How to say “I don’t speak French” in French
If you are visiting a French-speaking country or simply trying to communicate with French-speaking individuals, it’s important to know how to express that you don’t speak the language. The phrase “I don’t speak French” in French can be translated as “Je ne parle pas français.”
Let’s break down this phrase:
- “Je” is the subject pronoun for “I”.
- “ne” is a negative particle that is placed before the verb.
- “parle” is the first person singular form of the verb “parler,” which means “to speak.”
- “pas” is another negative particle that is placed after the verb.
- “français” is the French word for “French.”
So when you put it all together, “Je ne parle pas français” literally translates to “I not speak French.”
It’s also important to note the word order in this phrase. In French, the subject pronoun typically comes before the verb, and the negative particles come before the verb as well.
If you are looking for a more polite way to express this, you can say “Excusez-moi, je ne parle pas français très bien.” (Excuse me, I don’t speak French very well.) This way, you are not only stating that you don’t speak French, but also expressing your apology for any inconvenience this may cause.
In conclusion, knowing how to say “I don’t speak French” in French can be very useful for traveling or communicating with French-speaking individuals. With a little practice, you’ll be able to use this phrase with confidence.
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