short my vacation essay in french

• French in France
• DALF C1 & C2
• TCF for Quebec
• Online Exercises
• DELF Scolaire/Junior

DELF A1: Writing a Postcard or letter in french about your vacation

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

How do you write a postcard or letter in french telling someone, such as a friend, about your vacation? This is a common question to be found on many french exam or test paper. Well this article a step by step guide on how to write a postcard or letter telling someone about your vacation.  

In the Production Ecrite section of your french exam such as the DELF A1 exam, you will be required to write a message, email or letter consisting of 40 to 50 words.  So lets begin!

How to plan your postcard or letter in french

It is possible to plan and practice various response to the possible exercises before the date of your exam.  In general, when you are writing a postcard there are certain information you may include, such as:

• How You went
• Where you went (montagne, plage, campagne, ville…)
• When / with whom you went
• Where or with whom are you staying? (à l’hôtel, chez l’habitant, dans un camping, dans un gîte…) Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
• What you saw or visit/did or are doing, etc
• Are you enjoying yourself?
• What is the weather and or the place like
• When are you coming back?
• Sign your name

While it is not necessary to provide all of the above information, It is important to note that DELF exam instructions, sometimes select from the list above and specifically ask you to include such information. As a result, it is important to practice different response which will include different combination of the suggestions above. The ones highlighted in red are the basics and should almost always be included in your postcard.

Writing your postcard or letter in french

Sample exercise: writing  a postcard or letter in french about your vacation.

Exercise 1                                                                                                   15 points  

Vous êtes en vacances à Nice. Vous envoyez une petite carte postale a un ami à Paris. Vous lui parlez de temps, de vous activités et vous lui donnez votre date de retour. (40 à 50 mots).

Sample letter in french about your vacation :

Bonjour Jean,

  (Word count = 49)

Sample Exercise for You!

Salut______________,

Je suis en vacances à _____________ pour _________________. C’est une ville très ______________. je visite_________________. c’est________________. Il fait______________ . Je rentrerai chez-moi _____________________.

________________

Evaluation:

• Greetings : Bonjour Jean ( We could also use: “Salut Jean Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 ”  “ Cher Jean” . Use “Chère” only if it is a female)
• Where you are and for how long: Je suis en vacances à Nice pour cinq jours
• What you did or are doing: Hier, j’ai jou é au volley sur la plage . Maintenant, je prends le déjeuner dans un petit café.
• Are you enjoying yourself? Super!
• What is the weather and or the place like: Il fait très beau, avec beaucoup de soleil.
• When are you coming back?:  Je rentrerai chez-moi samedi prochain.
• Farewells: Bises ( We could also use: “ Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 A bientôt” “or “a samedi !” or “a la semaine prochaine !” or “au revoir”)
• Sign your name: Janet

There is agreement of adjective and verb: un petit café. Plus I have used three tenses:

• Le présent: je prends, Il fait ,
• le passé composé: j’ai jou é
• le futur: Je rentrerai .

I have included the specific information that they had asked for. I have also stayed within the word limit. 

Remember to stick to the word limit and follow the instructions that are given. If they want you to provide any specific information such as when you are coming back, the weather, what you visited etc this must be included in your postcard. You will lose points if this is not done.

Check for Errors

Remember to read carefully through your text. Check to ensure that plural words have a plural ending. Make sure that there is agreement between adjectives and the nouns they describe (such as une belle église , un beau chateau ). Check all to ensure that all verbs are in the right tense and that the endings match the subject (such as Je vais for the present but Je suis allé for the past ). Check to make sure you have followed the instructions and fully used all the structures that you have learnt during your study.

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

[email protected]

REQUEST A QUOTE

Telling your holidays in French

Drrriiiiiiing !!!

It is the start of the new school year, students and learners of French are back to lessons! 

How to restart the brain gently? Telling your holidays in French is an excellent back to school exercise to keep your mind on vacation a little longer.

Vacances Actives gives you the right tips to make the start of the new school year a pleasant one that refreshes your French as a Foreign Language (FFL) skills and stimulates exchanges!

Recounting  one’s holidays: a complete linguistic exercise

Holidays, a good subject to create an exchange and integrate.

At the start of the school year, the first lessons of the year can impress students and it is important to facilitate dialogue between them . Whether a learner is shy or not, speaking is never an easy exercise in a new group whose members you don’t know. And the task falls to the teacher to stimulate the pupils and to encourage them to speak. Recounting your holidays in French is an excellent “ice breaker” : in turn, or as part of a two-person dialogue, the pupils share their experience and describe their holiday destination. Travel, sport, leisure, geography: so many subjects that allow students and teachers to find common points and perfect topics of conversation to facilitate their integration.

A story that mobilizes a lot of knowledge in French

“En juillet, je partis à Nice et j’ai allé à la mer”. ( = with mistakes :“In July, I left for Nice and I went to the sea”. )

Coming back from vacation can be hard for the learner’s brain. We will not hold it against him, these mistakes are very common!

First of all, recounting one’s vacation requires using the concordance of times from the past. Here is an opportunity to work on the conjugation and use of the past tense, simple and imperfect past. This exercise is not suitable for all language levels, but it can be adapted with a simplified version, using only the past tense. Here is a good introduction to discover this grammatical tense, if it is on the program for the year.  

Also, recounting one’s holidays is an opportunity to express one’s preferences, feelings and emotions . ‘I liked, I preferred, I loved, I regretted, I hated…” : so many personal formulas to testify to a moment or a pleasant or not pleasant activity. This exercise opens up many possibilities for discussion. And for those who have not had the chance to go on a trip, the exchange can be oriented towards the wish, the future desire to discover a destination, or to do a particular activity. 

Describing one’s holidays: a wide range of vocabulary

The description exercise is an effective way to mobilize a lot of French vocabulary words . Many lexical fields can be used, depending on the activities and the destination in question. It is a good idea to provide students with vocabulary sheets to help them describe their vacation. The sea, the mountains, the countryside, sport, leisure, transport, accommodation, weather, geography, etc. are among the main themes that can be used for this exercise. 

In particular, very dense vocabulary supports can be found on the site: https://www.lepointdufle.net/pseigner/lexique_vacances-fiches-pedagogiques.htm#h

Exercise materials to tell about one’s holidays in French

Orally: a set of questions relating to the holidays.

In pairs or in the form of a group forum, the exercise which consists of recounting one’s holidays can be easily set up with a set of questions . It is true that at the resumption of lessons, learners generally have difficulty finding their words and developing a speech in front of others. It is up to the teacher to guide them through a framework of dialogue:

• Did you go on vacation this summer? 
• Where did you go? 
• At what period? How long ? 
• With whom did you go)? 
• How did you spend your time? What activities? What visits have you made? 
• Have you had any meetings? (a question open to several interpretations!)
• Did you speak French during the holidays? 
• What do you plan to do for the next vacation?

If the speaking is still too timid and the students are not very verbose on the subject, then an ultimate exercise can help them. The idea is to ask them to identify which student in the group has had a vacation most like theirs ! As a result, the pupils question the others in the form of a game and discover a maximum of common points. A good way to untie tongues.

In writing: essay or travel diary

For higher French as a foreign Language (FFL) levels, it is interesting to work on written expression on this question. In writing, an essay for example, the story of the holidays can be developed further but the exercise will lose its interactive and playful side. 

On the other hand, to tell their vacation, students can rely on their travel diary. This can be used as “summer homework”. The travel journal is a very effective activity for working on students’ written expression and creativity. We have devoted a generous article to it with tips and suggestions: Create your linguistic travel diary. Some teachers go so far as to organize contests within the class!

The postcard exercise

Writing a postcard is a tradition that is being lost… It is an opportunity to revive it and to suggest that the pupils tell their holidays in French in a reduced format. It only takes a few minutes for learners to address the postcard to the person of their choice.   This approach is well suited to the first levels of FLE: it allows students to give a synthetic account of their adventures. Borrowing in the telegraphic style or with a more literary tone, they use a few well-chosen words to quickly describe the destination and give their impressions. 

The teacher can play the game to the end by printing a nice photo in the appropriate format to illustrate the vacation destinations of his students, or provide a set of ready-to-use postcards!

Tell your holiday stories on Instagram !

Why not do this exercise on social media? Teachers, you can create an Instagram account dedicated to your class, and start the exercise. Students should choose and post a photo and then write a clear description. Destination, anecdotes, exciting visits… The end result: an aesthetic and complete picture illustrating the holidays for the whole FFL class, to show and share!

Summer peregrinations are an excellent topic of conversation and story to mobilize knowledge and develop French vocabulary. 

The exercise can very well be applied when returning from a language study trip, where each of the learners will share an anecdote or an opinion on the trip made. 

So many good ideas to encourage travel and learning French!

Visit France during the Paris Olympics in 2024

Carnivals in provence, new year in france: traditional celebrations or something special , privacy overview.

Write an essay in French

Beyond the fact that writing an essay in French can be a good practice to improve your writing, you may also be asked to write one during your schooling. So, it is important to study the topic of French essay writing and get some useful tips..

» Tips and tricks for your French essay » The structure of a French essay » Sample French Essay

Tips and tricks for your French essay

When writing a French essay for school, you should always use a structured approach and good French skills to present your arguments in a focused way. Beyond French skills, there are also important formal requirements for a successful French essay. We will come back to this in detail later. First, you will find some useful tips and tricks that will help you write more compelling and better French essays in the future.

• Have a clear thesis and structure
• Do sufficient research and use reliable sources
• Use examples and arguments to support your thesis
• Avoid plagiarism and cite correctly
• Always check structure, grammar and spelling

When you write your essay at school or university, you need to make sure that the general structure of your essay, the presentation of the arguments and, above all, your French language skills play a role in the mark you will get. This is why you should definitely take a closer look at the structure of an essay as well as the most important grammar rules and formulations for French essays.

The structure of a French essay

In an essay, you deal at length and in detail with a usually given topic. When you write an essay in French, you must follow a certain structure. Below we show you what this structure looks like and give you some tips for writing the most important parts of your essay.

