Do French accent marks really matter or are they merely decorative? We learned from previous lessons that, yes, accents do matter. They are essential for clarity, grammar, and pronunciation in French. This is especially true for pairs of words that look and sound nearly identical. A single, tiny accent mark—easily overlooked—is all that distinguishes their meanings. To help you avoid some common mistakes, we will walk you through some of the most frequently used "accentonyms", such as ou (or) and où (where).

Two of these “accentonyms” are the shortest words in the French language: a and à. Without an accent, a is the third-person singular of avoir (to have) in the present tense, as in il/elle a (he /she has):

Elle a des répliques cultes

She has some famous lines

Caption 20, Français avec Nelly How to Speak Like Marie Antoinette - Part 1

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With an accent grave, à is a preposition meaning "at," "in," or "to":

Alors qu'est-ce qu'il s'est passé à Paris le quinze avril deux mille dix-neuf ?

So what happened in Paris on April fifteenth, two thousand nineteen?

Caption 14, Français avec Nelly L'histoire de Notre-Dame de Paris - Part 1

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On a similar note, do not confuse the feminine definite article la (the) and the adverb of location là (there). They might even appear within a single sentence as shown in the example below, so be sure to spell them correctly: 

Et... là où en fait tu vois la perspective de la Dame de fer, la tour Eiffel.

And... where you actually see the perspective of the Iron Lady, the Eiffel Tower.

Captions 31-32, Marie et Sandra Atelier d'art - Part 26

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Speaking of location, note the difference in meaning between ou (or) and où (where). Don’t forget to add an accent grave on the u to indicate “where” you are or are going:

Et où est-ce qu'on va ?

And where are we going?

Caption 11, Extr@ Ep. 11 - Les vacances - Part 8

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And use the unaccented ou (or) when discussing alternatives: 

Ce virus ou cette pandémie, pour être plus précis, a une envergure mondiale aujourd'hui.

This virus, or this pandemic, to be more precise, now has a worldwide scope.

Captions 19-20, Lionel L La pandémie

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Let’s move on to a different accent, the accent circonflexe (circumflex accent), which can modify all five vowels (â, ê, î, ô, û). For example, the words du (some) and dû (due/must have) have different meanings. The French indefinite article du means “some” in English:

D'abord, prenez du chocolat et faites-le fondre.

First, take some chocolate and let it melt.

Captions 3-4, Extr@ Ep. 5 - Une étoile est née - Part 7

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With an accent circonflexe, dû becomes a past participle (of devoir, "to have to/must") expressing causation or probability:

Ça a dû lui prendre un peu la tête.

It must have given her a bit of a headache.

Caption 33, Français avec Nelly How to Speak Like Marie Antoinette - Part 1

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Likewise, be sure to know the difference between these two very common words: the preposition sur (on) and the adjective sûr (sure).

Cette pluie sage et heureuse / Sur ton visage heureux

That wise and happy rain / On your happy face

Captions 32-33, Le saviez-vous? "Barbara" de Jacques Prévert

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Déjà d'une, on n'est pas sûr de vieillir, hein.

First of all, already, we aren't sure we'll reach old age, you know.

Caption 15, Télésonne Micro Trottoir : Bien vieillir ?

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Circumflex accents don’t affect pronunciation when modifying the vowels u or i. However, in addition to a change of meaning, there is a change in pronunciation with accented ê, â, and ô, providing an additional clue as to their spelling. For example, the unaccented o in notre (our) has a more open, shorter sound than the accented ô in le nôtre (ours). Listen carefully to the two examples below, as the difference is subtle:

Pour notre dernière étape, il faut suivre ce câble.

For our last stop, we have to follow this cable.

Captions 77-78, TF1 Info Week-end à Angers et son trésor médiéval - Part 2

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Ce frère, c'est le nôtre.

This brother, he is ours.

