Practice Makes Perfect

—Bonsoir, madame. —Good evening, madam.

Faire la bise

Faire la bise reflects a cultural habit. It is customary in France to give two or more kisses on the 

cheek when greeting friends or relatives.

Je ne te fais pas la bise parce que j’ai  

I’m not kissing you, because I have 

un rhume. 

  a cold.

Jean, fais la bise à ta tante! 

Jean, kiss your aunt!

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French in conversation: Meeting people 

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Ça alors!

Use this expression to express surprise.

Tu es déjà là? Ça alors! 

You’re already there? How about that!

Comment allez-vous?

Use this phrase to ask a person whom you address formally (someone older, a store clerk, employee, 

server, etc.) how he or she is. This expression is followed by the person’s title (monsieur, madame, 

or mademoiselle).

Comment allez-vous, monsieur? 

How are you, sir?

Days of the week

When introducing a day of the week, do not try to translate the English preposition that precedes 

the day (on Mondays). Say simply le lundi, or, in the case of a single event, just lundi.