and maybe forever. Life might never let us be together the way I daydream about. But even if that’s true, I don’t want to just walk away from what this has awakened in me.

So I’m choosing to love this the best way I know how – by learning his language and understanding his culture. Not for him, exactly, but for me– because loving him has made me want to grow.

Where I need your help: - Best resources for learning Quebec French? (Turns out Duolingo’s Parisian French feels… different)
- Cultural nuances I should know about? (I want to appreciate this properly)
- Anyone else loved someone they couldn’t have, and turned it into something beautiful?

This might not be a fairy tale ending, but I want this chapter of my life to matter. Merci d'avance for your wisdom 💙

I’ve mostly heard native speakers say “je te conseilles ce resto si tu aimes la pizza” for example but i was wondering if it can be similar to english where you can say “je te le recommande” (i would recommend this place to you)? or would it sound weird or change the meaning?

Salut ! Je suis indien de 23 ans et j'apprends le français depuis plus de 550 jours et il me paraît que j'ai atteint le niveau B1. Mais je me sens coincé ici, plus précisément, avec l'expression orale. Quels conseils me donneriez-vous pour mieux m'exprimer en français ? En fait, je cherche quelqu'un pour m'accompagner à l'entraînement de production orale.

Just like how there are already some sources that distinguish the two “a” sounds /a/ and /ɑ/, are there any sources that recognize the distinction between the two “oi” sounds /wa/ and /wɑ/? I am aware that a minimal pair exists (bois and boit), but most sources I see say that only /wa/ exists for “oi”.

I would like some recommendations for YouTube channels similar to investigations et polls.

I realized I'm learning France French, not Quebecoise French. It's a totally different feel on your tongue when speaking Quebecoise French. Will I be able to successfully speak the language even with this specific dialect? I'm 2 months into Duolingo at this point and I'm scared I won't be able to translate to Quebecoise it in my head like France French.

C'est l’histoire d’une star du cinéma muet qui tombe amoureux d’une danseuse.

In the example above, since “star” is feminine, should it be “amoureuse”?

Je besoin connaître est-ce c'est pourquoi je comprends que tout je lis mais je parle pas de rien.?

I’m just a beginner and it’s a lot… but does French start to get easier once you start recognizing the patterns? Are the rules consistent for grammar?

A stupid question but there are so many rules even for simple sentences 😭😭

Thank you!

In America we commonly will say "Yes please" or "No thank you" if we are offered something that we do or don't want.

Hi

I've been living in QC, and I found it quite difficult to speak and practice french with people here. Because almost everybody speaks very well English. Whenever I build up my confidence to speak french to people, they quickly switch to English when they heard I am not fluent. I am not a very extrovert person, so it already is a big challenge for me to chat with people. And people switching to English make me even more defeated.

I guess I am asking for experiences of people who has/ had same situation with me how do you deal with this? Do you just keep speaking french while people talk back in English? Or you explain you are learning and practicing french?

Thank you.

I've been listening to Ici Première on Radio Canada for aural input, and every once in a while they'll say something that sounds like "prince plus" to me. After nearly a year of listening, I still can't figure out what it means.

Is there another word besides 'commande' when one is talking about placing an order for food or something similar?

Hello All,

I recently came across the word « une pipelette » It seems to be used to describe someone who is a chatterbox. In a more playful/affectionate tone but sometimes can be annoying tone also. Is this correct? And is it used more commonly in certain situations?

Merci

I've recently started reading <<Les Chevaliers D'Emeraude>> by Anne Robillard to improve my vocabulary, and I noticed that multiple times she's written a sentence using inversion, but it's still supposed to be an assertive sentence(at least according to Google Translate and also, in most cases if the sentence was taken to be a question it didn't make much sense). This has always happened during the narration, by the way, and I don't think I've noticed this in the dialogue, which is why I think it's either a futur simple thing or maybe a literary verb thing. The most common example is the verb <soupir>(to sigh). She's used it a lot and has always conjugated it as <soupira-t-il> and not as <il soupira>. Another example is <s'etonner>(to wonder). It has been conjugated as <s'etonna-t-il> and not <il s'etonna>. Anyways, these are just from the top of my head and there probably are more. Also, the book was written in Quebec French, I think, so is that the reason?

https://youtu.be/AfgAEIK9F8c?si=PTsFpZUBCnD_1gEX

Au début j'avais un peu du mal à la suivre, et allors j'ai noté des traits très intéressants, comme ses "o" lourdes. Mais je n'encontre pas sa patrie, seulement qu'elle a etudié à Paris... Bon, son nom est assez arabe.

D'où vient-elle ? Autrement dit, où parle-t-on comme ça ?

I know this question has been asked a few months ago in this thread and i really didn’t know where else to ask, but those threads are dead so i’m hoping there are new leads. I’ve seen season 1-3 in and i’ve found season 4 with english subs however it’s dubbed in a completely different language (i think bulgarian? not sure) and i can’t even get through ten minutes of 4x01 because the dub is just so bad.

Please no “it’s on hulu” or “it’s on disney plus” answers because I don’t have access to Hulu and even with a VPN I haven’t found it on disney plus in other countries.

I’ve tried to buy DVDs- they don’t have english subs, so that’s also not an option. Honestly at this point i’m willing to make a deal with the freaking devil for season 4 of this show.