Phrasebook
Missed a French word? Ask for the detail and keep going
Practise French recovery phrases for a missed place, time, word meaning or spelling. Short exchanges show how to confirm the gap and continue.
- A2
- 14 phrases
- 4 situations
- Learn this in the A2 notebook →
In short
Keep following the sentence, then ask for the detail you missed. Tu peux répéter le lieu ? checks a place; ça veut dire quoi ? checks a meaning. Keep what you understood: “meet in front of a place, then go to the café” is enough to ask a focused question.
1
The place was unclear
You caught the plan and the next activity. Ask for the meeting place.
Your conversation partnerOn se retrouve devant la bibliothèque, puis on va au café ensemble.We’ll meet outside the library, then go to the café together.
YouTu peux répéter le lieu du rendez-vous ?Can you repeat the meeting place?
Your conversation partnerDevant la bibliothèque.Outside the library.
YouD’accord, devant la bibliothèque. À tout à l’heure !All right, outside the library. See you shortly!
2
The time needs checking
Give the two possibilities you actually heard, then wait for the answer.
YouTu as dit quinze heures ou seize heures ?Did you say three or four?
Your conversation partnerQuinze heures. On commence à quinze heures précises.Three. We start at three o’clock exactly.
YouMerci, je note quinze heures.Thanks, I’m noting three o’clock.
3
You heard the word, but need its meaning
Your conversation partnerJe passe au dépanneur avant de rentrer.I’m stopping at the corner shop before going home.
YouUn dépanneur, ça veut dire quoi ici ?What does that word mean here?
Your conversation partnerAu Québec, c’est une petite épicerie de quartier.In Québec, it’s a small neighbourhood grocery shop.
4
Ask for spelling politely
Your conversation partnerLe rendez-vous est au nom de Morel.The appointment is under the name Morel.
YouVous pouvez épeler le nom, s’il vous plaît ?Could you spell the name, please?
Your conversation partnerOui : M-O-R-E-L.Yes: M-O-R-E-L.
YouMerci, c’est noté.Thank you, I’ve noted it.
Recognise the place you need to check
Find:
| Your gap | Ask for |
|---|---|
| You missed the place name. | The place again. |
| You heard a word but do not know it. | Its meaning in this context. |
| You need to write a name accurately. | The spelling. |
| You heard two possible times. | Confirmation of the actual time. |