Why do French say pas?

Why do French say pas? pas is generally used in French when a distinction is being made, or for emphasis. It, too, often corresponds to not in English.

Is it rude to say quoi in French? In English, if you didn’t hear someone, simply saying “What?” would be considered informal or even rude, and the same goes for quoi.

Do French really say ooh la la? Unlike that phrase, though, French people actually do say Oh là là – a lot! It’s one of those French stereotypes that’s actually true! Just about every French person, regardless of their age, social status, background, geographic location, education, level of formality, etc., uses this expression.

What language is pas mal? The French expression pas mal (pronounced “pah-mahl”) is a handy phrase to know because you can use it in a variety of ways in casual conversation. Literally translated, it means “not bad” in English and can be used to respond to common questions such as ça va? or comment allez-vous?

Why do French say pas? – Related Questions

Do French people say pas?

pas is generally used in French when a distinction is being made, or for emphasis. It, too, often corresponds to not in English. ‘Qui veut m’aider? ‘ – ‘Pas moi!

Do the French actually say je ne sais quoi?

But the French also use it as we do in English: a quality you cannot describe. We connect je ne sais quoi to the adjective describing it with de, like this: Cette fille a je ne sais quoi de fascinant. “There is something fascinating about that girl.”

How do you respond to Ca va mal?

As with English, French people tend to reply to Ça va? with a positive response – Bien, or Bien, merci – much the same way as we would use fine in English.

How do you use avoir mal in a sentence?

avoir mal à + body part. J’ai mal à la gorge.My throat is sore. I have a sore throat. Il a mal à la tête. His head hurts.

Is Mal a verb in French?

Mal is generally an adverb, and is always placed after a verb. It means “badly”, or “poorly”: j’ai mal dormi (I slept poorly), il parle mal le russe (he speaks Russian badly).

Do the French actually say comme ci comme ca?

“Comme-ci comme ça” is a valid English expression inspired from French and having the same meaning. It may be the reason why it is taught to French learners, as it is a “transparent word”. It’s not used much in France, but it is understandable to everyone.

Do the French say pas mal?

“Pas mal” is the French way to say “Not bad“, typically after someone asks you “Ça va ?” (How are you?). But it can be used in many other cases and can also mean “Nice job / Way to go” or even “Quite a bit” depending on the context.

What are the 17 être verbs in French?

allé, arrivé, venu, revenu, entré, rentré, descendu, devenu, sorti, parti, resté, retourné, monté, tombé, né et mort.