Lesson 2: Understand spoken French

Introduction

The French you hear on the street or in series is often different from the French you learn in a textbook. In this lesson, we'll learn to decode real, fast-paced French by understanding the most common shortcuts. You'll see that it only takes a few simple rules to bridge the gap between "written French" and "spoken French."

Important rules

🔑 1. Real-life speech patterns

➤ Dropping “ne” in negation

• “Je ne sais pas” → “Je sais pas” / “J’sais pas”

• “Je ne veux pas” → “Je veux pas” / “J’veux pas”

⚠️ The “ne” is almost always dropped in spoken French, except in very formal writing or when emphasizing the negation (like “I do not want!”).

➤ “On” instead of “Nous”

• “Nous allons au resto” → “On va au resto”

• “Nous sommes prêts” → “On est prêts”

⚠️ 100% of French people use “on” in daily life. “Nous” is for formal talk. You’ve learned French with “nous” but you have to leave it to talk naturally. Even for formal emails and letters.

➤ Shrinking sounds

• “Tu as” → “T’as”

• “Il y a” → “Y’a”

• “Je ne sais pas” → /SHéPA/ or even mouth pop + shoulder shrug

💬 Example:

– Tu connais ?
– Pfffp (mouth pop sound) aucune idée …

Meaning: I have no idea...

Totally normal. You’ll hear this everywhere, all ages, all social classes, all origins.

➤ “Faut” instead of “Il faut”

• “Il faut y aller” → “Faut y aller” /FOYALé/ (One must go)

• “Il faut que je parte” → “Faut qu’j’parte” /FOKJEPART/ (I’ve got to go)

💡 Spoken French = short and efficient. Cut what you don’t need.

➤ Informal writing online/texting friends

You might also see:

• “slt” or “cc” = salut or coucou (to greet a friend)

• “ça va ?” as “sava” (which is uncorrect) or “cv ?”

• “tkt” / “tqt”= t’inquiète (don’t worry)

• “mdr” = mort de rire (dead of laugh litteraly, LOL)

• “mdrrrr” = equivalent of loool

• “ptdr” = pété de rire (blown of laugh, LMAO)

• “lol” is used ironically mostly

• “dsl” / “déso” = désolé (sorry)

• “pk” / “pq” = pourquoi (why)

• “c” = c’est (this is)

• “srx” = sérieux (seriously)

• “jsp” = je sais pas (I don’t know)

• “bv” = bien vu (similar to thank you)

• “mtn” / “mnt” = maintenant (right now)

• “psk” / “pcq” = parce que (because)

• “tt” = tout (everything)

• “tjrs” = toujours (always / still)

• “cmt” = comment (how)

💡Disclaimer: you don’t need to use them, but you must know them.

Decoding Examples

1. Removing the "e" like in "J’sais pas"

This is the very common version of the almost never used "Je ne sais pas."

• Written/Formal Version: Je ne sais pas.

• Real Spoken Version: J’sais pas.

• Pronunciation: The "e" from "je" disappears, and the "ne" is dropped completely. It's pronounced like /SHéPA/

• Usage: To answer a question when you don't know the answer.

💡Tip: The French often drop the “e”, like for the word “boulangerie” which becomes “boulang’rie” = /BOOLANJRI/ same as pâtisserie = pâtiss’rie /PATISSRI/ etc...

2. T’es où?

This is the shortcut for "Tu es où?"

• Written/Formal Version: Tu es où?

• Real Spoken Version: T’es où?

• Pronunciation: The "u" from "tu" is dropped. It's pronounced like /TéOO/

• Usage: To ask a friend where they are.

3. Y’en a pas

This is the abbreviated version of "Il n'y en a pas."

• Written/Formal Version: Il n’y en a pas.

• Real Spoken Version: Y’en a pas.

• Pronunciation: The "il" and "ne" are dropped. It's pronounced /YAN-NAPA/

• Usage: To say that something is no longer available (for example, "Des baguettes? Y'en a pas.").

Other Common Shortcuts:

• Written/Formal Version: Ce n'est pas grave.

• Real Spoken Version: C'est pas grave.

• Pronunciation: It's pronounced like /CéPAGRAV/

• Usage: To say "no big deal" or "it's not a problem."

• Written/Formal Version: Il n'y a pas de souci.

• Real Spoken Version: Y'a pas de souci.

• Pronunciation: It's pronounced like /YAPADSOOCI/

• Usage: A very common way to say "no problem" or "no worries."

• Written/Formal Version: Nous y allons.

• Real Spoken Version: On y va.

• Pronunciation: It's pronounced like /ON-IVA/

• Usage: To suggest leaving or going somewhere.

• Written/Formal Version: Tu as vu?

• Real Spoken Version: T'as vu?

• Pronunciation: It's pronounced like /TAVU/

• Usage: To ask "did you see?" or "have you seen?"

• Written/Formal Version: Il y a...

• Real Spoken Version: Y’a.

• Pronunciation: It's pronounced like /YA/

• Usage: When you want to ask if something is available, you use "Y'a...?" This is a simple way to ask.

• Written/Formal Version: Je ne crois pas.

• Real Spoken Version: J’crois pas.

• Pronunciation: It's pronounced like /SHCROAPA/ (sounds like a frog)

• Usage: To say "I don't think so."

• Written/Formal Version: Je peux...

• Real Spoken Version: J'peux...

• Pronunciation: It's pronounced like /SHPE/

• Usage: To say "I can..."

• Written/Formal Version: Je ne peux pas...

• Real Spoken Version: J'peux pas...

• Pronunciation: It's pronounced like /SHPEUPA/

• Usage: To say "I can’t..."

• Written/Formal Version: Qu'est-ce qu'il vous faut ?

• Real Spoken Version: Qu'est-ce qui vous faut ?

• Pronunciation: It's pronounced like /KESS-KI-VOO-FO/

• Usage: This is what a vendor or shopkeeper will say to you when you walk in or go to the counter. It means "What can I get for you?"

• Written/Formal Version: Ça vous a plu ? (did you like it? ça = it)

• Real Spoken Version: Ça a été ?

• Pronunciation: It's pronounced like /SA-AéTé/

• Usage: After you've finished your meal, the waiter will often ask this question. It means "How was it?" or "Was everything okay?"

• Written/Formal Version: Voulez-vous autre chose avec ceci ?

• Real Spoken Version: Avec ceci ? or Avec ça ?

• Pronunciation: It's pronounced like /AEKCECI/ or /AVEKSA/

• Usage: Used by a baker or cashier to ask if you want anything else with your current purchase. It means "With this?" or "Anything else?"

• Written/Formal Version: Cela fait longtemps.

• Real Spoken Version: Ça fait longtemps.

• Pronunciation: It's pronounced like /SAFéLONTAN/

• Usage: To say "it's been a long time."

• Written/Formal Version: C'est bien cela.

• Real Spoken Version: C'est ça.

• Pronunciation: It's pronounced like /CéSSA/

• Usage: A common way to say "that's it", "Exact" or "that's right."

💡Pro Tip: Adapt to the Rhythm!

French people have a reputation for speaking quickly, and it's true. As a learner, it's completely normal to want to speak slowly at first, but one of the keys to joining a conversation is to adapt your own rhythm.

Think of it like a dance: if fast music starts, you have to speed up your steps to follow the tempo. The same goes for spoken French. At first, it will be a challenge, but by practicing speaking faster, you'll become more fluent and feel more comfortable in real conversations.

On continue ? Allez !