The Introduction

The introduction prepares the main body of your essay. You think of a meaningful title for your essay, you describe your thesis or your question, you give general information on the subject and you prepare your argument by giving an overview of your most important arguments.

Below are examples and phrases that you can use to write the introduction to your essay in French.

The title should be meaningful, concise and reflect the content of the essay.

Introductory paragraph

The first paragraph of your French essay should briefly introduce the topic and engage the reader. Here are some examples to help you write your essay:

Proposal or question

The central proposition or question of your French essay should be a clear and concise definition of the purpose of the essay. Use these examples to get a clearer idea of ​​how to write theses in French:

Overview of Arguments and Structure

At the end of your introduction, describe the structure of the main part of your essay (your outline) and outline your argument. Here are some French expressions that will certainly help you write your essay:

The body of your essay

The main part of your French essay deals with the given topic in detail. The subject is studied from all angles. The main body of your essay follows a thread of argument and discusses in detail the main arguments of your thesis previously made in the introduction.

In the body of the text, you should discuss the subject of your essay in clear and concise language. To achieve this, we give you some wording aids as well as vocabulary and phrases that you can use to write your essay in French.

Formulation tools:

French vocabulary for essays.

In the conclusion of your French essay, you address the thesis of your essay, summarize the main points of your discussion in the main body, and draw a conclusion. On the basis of the arguments and the resulting conclusions, you formulate in the conclusion of your dissertation final thoughts and suggestions for the future. It is important that you do not add new information or new arguments. This should only be done in the body of your text.

Here are some wording guides to help you write your essay in French:

Sample French Essay

Les avantages des voyages linguistiques

Malgré les difficultés potentielles, les voyages linguistiques offrent aux apprenants une occasion unique d'améliorer leurs compétences linguistiques et de découvrir de nouvelles cultures, ce qui en fait un investissement précieux pour leur développement personnel et académique.

Les séjours linguistiques sont des voyages organisés dans le but d'améliorer les compétences linguistiques des participants. Ces voyages peuvent se dérouler dans le pays ou à l'étranger et durer d'un week-end à plusieurs semaines. L'un des principaux avantages des séjours linguistiques est l'immersion. Entourés de locuteurs natifs, les apprenants sont contraints de pratiquer et d'améliorer leurs compétences linguistiques dans des situations réelles.Il s'agit d'une méthode d'apprentissage beaucoup plus efficace que le simple fait d'étudier une langue dans une salle de classe.

Un autre avantage des séjours linguistiques est l'expérience culturelle. Voyager dans un nouveau pays permet aux apprenants de découvrir de nouvelles coutumes, traditions et modes de vie, et de se familiariser avec l'histoire et la culture du pays. Cela enrichit non seulement l'expérience d'apprentissage de la langue, mais contribue également à élargir les horizons et à accroître la sensibilisation culturelle.

Cependant, les séjours linguistiques peuvent également présenter des inconvénients. Par exemple, le coût du voyage et de l'hébergement peut être élevé, en particulier pour les séjours de longue durée. En outre, les apprenants peuvent être confrontés à la barrière de la langue ou à un choc culturel, ce qui peut être difficile à surmonter. Le coût et les difficultés potentielles des séjours linguistiques peuvent sembler décourageants, mais ils offrent des avantages précieux en termes d'épanouissement personnel et scolaire.

Les compétences linguistiques et les connaissances culturelles acquises peuvent déboucher sur de nouvelles opportunités d'emploi et améliorer la communication dans un cadre professionnel. Les bourses et les aides financières rendent les séjours linguistiques plus accessibles. Le fait d'être confronté à une barrière linguistique ou à un choc culturel peut également être l'occasion d'un développement personnel. Ces avantages l'emportent largement sur les inconvénients et font des séjours linguistiques un investissement qui en vaut la peine.

En conclusion, malgré les difficultés potentielles, les séjours linguistiques offrent aux apprenants une occasion unique d'améliorer leurs compétences linguistiques et de découvrir de nouvelles cultures, ce qui en fait un investissement précieux pour le développement personnel et académique. Qu'il s'agisse d'un débutant ou d'un apprenant avancé, un voyage linguistique est une expérience à ne pas manquer.

Improve your writing style in French

Learn French with us. We will help you improve your writing skills.

Improve your French with Sprachcaffe

A Year abroad for high school students

Spend a unique school year abroad

Online French courses

Learn French from the comfort of your own home with an online course

Learn French on a language trip

Learn French in a French-speaking country

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

How to Write an Essay in French Without Giving Yourself Away as a Foreigner

Have something to say?

When it comes to expressing your thoughts in French , there’s nothing better than the essay.

It is, after all, the favorite form of such famed French thinkers as Montaigne, Chateaubriand, Houellebecq and Simone de Beauvoir.

In this post, I’ve outlined the four most common types of essays in French, ranked from easiest to most difficult, to help you get to know this concept better. 

Why Are French Essays Different?

Must-have french phrases for writing essays, 4 types of french essays and how to write them, 1. text summary (synthèse de texte).

• 2. Text Commentary (Commentaire de texte)

3. Dialectic Dissertation (Thèse, Antithèse, Synthèse)

• 4. Progressive Dissertation (Plan progressif)

And one more thing...

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Writing an essay in French is not the same as those typical 5-paragraph essays you’ve probably written in English.

In fact, there’s a whole other logic that has to be used to ensure that your essay meets French format standards and structure. It’s not merely writing your ideas in another language .

And that’s because the French use Cartesian logic (also known as Cartesian doubt) , developed by René Descartes , which requires a writer to begin with what is known and then lead the reader through to the logical conclusion: a paragraph that contains the thesis. Through the essay, the writer will reject all that is not certain or all that is subjective in his or her quest to find the objective truth.

Sound intriguing? Read on for more!

Before we get to the four main types of essays, here are a few French phrases that will be especially helpful as you delve into essay-writing in French:

Introductory phrases , which help you present new ideas.

Connecting phrases , which help you connect ideas and sections.

Contrasting phrases , which help you juxtapose two ideas.

Concluding phrases , which help you to introduce your conclusion.

FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

Try FluentU for FREE!

The text summary or synthèse de texte  is one of the easiest French writing exercises to get a handle on. It essentially involves reading a text and then summarizing it in an established number of words, while repeating no phrases that are in the original text. No analysis is called for.

A  synthèse de texte  should follow the same format as the text that is being synthesized. The arguments should be presented in the same way, and no major element of the original text should be left out of the  synthèse.

Here is an informative post about writing a synthèse de texte , written for French speakers. 

The text summary is a great exercise for exploring the following French language elements:

• Synonyms , as you will need to find other words to describe what is said in the original text.
• Nominalization , which involves turning verbs into nouns and generally cuts down on word count.
• Vocabulary , as the knowledge of more exact terms will allow you to avoid periphrases and cut down on word count.

While beginners may wish to work with only one text, advanced learners can synthesize as many as three texts in one text summary. 

Since a text summary is simple in its essence, it’s a great writing exercise that can accompany you through your entire learning process.

2. Text Commentary  (Commentaire de texte)

A text commentary or commentaire de texte   is the first writing exercise where the student is asked to present an analysis of the materials at hand, not just a summary.

That said, a  commentaire  de texte  is not a reaction piece. It involves a very delicate balance of summary and opinion, the latter of which must be presented as impersonally as possible. This can be done either by using the third person (on) or the general first person plural (nous) . The singular first person (je) should never be used in a  commentaire de texte.

A commentaire de texte  should be written in three parts:

• An introduction , where the text is presented.
• An argument , where the text is analyzed.
• A conclusion , where the analysis is summarized and elevated.

Here is a handy in-depth guide to writing a successful commentaire de texte,  written for French speakers.

Unlike with the synthesis, you will not be able to address all elements of a text in a commentary. You should not summarize the text in a commentary, at least not for the sake of summarizing. Every element of the text that you speak about in your commentary must be analyzed.

To successfully analyze a text, you will need to brush up on your figurative language. Here are some great resources to get you started:

• Here’s an introduction to figurative language in French.
• This guide to figurative language  presents the different elements in useful categories.
• This guide , intended for high school students preparing for the BAC—the exam all French high school students take, which they’re required to pass to go to university—is great for seeing examples of how to integrate figurative language into your commentaries.
• Speaking of which, here’s an example of a corrected commentary from the BAC, which will help you not only include figurative language but get a head start on writing your own commentaries.

The French answer to the 5-paragraph essay is known as the  dissertation .  Like the American 5-paragraph essay, it has an introduction, body paragraphs and a conclusion. The stream of logic, however, is distinct.

There are actually two kinds of  dissertation,  each of which has its own rules.

The first form of  dissertation  is the dialectic dissertation , better known as  thèse, antithèse, synthèse . In this form, there are actually only two body paragraphs. After the introduction, a thesis is posited. Following the thesis, its opposite, the antithesis, is explored (and hopefully, debunked). The final paragraph, what we know as the conclusion, is the  synthesis , which addresses the strengths of the thesis, the strengths and weaknesses of the antithesis, and concludes with the reasons why the original thesis is correct.

For example, imagine that the question was, “Are computers useful to the development of the human brain?” You could begin with a section showing the ways in which computers are useful for the progression of our common intelligence—doing long calculations, creating in-depth models, etc.

Then you would delve into the problems that computers pose to human intelligence, citing examples of the ways in which spelling proficiency has decreased since the invention of spell check, for example. Finally, you would synthesize this information and conclude that the “pro” outweighs the “con.”

The key to success with this format is developing an outline before writing. The thesis must be established, with examples, and the antithesis must be supported as well. When all of the information has been organized in the outline, the writing can begin, supported by the tools you have learned from your mastery of the synthesis and commentary.

Here are a few tools to help you get writing:

• Here’s a great guide to writing a dialectic dissertation .
• Here’s an example of a plan for a dialectic dissertation , showing you the three parts of the essay as well as things to consider when writing a dialectic dissertation.

4. Progressive Dissertation ( Plan progressif)

The progressive dissertation is slightly less common, but no less useful, than the first form.

