In real French conversations, words get shortened, compressed and cut. That makes them faster to pronounce – but harder for you to understand!
Let’s practice and learn more about informal French pronunciation – with a test!
It’s a quiz in 3 series of 10 questions. You can follow along in the video lesson; you’ll also find the answer here, below each series of 10 questions. Keep track of your score, and: c’est parti!
QUESTIONS 1-10 – What do you hear? What does it mean?
Each question is a simple phrase – that I say with real everyday spoken French pronunciation. Listen to it on the video lesson (I use a transcription in this written recap) then pick its “correct French” (and English) meaning.
Questions:
Q1) Shépa (→ This is the sound – but not how we would write it, even in informal text)
- A) I don’t know. (Je ne sais pas.)
- B) That’s not it. (Ce n’est pas ça.)
- C) At dad’s place (Chez papa.)
Q2) Tavu
- A) You’re drunk. (Tu as bu.)
- B) Did you see that ? (As-tu vu ?)
- C) Your vision. (Ta vue.)
Q3) Yakel kin
- A) There is only one left. (Il n’y en a qu’un.)
- B) There’s someone here. (Il y a quelqu’un.)
- C) She’s in a relationship. (Elle a quelqu’un.)
Q4) Ouaichuissur
- A) Are you deaf ? (Mais est-ce que tu es sourd ?)
- B) The shoes. (Les chaussures)
- C) Yes, I’m sure. (Oui, je suis sûre.)
Q5) Tédou
- A) Where are you from? (D’où es-tu ?)
- B) You’re so talented, you’re amazing! (Tu es douée !)
- C) You’re soft and cuddly. (Tu es doux.)
Q6) Kess tufou
- A) That’s an awesome car. (C’est une caisse de fou.)
- B) This is crazy. (Ça c’est fou.)
- C) What are you doing? (Qu’est-ce que tu fais ?)
Q7) Nanchépu
- A) It stopped working. (Ça ne marche plus.)
- B) No, I can’t recall. (Non, je ne sais plus.)
- C) Stop walking now! (Ne marchez plus !)
Q8) Yan apu
- A) There’s none left. (Il n’y en a plus.)
- B) I don’t have any left. (Je n’en ai plus.)
- C) Yann stinks. (Yann, il pue.)
Q9) Tarézon
- A) There’s no time for this. (Pas le temps.)
- B) That’s your lesson, serves you right. (C’est ta leçon.)
- C) You’re right. (Tu as raison.)
Q10) Samdi rien
- A) You mean, next Saturday? (Samedi qui vient ?)
- B) It doesn’t ring a bell. (Ça ne me dit rien.)
- C) Sam, come here. (Sam, tu viens.)
Did you write down all your answers? Let’s check how many you got correct!
Answers:
Q1) Shépa → A) Je ne sais pas (= I don’t know)
In real everyday spoken French (and not the correct written French you need to learn for exams and professional emails), the “ne” almost always disappears. And then “je + s” gets smooshed into “ch” sound → “Chais pas” (
Q2) Tavu → B) Did you see that ? (= Est-ce que tu as vu ?)
In everyday French, “Est-ce que tu as vu ?” is fine, but we’d rather just add a question mark to the affirmative sentence: “Tu as vu ?” (“you’ve seen?”) Then the “u” in “tu” gets cut before a vowel → “T’as vu ?”
Q3) Ya kelkin → B) Is anyone here? (= Est-ce qu’il y a quelqu’un ?)
In everyday French, “il y a” often gets shortened into “Ya” → “Y’a quelqu’un ?”
Q4) Ouaichuissure → C) Yeah, I’m sure. (= Oui, je suis sûre.)
Ouais = informal for oui ; chuis = informal pronunciation for je suis → “Ouais, chuis sûre.”
Q5) Tédou → A) Where are you from? (= D’où viens-tu ? D’où es-tu ?)
Simple informal grammar “tu es d’où ?”, then cutting the “u” before a vowel → “T’es d’où ?” (It does sound like “T’es doux,” but people won’t be asking you that.)
Q6) Kestufou → C) What are you doing? (= Qu’est-ce que tu fais ?)
Slang French: “fous” instead of “fais” (mildly impolite.) “Kess” = casual pronunciation for “Qu’est-ce que” → “Kess tu fous ?”
Q7) Nan chépu → B) No, I can’t recall. (= Non, je ne sais plus.)
“Nan” = casual “non”. “Pu” = lazy pronunciation for “plus.” “Je ne sais” becomes “Chais” → “Nan, chais pu.”