Caption 4, Le saviez-vous? Les pronoms possessifs - Part 2

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The accented ô in le nôtre (ours) has a deeper, longer sound. When in doubt, remember that the adjective notre precedes the noun it modifies, whereas the possessive pronoun le nôtre stands alone.

Likewise, listen for the subtle difference between the more open and shorter-sounding unaccented a, as in tache (stain), and the longer, deeper accented â in tâche (task):

Le plafond du cabinet était couvert d'une tache d'environ soixante-dix centimètres de diamètre.

The ceiling of the office was covered with a stain about seventy centimeters in diameter.

Captions 83-85, Le Jour où tout a basculé À l'audience - Mise en danger par un médecin ? - Part 4

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Pour vous faciliter la tâche

To make the task easier for yourself

Caption 145, Whoogy's Poulet au vin jaune & aux morilles - Part 1

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Finally, here is an example featuring an accent aigu (acute accent) that will change both pronunciation and meaning. Notice how such a tiny accent can make all the difference in the words sale (dirty) versus salé (salty). 

L'eau était s'... sale.

The water was d'... dirty.

Caption 42, Marie et Sandra Atelier d'art - Part 18

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C'est un peu salé. 

It's a bit salty. 

Caption 24, Mère & Fille Cuisine Monster

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We hope this lesson vous a facilité la tâche (made your task easier) and will help you avoid common mistakes in the future. For a more comprehensive list of “accentonyms,” check out this site. Thank you for reading!

The French have an appreciation for quality living. The enjoyment of fine food, wine, and life’s simple pleasures are an essential part of French culture. Hence the abundance of French terms—such as bon vivant, gourmet, gourmand, connaisseur and more—that capture this ethos. Many of these expressions have filtered into the English language, highlighting the influence of French culture and values. 

Some of these terms are loanwords and are left as is. In France people who enjoy food fall into two broad categories, gourmet and gourmand. Both words convey the idea of enjoying food but in a slightly different way. A gourmet has a more refined taste than a gourmand, who may not have the same knowledge or might enjoy food to excess, especially sweet food:

Ou que vous soyez gourmet ou gourmand, je vous propose aujourd'hui de faire des crêpes

Or whether you're a gourmet or gourmand, today I propose that you make crêpes

Captions 2-3, Le saviez-vous? Comment faire des crêpes

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As a noun, when referring to people, "gourmand" and "gourmet" are considered loanwords and are usually not translated. However, when used as adjectives, they take on different meanings in English depending on context. In this video, la Bretagne gourmande refers to “the foodies of Brittany," which is a more specialized meaning:

Difficile alors d'échapper au Marché des Lices à Rennes; c'est comme si toute la Bretagne gourmande s'y retrouvait.

It's difficult then to escape the Lices Market in Rennes; it's as if all the foodies of Brittany were there.

Captions 4-5, Le Journal Gourmet en Bretagne

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Usually though, the adjective gourmand/gourmande simply refers to someone with a sweet tooth:

Je suis pas très gourmand...

I don't have much of a sweet tooth...

Caption 12, LCM Recette: Crêpes

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In addition, the adjective gourmand can also apply to food itself to mean “delicious.” In his cooking series Whoogy’s, Hugo uses the word gourmand to describe one of his tasty creations, une crème méga gourmande (a mega-tasty cream): 

Pour une crème méga gourmande, on va utiliser de la crème.

For a mega-tasty crème, we're going to use cream.

Captions 34-35, Whoogy's Crème brûlée facile & ultra-onctueuse

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In another video, Hugo describes his mushroom gnocchi dish using this simple phrase: C’est gourmand. Interestingly, gourmand translates as “gourmet” in English here, conveying the idea that Whoogy’s dish is not only delicious but refined:

C'est bon. C'est gourmand.

It's good. It's gourmet.

