{"id":936,"date":"2022-08-11T19:17:26","date_gmt":"2022-08-11T17:17:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/?p=936"},"modified":"2024-02-19T09:05:44","modified_gmt":"2024-02-19T08:05:44","slug":"how-to-understand-the-gestures-and-mimics-of-the-french","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/how-to-understand-the-gestures-and-mimics-of-the-french\/","title":{"rendered":"How to understand the gestures and mimics of the French?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>So, you&rsquo;ve been studying French for a while and feel like you&rsquo;re ready to take your skills to the next level by conversing with native speakers. But, before you can do that, you need to know how to understand all of the gestures and mimics that they use!<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-table-of-contents uagb-toc__align-left uagb-toc__columns-1 uagb-toc__collapse uagb-block-ae0a5c39     \"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-scroll= \"1\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-offset= \"30\"\n\t\t\t\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"uagb-toc__wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"uagb-toc__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Table of contents<\/strong>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox= \"0 0 384 512\"><path d=\"M192 384c-8.188 0-16.38-3.125-22.62-9.375l-160-160c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.75 0-45.25s32.75-12.5 45.25 0L192 306.8l137.4-137.4c12.5-12.5 32.75-12.5 45.25 0s12.5 32.75 0 45.25l-160 160C208.4 380.9 200.2 384 192 384z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class='uagb-toc__separator'><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"uagb-toc__list-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<ol class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#some-french-vocabulary\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">Some French vocabulary!<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#the-gestures-of-the-french\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">The gestures of the French<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#1-\u00eatre-fou-be-crazy\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">1. \u00eatre fou (be crazy)<\/a><ul class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#the-gesture\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">The gesture<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#a-bit-of-lexicon\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">A bit of lexicon:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#2-\u00eatre-\u00e9nerv\u00e9e-be-upset\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">2. \u00eatre \u00e9nerv\u00e9(e) (be upset)<\/a><ul class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#the-gesture\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">The gesture<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#a-bit-of-lexicon\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">A bit of lexicon:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#3-\u00eatre-ivre-be-drunk\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">3. \u00eatre ivre (be drunk)<\/a><ul class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#the-gesture\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">The gesture<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#a-bit-of-lexicon\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">A bit of lexicon:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#4-partir-go-to\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">4. partir (go to)<\/a><ul class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#the-gesture\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">The gesture<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#a-bit-of-lexicon\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">A bit of lexicon:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#5-se-taire-be-quiet\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">5. se taire (be quiet)<\/a><ul class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#the-gesture\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">The gesture<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#a-bit-of-lexicon\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">A bit of lexicon:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#6-se-taire-be-quiet-alternative\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">6. se taire (be quiet): alternative<\/a><ul class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#the-gesture\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">The gesture<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#a-bit-of-lexicon\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">A bit of lexicon:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#7-en-avoir-assez-be-fed-up\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">7. en avoir assez (be fed up)<\/a><ul class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#the-gesture\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">The gesture<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#a-bit-of-lexicon\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">A bit of lexicon:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#8-ne-pas-croire-not-to-believe\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">8. ne pas croire (not to believe)<\/a><ul class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#the-gesture\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">The gesture<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#a-bit-of-lexicon\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">A bit of lexicon:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#9-porter-chance-bring-luck\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">9. porter chance (bring luck)<\/a><ul class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#the-gesture\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">The gesture<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#a-bit-of-lexicon\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">A bit of lexicon:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#10-porter-chance-bring-luck-alternative\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">10. porter chance (bring luck): alternative<\/a><ul class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#the-gesture\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">The gesture<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#a-bit-of-lexicon\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">A bit of lexicon:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#11-avoir-peur-be-afraid\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">11. avoir peur (be afraid)<\/a><ul class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#the-gesture\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">The gesture<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#a-bit-of-lexicon\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">A bit of lexicon:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#12-super-great\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">12. super (great)<\/a><ul class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#the-gesture\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">The gesture<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#a-bit-of-lexicon\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">A bit of lexicon:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#13-comment-les-fran\u00e7ais-comptent-sur-leurs-doigts-how-the-french-count-on-their-fingers\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">13. Comment les Fran\u00e7ais comptent sur leurs doigts (How the French count on their fingers)<\/a><ul class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#the-gesture\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">The gesture<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#a-bit-of-lexicon\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">A bit of lexicon:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#14-oh-l\u00e0-l\u00e0-oh-dear\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">14. Oh