Improve Your French: Common Mistakes to Avoid for Expats

Improving your French is a goal shared by many expats. Whether you're a beginner or at an advanced level, mastering the language is crucial, but it's also important to avoid common pitfalls that can hinder your progress. As a French as a Foreign Language (FLE) teacher, I often encounter these mistakes, even among experienced learners. Fortunately, there are simple solutions to avoid these frequent errors and speed up your French learning!

In this article, I’ll highlight the most common mistakes in French that you should absolutely avoid in order to progress more efficiently.

1. The Mistake with Age Expression: "Je suis 30 ans"

Mistake to avoid: "Bonjour, je m’appelle Jérôme, je suis 30 ans."

Correct usage: "Bonjour, je m’appelle Jérôme, j’ai 30 ans."

One of the main pitfalls in French is the expression of age. In French, we use the verb avoir (to have) to talk about age, not the verb être (to be). This mistake is common, especially among English speakers, because in English, we use to be to express age.

Correct examples:

• J'ai 30 ans (I am 30 years old)

• Tu as 31 ans (You are 31 years old)

• Il/elle/on a 32 ans (He/she/one is 32 years old)

• Nous avons 33 ans (We are 33 years old)

• Vous avez 34 ans (You are 34 years old)

• Ils/elles ont 35 ans (They are 35 years old)

  
  

2. The Mistake When Talking About Where You Live: "à ma maison"

Mistake to avoid: "Je rentre à ma maison."

Correct usage: "Je rentre chez moi."

In French, to talk about your home, we use the phrase chez moi (not à ma maison). This is a common error among learners, but it’s important to know that we say chez soi or chez quelqu'un d'autre. For example:

• "Je vais chez ma grand-mère." (I’m going to my grandmother’s house.)

• "Je vais chez mon collègue." (I’m going to my colleague’s house.)

  
  

3. Using an Article Before a Profession

Mistake to avoid: "Je suis un avocat."

Correct usage: "Je suis avocat."

In French, you don’t need to use an article in front of a profession, unless there’s an adjective describing it. For example: "Je suis un excellent avocat" (I’m an excellent lawyer).

4. Using the Verb "Visiter" with a Person

Mistake to avoid: "Je visite mon ami."

Correct usage: "Je rends visite à mon ami." / "Je vais voir mon ami."

The verb visiter in French is reserved for places, not people. You can say:

• "Je visite Paris" (I’m visiting Paris)

• "Je visite le musée du Louvre" (I’m visiting the Louvre Museum) but you should never say "Je visite mon ami." Instead, use rendre visite à (to visit someone), or say je vais voir (I’m going to see):

• "Je rends visite à mon ami" (I’m visiting my friend)

• "Je vais voir mon ami" (I’m going to see my friend).

  
  

5. Misuse of the Verb "Exciter"

Mistake to avoid: "Je pars en vacances demain, je suis excitée !"

Correct usage: "Je pars en vacances demain, j’ai hâte !"

The verb exciter in French has a stronger connotation and may even evoke sexual ideas in certain contexts. It’s better to use the expression avoir hâte to express impatience, like in: "J’ai hâte de partir en vacances." ("I can’t wait to go on vacation.")

Note: In some regions of France, particularly in the southwest, people also use Il me tarde instead of j’ai hâte: "Il me tarde de partir en vacances." ("I can’t wait to go on vacation.")

Conclusion: Correct Your Mistakes to Improve Your French

By avoiding these common mistakes, you’ll be able to improve your command of the French language and speak more naturally. Being aware of these traps is already a big step toward better understanding and fluency in French. If you’d like to make rapid progress, feel free to practice regularly and reach out to me for more personalized advice!