Talking About Nationality in French
Welcome back!
So far you’ve learned:
✓ Greetings
✓ Introductions
✓ How to ask someone’s name
✓ How to ask “How are you?”
✓ Numbers 1 to 10
✓ Yes, No, Please and Thank You
Today we’ll learn how to tell people where we’re from.
By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to:
- Ask someone where they are from
- Say where you’re from
- Understand basic nationalities
- Have a simple introductory conversation
Let’s begin! Click on the video below…
1. Where Are You From?
The most common way to ask someone where they are from is:
D’où venez-vous ?
Pronunciation:
Doo veh-nay voo
Meaning:
Where are you from?
Example:
D’où venez-vous ?
Where are you from?
2. I Am From…
To answer, say:
Je viens de…
Pronunciation:
Zhuh vee-an duh
Meaning:
I come from…
Examples:
Je viens d’Angleterre.
I come from England.
Je viens de France.
I come from France.
3. England
L’Angleterre
Pronunciation:
Lon-gluh-ter
Meaning:
England
Example:
Je viens d’Angleterre.
I come from England.
4. France
La France
Pronunciation:
La Fronce
Meaning:
France
Example:
Je viens de France.
I come from France.
5. Scotland
L’Écosse
Pronunciation:
Lay-koss
Meaning:
Scotland
Example:
Je viens d’Écosse.
I come from Scotland.
6. Wales
Le Pays de Galles
Pronunciation:
Luh Pay duh Gal
Meaning:
Wales
7. Ireland
L’Irlande
Pronunciation:
Leer-lond
Meaning:
Ireland
8. Nationalities
If you’re English:
Je suis anglais.
Meaning:
I am English.
If you’re English and female:
Je suis anglaise.
Meaning:
I am English.
9. More Nationalities
French male:
Je suis français.
French female:
Je suis française.
Scottish male:
Je suis écossais.
Scottish female:
Je suis écossaise.
10. Simple Conversation
Person 1:
Bonjour.
Person 2:
Bonjour.
Person 1:
Comment vous appelez-vous ?
Person 2:
Je m’appelle Sarah.
Et vous ?
Person 1:
Je m’appelle David.
D’où venez-vous ?
Person 2:
Je viens d’Angleterre.
Et vous ?
Person 1:
Je viens de France.
11. Practice Time
Read these aloud:
Je viens d’Angleterre.
Je viens de France.
Je viens d’Écosse.
Je suis anglais.
Je suis française.
Repeat them three times.
12. Real-Life Example
Imagine you’re meeting someone on holiday.
Bonjour.
Bonjour.
Comment vous appelez-vous ?
Je m’appelle Tony.
D’où venez-vous ?
Je viens d’Angleterre.
Simple and useful!
Quick Practice
Translate these into French.
- Where are you from?
- I come from England.
- I come from France.
- I am English.
- I am French.
Answers:
- D’où venez-vous ?
- Je viens d’Angleterre.
- Je viens de France.
- Je suis anglais.
- Je suis français.
Mini Challenge
Can you say:
My name is ________.
I come from ________.
In French?
Example:
Je m’appelle Tony.
Je viens d’Angleterre.
Excellent!
Lesson Summary
Today you learned:
D’où venez-vous ? = Where are you from?
Je viens de… = I come from…
L’Angleterre = England
La France = France
Je suis anglais = I am English
Je suis français = I am French
You can now tell people where you’re from and ask them where they’re from too.
In Lesson 7 we’ll learn how to talk about our family.
As per usual, here is the FREE DOWNLOAD of today’s lesson!