Captions 9-10, Whoogy's Gnocchis maison faciles (champignons & parmesan)

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Speaking of delicious food, each region of France offers its own variety of gourmandises (treats or delicacies). In this video, a shopkeeper will tempt you with une gourmandise called a madeleine: 

À savoir, une gourmandise, un magnifique gâteau qui est déjà assez ancien et qui se nomme la "madeleine".

Namely, a sweet treat, a magnificent cake that is quite old already and that is called the "madeleine".

Captions 23-25, Lionel La boutique de madeleines de Liverdun - Part 1

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Une gourmandise can also mean a “delicacy” that is not necessarily sweet:

Des gourmandises de toutes sortes vous attendent dans cette épicerie fine.

All kinds of delicacies await you in this delicatessen.

Une gourmandise has a synomym, une friandise. Une friandise more often describes a treat for grownups, although that’s not always the case. In this video, Saint-Nicolas is in charge of giving out friandises to good children:

C'est pour ça qu'il fait le tour, euh... -Des écoles -Des écoles pour donner... des friandises.

This is why he is doing a tour of, uh... -Schools -Schools to give... treats.

Caption 3, Grand Lille TV Focus: la tradition de Saint-Nicolas

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Here is an interesting quote from Mazouz Hacène contrasting the word gourmandise (gluttony) and friandise (delicacy):

Ne sois pas la gourmandise des hommes mais la friandise d’un homme.

Be not the gluttony of men but the delicacy of one man.

Indeed, the word gourmandise spells pleasure and indulgence. When discussing different types of wine in France, this winegrower makes an interesting distinction between vins de garde (wines to keep) and vins de gourmandise (wines to indulge in):

Et ça, c'est plus un vin de garde alors que le "Dentelle" était plus un vin... de gourmandise à boire rapidement.

And this is more of a wine to keep, while the "Dentelle" was more of a wine... to indulge in, to drink quickly.

Captions 17-18, Provence Domaine Rouge-Bleu - Part 1

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Speaking of indulgence, the term "guilty pleasure" comes to mind, but the French prefer to call it a “cute sin” (un péché mignon), sans guilt:

Ça a toujours été mon péché mignon, avec le vin et le fromage.

It's always been my guilty pleasure, along with wine and cheese.

Caption 22, Le Village de la Bière Ceci n'est pas un bar!

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In fact, there is a special word in French and English for people who know how to enjoy life to the fullest. They are called bons vivants (literally, "good living"). According to Merriam-Webster, a bon vivant is "a sociable person who has cultivated and refined tastes especially with respect to food and drink.” According to this video, there is no shortage of bons vivants in the Burgundy region:

Dijon est l'une des capitales de la gastronomie française. Et ses habitants sont réputés pour être de bons vivants. On adore manger ici en Bourgogne.

Dijon is one of the capitals of French gastronomy. And its inhabitants are known for being bons vivants. We love to eat here in Burgundy. 

Captions 73-78, TF1 Info Week-end à Dijon, capitale des ducs de Bourgogne - Part 1

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And people who know a lot about food and wine especially are connaisseurs (with an a—don't let autocorrect change it to the English spelling “connoisseur” when writing in French!). In this humorous video, wannabe cook Isabelle leaves it to un connaisseur to judge her dubious entry in a cooking competition:

C'est un connaisseur, lui.

He's a connoisseur.

Caption 78, Mère & Fille Cuisine Monster

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Finally, here is one expression that is often used in anticipation of a delicious meal:

On va se régaler.

We're going to enjoy it [It's going to be delicious].

Caption 57, Sophie et Patrice Les ustensiles de cuisine

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Sample some of Yabla's food-related videos and learn how to prepare some gourmandises (delicacies). In no time, you will become a connaisseur! Régalez-vous! 

The French language has a wide range of fun and colorful expressions toutes faites (set expressions) involving parts of the body. Some of these coincide with English ones, but most of the time, it's necessary to find equivalents. Let's look at a few of these expressions in this lesson.

