French Chapter 1: Greetings, Accents, Alphabet, Numbers & Gestures: 40 flashcards
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1. What is the default French greeting from morning until about 6 p.m.?
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**Bonjour**
2. Which French greeting is used in the evening?
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**Bonsoir**
3. What does **Salut** mean and when is it used?
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It means 'hi'/'bye' and is **informal** — use it with friends, peers, or people you already know.
4. Formal vs informal: how do you ask 'How are you?'
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Formal: **Comment allez-vous ?** — Informal: **Ça va ?**
5. Name the five French accent marks.
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**aigu (é)**, **grave (è, à, ù)**, **circonflexe (ê, â, î, ô, û)**, **tréma (ë, ï, ü)**, **cédille (ç)**
6. What does the **cédille** do in *ça*?
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It forces a **soft s** sound — *ça* is pronounced *sa*, not *ka*.
7. What does the **tréma** signal in *Noël*?
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It signals that the two vowels are pronounced **separately**: *no-el*, not *nwel*.
8. How is the French letter **G** named?
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**jé**
9. How is the French letter **J** named?
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**ji**
10. How is the French letter **E** named?
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**euh**
11. How is the French letter **R** named?
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**air**
12. How is the French letter **Y** named?
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**i grec**
13. List the French numbers 0–10 in order.
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**zéro, un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf, dix**
14. When do *six* and *dix* drop their final consonant?
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Before a **vowel sound** — e.g. *six ans* → *si-zan*.
15. What is the difference between *un* and *une*?
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*Un* is **masculine**; *une* is **feminine**.
16. What is the general rule for final consonants in French?
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They are usually **silent** — e.g. *petit*, *vous*.
17. What sound does **ou** make?
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**oo** (as in 'food')
18. What sound does **oi** make?
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**wa** (as in 'watt')
19. What sound does **ai** make?
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**eh** (as in 'bed')
20. What sound does **eu** make?
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A **rounded uh** sound
21. How are nasal vowels (**on, an, in, un**) produced?
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Through the **nose**, not the mouth.
22. What is special about the letter **h** in French?
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It is **always silent** — e.g. *heureux*.
23. What does the **bof** shrug mean?
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**Meh / not great** — shoulders up, palms out, lips pursed.
24. What does the **pinched fingers** gesture mean in France?
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**Perfect / excellent** — thumb and index together, hand up.
25. What is **la bise**?
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The **cheek-kiss greeting** between friends — usually two kisses, sometimes more by region.
26. When do you use **Pardon** vs **Excusez-moi**?
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**Pardon** = a small bump; **Excusez-moi** = getting someone's attention.
27. Formal vs informal: 'please'
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Formal: **s'il vous plaît** — Informal: **s'il te plaît**
28. What is the difference between **au revoir** and **à bientôt**?
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**Au revoir** = goodbye; **à bientôt** = see you soon.
29. When do you use **tu** vs **vous**?
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**Tu**: friends, family, peers, children. **Vous**: strangers, elders, teachers, and any plural.
30. Why is the alphabet called a 'repair tool'?
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It lets you **spell and fix** a misheard name, email, or address — e.g. answering *Comment ça s'écrit ?*
31. What does **Bonne nuit** mean and when is it used?
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It means 'good night' and is said **only when parting at bedtime** — never as a hello.
32. What is the French for 'How is it spelled?'
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**Comment ça s'écrit ?**
33. Why are accents not optional in French?
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They change **pronunciation and meaning** — *ecole* is a misspelling of *école*; *a* (has) vs *à* (to/at).
34. What does the **hand chop** gesture mean?
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It **emphasises a point** — chopping one hand into the other palm.
35. Give three daily-usage words from Chapter 1.
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**oui, non, merci** (also: s'il vous plaît, pardon, excusez-moi, au revoir, à bientôt)
36. What is the trap with *cinq* before a consonant?
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It **keeps its k sound** but drops it before a consonant — unlike *six* and *dix*.
37. What happens to **-ent** at the end of a French verb?
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It is **silent** — e.g. *ils parlent* sounds like *il parl*.
38. How do greetings, alphabet, and numbers combine at a café?
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*Bonjour, un café s'il vous plaît* — greeting + number + politeness word.
39. Why should the seven strands be practised together?
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Because **real conversation uses them together** — dropping one leaves a hole (e.g. you can't spell your name without the alphabet).
40. What is the register error in *Salut, comment allez-vous ?*
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It **mixes informal *Salut* with formal *allez-vous*** — the register must stay consistent.
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