l\u00e0 l\u00e0 (Oh dear)<\/a><ul class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#the-gesture\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">The gesture<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#a-bit-of-lexicon\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">A bit of lexicon:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#15-comme-ci-comme-\u00e7a-like-this-like-that\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">15. comme ci, comme \u00e7a (like this, like that)<\/a><ul class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#the-gesture\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">The gesture<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#a-bit-of-lexicon\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">A bit of lexicon:<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#articles-that-might-interest-you\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">Articles that might interest you:<\/a><\/ul><\/ul><\/ul><\/ul><\/ul><\/ul><\/ul><\/ul><\/ul><\/ul><\/ul><\/ul><\/ul><\/ul><\/ul><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Lucky for you, I&rsquo;m here to help. In this post, I&rsquo;ll teach you about some of the most common French gestures and explain what they mean. Stay tuned \u2013 it&rsquo;s going to be fun! \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"GESTES et MIMIQUES des FRAN\u00c7AIS : LES COMPRENDRE !\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/oRQdvkLwI-w?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-af8c0edc alignfull uagb-is-root-container\"><div class=\"uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-35a8548f\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/img-pdf-bonus-french.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1925\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/img-pdf-bonus-french.png 600w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/img-pdf-bonus-french-300x250.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-64fd7e53\">\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\"><strong>PDF Bonus<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We have prepared a <strong>free PDF<\/strong> to help you <strong>understand and master the gestures and mimics of the French<\/strong>. <br>\ud83d\udc49 <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3O81uUZ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Download it for free<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the end, you will have <strong>exercises <\/strong>to practice with the <strong>correction<\/strong>. \ud83d\udc4d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Some French vocabulary!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Faire un geste (ou un signe):<\/strong> is to express something with your body, with your hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Faire une mimique:<\/strong> is to communicate a feeling with his facial expression, with the movements of his face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Une interjection:<\/strong> it is a small invariable word which expresses a feeling, an order, a spontaneous emotion:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>a\u00efe <\/strong>expresses pain, suffering,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>allo <\/strong>is the trigger for a phone conversation,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>chut <\/strong>is an interjection to ask for silence.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Une onomatop\u00e9e: <\/strong>it is an invariable word that imitates a sound, a noise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Miaou <\/strong>is the onomatopoeia for the noise a cat makes,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>atchoum <\/strong>is the onomatopoeia used when someone sneezes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tic-tac<\/strong> imitates the sound of a mechanism, a watch, a bomb about to explode.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udca1 <strong>Interjections <\/strong>and <strong>onomatop\u00e9es <\/strong>are widely used in comics\u2026 And are also found in the mouth of the French.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f3dfa3\"><tbody><tr><td>\ud83d\udccc <strong>NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION DIFFERS FROM COUNTRY TO COUNTRY<\/strong><br>In Germany, for example, one of the most commonly used gestures is the following:<br><em>you pass your hand in front of your face several times, with an annoyed or disgusted expression<\/em>.&nbsp;<br><br>This gesture does not mean anything in France, nor in Italy, nor in England, nor&#8230;<br>It is a gesture that is used exclusively by German speakers when they want to say:<br>You are completely crazy, you are crazy!!<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The gestures of the French<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For each expression, I will give you a <strong>description of the gesture<\/strong> in the caption of the picture.<br>You will also find a <strong>list of expressions<\/strong> used with the gesture. Some belong to the <strong>familiar <\/strong>register, others to the <strong>standard <\/strong>register.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-large-font-size\" style=\"color:#60bceb\"><strong>Do you like learning French with videos?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Receive <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/learn-french-fun.com\/newsletter\" target=\"_blank\">our free video newsletter<\/a> every Friday in your e-mail box. You will get <strong>3 \u00ab\u00a0Tips &amp; Tricks\u00a0\u00bb<\/strong> on <strong>grammar<\/strong>, <strong>vocabulary<\/strong>, <strong>phonetics <\/strong>or <strong>French culture<\/strong>.<br>\ud83d\udc49\ud83d\udc49 <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/learn-french-fun.com\/newsletter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sign up now!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/learn-french-fun.com\/newsletter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BLOG-newsletter.jpg\" alt=\"Every Friday afternoon, a French-language video delivered straight to your inbox, with three tips and tricks on the French language.\" class=\"wp-image-1882\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BLOG-newsletter.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/BLOG-newsletter-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. \u00eatre fou (be crazy)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The gesture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/MONTAGE-29.00_05_17_05.Still002-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-937\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/MONTAGE-29.00_05_17_05.Still002-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/MONTAGE-29.00_05_17_05.Still002-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/MONTAGE-29.00_05_17_05.Still002-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/MONTAGE-29.00_05_17_05.Still002-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/MONTAGE-29.00_05_17_05.Still002.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The index finger is placed on the temple and rotated several times.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A bit of lexicon:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>il est <strong>fou<\/strong>, elle est <strong>folle<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>il\/elle est <strong>malade<\/strong>, c\u2019est un <strong>grand malade<\/strong>, une <strong>grande malade<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>il\/elle est <strong>ouf<\/strong>. <strong>Ouf<\/strong>, that&rsquo;s verlan. <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><br><br>The <strong>verlan<\/strong>? What is it? Do the French really speak it?