Bonjour! Are you eager to enhance your French vocabulary? Exploring different ways to express “like this” in French can greatly improve your conversational skills. In this comprehensive guide, we will cover both formal and informal ways to convey “like this” in French, providing you with helpful tips, examples, and even a few regional variations along the way. Let’s dive in!
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Formal Ways to Say “Like This” in French
When it comes to formal situations, such as business settings or encounters with strangers, it’s essential to choose appropriate expressions. Here are some commonly used formal phrases to say “like this” in French:
- De cette façon – Use this expression to indicate “like this” in a straightforward and polite manner. For instance, “You should pronounce it like this” can be translated as “Vous devriez le prononcer de cette façon.”
- Comme cela – This is another formal expression that can be used to convey “like this” in a more refined way. For example, “He writes like this” can be translated as “Il écrit comme cela.”
Informal Ways to Say “Like This” in French
When you’re in a casual or familiar conversation, using informal expressions to say “like this” can create a more relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Here are a few informal phrases commonly used in French:
- Comme ça – This phrase is widely used in informal situations and can be a versatile way to express “like this.” For instance, “It’s done like this” can be translated as “C’est fait comme ça.”
- Comme ça, tu vois – Adding “tu vois” (which means “you see”) to “comme ça” can further emphasize the informal tone. Example: “We need to hold the racket like this, tu vois” translates to “Il faut tenir la raquette comme ça, tu vois.”
Tips and Examples
Now that you’re familiar with both formal and informal expressions, here are some additional tips and examples to provide you with a deeper understanding of how to use “like this” in French:
TIP: In French, adverbs like “bien” (well) or “vraiment” (truly) can be added before the expressions to add emphasis or clarity. For example, “You have to do it like this” can be translated as “Il faut le faire comme ça, vraiment.”
Here are a few more examples in various contexts:
- Example 1: When explaining how to pronounce a word:
English: “Pronounce the word ‘bonjour’ like this: bohn-zhoor.”
French (informal): “Prononce le mot ‘bonjour’ comme ça : bohn-zhoor.”
French (formal): “Prononcez le mot ‘bonjour’ de cette façon : bohn-zhoor.” - Example 2: When demonstrating a cooking technique:
English: “Mix the ingredients together like this.”
French (informal): “Mélange les ingrédients ensemble comme ça.”
French (formal): “Mélangez les ingrédients ensemble de cette façon.”
Remember, these examples serve as a starting point, and you can adapt them to various situations and contexts.
Regional Variations
French is spoken in various regions, each with its unique vocabulary and expressions. While the phrases mentioned above are widely understood throughout the French-speaking world, regional variations do exist. Here are a couple of examples:
- Example 1: In Quebec, “comme ça” can also be expressed as “de même.” For instance, “You have to hold it like this” can be translated as “Faut le tenir de même.” This variation is more prevalent in spoken Quebec French.
- Example 2: In some parts of southern France, “comme ça” can be replaced with “comme ça, quoi.” This variant adds the casual filler “quoi” at the end. For example, “I did it like this, quoi” translates to “Je l’ai fait comme ça, quoi.” However, this variation is less common in formal settings.
While these regional variations can add flavor to your French, they are not necessary to master the basics of expressing “like this.”