The progressive form basically consists of examining an idea via multiple points of view—a sort of deepening of the understanding of the notion, starting with a superficial perspective and ending with a deep and profound analysis.

If the dialectic dissertation is like a scale, weighing pros and cons of an idea, the progressive dissertation is like peeling an onion, uncovering more and more layers as you get to the deeper crux of the idea.

Concretely, this means that you will generally follow this layout:

• A first, elementary exploration of the idea.
• A second, more philosophical exploration of the idea.
• A third, more transcendent exploration of the idea.

This format for the dissertation is more commonly used for essays that are written in response to a philosophical question, for example, “What is a person?” or “What is justice?”

Let’s say the question was, “What is war?” In the first part, you would explore dictionary definitions—a basic idea of war, i.e. an armed conflict between two parties, usually nations. You could give examples that back up this definition, and you could narrow down the definition of the subject as much as needed. For example, you might want to make mention that not all conflicts are wars, or you might want to explore whether the “War on Terror” is a war.

In the second part, you would explore a more philosophical look at the topic, using a definition that you provide. You first explain how you plan to analyze the subject, and then you do so. In French, this is known as  poser une problématique  (establishing a thesis question), and it usually is done by first writing out a question and then exploring it using examples: “Is war a reflection of the base predilection of humans for violence?”

In the third part, you will take a step back and explore this question from a distance, taking the time to construct a natural conclusion and answer for the question.

This form may not be as useful in as many cases as the first type of essay, but it’s a good form to learn, particularly for those interested in philosophy. Here’s an in-depth guide  to writing a progressive dissertation.

As you progress in French and become more and more comfortable with writing, try your hand at each of these types of writing exercises, and even with other forms of the dissertation . You’ll soon be a pro at everything from a synthèse de texte to a dissertation!

FluentU has a wide variety of great content, like interviews, documentary excerpts and web series, as you can see here:

FluentU brings native French videos with reach. With interactive captions, you can tap on any word to see an image, definition and useful examples.

For example, if you tap on the word "crois," you'll see this:

Practice and reinforce all the vocabulary you've learned in a given video with learn mode. Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you’re learning, and play the mini-games found in our dynamic flashcards, like "fill in the blank."

All throughout, FluentU tracks the vocabulary that you’re learning and uses this information to give you a totally personalized experience. It gives you extra practice with difficult words—and reminds you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

Enter your e-mail address to get your free PDF!

We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe

TALK ABOUT HIS VACATIONS IN FRENCH

🎁 30% discount on my courses

Subscribe to my newsletter and receive 30% discount on my courses. 

Leave your first name and email address below ⬇️

In this video, I tell you about my vacation in French. The goal is to show you how I talk about my vacation so that you can be inspired to do the same. Telling your vacation story is a great exercise to improve your French.

Test your understanding of the video. Take the quiz about my vacations in Bulgaria!

• She already lives in Bulgaria, she came by car.
• We arrived at the same time
• We ordered a drink.
• We talked about the program of our three-day stay in Sofia.
• I told my friend about my day.
• We ordered dishes.
• Hitchhiking
• A monastery
• The castle of the former queen of Romania
• A monument of the communist era
• A medieval fortress
• Eating ice cream
• Dining in restaurants
• A Bulgarian yogurt
• A Bulgarian cocktail
• Fish caught on the island
• The plovdiv, a Bulgarian specialty

Hello to all of you. I hope that you are doing well and that your learning of French is going well.

So today, I will tell you about my vacations in French. The goal of this video is for you to learn new expressions, new phrases, new vocabulary so that you too can tell your vacation in French. Don't hesitate to comment the words or expressions you don't understand so that I can explain them to you. You can also go to www.hellofrench.com to find the transcript of the video, so the text of the video, the vocabulary associated with the video, so I'll explain all the useful words to tell your vacations in French. And also, you can find a quiz to test your understanding of what I'm going to tell you about my vacations. Last year, I went on vacation in Bulgaria. I went with a friend. We made a road trip in the whole country by car. I I left Paris so I have flew in in Paris to go to Sofia and my friend was taking off of Brussels.

I was the first to arrive at the airport of Sofia. Once I have retrieved my suitcase I have been buy a metro ticket to go to the city center . Once in the center of Sofia, I used Google Maps to find the hotel that we had booked. At the hotel, I went to the reception and I spoke with the person at the front desk who gave me the keys to the room and who also gave me a map of the city.

We talked a bit, she told me about the sites to visit , of bars of restaurants that could be nice. I took advantage of the day by myself to walk around, to start visit the city waiting for my friend. In the evening, when she joined me, we went to a restaurant that I had booked during the day. We started by having a cocktail and I was able to tell him about my discoveries about the city. We spent three days in Sofia visiting the different cultural sites: museums, churches, parks and to walk around.

We also have tasted to many local specialties . At the end of the three days, we then rented a car to begin to visit the country and especially go to the sea . On the way to the sea, we stopped to visit different villages, different towns or monuments .

For example, we stopped in a town called Veliko Tarnovo to visit a medieval fortress. We also visited on top of a hill a monument dating from the communist era that looked like a huge flying saucer . Once we arrived at the sea, we stopped in the city of Balchik.

It is a very touristic city, because there is a castle, the castle of the former queen of Romania. She used to spend her vacations at the sea in this city. The castle is surrounded by a huge botanical garden and both the gardens and the castle overlook the beach and the sea. It is really beautiful. Then we went to a seaside resort for a few days. The goal was really to enjoy the beach. So we mostly tanned always with Sunscreen and an umbrella .

In the evening, we made walks by the sea and we dined in restaurants having cocktails or eating ice cream on the seaside. We then went to an island or rather a peninsula. It is a very very tourist But once we found some small streets with calm, it was really very pretty. So, we spent one evening on this peninsula where we had dinner in a restaurant which overhung the sea.

It was really beautiful and above all, we could taste our first and famous Bulgarian yogurt. It was really delicious. Then, we took the car again and we went for two days in the second biggest city of the country, Plovdiv. There was not much to visit, but we liked the atmosphere very much. There were a lot of young people, a lot of small bars, small restaurants on the terrace. Then, we took the car back to Sofia to return the car to the rental agency.

We then took advantage of the few hours we had left to go back to the places we had loved before going back to the airport to take our flights .

I hope you enjoyed this video, that you were able to learn some new vocabulary about the vacations. New words. Feel free to like this video if you liked it and follow the channel to see other videos. See you soon and have a good vacation!

🇫🇷 Comprends les Français even when they talk fast.

"15 minutes a day is enough to be able to understand French speakers, even when they speak fast. You just need to follow the right method “

🚀 50 everyday dialogues to boost your understanding of French

✅ Understand the French, even when they're talking fast. ✅ Talk with French speakers with confidence. ✅ Improve your French for good with a method based on everyday dialogues.

Share this post

Free resources that might interest you.

The expression "you're welcome" in French: meaning and use

The expression "you're welcome" is widely used in French. It allows you to answer politely to someone who thanks you. But be careful, there are some subtleties and things to know to use it well. Discover in this article all that you need to know to use it properly.

GET TO WORK

In this video, I explain in a clear and concise way (in less than 2 minutes) the expression "to put the hand to the paste. If you have any questions about this expression or if you would like me to explain others, do not hesitate to contact me

LEARN FRENCH IN 2 MINUTES - French idiom: Avoir un poil dans la main

Transcript Hi everyone, hope you're doing well. Welcome to this video where we're going to look at a French expression in a few minutes. I hope you're comfortable. Don't forget that you can activate the subtitles in

Videos that might interest you

🍎 🍐 15 FRENCH IDIOMS WITH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

TRANSCRIPT OF THE VIDEO Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well and that your French learning is still going very well. Today, we are going to see together French expressions, pictorial expressions, idiomatic expressions with

News in Slow French #9 - Controversies around French Education minister.

Amélie Oudéa-Castéra is the most talked-about person in the French media right now. Since her appointment, the new Minister of Education has been the subject of one controversy after another. Welcome to a new episode of Learn

Learn French With My Favorite Crime Story (Halloween Edition)

Video transcript For 18 years, this man lied to everyone. He said he was a doctor and a researcher. Unfortunately, the story had a very unhappy ending. Welcome to another episode of Learn French with News. Today, I'm

🚀 200,000 people make progress with me

At the Beach: An Easy French-English Bilingual Story

A Learn French Vocabulary in Context Lesson

• Pronunciation & Conversation
• Resources For Teachers

Many people travel to France to enjoy its gorgeous beaches. Whether you prefer sunny “Côte d’Azur”, the windy beaches or “Arcachon”, the historic “plages de Normandie” or the wild and rocky coasts of Brittany, you’ll have plenty of sea waters and beaches to choose from when traveling , for real or virtually to France.

Explore the vocabulary related to beach activities with this learn French in context  story. This story is written mostly in the present tense and with simple sentence structures, so even beginners can follow the story once they have studied their  French beach vocabulary .

And Now, Let's Go to the Beach!

Mon mari, ma fille et moi, nous habitons en Bretagne, dans le nord-ouest de la France, en face de l'Angleterre, dans une petite ville qui s'appelle « Paimpol ». J'ai de la chance car nous sommes à côté de la mer, au bord de la Manche plus précisément. 

My husband, my daughter and myself, we live in Brittany, in the north-west of France, across from England, in a small town called "Paimpol". I am lucky since we live by the sea, on the banks of the Channel more precisely.

Ma fille Leyla et moi, nous adorons nager. Il y a une petite plage de sable à 5 minutes à pied de chez nous, et bien sûr, nous y allons très souvent.

My daughter Leyla and I, we love to swim. There is a small sand beach five minutes walking distance from our house, and of course, we go there very often.

Leyla a dix ans, et elle sait bien nager. Elle a pris des cours de natation à la piscine avec son école, et aussi pendant les weekends, et donc vraiment elle nage bien la brasse, le crawl etc... Mais quand elle va à la plage, elle ne nage pas beaucoup : elle joue dans la mer, saute dans les petites vagues, patauge... Elle boit rarement la tasse, mais ça arrive. Alors elle tousse, et elle replonge dans l’eau ! Elle aime bien aussi faire de grands châteaux de sable avec les autres enfants qui sont sur la plage.