<br>\ud83d\udc49 <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/OguMUnRF0RE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">YouTube video on verlan<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>il\/elle est <strong>zinzin<\/strong>, <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>il\/elle est <strong>dingue<\/strong>, <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>il\/elle est <strong>fada<\/strong> <em>(colloquial language)<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. \u00eatre \u00e9nerv\u00e9(e) (be upset)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-2 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The gesture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/MONTAGE-29.00_03_54_07.Still028-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-949\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/MONTAGE-29.00_03_54_07.Still028-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/MONTAGE-29.00_03_54_07.Still028-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/MONTAGE-29.00_03_54_07.Still028-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/MONTAGE-29.00_03_54_07.Still028-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/MONTAGE-29.00_03_54_07.Still028.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The hands go up to the neck, to the right and to the left, the fingers tightened as if they were holding\u2026 balls! The expression of the face is irritated.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A bit of lexicon:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Il\/elle est <strong>\u00e9nerv\u00e9(e)<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Il\/elle est <strong>en col\u00e8re<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Il\/elle est <strong>furieux<\/strong>, <strong>furieuse<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Il\/elle est <strong>v\u00e9ner<\/strong>. <strong>V\u00e9ner<\/strong>, that&rsquo;s verlan. <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Il\/elle <strong>a les boules<\/strong>. <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. \u00eatre ivre (be drunk)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-3 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The gesture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/ivre-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-955\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/ivre-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/ivre-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/ivre-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/ivre-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/ivre.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The fingers form a circle which is placed in front of the nose, the hand turns around the nose, from right to left, as if one was closing a bottle by turning the cork: you have drunk enough!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A bit of lexicon:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Il\/elle est <strong>ivre<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Il\/elle est <strong>saoul<\/strong>, <strong>saoule<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Il\/elle est <strong>bourr\u00e9(e)<\/strong>, <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Il\/elle est <strong>beurr\u00e9(e)<\/strong>, <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Il\/elle est <strong>p\u00e9t\u00e9(e)<\/strong>, <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Il\/elle est <strong>schlass<\/strong>, <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Il\/elle est<strong> bleu(e)<\/strong>. <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. partir (go to)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-4 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The gesture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/partir-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-956\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/partir-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/partir-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/partir-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/partir-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/partir.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">One hand is open, vertical, static. The other is horizontal and moves from right to left in the direction you want to go.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A bit of lexicon:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Il\/elle <strong>part <\/strong>(<strong>partir<\/strong>), <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Il\/elle <strong>s\u2019en va<\/strong> (<strong>s\u2019en aller<\/strong>), <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Il\/elle <strong>se casse<\/strong> (<strong>se casser<\/strong>), <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Il\/elle <strong>se tire<\/strong> (<strong>se tirer<\/strong>), <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Il\/elle <strong>se barre<\/strong> (<strong>se barrer<\/strong>). <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. se taire (be quiet)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-5 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The gesture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/taire01-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-957\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/taire01-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/taire01-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/taire01-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/taire01-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/taire01.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The hand is at the level of the mouth, the fingers are directed towards the front, close and open.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A bit of lexicon:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Il\/elle <strong>se tait<\/strong> (se taire),<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Il\/elle <strong>garde le silence<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Il\/elle <strong>arr\u00eate de parler<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Il\/elle <strong>la boucle<\/strong>, <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Il\/elle <strong>ferme son bec<\/strong>, <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Il\/elle <strong>ferme sa gueule<\/strong>. <em>(<\/em>\u26a0\ufe0f<em> vulgar)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. se taire (be quiet): alternative<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-6 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The gesture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/taire02-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-958\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/taire02-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/taire02-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/taire02-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/taire02-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/taire02.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The lips are tightened, the fingers closed, pass in front of the mouth as if we were pulling up a zipper.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A bit of lexicon:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Motus et bouche cousue<\/strong> : this expression is used less to order someone to keep quiet than to ask them to keep a secret that I have entrusted to them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. en avoir assez (be fed up)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The gesture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/marre-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-959\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/marre-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/marre-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/marre-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/marre-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/marre.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The hand passes over the head in a horizontal movement, from front to back. You can tell that the person is upset by their facial expression. They may blow to accompany their gesture.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A bit of lexicon:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Il\/elle <strong>en a assez<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>\u00e7a m\u2019\u00e9nerve<\/strong> !