How To Say I Dont Speak French In French

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Over 220 1000000 people speak French,^[one] so chances are you will run across 1 of them some day. If yous meet a French person and you haven't a clue what they're proverb to you, it helps to let them know chop-chop that you don't speak their language. Y'all can exercise this by using some simple phrases, or via non-verbal communication.

1. 1

   Say "Je ne parle pas français." This means, "I do non speak French."^[2] It is pronounced: "Juh nuh pahrl pah frahn-say" (French speakers often go out out the "ne" in a negative sentence, or more than commonly, slide information technology into the first discussion like "zhun" instead of "juh nuh". Even so, in writing ever include the "ne").

   • If you speak a petty French and desire to tell the person that, yous can say: "Je parle juste un peu français." This is pronounced: "Juh pahrle joost united nations puh frahn-say." Information technology translates to, "I speak just a little fleck of French."
   • Say: "Je suis désolé." This ways only, "I'm deplorable," and tin be combined with non-verbal gestures to communicate a lack of understanding. This is pronounced: "juh swee day-zo-lay."
   • If you're feeling aggressive (and polite), you lot tin can combine this with the previous footstep, proverb "Je suis désolé, je ne parle pas francais." This is pronounced: "juh swee day-zo-lay, juh nuh pahrl pah frahn-say." This means, "I'm sorry, I don't speak French."^[3]

2. ii

   Say "Je ne comprend pas." This ways, "I do not understand." ^[4] It is pronounced "Juh nuh comprahnd pah." This is less preferable to saying "Je ne parle pas français," because the French person might misunderstand what y'all mean and endeavour to explain what they said past speaking more French! Notwithstanding, if you tin't remember "Je ne parle pas français," "Je ne comprend pas" is better than nothing.

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3. 3

   Inquire the other person if they speak your language. If you permit the person know what language you do speak, they will know you don't speak French, and y'all may exist able to communicate if the other person in another language. Say "Parlez-vous..." (pronounced "parlay-voo" This means, "Exercise y'all speak...."^[5] Here are the French words for some other languages:

   • Anglais (pronounced "ahng-glay"): English
   • Espagnol (pronounced "esspanyoll"): Spanish^[half-dozen]
   • Japonais (pronounced "japonay"): Japanese^[vii]
   • Allemand (pronounced "allaymon"): German^[8]
   • Arabe (pronounced "ahrahbuh"): Arabic^[ix]

4. 4

   Ask for assist. If you are in a French speaking country and are lost or otherwise need help, y'all may need to ask for assistance while communicating that yous don't speak French. You can say a couple of things in this state of affairs:

   • "Pouvez-vous m'aider? Je ne parle pas français." ways, "Can you help me? I don't speak French." It is pronounced, "Poo-vay voo meh-day? Juh nuh pahrl pah frahn-say."^[10]
   • "Je suis perdu. Je ne parle pas français" ways "I'1000 lost. I don't speak French." It is pronounced, "Ju swee pair-doo. Juh nuh pahrl pah frahn-say."^[xi]

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1. 1

   Shrug your shoulders. If someone tries to speak French to you and you can't recall any of the phrases to a higher place, y'all may need to communicate your disability to undersand not-verbally. Shrugging your shoulders is a nearly universal gesture for indicating a lack of cognition or agreement.^[12]

   • Shrugging your shoulders can also have a connotation of apology, indicating regret for your disability to understand.

2. 2

   Utilize your confront. In improver to shrugging, you can make a confused face to show a lack of understanding. Asymmetrical facial expressions are often understood every bit a sign of confusion.^[13]

   • For example, raising i countenance while lowering the other is often interpreted as a sign of defoliation.

3. 3

   Gesture with your hands. Turn your palms up while raising your hands from your sides too indicates uncertainty or defoliation.^[xiv] Simply don't get also enthusiastic with your gestures. You lot don't desire to appear aggressive or be rude.

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  "Je m'appelle Bill."

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• Add French to your MP3 or iPod actor; acquire wherever y'all get. In that location are plenty of free downloads in many languages.

• Learning a new language tin be tough, merely it's very beneficial. Get to your local bookstore and look for a phrase volume in French if you'd like to learn more.

• Utilize sites such as WordReference to help you acquire basic French words.

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Article Summary X

To say "I don't speak French" in French, say "Je ne parle pas français." Alternatively, use "Je ne comprend pas," which ways "I don't sympathise." If you lot're lost or need assistance, you tin add something like "Pouvez-vous m'aider?" earlier "Je ne parle pas français," which means "Tin y'all help me? I don't speak French." You tin can also endeavour asking the other person if they speak your linguistic communication. For case, you tin say "Parlez-vous anglais?" to ask "Do you speak English?" To learn more than, like how to use gestures and facial expressions to point y'all don't speak French, read on!

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