Leyla is ten, and she is a good swimmer. She took swimming lessons at the pool with her school, and also during the weekends, and therefore she can really swim the breaststroke, the crawl etc well… But when she goes to the beach, she doesn't swim much: she plays in the sea, jumps in the small waves, splashes around… She rarely accidentally swallows sea water, but it happens. Then she coughs, and dives back in (the water)! She also enjoys making big sand castles with the other kids (who are) on the beach.

Faire de la Voile = to go Sailing in French

L’autre jour, Leyla a fait une journée de voile avec son école. Et tout a coup, elle a vu deux dauphins !! Malheureusement, au début elle a pensé que c’était des requins, et elle a eu très peur...

The other day, Leyla had a sailing outing with her school. And suddenly, she saw two Dolphins !! Unfortunately, at the beginning, she thought they were two sharks, and she was very scared.

C’est un vrai déménagement lorsque nous allons nous baigner ! Il faut prendre des pelles, des seaux, un râteau, des serviettes de plage, et surtout ne pas oublier la crème solaire. Il fait souvent gris en Bretagne, mais le soleil est toujours là, en dessous des nuages, et il faut toujours mettre de la crème solaire pour ne pas attraper un coup de soleil. Nous ne prenons pas de parasol, ni de chaise longue – on est en Bretagne , pas à St Trop’ !!

It's like packing for a move when we go swimming! We have to take shovels, pails and a rake, beach towels and above all not forget the sunscreen!! It's often overcast in Brittany, but the sun is always there, under the clouds, and you should always wear sunscreen so you don't get sunburnt. We don't bring a beach umbrella, nor a beach chair — we're in Brittany, not "Saint-Tropez" !!

• Camille Va Nager: Easy French-English Bilingual Story
• À la plage – beach vacation French vocabulary
• Halloween in France: French-English Bilingual Story
• Touring Montréal: An Easy French-English Bilingual Story
• Shopping for Clothes in French: French-English Bilingual Story
• French Valentine's Day Traditions: Easy Bilingual Story
• Saint Nick in France - an Easy French Story With English Translation
• French Reading Comprehension Test
• Kissing Hello in France: A French-English Dialogue
• Christmas in France: a Fun French-English Side-by-Side Story
• Visiting a Champagne Cellar in Reims: French-English Bilingual Story
• Introduction to French Stressed Pronouns - Pronoms Disjoints
• Meet a French Family: Easy French-English Bilingual Story
• Promenade sur le Marché de Beaune: Tour of a French Market
• French Verbs "Habiter" and "Vivre"
• 12 Useful French Verbs You Might Not Be Using

You are using an outdated browser. Upgrade your browser today or install Google Chrome Frame to better experience this site.

• French »
• French practice writing exercises »
• Writing exercise: "A holiday [US:vacation] letter"

A holiday [US:vacation] letter

"une lettre de vacances" french a2 writing exercise.

Jacqueline writes about her holiday [US: vacation] to her friend Patricia.

Pay attention to the hints!

Some vocabulary you may want to look up before or during this exercise: "dear [someone]", "to hope", "to have a holiday [US: vacation]", "wonderful weather", "incredible", "a view of", "huge (bedroom)", "exceptional", "how did [event] go?", "summer".

I’ll give you some sentences to translate into French

• I’ll show you where you make mistakes
• I’ll keep track of what you need to practise
• Change my choices if you want

Here's a preview of the text for the writing challenge, when you're ready click the start button above:

Dear Patricia, I hope that you and your family are well. We've just had a magical holiday [US: vacation]! The weather was wonderful and our hotel was perfect. It had a beautiful outdoor pool, an incredible view of the sea, and our room was huge! Every day, we visited the nearby villages then we took advantage of the pool. What an exceptional holiday [US: vacation]! And you, how did your summer go? See you very soon!

• The Open University
• Guest user / Sign out
• Study with The Open University

My OpenLearn Profile

Personalise your OpenLearn profile, save your favourite content and get recognition for your learning

About this free course

Become an ou student, download this course, share this free course.

Start this free course now. Just create an account and sign in. Enrol and complete the course for a free statement of participation or digital badge if available.

1 Sur la Côte d'Amour

This section on summer holidays in France starts with a video sequence showing a typical beach scene from a French resort on the Atlantic coast. As well as finding out a little about the history of holiday-making in France, we hear present-day holiday-makers describing the advantages and disadvantages of a popular beach. A number of people then explain how much holiday they take and when they can take it. Finally we explore current trends and investigate how popular foreign holidays are among the French.

The video was shot partly in the Pays de la Loire region in the west of France and partly in Paris. In the first sequence we see an area that is particularly popular with the people of Nantes ( les Nantais ), namely the beaches around La Baule on the Atlantic coast to the west of the city. Like all coastal areas of France, this one has a name: la Côte d'Amour.

The opening video sequence uses archive and contemporary footage to show some of the ways in which the coast is used for leisure activities. It also traces a little of the history of holiday-making in France. Various people explain to us why they like the Batz-sur-Mer beach, or why they don't.

View the following video

Activité 2, Sur la Côte d'Amour

Transcript: Sur la Côte d'Amour

Key point 1: using visual clues.

When learning a language, it is important to be aware of visual clues. They often help you understand the context: for example, a shrug of the shoulders may indicate indifference or resignation, even if the words seem neutral. They can indeed give an idea as to the language the speaker may be using. They may also help your visual memory: you'll probably remember words and phrases better if you associate them with images. So, we begin with an exercise in visual concentration.

Warning signs on the beach

Pour vous aider

salariés workers, wage-earners (remember that French uses the masculine plural to embrace both sexes)

congés payés (m.pl.) paid holiday/leave

au moins at least

d'après according to

toute la journée the whole day

surveiller to keep an eye on

pas tellement/pas trop not very much

pas mal de (informal) quite a lot of

Grammar Point 1 Using ‘de’ in expressions of quantity

The word de is used in expressions of quantity (including negative quantities such as pas de ), whether the noun that follows is singular or plural.

trop de vent too much wind

beaucoup trop de monde far too many people

pas assez de temps not enough time

pas tellement d' amis not that many friends

plus de six semaines de congé more than six weeks' leave

moins de jeux fewer games

pas de glaces à la vanille no vanilla ice cream

énormément d' argent lots of money

un tas de mouches (informal) loads of flies

pas mal d' algues (informal) quite a lot of seaweed

des centaines de vacanciers hundreds of holiday-makers

But note the use of des with the expressions la plupart and la majeure partie when followed by a noun in the plural:

la plupart des Français most French people

la majeure partie des commerçants most shopkeepers

The suffix -aine indicates approximate quantities, except for (demi-)douzaine which may mean exactly (six) or twelve.

Hier, j'ai planté une dizaine de rosiers dans mon jardin.

Yesterday I planted around ten rose bushes in my garden.

Je vais passer une quinzaine de jours à Paris.

I'm going to spend a fortnight in Paris.

J'ai appelé une trentaine de campings, mais ils sont tous complets.

I phoned about thirty campsites, but they're all full.

Je connais une demi-douzaine de personnes ici, c'est tout.

I know about half a dozen people here, that's all.

Je voudrais une douzaine d' œufs, s'il vous plaît.

I'd like a dozen eggs please.

Key point 2: Learning phrases

We suggest that you learn the examples given. Here are two suggested methods to help you do this.

Where there is an English translation, cover up the French and try to translate the English back into French. Check as you go along. Then reverse the process.

Close your book and, from memory, write out all the examples in French on a piece of paper. Then look at your book in order to check back.

As you progress through studing a language, why not collect examples in a notebook for each grammar rule and make up some of your own too, using the new vocabulary that you have learned? Share these examples with other students.

Activité 3.1

1 Lisez les deux cartes postales écrites par Valérie et trouvez les dix adjectifs qui montrent qu'elle aime beaucoup cette station balnéaire.

Two postcards

pratique convenient

toutes mes amitiés all the very best

l'eau est bonne the sea is at a pleasant temperature

bonjour à say hello to

grosses bises (informal) lots of love (literally ‘big kisses’, used for family and close friends only)

The adjectives showing enthusiasm are: superbe, magnifique, pratique, merveilleux; joli, belle, beau, bonne, délicieux, idéales.

Activité 3.2

2 Le mari de Valérie n'est pas aussi enthousiaste qu'elle. Il écrit à un de ses collègues de bureau. Les mots ou expressions qui manquent dans le texte de sa carte postale sont donnés avec l'illustration de ce qui se passe à la plage pour vous aider.

Ce sont nos derniers jours de vacances. Valérie et les enfants sont tristes, mais moi je suis vraiment (a) __________ de rentrer à la maison! Je n'aime (b) __________ cette plage: il y a (c) __________ de (d) __________, trop (e) __________ sur la plage, beaucoup trop de (f) __________ (oh là là, les enfants et les transistors!) et il n'y a (g) __________ de vent pour faire de la planche à voile. Et puis, il (h) __________ trop (i) __________ : 36 degrés à l'ombre! Ah, la clim au bureau!

la clim air conditioning (short for climatisation )

à bientôt see you soon

Below are the words you should fit in the spaces:

pas tellement • mécontent • algues • mouches • vent • de monde • fait • pas assez • glaces • gens • froid • bruit • dauphins • bronzé • trop de • des centaines • chaud • différent • surveille • content

A busy beach scene with lots of people annoying Marc

Ce sont nos derniers jours de vacances. Valérie et les enfants sont tristes, mais moi je suis vraiment (a) content de rentrer à la maison! Je n'aime (b) pas tellement cette plage: il y a (c) des centaines de (d) mouches, trop (e) de monde sur la plage, beaucoup trop de (f) bruit (oh là là, les enfants et les transistors!) et il n'y a (g) pas assez de vent pour faire de la planche à voile. Et puis, il (h) fait trop (i) chaud: 36 degrés à l'ombre! Ah, la clim au bureau!

Grammar Point 2 Writing an informal letter or postcard

When you are writing to someone it is important to use the appropriate opening and closing phrases. These vary according to who you are writing to.

