Simple French: Can You Translate All 35 of These Phrases to English?

By: Kennita Leon
Image: 10'000 Hours/Digital Vision/Getty Images

About This Quiz

French is not an easy language to learn because it has so many rules, but we aren't going to ask you to learn it today. Instead, we want to figure out just how much you know, already. So we'll be asking you about the most basic of French phrases- you know, things you'll need to know if you want to survive a week in France, or any French-speaking nation. Can you translate these French phrases and tell us what they mean?

So allow us to give you a list of some of the most spoken French phrases that people use, and we'll ask you about everything including the weather, about the bill and about using the bathroom. In some occasions, the question will be in French and it's up to you to use your know-how to translate it and choose the answer that corresponds with the saying. And if you can do that enough times, you may just pass this quiz. 

So if you want to prove your French knowledge, whether it be to a teacher or an old schoolmate, you can do it in this quiz. Come translate these popular French phrases for us. 

Pourquoi pas?

The phrase "Pourquoi pas?" is a simple way of asking, "Why not?" It is commonly used in a variety of social situations such as questioning someone's choice to do something or simply making a suggestion.

What does "je ne comprends pas" mean?

"Je ne comprends pas" translates in English as "I don't understand." It is used when referring to an idea or concept that is difficult to grasp. The word "comprends" is derived from the verb "comprendre" which means "to understand."

What do you think "ca n'est pas grave" mean?

"Ca n'est pas grave" is a French saying which simply means "No problem/ it's OK/ it doesn't matter." However, the phrase directly translates as "It's not serious." "Pas de problème" is a more literal way of saying no problem.

Quoi de neuf ?

"Quoi de neuf" translates as "what's new?" or "what's up?" in English. It is also another way of saying "how are you?". It is generally used when speaking to someone and asking them how they're doing.

Do you know what the phrase "l'addition, s'il vous plait"means?

"L'addition, s'il vous plais," which means "the bill please," is a polite, formal and concise way of requesting the bill. This phrase is commonly used in formal settings such as when dining in a restaurant or a similar establishment.

What do you think "je suis desole" translates to?

"Je suis desole," meaning "I'm sorry," is generally used when apologizing to someone. The verb "suis" is a conjugated form of the verb "être," while "desole" is derived from the word, "désoler."

Can you tell us what "bon apres-midi" means?

"Bon apres-midi" is a form of greeting which translates as "Good afternoon." This greeting may include the title of the person who is being spoken to for instance, "Bon apres-midi, Monsieur Joseph" meaning "Good afternoon, Mr. Joseph."

What do you think "je t'aime" translates to?

"Je t'aime" which means "I love you," is a term of endearment which is used to express affection to someone. A suitable or typical response to this phrase would be "Mois aussi, Je t'aime," meaning, "I love you too."

Avez-vous faim?

"Avez-vous faim?" is a simple and direct way of asking someone "Are you hungry?" in the given moment. A response to this question would be "Oui, J'ai faim," which translates as "Yes, I am hungry."

What do you think "de rien" translates to?

"De rien" is a phrase which literally translates as "of nothing" but casually means "You're welcome" or "It was nothing." A common precursor to this would be "Merci," meaning "Thanks."

C'est tout?

"C'est tout?" is a question which translates in English as "Is that all?" It may be used in a restaurant setting where the waiter asks the customer if their order is complete. It is also used to ask someone if they are done speaking.

Pouvez-vous répéter s'il vous plait?

"Pouvez-vous répéter s'il vous plait" is a question that means "Could you repeat that, please?" It is used to politely ask some to repeat themselves, either because the listener did not understand what was said or did not hear the statement clearly.

Comment ca s'ecrit?

"Comment ca s'ecrit?" is a simple way to ask someone "How do you spell that?" This question is used to seek clarification of a particular word (s). "Ecrit" is a conjugated form of the verb "écrire," meaning "to write."

What do you think "je ne sais pas" means?

The phrase "Je ne sais pas" directly translates as "I know not what." It is commonly translated as "I don't know" and is used as a response to a question that someone does not have the answer for.

Which option best matches the phrase "felicitations"?

Felicitations is a term that is used as a way of saying congratulations to someone on a special occasion. It is commonly used as a way of acknowledging someone's achievement such as graduation.

Que veut dire ca?