<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>\u00e7a me gonfle<\/strong> ! <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>\u00e7a me gave<\/strong> ! <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Il\/elle <strong>en a marre<\/strong>, <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Il\/elle <strong>en a par dessus la t\u00eate<\/strong>, <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Il\/elle <strong>en a ras-le-bol<\/strong>. <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. ne pas croire (not to believe)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The gesture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/mon-oeil-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-960\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/mon-oeil-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/mon-oeil-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/mon-oeil-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/mon-oeil-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/mon-oeil.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The index finger is placed under the eye and pulls the skin downwards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A bit of lexicon:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Il\/elle <strong>ment <\/strong>(<strong>mentir<\/strong>),<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Il\/elle me <strong>dit des mensonges<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Il\/elle <strong>ne dit pas la v\u00e9rit\u00e9<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Je <strong>ne<\/strong> le\/la <strong>crois pas<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mon \u0153il<\/strong> ! <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Il\/elle me <strong>raconte des salades<\/strong>, <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>C\u2019est du pipeau<\/strong>. <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9. porter chance (bring luck)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The gesture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/chance01-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-961\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/chance01-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/chance01-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/chance01-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/chance01-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/chance01.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The fingers are folded and come to tap the forehead several times.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A bit of lexicon:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Je <strong>touche du bois<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The French associate gesture with speech: they will say <strong>je touche du bois<\/strong> (I touch wood) and tap their hand on a piece of<strong> wooden furniture<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But as there is often <strong>more plastic than wood<\/strong> in our society, they will make the same gesture, but by tapping <strong>their forehead<\/strong> with their hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact, they have a hard head, a wooden head\u2026 So, it will have the same value as knocking on the living room table!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10. porter chance (bring luck): alternative<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-10 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The gesture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/chance02-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-962\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/chance02-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/chance02-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/chance02-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/chance02-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/chance02.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The index and middle fingers are crossed, the hand is placed at face level.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A bit of lexicon:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Je te <strong>souhaite bonne chance<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Bonne chance<\/strong> !<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>J\u2019esp\u00e8re que <strong>\u00e7a va marcher<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Je <strong>croise les doigts pour toi<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Je te dis merde<\/strong>. <em>(<\/em>\u26a0\ufe0f<em> vulgar)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\u26a0\ufe0f The expression \u00ab\u00a0<strong>Je te dis merde<\/strong>\u00a0\u00bb belongs to a <strong>vulgar <\/strong>language level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, it is <strong>very much used<\/strong> by the French, because wishing someone luck may bring him bad luck!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, saying <strong>Merde <\/strong>to someone is supposed to bring him luck\u2026<br><strong>Strange superstitions of the French!<\/strong> \ud83d\ude02<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">11. avoir peur (be afraid)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-11 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The gesture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/peur-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-963\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/peur-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/peur-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/peur-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/peur-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/peur.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The hands are oriented palms up, the fingers are clenched and the whole moves vertically, from bottom to top and from top to bottom.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A bit of lexicon:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Il\/elle a <strong>peur<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>il\/elle a <strong>les chocottes<\/strong>, <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Il\/elle a la <strong>frousse<\/strong>, <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Il\/elle a la <strong>p\u00e9toche<\/strong>, <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Il\/elle a la <strong>trouille<\/strong>, <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Il\/elle a le <strong>trouillom\u00e8tre \u00e0 z\u00e9ro<\/strong>, <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Il\/elle <strong>flippe<\/strong>. <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">12. super (great)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-12 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The gesture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/pouces-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-964\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/pouces-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/pouces-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/pouces-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/pouces-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/pouces.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Thumb(s) up.