Make sure that there is agreement (in gender and number) between cher and the name or names that follow.

And you can of course add a message to someone else:

Meilleurs souvenirs à/Bien des choses à…

Kindest regards to…

Say hello to…

We suggest you start a section in a notebook devoted to letterwriting, in which you could record these and other examples of opening and closing phrases as you come across them (for instance when you get a postcard or letter from a French-speaking friend). If you have a dictionary which has a 'Language in Use'; or 'Communicative Grammar' section you will also find more examples there.

Would you like to spend your own holiday on the beach featured on the video? Activity 4 gives you the chance to express your views in writing and to revise the expressions you have met so far in this section. You will also be listening to some audio materials for the first time.

You will be

Looking at the advantages and disadvantages of a seaside resort

Expressing an opinion

Using 'de' in expressions of quantity

Writing an informal postcard

Activité 4 EXTRAIT 1

1 Relisez les activités 1 à 3 et trouvez les expressions qui décrivent:

les avantages et les inconvénients d'une station balnéaire;

les réactions personnelles des gens.

Notez-les dans votre Carnet. Par exemple:

2 Écoutez le premier extrait. Imaginez que vous êtes en vacances sur la Côte d'Amour. Écoutez bien tout: les voix et les bruits. Ensuite, écrivez une carte postale d'environ quatre-vingts mots à un(e) ami(e). Vous devez:

expliquer les avantages et les inconvénients de votre station balnéaire;

donner vos réactions (positives et/ou négatives);

utiliser quelques expressions de quantité;

utiliser les formules correctes pour commencer et terminer le texte de votre carte.

Base yourself on the three examples of postcards you have seen above. You can use phrases from the lists you compiled in step 1.

Audio Track 1

Transcript: Audio Track 1

How to Write an Excellent French Essay (Resources Included)

Tips to write an excellent french essay.

Writing essays is challenging enough, but when you are asked to write a French essay, you are not only being asked to write in a foreign language, but to follow the conventions of another linguistic and literary tradition. Like essay-writing in any language, the essential part of writing a French essay is to convey your thoughts and observations on a certain topic in a clear and concise manner. French essays do come out of a certain tradition that is part of the training of all students who attend school in France – or at least secondary school – and when you are a French essay, it is important to be aware of this tradition.

The French philosopher Michel de Montaigne is credited with popularizing the essay form as a literary genre. His work, Essais, first published in 1580, and undergoing several subsequent publications before his death in 1592, covers a wide breadth of topics, ranging from “amitié” to “philosopher c’est apprendre à mourir”, and includes many literary references, as well as personal anecdotes. The name for this genre, essai, is the nominal form of the verb essayer, “to attempt”. We have an archaic English verb essay, meaning the same thing. The limerick that includes the phrase, “... when she essayed to drink lemonade ...” indicates an attempt to drink a beverage and has nothing to do with writing about it. But the writing form does illustrate an attempt to describe a topic in depth with the purpose of developing new insights on a particular text or corpus.

French instructors are very specific about what they would like when they ask for an essay, meaning that they will probably specify whether they would like an explication de texte, commentaire composé, or dissertation. That last essay form should not be confused with the document completed for a doctorate in anglophone countries – this is called a thèse in French, by the way. There are different formats for each of these types of essay, and different objectives for each written form.

Types of Essay

1. l’explication de texte.

An explication de texte is a type of essay for which you complete a close reading. It is usually written about a poem or a short passage within a larger work. This close reading will elucidate different themes and stylistic devices within the text. When you are completing an explication de texte, make sure to follow the structure of the text as you complete a close examination of its form and content. The format for an explication de texte consists of:

i. An introduction, in which you situate the text within its genre and historical context. This is where you can point out to your readers the general themes of the text, its form, the trajectory of your reading, and your approach to the text.

ii. The body, in which you develop your ideas, following the structure of the text. Make sure you know all of the meanings of the words used, especially the key terms that point to the themes addressed by the author. It is a good idea to look words up in the dictionary to find out any second, third, and fourth meanings that could add to the themes and forms you describe. Like a student taking an oral examination based on this type of essay writing, you will be expected to have solid knowledge of the vocabulary and grammatical structures that appear in the text. Often the significance of the language used unfolds as you explain the different components of theme, style, and composition.

iii. A conclusion, in which you sum up the general meaning of the text and the significance of the figures and forms being used. You should also give the implications of what is being addressed, and the relevance of these within a larger literary, historical, or philosophical context.

NB: If you are writing about a poem, include observations on the verse, rhyme schemes, and meter. It is a good idea to refer to a reference work on versification. If you are writing about a philosophical work, be familiar with philosophical references and definitions of concepts.

Caveat: Refrain from paraphrasing. Instead show through careful analysis of theme, style, and composition the way in which the main ideas of the text are conveyed.

2. Le commentaire composé

A commentaire composé is a methodologically codified commentary that focuses on themes in a particular text. This type of essay develops different areas of reflection through analytical argument. Such argumentation should clarify the reading that you are approaching by presenting components of the text from different perspectives. In contrast to the explication de texte, it is organized thematically rather than following the structure of the text to which it refers. The format for a commentaire composé consists of:

i. An introduction, in which you present the question you have come up with, often in relation to a prompt commenting on a thematic or stylistic aspect of the text, such as “Montrez en quoi ce texte évoque l’amour courtois” or “Qu’apporte l’absence de la ponctuation dans ce texte ?” In this section, you will be expected to delineate your approach to the text and illustrate the trajectory of your ideas so that your readers will have a clear idea of the direction these ideas will take.

ii. A tripartite body, in which you explore the question you have come up with, citing specific examples in the text that are especially pertinent to the areas of reflection you wish to explore. These citations should be explained and connected to the broad themes of your commentary, all the while providing details that draw the readers’ attention to your areas of inquiry. These different areas of inquiry may initially seem disparate or even contradictory, but eventually come together to form a harmonious reading that addresses different aspects of the text. The more obvious characteristics of the text should illuminate its subtler aspects, which allows for acute insight into the question that you are in the process of exploring.

iii. A conclusion, in which you evaluate your reading and synthesize its different areas of inquiry. This is where you may include your own opinions, but make sure that the preceding sections of your commentaire remain analytical and supported by evidence that you find in the text.

NB: Looking at verb tenses, figures of speech, and other aspects that contribute to the form of the text will help situate your reader, as will commenting on the register of language, whether this language is ornate, plain, reflects a style soutenu, or less formal patterns of speech.

Caveat: Quotations do not replace observations or comments on the text. Explain your quotations and situate them well within your own text.

3. La dissertation

The dissertation is a personal, organized, and methodical reflection on a precise question that refers to a corpus of writing. Referring to this corpus, you may be asked questions along the lines of “Que pensez-vous de l’équivalence entre l’amour et la chanson exprimée dans ces textes ?” or “Est-ce que la sagesse et la folie ont les mêmes sources?” This type of essay allows for an exploration of a question through knowledge of a corpus as well as through an individual’s cultural knowledge. The format for a dissertation consists of:

i. An introduction, in which you present the topic addressed, the significance of your argument, and the trajectory of your ideas.

ii. The body which, like a commentaire composé, consists of a tripartite development of your argument. This can follow any one of the following structures: a dialectical schema, organized into thèse, antithèse, and synthèse – an argument, its counter-argument, and its rebuttal; an analytical schema, consisting of the description of a situation, an analysis of its causes, and commentary on its consequences; a thematic schema, which consists of a reflection on a topic which you proceed to examine from different angles in an orderly fashion.

iii. A conclusion, in which you address the different ways in which you have approached the question at hand and how this deepens your insights, while placing the question within a broader context that shows room for expansion. The conclusion can open up the topic addressed to show its placement within a literary movement, or in opposition to another literary movement that follows it, for example.

NB: Approach the question at hand with as few preconceptions as possible. If you are writing on a quotation, gather all of your knowledge about its author, the work in which it appears, and the body of literature with which it is associated.

Caveat: Even for a personal reflection, such as a dissertation, avoid using the first person pronoun je. Nous or on are preferable. It is advisable not to switch from one to the other, though.

For each of these essay forms, it is a good idea to make an outline to which you can refer as you write. As your writing progresses, things may shift a bit, but having a structure on which you can rely as you gather your various ideas and information into a coherent argument provides solid foundation for a clear and well-developed essay. This also facilitates smooth transitions from one section of your essay to the next.

During your reading, you may encounter a problem, a contradiction, or a surprising turn of phrase that is difficult to figure out. Such moments in a text give you the opportunity to delve into the unique characteristics of the text or corpus to which you are referring, to propose different solutions to the problems you encounter, and to describe their significance within a larger literary, philosophical, and historical context. Essay writing allows you to become more familiar with French works, with their cultural significance, and with the French language. You can refer to the following resources to guide you in this endeavor:

Auffret, Serge et Hélène. Le commentaire composé. Paris: Hachette, 1991. Dufau, Micheline et Ellen D'Alelio. Découverte du poème: Introduction à l'explication de textes. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1967. Grammont, Maurice. Petit traité de versification française. Paris: A. Colin, 2015. Huisman, Denis et L. R. Plazolles. L’art de la dissertation littéraire : du baccalauréat au C.A.P.E.S. Paris : Société d’édition d’enseignement supérieur, 1965.

The French newspaper Le Monde also has good articles on these essay forms that prepare French students for the baccalauréat exam: CLICK HERE

This is also a website with thorough information on essay writing techniques that prepare students for the baccalauréat exam: CLICK HERE

In addition, the University of Adelaide has tips for general essay writing in French: CLICK HERE

🇫🇷 Looking for More French Resources?

Train with Glossika and get comfortable talking in French. The more you listen and speak, the better and more fluent you will be.

Glossika uses syntax to help you internalize grammatical structures and you can build up your French vocabulary along with way. You'll also learn to communicate in real-life situations, and achieve fluency by training your speaking and listening!

