The stress that falls on the last syllable in French

1. 1
   boulangerie/bulɑ̃ʒʁi/

   bakerynoun

   A shop where you buy bread.
2. 2
   croissant/kʁwasɑ̃/

   croissantnoun

   A small buttery pastry shaped like a crescent moon.
3. 3
   chocolat/ʃɔkɔla/

   chocolatenoun

   A brown sweet made from cocoa.
4. 4
   métro/metʁo/

   metronoun

   A train that runs under the city.
5. 5
   musée/myze/

   museumnoun

   A place where rare objects are shown to the public.
6. 6
   fatigué/fatiɡe/

   tiredadjective

   Needing rest.
7. 7
   désolé/dezɔle/

   sorryadjective

   Feeling regret about what is happening.
8. 8
   maintenant/mɛ̃tnɑ̃/iAlso said mɛ̃tənɑ̃.

   nowadverb

   At this very moment, not later.
9. 9
   comprendre/kɔ̃pʁɑ̃dʁ/

   to understandverb

   To grasp the meaning of something.
10. 10
    arriver/aʁive/

    to arriveverb

    To reach the place you were going.

The sentences

1. La boulangerie près du métro est déjà ouverte.

   The bakery near the metro is already open.

2. Je voudrais un croissant et un café, s'il vous plaît.

   I'd like a croissant and a coffee, please.

3. Il vous reste des pains au chocolat ?

   Do you have any pains au chocolat left?

4. Je vais manger ça dans le métro, merci.

   I'm going to eat this on the metro, thanks.

5. Pour aller au musée, je prends quelle ligne de métro ?

   To get to the museum, which metro line do I take?

6. Mon fils est très fatigué, il lui faut un chocolat.

   My son is very tired, he needs a hot chocolate.

7. Mon fils est désolé, il a fait tomber son croissant.

   My son is sorry, he dropped his croissant.

8. Je peux payer maintenant ou à la caisse ?

   Can I pay now or at the register?

9. Pardon, pouvez-vous parler plus lentement pour que je puisse comprendre ?

   Excuse me, could you speak more slowly so I can understand?

10. Le pain frais va arriver dans combien de temps ?

    How long until the fresh bread arrives?

Pronunciation

• boulangerie/bulɑ̃ʒʁi/

  The middle e is not pronounced: you hear "boulan-jrie".

• croissant/kʁwasɑ̃/

  Neither the n nor the t is pronounced: the ending sounds like "sang".

• chocolat/ʃɔkɔla/

  The final t is not pronounced.

• musée/myze/

  The u is said with rounded lips, as in "tu", never like "ou".

• maintenant/mɛ̃tnɑ̃/

  /mɛ̃tnɑ̃/: two nasal vowels and the middle e drops.

Good to know

boulangerie

A boulangerie mostly sells bread and pastries, often in the morning. Many close one day a week, and the day varies from shop to shop.

bonjour

Say bonjour when you walk in and au revoir when you leave, even if there is a queue. Starting without a greeting often comes across as abrupt.

pourboire

Service is already included in the prices, so a tip is optional. In a bakery you leave a few coins at most, and many people leave nothing.

à la caisse

Depending on the bakery, you pay at the counter to the person serving you, or at a separate till. Watch what other customers do before you take out your card.

Questions

How do you ask for a croissant and a coffee in French?

Say "Je voudrais un croissant et un café, s'il vous plaît."

What do you say if you don't understand the baker?

Say "Pardon, pouvez-vous parler plus lentement pour que je puisse comprendre ?" Comprendre means to grasp the meaning of something.

How do you ask if a bakery still has pains au chocolat?

Say "Il vous reste des pains au chocolat ?" Chocolat has a silent final t.