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A bit of lexicon:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>C\u2019est, Il\/elle est <strong>fantastique<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>C\u2019est, Il\/elle est <strong>g\u00e9nial(e)<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>C\u2019est, Il\/elle est <strong>extraordinaire<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>C\u2019est, Il\/elle est <strong>super<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>C\u2019est, Il\/elle est <strong>d\u2019enfer<\/strong>, <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>C\u2019est, Il\/elle est <strong>trop bien<\/strong>, <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>C\u2019est, Il\/elle est <strong>vachement bien<\/strong>, <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>C\u2019est, Il\/elle est <strong>cool<\/strong>, <strong>trop cool<\/strong>, <strong>super cool<\/strong> ! <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">13. Comment les Fran\u00e7ais comptent sur leurs doigts (How the French count on their fingers)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-13 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The gesture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/compter-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-965\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/compter-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/compter-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/compter-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/compter-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/compter.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A bit of lexicon:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Z\u00e9ro<\/strong>, <strong>un<\/strong>, <strong>deux<\/strong>, <strong>trois<\/strong>\u2026<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">14. Oh l\u00e0 l\u00e0 (Oh dear)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-14 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The gesture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/ohlala-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-966\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/ohlala-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/ohlala-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/ohlala-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/ohlala-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/ohlala.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The hand is at face level, palm down, fingers facing the cheek. You move the whole thing back and forth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A bit of lexicon:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The expression <strong>Oh l\u00e0 l\u00e0<\/strong>, and the gesture that accompanies it, are <strong>extremely rich in meaning<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>surprise,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>disappointment, <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>irritation, <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>admiration, <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>compassion\u2026 <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Everything will <strong>depend on the mimicry<\/strong> that the person makes and the <strong>tone <\/strong>in which he pronounces the expression <strong>Oh l\u00e0 l\u00e0<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">15. comme ci, comme \u00e7a (like this, like that)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-15 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The gesture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/commeci-commeca-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-967\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/commeci-commeca-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/commeci-commeca-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/commeci-commeca-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/commeci-commeca-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/commeci-commeca.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The hand is at shoulder height, horizontal, palm down and moves from left to right several times.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A bit of lexicon:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This gesture and the verbal expression <strong>Comme ci, comme \u00e7a<\/strong> are used a lot to answer the question: <strong>\u00c7a va?<\/strong> <br>Well, no, it&rsquo;s not going too well, it&rsquo;s going like this, like that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u00c7a va ? Tu vas bien ? Vous allez bien ?<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Non, je <strong>ne<\/strong> me <strong>sens pas en forme<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>J\u2019ai une <strong>petite forme<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Non. <strong>\u00c7a ne va pas fort<\/strong>,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Bof<\/strong>, <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Non, <strong>j\u2019ai pas la p\u00eache<\/strong> en ce moment ! <em>(colloquial language)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s always interesting to learn about the quirks of other cultures, and French non-verbal communication is certainly no exception. By understanding a few basic gestures and mimics, you can go a long way in impressing your French friends (<em>or just avoiding any embarrassing <strong>faux pas<\/strong><\/em>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bon voyage ! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you have any favorite French non-verbal expressions? Let us know in the comments below.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.buymeacoffee.com\/learnfrenchfun\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/bmc-encart-blog.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1885\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/bmc-encart-blog.png 600w, https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/bmc-encart-blog-300x200.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Articles that might interest you: <\/h3>\n\n\n<ul class=\"lcp_catlist\" id=\"lcp_instance_0\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/fr\/pourquoi-les-francais-parlent-ils-si-mal-langlais\/\">Pourquoi les Fran\u00e7ais parlent-ils si mal l&rsquo;anglais ?<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do you want to understand the French? Do you want to know what they really say when they speak? I will teach you some of the most common gestures and facial expressions used in France, so you can finally understand them!<br \/>\nAnd with each gesture, you&rsquo;ll get a series of vocabulary words or colloquial expressions that the French really use every day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":943,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-936","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-france-francophonie"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/french-gestures-and-mimics.jpg",1200,800,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/french-gestures-and-mimics-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/french-gestures-and-mimics-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/french-gestures-and-mimics-768x512.jpg",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/french-gestures-and-mimics-1024x683.jpg",1024,683,true],"hd_qu_size2":["https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/french-gestures-and-mimics.jpg",400,267,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/french-gestures-and-mimics.jpg",1200,800,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/french-gestures-and-mimics.jpg",1200,800,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Christian","author_link":"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/author\/christian\/"},"uagb_comment_info":10,"uagb_excerpt":"Do you want to understand the French? Do you want to know what they really say when they speak? I will teach you some of the most common gestures and facial expressions used in France, so you can finally understand them! And with each gesture, you'll get a series of vocabulary words or colloquial expressions\u2026","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/936"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=936"}],"version-history":[{"count":30,"href":"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/936\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2380,"href":"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/936\/revisions\/2380"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/943"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=936"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=936"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=936"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}