Sign up on Glossika and try Glossika for free:

You May Also Like:

• 10 Great Tips to Prepare to Study in France
• How to Maintain French and Continue Learning by Yourself
• Differences Between Spoken French and Written French

Subscribe to The Glossika Blog

Get the latest posts delivered right to your inbox

Stay up to date! Get all the latest & greatest posts delivered straight to your inbox

How To : Talk about what you did during your vacation in French

Talk about what you did during your vacation in French (especially if you are going to, or have gone to, France, n'est pas?)

Just updated your iPhone? You'll find new emoji, enhanced security, podcast transcripts, Apple Cash virtual numbers, and other useful features. There are even new additions hidden within Safari. Find out what's new and changed on your iPhone with the iOS 17.4 update.

Be the First to Comment

Share your thoughts, how to : ask someone if they speak english in french, how to : say "nice to meet you" in french ("enchanté"), how to : count from 10 to 100 in french, how to : say 'my name is' in perfect french ('je m'appelle'), how to : count from 20 to 30 in french, how to : say 'i', 'you', 'he', 'she', 'we', & 'they' in french, how to : say the names of kitchen items in french, how to : say 'what is your name' and 'my name is' in french, how to : say "i want to buy" in perfect french, how to : count from 30 to 40 in french, how to : ask how much something costs in perfect french, how to : toast and say "to your health" in french, how to : say "please" in french ("s'il vous plaît"), how to : make the french gesture "it went right over my head", how to : count from 40 to 50 in french, how to : count from 50 to 60 in french, how to : pronounce "oi," "ou," and "on" in french, how to : count to 10 in french, how to : pronounce "in" and "im" in french, how to : count from 90 to 100 in french.

• All Features

How To : Count from one to ten in perfect French

How to : count from 1 to 100 in perfect french, how to : say the phrase "i'm thirsty" in french, how to : say the phrase "i'm hungry" in french, how to : say "i am full" in french after a big meal, how to : say the phrase "this food is delicious" in french.

• All Hot Posts

The Local’s Guide to Enjoying and Talking About the Summer in French

France has four seasons : spring ( le printemps ), summer ( l’été ), autumn ( l’automne ), and winter ( l’hiver ), and each one has its own significance in French culture and everyday life.  

While we mostly associate summer with the south of France, the location of the famous Côte d’Azur, the summer weather and mood does reach the whole country and affect it in some important ways.  Let’s talk about all things summer in France.

How to say “summer” in French

The word “summer” in French is l’été . Although the French word for season, la saison is feminine, l’été is masculine .

When you want to use “summer” as an adjective in French, you would either say d’été or estival(e) .  It’s hard to say exactly why you should use either one, but as a general rule:

d’été is usually used with things that aren’t exclusively associated with summer. For example, as you’ll see on the list below, you would use it when talking about clothes , time, or rooms in a house. Be careful not to confuse this with de l’été (of the (this) summer), which I’ll talk about in the next section. 

estival(e) tends to be used with things we’d more likely associate with summer – for example, summer weather.

Again, this is just a general rule. If you’re in doubt, the good news is, people will understand what you mean if you use either one.

If you want to say “in summer”, “over the summer”, or “during the summer” in French, that would generally be “ en été ” or “ pendant l’été ”.   For example: En été, on va à la plage. (In summer, we go to the beach). And Il a bien grandi pendant l’été (He grew a lot over summer).  

La fin de l’été is “the end of summer”.

Some common summer-related French words

Here are some common summer-related French words. As you read them, remember the general rule about using d’été or estival (e) that I mentioned in the previous section of this article.

de l’été – of the (this) summer. This is used when talking about the trends and tendencies of this particular summer. A very common example is the expression le tube de l’été – this summer’s hit song.

une robe d’été – a summer dress/a sundress.

l’heure d’été – daylight savings time. Passer à l’heure d’été means to switch to daylight savings time/set the clocks forward.

les vacances d’été – summer vacation. This can mean either a vacation from school or other organized activity, or an actual planned summer vacation getaway. 

une cuisine d’été – an outdoor, covered space for cooking, eating, and storing food. In addition to a standard indoor kitchen, this is a very common feature in lots of houses in the south of France , where, as other French people often remark, inhabitants like to live outdoors. A cuisine d’été lets them not only eat outside, but even prepare their meals and store food there, since it usually includes some kind of stove or oven as well as storage areas. You can see some examples of typical cuisines d’été here . 

How to say “Have a good summer” in French

Summer is a time of leisure, vacation, and festivities in France, but interestingly enough, it’s not extremely common for people to tell each other “Have a good summer!”, as you’ll learn if you do an internet search for it.

With friends who are going away for a long time in the summer, I usually say Passe un bon été or Passez un bon été if there’s a group of them. They always understand and appreciate this, but it’s not necessarily the way native French speakers would put it.

Instead, it seems if native speakers of French want to say “Have a good summer”, they would either be very formal and say Je te/vous souhaite un bon été (I wish you/you all a good summer) or they would focus more on the vacation aspect, and use a very common French saying, Bonnes vacances ! (Have a nice vacation!).

Summer weather in France

Culturally, summer in France starts around late June and ends at la rentrée – the period at the beginning of September, when most people are back from summer vacation and school and other activities start again. 

From an astronomical standpoint, summer in France is officially from June 21 to September 21. But the weather can be very warm before and after that period. For example, this year we had several days where the temperature reached 30 degrees Celsius (about 86 degrees Fahrenheit) in April and May, even though overall temperatures for these months were a lot lower, at times even a bit chilly.

Even summer itself can be a bit unpredictable in France. Sometimes, the days can start or end up quite chilly, even if it’s hot in the afternoon. So if you’re planning to visit, you may want to bring a light jacket or shawl with you if you’ll be out very early or very late.

What is France like in the summer?

By late June, French people are in the spirit of summer , with schools in their last weeks and travel plans fresh in many minds. People tend to want to spend more time outside, and in that spirit, most towns, cities, and villages will have some kind of festivities in the summer , from outdoor concerts and film festivals, to athletic competitions, novelties like Paris-Plages and more. If you’re traveling to France in the summer, definitely be sure to check the places you’re headed to see what’s on.

Two summer events that will definitely be going on to some extent, wherever you are in France, are the Fête de la Musique (Music Day) on June 21, and le 14 juillet (Bastille Day, July 14). 

La Fête de la Musique is a holiday celebrated in many countries, and quite the big deal in France. Anyone who wants to play music outside is welcome, and you can stroll the streets or even travel far distances across a region or city to attend concerts by amateurs and famous musicians alike.

“Bastille Day” in French is actually just called le 14 juillet (July 14), or sometimes La Fête Nationale (the national holiday). If you’re into history, this is because the date isn’t supposed to celebrate the storming of the Bastille, the event that kicked off the French Revolution in 1789, but the Fête de la Fédération, a sort of reconciliatory celebration celebrating the new nation, which occurred exactly a year later on July 14, 1790. If you’d like to read more about the turbulent and gruesome origins of the French Revolution and le 14 juillet , feel free to check out a blog post I wrote about it. The most common 14 juillet celebrations today are fireworks displays, which are put on by many French cities and towns .

Most French people have five weeks of vacation time, which they tend to spread out over the course of the year, but summer is when they tend to take the longest and most important trips. That’s why schools’ and other organizations’ summer breaks are often called les grandes vacances (literally, “the big vacation”) . 

It’s said that August is a time when things are dead in places like Paris, since so many people leave on vacation. It’s true that August is the most popular vacation month in France, but nearly as many people prefer to leave in July – and 31% of French people don’t go on vacation in the summer at all. 

So, if you visit France in August, especially if you’re in a major city or summer tourism area, you probably won’t find that the place has become a ghost town. That said, it can be harder or even impossible to make appointments with certain specialists, government workers, and so on.

Heatwaves and air conditioning phobia: How the French deal with summer heat

Summer weather in France can be pretty variable, from unseasonably cold days, to heatwaves ( la canicule ). Sadly, due to global warming, canicules have become much more common, even over the past few years alone. 

Even when summer temperatures are at their seasonal average in France, though, you might find them hard to bear, depending on where you come from. This is because the French have an aversion to air conditioning, and even to electric and ceiling fans!

The French will very easily admit that hot weather can be hard to get through. But they prefer to use techniques like keeping their shutters drawn and airing out the house in cool morning weather or taking cold showers and eating cold meals, rather than relying on AC or a fan. 

The reason behind this may not be what you’re expecting. Sure, the French are motivated by ecology to some extent. And sure, home air conditioning units do exist here but aren’t cheap (a small one currently starts at around 150 euros). But the main reason most French people don’t have air conditioning or possibly even an electric fan in their house – or, if they do, they use them sparingly – is…they’re afraid of cold air.

Most French people consider air conditioning a source of sickness, whether due to the contrast of a cool or cold interior and hot outside air, or the idea of recirculated air in general. Fans are a source of courants d’air (drafts), which most French people are convinced will cause colds and sore throats.

Although extreme cold can cause certain illnesses, it’s pretty much scientific fact that a draft or breeze on a hot day cannot.  Still, most French people are unconvinced. Even my French husband who, to my utter shock, insisted we buy an air conditioning unit a few hot summers ago, is wary of letting my son sleep with a fan in his room.  “He’ll get a sore throat!” he moans every time I turn it on in the stifling room.  

So far, my son has not had a cold or sore throat from sleeping with a fan blowing on him, and more importantly, he hasn’t suffered from heat exhaustion, stroke, or fever. 

Even if cold air did cause colds or sore throats, I can’t wrap my mind around why avoiding those usually mild conditions would take priority over avoiding overheating and all of the very serious conditions this could bring on. But that’s the way most French people think. Recently, during a heatwave, I was at a grocery store checkout line when the cashier sneezed. “It’s this air conditioning,” she grumbled. “I don’t know why they have to turn it on.” It was 33 degrees Celsius (91.4 degrees Fahrenheit) outside!

French people’s distrust of cold air in hot weather is a common complaint for visitors and residents from many other countries – especially Americans like me. I’ve spent significant time in places like Atlanta, Georgia, and various locations in Florida, where it regularly gets much hotter than a very hot day in France. But because air conditioning is just about everywhere in America – and it’s set to full-blast – you don’t really notice the outside temperature as much. In France, on the other hand, you have to learn strategies for keeping cool, and slog through the hot days.