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But first, Manon and Clémentine will explain what expressions toutes faites are:

Expressions toutes faites. Qu'est-ce que c'est ? Ce sont des phrases ou des locutions qui ont une tournure assez imagée et qui sont souvent très difficiles à traduire.

Set expressions. What is that? These are sentences or phrases that have a rather colorful phrasing and that are often very difficult to translate.

Captions 2-4, Manon et Clémentine Expressions toutes faites

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Manon and Clémentine then give us a variety of examples, some of which involve parts of the body like l’œil (the eye). Be careful not to take this one literally: to have un compas dans l’œil (a compass in one’s eye) is not as painful as it sounds. Metaphorically speaking, it means having a knack for assessing measurements accurately just by looking:

Manon a le compas dans l'œil...

Manon has the compass in her eye [can measure things by sight]...

Caption 10, Manon et Clémentine Expressions toutes faites

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Or you could gauge distance with your nose, à vue de nez (literally, "by sight of nose")! That’s how Clémentine goes on to describe Manon’s guessing abilities:

Elle le fait à vue de nez.

She does it by sight of nose [roughly, at a glance].

Caption 14, Manon et Clémentine Expressions toutes faites

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However, Manon does not think Clémentine’s statement is much of a compliment, as the expression implies measuring somewhat inaccurately. So, Manon tells Clémentine she is mistaken, using the expression se mettre le doigt dans l’œil (literally, "to put one's finger in one's eye"):

Mais moi je pense que tu te mets le doigt dans l'œil quand tu dis « à vue de nez ».

but me, I think that you're putting your finger in your eye [entirely mistaken] when you say "by sight of nose."

Caption 17, Manon et Clémentine Expressions toutes faites

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Being good friends, they are not going to argue about finer points like that and prefer to avoid couper les cheveux en quatre (literally "splitting hairs in four"):

Bon, ne commence pas à couper les cheveux en quatre !

OK, don't start splitting hairs!

Caption 19, Manon et Clémentine Expressions toutes faites

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Speaking of things to avoid, it’s best not to mettre les pieds dans le plat (to put one's feet in the dish). This is roughly equivalent to "to put one's foot in one's mouth," or to speak too bluntly. Barbara decides to risk doing this by telling her mother that she's a bad cook:

Il était grand temps que je mette les pieds dans le plat.

It was high time that I put my feet in the dish [put my foot in my mouth, risk offending her].

Caption 7, Mère & Fille Cuisine Monster

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There is another expression using pied (foot). If you wake up in a bad mood, or get up on the wrong side of the bed, this is what you can say in French:

Et « se lever du pied gauche » ? -C'est être mécontent, de mauvaise humeur.

And "to get up on one's left foot"? -That's to be unhappy, in a bad mood.

Caption 45, Manon et Clémentine Expressions toutes faites

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A person in a bad mood is likely to be a pain in the neck, or un casse-pieds ("feet breaker"):

Mais tu es casse-pieds aujourd’hui !

But you’re a pain in the neck today!

A similar expression is un casse-tête ("head breaker"). When something is so difficult (like, say, French grammar) that it gives you a headache, you can call it un casse-tête. In this video, we learn that the production of too many books can be un casse-tête (a headache) for a bookstore:

Une production très importante en France de livres qui est plutôt une bonne chose, mais qui est parfois un casse-tête...

A very significant production of books in France, which is rather a good thing, but which is sometimes a headache...

Captions 19-21, Gaëlle Librairie "Livres in Room"

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Un casse-tête is also the word for a puzzle or brain-teaser:

J'aime faire des mots croisés et d'autres casse-tête.

I like doing crossword puzzles and other brain-teasers. 

Exploring French expressions should hopefully be neither un casse-pieds (a pain) nor un casse-tête (a headache)! You can learn some more expressions toutes faites (set expressions) in the rest of Manon and Clémentine’s lesson and remember that our Yabla videos are a great source of interesting expressions as well. Thank you for reading!