Q8) Yen apu → A) There’s none left (= Il n’y en a plus.)
Cut the “ne” + “Ya” for “Il y a” + “pu” for “plus” → “Y’en a pu.”
Q9) Tarézon → C) You’re right (= Tu as raison)
Cut the “u” in “tu” before a vowel → T’as raison.
Q10) Samdi rien → B) It doesn’t ring a bell. (= Ça ne me dit rien.)
Cut the “ne” + cut the “e” in one-syllable pronouns → “Ça m’dit rien.”
Sometimes it’s something else, like:
a) The Perfectionist Freeze
You know a word that would work, but it’s not quite right.
For instance: you want to say “I’m excited about this trip.” You can’t remember if “excité” works here. While you’re thinking, ten seconds pass.
→ Pick “Good Enough” French, à peu près. Say something less complicated. Like “Je suis contente pour le voyage.” Yes, it’s not the perfect sentence, but you did communicate something. Then move on.
b) The Constructor Freeze
It’s when you try to build the entire sentence in your head before opening your mouth. Subject, verb, object, agreement, tense — you’re checking everything. By the time it’s ready, the moment is gone.
→ Start talking. Even if you don’t know how the sentence ends. It helps if you keep simpler sentences too. (Native speakers figure out their sentences as they go.)
c) The Panic Freeze.
You freeze because you’re afraid of freezing. The anxiety shuts everything down.
→ Relax, yes, and start speaking as well.
It’s all easy to say, harder to practice, though. Build un filet de sécurité (= a safety net) – so even if you blank completely, you have ways to keep going.
A few tools can be helpful in all the situations, so let’s build them together now.
Congrats for this series with the first ten questions! Did you keep track of your score? How many questions did you get right?
Helping you bridge the gap between written French and real spoken French: that’s what you’ll find in Comme Une Française All Inclusive. You get unlimited access to all our courses, including those that train your ear for real spoken French – the “chais pas,” “t’es d’où”, “t’as raison” version that French people actually use.
Plus live sessions with me twice a month, personalized learning paths, and a community of learners making this same shift.
If this quiz challenges you – or if you think “I should be better at this by now” – then click here to learn more about Comme une Française All Inclusive !
QUESTIONS 11-20 – What would we cut?
For each correct written French sentence: how would we pronounce it in everyday conversation? What would we cut to make it sound more informal?
Questions:
Q11) Je ne sais plus (= I can’t recall, I don’t know anymore)
- A) “Chépu”
- B) “Je n’plu”
- C) “Séplu”
Q12) Je ne trouve pas (= I don’t think so. / I can’t find it.)
- A) “Je nrouve pas”
- B) “Je ne trouve”
- C) “Chtrouve pas”
Q13) S’il te plaît (= please)
- A) Sit’play
- B) Siteup
- C) Steu play
Q14) Il y a un problème. (= There’s a problem.)
- A) Il a un problème.
- B) A un problème.
- C) Ya un blème.
Q15) Je ne peux pas venir. (= I can’t come, I can’t make it.)
- A) “J’peux pas v’nir.”
- B) “Je ne peux v’nir.”
- C) “J’peux venir.”
Q16) Est-ce que tu es prêt ? (= Are you ready?)
- A) “Es-tu prêt ?”
- B) “T’es prêt ?”
- C) “Tu prêt ?”
Q17) Ce n’est pas vrai. (= That’s not true.)
- A) “C’est pas vrai.”
- B) “Ce n’est vrai.”
- C) “C’est vrai.”
Q18) Il faut le faire. (= We have to do it.)
- A) “Y faut faire.”
- B) “Faut l’faire.”
- C) “Faut faire.”
Q19) De toute façon (= In anyway)
- A) “De touçon”
- B) “Tout’fa”
- C) “T’façon”
Q20) Ne t’inquiète pas. (= Don’t worry about it.)
- A) “Ne t’inquiète”
- B) “T’inquiète”
- C) “Inquiète pas”
Did you answer all questions? Let’s see how well you did!
Answers:
Q11) Je ne sais plus → A) “Chépu”
We also say “Chai plus” or “Je sais plus”
Q12) Je ne trouve pas → C) “Chtrouve pas”
Cut the “ne” + cut the “e” in “je” + “j” sounds like “ch”
Q13) S’il te plaît → C) “Steu plaît”
Common fast pronounciation – but we do also use the normal uncut one.
Q14) Il y a un problème. → C) “Ya un blème.”
“Il y a” becomes “Ya” + “blème” for “problème” (kind of old slang now, to be fair)
Q15) Je ne peux pas venir. → A) “J’peux pas v’nir.”