This cultural difference makes for many amusing (and relatable) articles like this one . But there’s a darker side, too. That aversion to cool air can be lethal.

In August 2003, there was a two-week heatwave in France, with record high temperatures. Because of a lack of air conditioning even in places with vulnerable populations, like nursing homes, an estimated 14,000-20,000 people died . 

Let that sink in for a minute.

Up to 20,000 people died over two weeks, in temperatures that were high but not the highest on earth, because air conditioning and fans weren’t widespread or used by a majority of the population.

Some things have changed since then. For example, there are awareness campaigns and warnings when une canicule is coming, cool rooms in public places like city halls, and obligatory air-conditioned common rooms in nursing homes. But most French people are still at least a little bit wary when it comes to fans and air conditioning.

  How to dress like a French woman/man in the summer

In lieu of or in addition to relying on air conditioning, the French deal with the heat in a number of ways, including taking cold showers, drinking lots of water, splashing themselves with water or using a water mister ( un brumisateur ),keeping their shutters closed against the hot sun, and more. The way they dress can be another strategy.

You’ll see people wearing many different styles in France, from what you probably imagine when you picture a French person , to street or vintage or hippy clothes. Whatever the style, the general rule in hot weather is to favor light colors (making for a strange contrast from us Parisians’ usual “uniform” of blacks and grays), cotton, linen, and other light, natural fabrics, and light sneakers or sandals. People often wear hats or baseball caps, as well, especially children.

That being said, French people tend to wait until really hot weather to wear their absolute lightest clothing. I think it has to do with what I talked about before, that wariness of being cold. So, if you come to France in the summer, you’ll probably see people wearing sundresses and shorts, but you’ll also likely see at least a few others in long-sleeved blouses and trousers. Elderly French people often tend to stay covered up, as well, especially men. I know several older Frenchmen who wear a suit pretty much year-round. This isn’t for professional reasons; they’ve been retired for decades. It just goes back to another era, I guess. But I can’t understand how they don’t transform into a puddle of sweat.

One thing that you can be pretty sure of is that an overwhelming majority of French people don’t wear flip-flops. There are some exceptions, especially among younger kids who like streetwear and/or American culture. But in general, flip-flops are rare here, and until recently, even looked down upon as impractical and inelegant.

Still, if you come to France in the summer, your priority should be to enjoy the sites and culture, not to look like a native. So if you feel most comfortable in flip-flips and want to dress light even if it’s only in the low 20’s (high 60’s to low 70’s Fahrenheit), go for it. Don’t get overheated or uncomfortable and ruin your trip or stay.  

Well, maybe swap out flip-flops for more elegant summer footwear if you’re attending a formal event or meeting a client, celebrity, or other figure you want to show respect towards. 

One thing you should note, though, is that many churches frown upon mini-skirts and very short shorts, as well as plunging cleavage and uncovered shoulders. In general, French churches aren’t as policed as ones in places like Italy, so you may be able to get in regardless of how you’re dressed, but just so you’re sure not to miss out on admiring their beautiful architecture and artwork, if you’re not covered in those areas, make sure to bring a shawl or poncho that you can slip on over your clothes.    

French summer foods

As befits the French love of food, certain meals are another way the French keep cool in summer. In very hot weather, French  people will tend to eat cold foods that don’t have to be heated or cooked , like salads ( des salades ) that are filling all the same (for example, a recent meal I had with French friends involved a huge salad made up of lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, shallots, mozzarella cheese, and olives, with cold cuts ( charcuterie ) and baguette on the side) , caprice ( tomate-mozza ), and avocados sliced in half and pitted, then topped with canned tuna and mayonnaise ( un avocat au thon ) or shrimp (often in a mayonnaise-based sauce) ( un avocat crevettes ), to name a few popular choices. 

And of course, fruit is always a favorite. While the iconic summer fruit in America is probably watermelon, in France it’s le melon . This word stands in for various regional varieties of melon. The most famous is from the Charente-Maritime region. Most melons taste similar to cantaloupe.  

Eating ice cream is another great way to keep cool. Ice cream stands can be found just about anywhere people are doing outdoor activities in France, and you can also find lots of different varieties of ice cream and sorbets in French grocery stores, not to mention frozen food chains like Picard ( this particular ice cream flavor is my personal favorite – it is amazingly delicious).

Italian ice drinks, also known as slushees or icees, are called granités in France. They’re somewhat popular in the summer, but they can be very pricey, especially when you consider they’re often sold in small cups, not the huge goblets you get at gas stations in the US.   

Despite the wide selection of cold desserts, most French people tend not to overindulge. As I’ve written before , regardless of the delicious pastries and other sugary delights here, the French seem to prefer savory over sweet.

When it comes to drinks, water is the go-to in very hot weather. But remember that most French people – and French restaurants – don’t put ice in drinks, so if you want ice water, you should ask for de l’eau avec des glaçons, s’il vous plait. (Water with ice cubes, please.)

An alternative to water that’s great for kids as well as adults with a sweet tooth (like me) is cold bottled water with a flavored syrup added to it. You can read more about that here . 

If you want something with a bit more of a buzz, a cold glass of white or rosé wine is a popular choice in the south of France, while a cold beer is a favorite in the north. 

There are, of course, lots of other cold drinks that you can enjoy in France, from une limonade (a carbonated beverage that tastes a bit like Sprite or 7-UP), to a range of cocktails (here’s a list of the French’s favorites).

How can you learn French during the summer?

Maybe summer means you’re on vacation from school or have more free time in general. This may mean you’re looking for a way to up the ante on your French learning. There are lots of ways to do this.

One option that many people consider is taking summer courses in France. An online search should help you find the right one for you. Remember to consider your budget, what’s included in the price (just lessons, or accommodations and other benefits like excursions, as well?), the timing, and other important factors, like whether or not it’s an immersive French language program. If you’re not sure about what’s important, an online search for “how to choose the best French summer program for me” will result in a bevy of helpful articles (just be sure none of them have the ulterior motive of trying to sell you their specific courses).

But what if you don’t have the time or budget to take summer courses in France?  Don’t worry! There are other ways you can practice and perfect your French. 

For one thing, see if there are local French learning programs at universities, schools, and French organizations near you.

You can also opt for personalized French tutoring sessions . Check out websites, community message boards, and printed-out job ads at schools and community gathering spots to find a local French tutor. Ideally, they should be a native speaker.  

An online French tutor is another option. One of the advantages of this is that the tutor is more likely to be a native speaker, since the distance from your house to France doesn’t matter. Another good thing: You don’t have to worry about issues like transportation problems, a noisy meeting place, etc.

Whether or not you opt for face-to-face French lessons this summer, don’t forget that there are also lots of online French learning platforms and courses that can help you boost your French skills, too (including the French Together app ). These can be used on their own, combined, or along with lessons, to really give you an edge on all things French. 

And one word of advice: Whether you go the distance, by signing up for a summer French immersion course, or use online resources to practice and learn, it’s your desire to learn and your curiosity that will give you an important edge. You could be in a total immersion course in France, but if you’re too tired or distracted, you may not learn as much as someone who’s doing online tutoring or using language learning platforms and is super-motivated back at home. 

I say this from personal experience. I wasn’t able to do immersion programs, and when I studied abroad, many of my classes were still in English. And yet, because I loved French and wanted to learn, I used all the other resources available to me and voilà – I’m a fluent French-speaker today. Well, okay, voilà is kind of a simple stand-in for years of work, but hopefully you get the point.

With that in mind, I’ll leave you with a famous French quotation about summer (sort of) by Albert Camus: Au milieu de l’hiver, j’apprenais enfin qu’il y avait en moi un été invincible. (In the middle of winter, I learned at last that within me there was an invincible summer.)

• What are the best French learning apps in 2024?
• The 16 best websites and apps for French conversation practice
• Duolingo French review: The good, the bad and the ugly

Alysa Salzberg

Alysa Salzberg is an American writer, worrier, teacher, and cookie enthusiast who has lived in Paris, France, for more than a decade. She has taught English and French for more than ten years, most notably as an assistante de langue vivante for L'Education Nationale. She recently published her first novel, Hearts at Dawn , a "Beauty and the Beast" retelling that takes place during the 1870 Siege of Paris. You can read about her adventures here , or feel free to stop by her website .

Your cart is empty

Have an account?

Log in to check out faster.

Estimated total

Learn French Quickly: 6-Week Self-Paced Course - Limited Time Discount!

