Learning how to say school classes in French can greatly enhance your communication skills in a francophone environment. Whether you’re a student planning to study in a French-speaking country or simply interested in expanding your vocabulary, this guide will provide you with a variety of formal and informal ways to express different subjects. While there may be some regional variations, we will focus on the most commonly used terms. So, let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Formal Ways to Say School Classes
When it comes to formal settings, it’s important to use appropriate vocabulary to convey your message respectfully. Here are some formal alternatives to refer to school classes:
- Les cours – This is the most general and widely used term for school classes in French. It encompasses a variety of subjects. For example, “J’ai cinq cours aujourd’hui” means “I have five classes today.”
- Les matières – This term is mainly used to refer to academic subjects. For instance, “Je suis fort en mathématiques” means “I am strong in mathematics.”
- Les disciplines – Similar to “les matières,” this emphasizes the disciplinary aspect of the subjects. It’s common to say “Les disciplines scientifiques” for “Scientific disciplines.”
- Les enseignements – This term puts emphasis on the act of teaching. For example, “J’ai besoin de prendre un enseignement de français” means “I need to take a French class.”
Informal Ways to Say School Classes
Informal speech allows for more casual expressions. While these might not be suitable for formal environments, they are commonly used among friends and peers:
- Les cours (pronounced “les cour”) – Just like in formal language, “les cours” can also be used informally. For example, “J’ai des cours de géographie aujourd’hui” means “I have geography classes today.”
- Les matières scolaires (pronounced “les maa-tee-air sko-lair”) – This phrase is a more descriptive way to refer to school subjects when speaking with friends. For instance, “Les matières scolaires m’ennuient” means “School subjects bore me.”
- Les trucs à l’école (pronounced “les tru-kah l’é-cole”) – In a casual conversation, you can use this expression to refer to school classes. For example, “Je déteste les trucs à l’école le lundi” means “I hate school stuff on Mondays.”
Examples
To further clarify how these terms can be used, take a look at the following examples:
Formal: J’ai des cours de français tous les jours. (I have French classes every day.)
Informal: J’ai des cours de français tous les jours. (I have French classes every day.)
Formal: J’adore les matières scientifiques. (I love scientific subjects.)
Informal: Je kiffe les matières à fond ! (I really like subjects!)
Formal: Les disciplines me poussent à me dépasser. (The subjects push me to exceed myself.)
Informal: Les matières me mettent la pression. (Subjects stress me out.)
Regional Variations
While the terms mentioned above are widely used in French, it’s important to note that there might be some regional variations. For instance, in Québec, some people refer to school subjects as “les branches” (pronounced “les bransh”) or “les matières scolaires” (pronounced “les maa-tee-air sko-lair”). It’s always interesting to discover these regional differences, but for general understanding, the terms mentioned earlier should suffice.
Now that you have a variety of options at your disposal, you can confidently express yourself when discussing school classes in French. Remember to adapt your vocabulary based on the formality of the situation. Bonne chance!
