French · Intermediate (B1) · Chapter 7 of 12
Culture and traditions
Culture et traditions
Explain a tradition with on for people in general, and link ideas with the relative pronouns qui, que, où and dont.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Explain a custom or a tradition
- Use on for people in general
- Link sentences with qui, que, où and dont
Listen
In January, in an office in Paris, Nathalie explains the galette des rois to Tom, a young English colleague who has just started. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Tom
Nathalie, qu'est-ce que c'est, ce gâteau ?
Nathalie, what's this cake?
Nathalie
C'est une galette des rois. En France, on la mange en janvier, pour l'Épiphanie.
It's a galette des rois. In France we eat it in January, for Epiphany.
Tom
Ah, c'est la galette dont tu m'as parlé la semaine dernière ?
Oh, is it the galette you told me about last week?
Nathalie
Oui. Ici, elle est faite avec de la frangipane. Et à l'intérieur, on cache une fève.
Yes. Here it's made with frangipane. And a fève is hidden inside.
Tom
Une fève ? Qu'est-ce que c'est ?
A fève? What's that?
Nathalie
C'est une petite figurine. La personne qui la trouve dans sa part devient le roi ou la reine, et elle porte une couronne.
It's a little figurine. The person who finds it in their slice becomes the king or queen and wears a crown.
Tom
Et on choisit sa part ?
And do you choose your slice?
Nathalie
Non, c'est le plus jeune qui décide. Il se met sous la table et il dit pour qui est chaque part.
No, the youngest person decides. They get under the table and say who each slice is for.
Tom
Alors aujourd'hui, le plus jeune, c'est moi ?
So today, the youngest is me?
Nathalie
Exactement. Allez, sous la table !
Exactly. Go on, under the table!
Tom
Oh, regarde : la fève est dans ma part !
Oh, look: the fève is in my slice!
Nathalie
Bravo, voici ta couronne. Dans le bureau où je travaillais avant, le roi achetait toujours la prochaine galette…
Well done, here's your crown. In the office where I used to work, the king always bought the next galette…
Understand
On: people in general
You know as the everyday “we”. It can also mean “people in general”, “you” or “they”: (In France, people eat the galette in January). … means “people say that…”.
To say how something is usually done, French can also use a reflexive verb: (The galette is eaten in January). and mean “it's done” and “it isn't done”: they tell you what is polite.
- En France, on mange la galette en janvier.In France, people eat the galette in January.
- On dit que c'est une très vieille tradition.People say it's a very old tradition.
- Ça se mange chaud ou froid.It's eaten hot or cold.
- Ça ne se fait pas.It isn't done.
Qui, que, où, dont
You know (for the subject) and (for the object) from A2: . is for a place or a time: (the office where I used to work), (the day when I arrived). English says “when”, but French says .
replaces + something. Use it with verbs and phrases that take : , , , . becomes (the galette you told me about).
English often leaves the relative pronoun out (“the galette you told me about”). French never does.
| Pronoun | Replaces | Example |
|---|---|---|
| the subject | ||
| (qu') | the object | |
| a place or a time | ||
| + something |
More in the grammar: Subject pronouns: je, tu, il, elle, on, nous, vous, ils, elles · Relative pronouns: qui, que, où, dont · The passive: être + past participle · Lequel, auquel, duquel: relative pronouns after a preposition
New words
- le gâteaucake · plural:
- la galette des roiskings' cake, eaten in January
- dontthat, which, whom (for *de* + something) · : the galette you told me about
- la frangipanefrangipane · a cream made with almonds ()
- à l'intérieurinside
- cacherto hide
- la fèvesmall figurine hidden in the galette · literally “broad bean”, which was used in the past
- la partslice, share
- devenirto become · like : ; passé composé with
- le roi / la reineking / queen
- la couronnecrown
- le plus jeune / la plus jeunethe youngest · : young
- se mettreto go, to get (into a position) ·
- chaqueeach, every
Practise
1.“The galette you told me about.” Which is correct?
2.Complete with , , or .
It's the month when people eat the galette.
3.Complete with , , or .
The person who finds the fève becomes the king or queen.
4.What does mean?
5.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.It's the office where I used to work.
6.Match the French with the English.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
Qu'est-ce que c'est, ce gâteau ?
What's this cake?
Listen, then say it out loud, as close to the recording as you can.
Check
Five questions on this chapter. Then mark it as finished to add its words to your review deck.
0 of 5 answered.