"Que veut dire ca?" simply means "what does that mean?" It is commonly used in reference to a wide variety of situations, for instance, a statement which was made that piqued someone's interest.

Comment cas-tu?

"Comment cas-tu" is another way of saying "comment allez-vous?" both of which translate as "How are you?" In response to this question, one may respond with "Je vais bien, et toi?", meaning "I am fine, and you?"

What do you think "enchante de vous recontrer" means?

"Enchante de vous recontrer" is a greeting which translates as "nice to meet you." This is normally said when expressing pleasure after meeting someone for the first time. The verb "recontrer" means "to meet."

Which option best explains what "merci beaucoup" means?

"Merci beaucoup" is one of the most widely known French phrases in American English. If you're in the South, you might even hear someone say "Mercy buckets!"

Comment t'appelles-tu?

"Comment t'appelles-tu?" or "comment tu t'appelles" is a way of asking someone "what is your name?" The pronoun "tu" is used when speaking someone within your age group while "vous" is used for older persons or more formal settings.

What do you think "je ne parle pas Français" means?

"Je ne parle pas Français," which means "I don't speak French," is a way of communicating to someone that you don't speak this specific language. The word parle is a conjugated form of the verb "parler" which translates as "to talk."

D'ou venez-vous?

The question "D'ou venez-vous" is used to ask someone, particularly for the first time, "Where are you from?" The person may respond "Je viens de" followed by the name of their country.

C'est quoi?

The French phrase "C'est quoi," could be translated as "what is it?", or "what's that?". The word "quoi" is used in questions after a preposition and is used to refer to an object indirectly. For instance, "C'est quoi, ce truc?" meaning "What is that thing?".

Can you tell us what "je vais etre en retard" is saying?

"Je vais etre en retard" is a statement which simply means "I'll be late," or "I am going to be late." This phrase is a polite way of informing someone that you will be running late for a scheduled meeting or event.

Out sont les toilettes?

The question "Ou sont les toilettes?" simply means "Where is the bathroom?" A direct translation of this question would be "Où est la salle de bains," but the word "bains" would refer to the bath or shower, rather than the toilet.

Combien ça coûte?

"Combien ça coûte," meaning "How much is it?" is a question used when requesting the price of a service or item bought. In this question, the word coûte refers to the cost, while combien means "how much?"

Parles-vous anglais?

The phrase "Parles-vous anglais?" is a formal way of asking someone "Do you speak English?" This question may be used when addressing a stranger, particularly tourists visiting a French-speaking country.

What does the French phrase "c'est tres gentil" mean?

The phrase "C'est tres gentil" which means "It is very nice" is commonly used to speak about something, an act or gesture, which was very kind or nice. In English, "Gentil" means "nice," while "tres" means "very.

Can you tell us what "je suis perdu" translates to?

"Je suis perdu," meaning "I am lost," is an easy question which should be learned by a non-French-speaking tourist visiting a French-speaking country. The word perdu is derived from the root verb "perdre" which means "to lose."

What does "viens avec moi" mean?

The phrase "Viens avec moi" means "Come with me." It is usually said to someone who may have requested help to a specific location or just arrived at a building. The word "viens" is a conjugated form of the root verb, "venir."

What does "s'il vous plait" mean in English?

The expression "S'il vous plait," is a formal way of saying "Please." It is said when requesting help or simply when asking a question respectfully. It is commonly used to address strangers in a formal or informal setting.

Can you choose the correct meaning of "nous parlerons plus tard"?

"Nous parlerons plus tard" translates as "We will speak later." It is usually used in a formal or informal setting to end a conversation politely. It is also used to indicate that a topic will be discussed at a later point in time.

Qui est-ce?

"Qui est-ce?" is a question which means "Who is it." The word "qui," which means "who or whom," is used to speak about other people. "Est-ce que" may be added to the sentence when the word "who" is being used.

What does the phrase "je vais bien" translate to?

The phrase "Je vais bien," is a simple way of saying "I am fine." It may be said in response to a variety of question such as "comment vas-tu?" meaning "how are you?". This question may be answered with "Ca va/Super" which means "it is going well/great."

C'est grave?

The question "C'est grave?" is a way of inquiring if a particular situation is of a serious nature. "Ce n'est pas grave," meaning "It is not serious," would be a suitable response to this question.

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