We often cut the “e” inside words (at least in “Parisian” common French)
Q16) Est-ce que tu es prêt ? → B) “T’es prêt ?”
Casual grammar for French question + cut the “u” in “tu” before a vowel
Q17) Ce n’est pas vrai. → A) “C’est pas vrai.”
Simply cut the “ne”
Q18) Il faut le faire. → B) “Faut l’faire.”
“Il faut” (it’s needed) often loses the “il”
Q19) De toute façon → C) “T’façon”
Special expression!
Q20) Ne t’inquiète pas → B) “T’inquiète”
Cut the “ne” + special expression where we also cut the “pas” !
Let’s jump to our third and final section for today!
QUESTIONS 21-40 – How would we say it?
For each sentence in English, find how a French person would actually say it in everyday spoken French.
Q21) I don’t care.
- A) M’en fous.
- B) M’enfin.
- C) J’en care pas.
Q22) I’m exhausted.
- A) Chuis crevée.
- B) Je suis exhausté.
- C) Ché fatigue.
Q23) I can’t.
- A) Jpeux pas.
- B) Je n’peux.
- C) Pas pouvoir.
Q24) Don’t worry / No big deal
- A) Pas de soucis grace.
- B) Spa grave.
- C) Grave pas.
Q25) I have to go.
- A) Je dois aller.
- B) Faut qu’j’y aille.
- C) J’y vais faut.
Q26) I don’t know what to do.
- A) Chépa quoi faire.
- B) Je sais pas faire quoi.
- C) Quoi faire chépa.
Q27) What is it?
- A) Qu’est-ce que qu’est-ce ?
- B) Quoi c’est ?
- C) C’est quoi ?
Q28) What’s wrong? / What’s the matter?
- A) “Qu’est-ce kya ?”
- B) “Kess ya ?”
- C) “Ya quoi mal ?”
Q29) I don’t know where it is.
- A) Chépa où c’est.
- B) Je ne sais pas c’est où.
- C) Où c’est chépa.
Q30) Let’s go!
- A) Allons-y.
- B) S’parti.
- C) En route mes amis !
Answers:
Q21) I don’t care → A) M’en fous.
We also say “Je m’en fiche.” or “Je m’en fous.” There are different ways to cut or pronounce casual everyday French!
Q22) I’m exhausted. → A) Chuis crevée.
“Je suis fatiguée.” or in slang “Je suis crevée.” (“deflated / punctured / dead” literally)
Q23) I can’t. → A) J’peux pas.
“Je ne peux pas”, where we drop the “ne” and cut the “e” in “Je.”
Q24) Don’t worry / No big deal. → B) “S’pa grave.”
Lazy pronunciation of “C’est pas grave.”
Q25) I have to go. → B) Faut qu’j’y aille.
Short for “Il faut que j’y aille.” (yes it’s the subjunctive tense!)
Q26) I don’t know what to do. → A) Chépa quoi faire.
Casual pronunciation for “Je ne sais pas quoi faire.”
Q27) What is it? → C) C’est quoi ?
You can ask “Qu’est-ce que c’est ?” too. Common structure for informal questions: “C’est qui ?” “C’est où ?” etc.
Q28) What’s wrong? / What’s the matter? → A) “Qu’est-ce qu’y a ?”
“Qu’est-ce qu’il y a ?” but we cut the “il” when speaking fast.
Q29) I don’t know where it is. → A) “Chépa où c’est.”
“Chépa c’est où” is youth slang, but still marginal.
Q30) Let’s go! → B) S’parti !
Casual pronunciation for “C’est parti !” – or you can say “On y va.” The other answers are too formal, we very rarely use them!
All of this to say: that’s it!
You’ve just completed all 30 questions!
So, how did you do? Count up your points:
0-10 points: This quiz just revealed exactly why you struggle with French movies and conversations! You’ve been learning written French, not spoken French. But now you know what to listen for.
11-20 points: You’re getting there! You recognize some patterns, but there’s still a gap between textbook French and real French. The good news? Now you know exactly what to focus on.
21-30 points: Bravo! Your ear is tuned to real spoken French. You understand that what people say and what’s written are two different things. Keep practicing and you’ll sound like a native in no time!
Let me know your score in the comments — and if you want more practice understanding real spoken French:
Click here to check out Comme Une Française All Inclusive.
Inside Comme Une Française All Inclusive, we teach you exactly these patterns so you can finally understand real spoken French.
À bientôt!
28 sur 30 10 + 8 + 10
Merci pour ce test.