French idiomatic expressions worksheet
Introduce your students to French idiomatic expressions used around the world. This worksheet includes 12 expressions from various Francphone countries. Challenge your students to provide a literal translation, then guess the meaning behind each expression.
1. Haiti
Piti piti zwazo fè nich li.
2. Belgique
At’ n’aise, on a tout le temps.
3. Sénégal
Conduire dans des tablettes de chocolat.
4. Côte D’Ivoire
Avoir son coeur qui est tombé dans son caleçon.
5. France
Avoir le mal du pays.
6. Martinique
Trop presé pa ka fé jou ouvé.
7. La Réunion
Y fait pas la boue avant la pluie.
8. Suisse
Y’a pas le feu au lac.
9. Guadeloupe
Chacun sait ce qui cuit dans sa marmite.
10. Canada
Y’a pas d’quoi sauter au plafond.
11. Cameroun
Sauter et caler en l’air.
12. France
Il fait un froid de canard
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Veronique Silverman
You have a photo of Mont Saint Michel in France for Canada # 10. And a French expression: Il fait un froid de canard, that does not correspond to the expression below the photo that says “Ya pas de quoi sauter au plafond”, which is definitely a Canadian expression.
Julia
Thank you for catching that, Veronique. You’re right! We’ve udpated the image to reflect what is in the activity worksheet and answer key. Merci!
Joel Metellus
In Haiti, we don’t say “awazo”, the word for bird is either “Wazo” or “Zwazo”.
Joel Metellus
Julia
Thank you for the catching this, Joel! We have updated it accordingly.