Country/region

• Afghanistan CAD $
• Åland Islands CAD $
• Albania CAD $
• Algeria CAD $
• Andorra CAD $
• Angola CAD $
• Anguilla CAD $
• Antigua & Barbuda CAD $
• Argentina CAD $
• Armenia CAD $
• Aruba CAD $
• Ascension Island CAD $
• Australia CAD $
• Austria CAD $
• Azerbaijan CAD $
• Bahamas CAD $
• Bahrain CAD $
• Bangladesh CAD $
• Barbados CAD $
• Belarus CAD $
• Belgium CAD $
• Belize CAD $
• Benin CAD $
• Bermuda CAD $
• Bhutan CAD $
• Bolivia CAD $
• Bosnia & Herzegovina CAD $
• Botswana CAD $
• Brazil CAD $
• British Indian Ocean Territory CAD $
• British Virgin Islands CAD $
• Brunei CAD $
• Bulgaria CAD $
• Burkina Faso CAD $
• Burundi CAD $
• Cambodia CAD $
• Cameroon CAD $
• Canada CAD $
• Cape Verde CAD $
• Caribbean Netherlands CAD $
• Cayman Islands CAD $
• Central African Republic CAD $
• Chile CAD $
• China CAD $
• Christmas Island CAD $
• Cocos (Keeling) Islands CAD $
• Colombia CAD $
• Comoros CAD $
• Congo - Brazzaville CAD $
• Congo - Kinshasa CAD $
• Cook Islands CAD $
• Costa Rica CAD $
• Côte d’Ivoire CAD $
• Croatia CAD $
• Curaçao CAD $
• Cyprus CAD $
• Czechia CAD $
• Denmark CAD $
• Djibouti CAD $
• Dominica CAD $
• Dominican Republic CAD $
• Ecuador CAD $
• Egypt CAD $
• El Salvador CAD $
• Equatorial Guinea CAD $
• Eritrea CAD $
• Estonia CAD $
• Eswatini CAD $
• Ethiopia CAD $
• Falkland Islands CAD $
• Faroe Islands CAD $
• Finland CAD $
• France CAD $
• French Guiana CAD $
• French Polynesia CAD $
• French Southern Territories CAD $
• Gabon CAD $
• Gambia CAD $
• Georgia CAD $
• Germany CAD $
• Ghana CAD $
• Gibraltar CAD $
• Greece CAD $
• Greenland CAD $
• Grenada CAD $
• Guadeloupe CAD $
• Guatemala CAD $
• Guernsey CAD $
• Guinea CAD $
• Guinea-Bissau CAD $
• Guyana CAD $
• Haiti CAD $
• Honduras CAD $
• Hong Kong SAR CAD $
• Hungary CAD $
• Iceland CAD $
• India CAD $
• Indonesia CAD $
• Ireland CAD $
• Isle of Man CAD $
• Israel CAD $
• Italy CAD $
• Jamaica CAD $
• Japan CAD $
• Jersey CAD $
• Jordan CAD $
• Kazakhstan CAD $
• Kenya CAD $
• Kiribati CAD $
• Kosovo CAD $
• Kuwait CAD $
• Kyrgyzstan CAD $
• Latvia CAD $
• Lebanon CAD $
• Lesotho CAD $
• Liberia CAD $
• Libya CAD $
• Liechtenstein CAD $
• Lithuania CAD $
• Luxembourg CAD $
• Macao SAR CAD $
• Madagascar CAD $
• Malawi CAD $
• Malaysia CAD $
• Maldives CAD $
• Malta CAD $
• Martinique CAD $
• Mauritania CAD $
• Mauritius CAD $
• Mayotte CAD $
• Mexico CAD $
• Moldova CAD $
• Monaco CAD $
• Mongolia CAD $
• Montenegro CAD $
• Montserrat CAD $
• Morocco CAD $
• Mozambique CAD $
• Myanmar (Burma) CAD $
• Namibia CAD $
• Nauru CAD $
• Nepal CAD $
• Netherlands CAD $
• New Caledonia CAD $
• New Zealand CAD $
• Nicaragua CAD $
• Niger CAD $
• Nigeria CAD $
• Norfolk Island CAD $
• North Macedonia CAD $
• Norway CAD $
• Pakistan CAD $
• Palestinian Territories CAD $
• Panama CAD $
• Papua New Guinea CAD $
• Paraguay CAD $
• Philippines CAD $
• Pitcairn Islands CAD $
• Poland CAD $
• Portugal CAD $
• Qatar CAD $
• Réunion CAD $
• Romania CAD $
• Russia CAD $
• Rwanda CAD $
• Samoa CAD $
• San Marino CAD $
• São Tomé & Príncipe CAD $
• Saudi Arabia CAD $
• Senegal CAD $
• Serbia CAD $
• Seychelles CAD $
• Sierra Leone CAD $
• Singapore CAD $
• Sint Maarten CAD $
• Slovakia CAD $
• Slovenia CAD $
• Solomon Islands CAD $
• Somalia CAD $
• South Africa CAD $
• South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands CAD $
• South Korea CAD $
• South Sudan CAD $
• Spain CAD $
• Sri Lanka CAD $
• St. Barthélemy CAD $
• St. Helena CAD $
• St. Kitts & Nevis CAD $
• St. Lucia CAD $
• St. Martin CAD $
• St. Pierre & Miquelon CAD $
• St. Vincent & Grenadines CAD $
• Sudan CAD $
• Suriname CAD $
• Svalbard & Jan Mayen CAD $
• Sweden CAD $
• Switzerland CAD $
• Taiwan CAD $
• Tajikistan CAD $
• Tanzania CAD $
• Thailand CAD $
• Timor-Leste CAD $
• Tokelau CAD $
• Tonga CAD $
• Trinidad & Tobago CAD $
• Tristan da Cunha CAD $
• Tunisia CAD $
• Türkiye CAD $
• Turkmenistan CAD $
• Turks & Caicos Islands CAD $
• Tuvalu CAD $
• U.S. Outlying Islands CAD $
• Uganda CAD $
• Ukraine CAD $
• United Arab Emirates CAD $
• United Kingdom CAD $
• United States CAD $
• Uruguay CAD $
• Uzbekistan CAD $
• Vanuatu CAD $
• Vatican City CAD $
• Venezuela CAD $
• Vietnam CAD $
• Wallis & Futuna CAD $
• Western Sahara CAD $
• Yemen CAD $
• Zambia CAD $
• Zimbabwe CAD $

30 Phrases to Describe Your Daily Routine in French

How do you describe your daily routine in french what are the most common phrases and vocabulary in this article, i share my daily routine in french with 30 sentences. , table of contents.

• My morning routine
• My afternoon routine
• My evening routine
• Reflexive verbs (conjugaison) 
• The verb "faire" (to do)
• Daily routine (French video)

Le matin (In the morning)

Let's take a look at these phrases describing my morning routine including getting up and getting ready for work! 

Note that these sentences are all in present tense which describe what I usually do. 

1. Je me réveille.

2. je me lève. , 3. je me lève à sept heures..

I wake up at 7.

4. Comme tout le monde,  je regarde sur mon téléphone portable.

Like everyone, I look at my cellphone.

5. Je regarde mes messages.

I look at my messages.

6. Ensuite, je me lave le visage. 

Then, I wash my face.

7. Je me brosse les dents.

I brush my teeth.

8. Puis, je me fais du café.

And then, I make myself a coffee.

9. Je ne peux pas commencer ma journée  sans café. 

I can’t start my day without coffee.

10. Donc, je bois mon café.  

So, I drink my coffee.

11. Puis, je m’étire.

Then, I stretch.  

12. Je déjeune, bien sûr.

I have breakfast, of course.

13. Je prends mon petit déj.   

I have my breakfast. 

14. Je travaille chez moi. 

I work from home.

15. Donc, je commence tout de suite  à travailler. 

So, I start immediately working.

16. Je prépare mes cours.

I prepare my lessons. 

17. Je réponds à mes mails.  

I respond to my emails. 

French Course for Beginners 

In our self-paced beginner course, we cover all the basics of French language in only 6 weeks. We've helped hundreds of students to learn French effectively.

Learn more! 

À midi (At noon)

18. à midi, je prends mon déjeuner. .

At noon, I have my lunch. 

19. J’enseigne. 

20. je suis professeur de français..

I’m a French Teacher. 

21. Donc, j’enseigne tout l’après-midi.  

So, I teach all afternoon. 

Le soir ( In the evening)

22. après le travail, je fais une balade..

After work, I go for a walk. 

23. Ou je fais des exercices en écoutant  de la musique. 

Or I exercise while listening to music.

24. Puis, je prends une douche. /Je me lave.   

After, I take a shower. 

25. Je fais un smoothie.

I make a smoothie. 

26. Et je dîne vers sept heures.

And I have dinner around 7. 

27. Puis, je passe du temps  avec ma famille. 

Then, I spend some time with my family.

28. Vers onze heures, je vais au lit.

Around 11, I go to bed. 

29. Et je lis un peu avant de dormir.  

And I read a bit before sleeping. 

30. Enfin, je me couche.

Finally, I go to bed.

Reflexive verbs in French

To describe daily routine, we use reflexive verbs such as : "se réveiller" (to wake up), "se lever" (to get up), "se laver" (to wash yourself) and "se coucher" (to go to bed).

"Se" is called a reflexive pronoun and it changes to "me", "te" , "nous" and "vous" depending the subject.

Let's have a look.

Je me réveille (I wake up)

Tu te réveilles (You wake up)

Il/elle se réveille (He/she/one wakes up)

Nous nous réveillons (We wake up) 

Vous vous réveillez (You -plural/formal- wake up) 

Ils/elles se réveillent ( They -masculine/feminine- wake up)

Faire (To do, make) 

Similar to the reflexive verbs, the verb "faire" is a very useful verb to talk about daily routine. Let's look at these examples. 

Je fais une balade.

I go for a walk. 

Je fais des exercices.

I exercise. 

Je fais un smoothie.

The conjugaison   of the verb "faire".

Faire is an irregular verb. Here's how to conjugate it with different subjects in present tense. 

Je fais  (I do/make)

Tu fais  (You do/make)

Il/elle/on fait  (He, she, one does/makes)

Nous faisons  (We do/make)

Vous faites  (You -plural/formal- do/make)

Ils/elles font  (They -mas./fem.- do/make)

Daily routine in French video

I share new videos every week, so make sure to subscribe to my channel and follow me on Facebook , Instagram and Pinterest .

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.

Subscribe to our emails

Be the first to know about new collections and exclusive offers.

Subscribe to My Newsletter

Receive free French lessons directly to your inbox and learning tips to learn French quickly.

• Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
• Opens in a new window.

Customer Reviews

Who can help me write my essay?

At the end of the school year, students have no energy left to complete difficult homework assignments. In addition, inspiration is also lacking, so there are only a few options:

• do not write a scientific work;
• write it badly;
• delegate these responsibilities to other people.

Most often, people choose the latter option, which is why companies have appeared on the Internet offering to take full responsibility.

When you visit the site, the managers clarify all the details in order to correctly design the article. They select a person who is well versed in the topic of the report and give him your task.

You will not be able to personally communicate with the writer who will do your work. This is done to ensure that all your personal data is confidential. The client, of course, can make edits, follow the writing of each section and take part in the correction, but it is impossible to communicate with the team.

Do not worry that you will not meet personally with the site team, because throughout the entire cooperation our managers will keep in touch with each client.

Customer Reviews

Write an essay from varied domains with us!

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Reviews

Customer Reviews

Finished Papers