Familiar French Expression

Meaning	Yeah, right! No way! As if! My foot!
Literally	My eye!
Register	informal
Pronunciation		[mo(n) neuy]
IPA		[mɔ̃ nœj]

Usage notes: The French exclamation mon œil ! can express two different strong reactions to a statement.

The first is incredulity, a state of disbelief in what someone just said, similar to the English expression "yeah, right!" or "pull the other one."

Par exemple…

Synonymous expressions

• arrête
• c’est pas vrai
• j’y crois pas
• mais non
• pas possible
• sans déconner
• sérieux ?

The second meaning is a flat-out refusal, along the lines of "no way!" and "not a chance" (and stronger variations).

Par exemple…

Synonymous expressions

• c’est mort
• hors de question

 Related lessons

• Mon – possessive adjective
• Œil and more parts of the body

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The French word coup has a variety of meanings related to short and often unexpected actions. It’s also found in numerous idiomatic expressions, including low blow, stroke of luck, and being worth it. Learn these and dozens of other French expressions featuring un coup.

Coup meanings

• blow
• hit
• move (chess)
• practical joke
• punch (boxing)
• shock
• shot (archery)
• stroke (sports)
• throw (dice)

Expressions with coup

 Related lessons

• Games, sports, hobbies
• Parts of the body
• On the phone

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Pronom adverbial

The adverbial pronoun en can replace a quantity, a place, or the object of the preposition de. This little word has many possible translations:

• any
• one
• some
• about it / them
• from it / them
• of it / them

Par exemple…

Using en

En most commonly replaces de plus a noun, though in certain constructions it can replace just a noun or even a phrase.

1) En with indefinite and partitive articles

En replaces an indefinite or partitive article plus a noun.

Par exemple…

Il cherche des idées. Il en cherche. J’en ai une.		He’s looking for ideas. He’s looking for some (of them). I have one (of them)
Tu manges des épinards ? Tu en manges ? J’en veux aussi.		Are you eating spinach? Are you eating some (of it) / (some of) it? I want some too.

 While the words (in parentheses) are optional in English, en is required in French: Il cherche, J’ai une, Tu manges, and Je veux are not complete sentences. The person you’re talking to would be left wondering "you have one what?" or "you want what?" despite the seemingly obvious answers. En provides an essential link to the noun in the sentence that precedes it.

2) En with numbers

En replaces the noun after a number. Note that the number itself is maintained at the end of the sentence.

Par exemple…

J’achète 5 bouteilles. J’en achète 5.     J’achète 5.		I’m buying 5 bottles. I’m buying 5 (of them).
J’ai une fille. J’en ai une.     J’ai une.		I have one daughter. I have one.

3) En with quantities

En replaces the noun after an indefinite adjective or replaces de + noun after an adverb of quantity. Again, the adjective/adverb itself is tacked on to the end of the sentence.

Par exemple…

J’ai plusieurs anoraks noirs. J’en ai plusieurs.         J’ai plusieurs.		I have several black jackets. I have several (of them).
L’hôtel a beaucoup de charme. L’hôtel en a beaucoup.         L’hôtel a beaucoup.		The hotel has a lot of charm. The hotel has a lot (of it).

4) En with places

En can replace de + a place or an adverb of place.

Par exemple…

Je rentre de Paris. J’en rentre.		I’m returning home from Paris. I’m returning home from there.
Il vient de là. Il en vient.		He’s coming from there.

4) En with verbs that need de

With French verbs that must be followed by de plus a noun, en can replace de + that noun:

Par exemple…

Que pensez-vous de cette décision ? Qu’en pensez-vous ?         Que pensez-vous ?		What do you think about this decision? What do you think (about this)?
J’ai besoin d’un stylo. J’en ai besoin.         J’ai besoin.		I need a pen. I need one / it.

5) En with clauses

En can also refer back to a preceding sentence or clause.

Par exemple…

6) En in set phrases

 En is also a preposition.

 Related lessons

• Y – adverbial pronoun
• PwLF super list of adverbial pronoun lessons
• Direct object pronouns
• Indirect object pronouns
• Word order with double pronouns
• Adverbs of place
• Adverbs of quantity
• Indefinite adjectives
• Numbers
• All about en
   

 In italiano

• Ne (particella)
   

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French Expression

Meaning	at the bottom, back, end; deep down
Register	normal
Pronunciation		[oh fo(n)]
IPA		[o fɔ̃]

Usage notes: The French expression au fond means at/in/to the bottom, back, or end of something.

Par exemple…

It can also be figurative.

Par exemple…

Informal synonym: dans le fond

 Related lessons

• À fond
• Prepositional phrases

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If you want to start learning French from the bottom up, you’ve come to the right place! Lawless French for Beginners is a self-study course divided into 30 loosely themed units consisting of grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation lessons; cultural tips; and assorted listening exercises and quizzes along the way. Keep reading for some info and advice on making the most of this course, or go straight to the lessons.

How to learn French

Each unit is in the form of a checklist with links to online lessons and other resources. I recommend spending at least a week but no more than a month on each unit: study/practice each item in the list and then go back through them again more quickly to cement your learning before moving on to the next unit. And of course you can go back to an earlier unit any time you like.

More tips: How to learn French online

Offline alternative

Take a look at my French Workbook for Dummies, filled with lessons and practice exercises.

Practice is essential

Studying is just the first step – you have to practice what you’re learning as much as possible. As a beginner, you might not feel comfortable diving into conversations with native speakers, so how about an AI chatbot? It speaks and understands like a native speaker, but it never gets bored!

Getting serious

If your self study isn’t going fast enough for you, consider hiring a French tutor. They’ll be able to work with you to concentrate on exactly what you want to learn and what you have the most trouble with.

Are you really a beginner?

If you’re not an absolute beginner, I recommend you take at least one of these free proficiency tests in order to figure out where you are:

• French proficiency test (CEFR levels A1 and A2)
  The answers page includes a link to the relevant lesson for each question.
   
• Progress with Lawless French (all levels)
  After taking the placement test, you’ll receive a level assessment and personalized study plan.

Also try Frantastique – this fun program uses comics and videos to tell the story of a pair of aliens who bring Victor Hugo back to life and help him navigate this strange new world.
 

Units

1. Greetings, introductions, nouns, verbs, alphabet
2. Politeness, social niceties, definite articles, subject pronouns, –er verbs, vowels
3. Essential French, tu vs vous, present tense, the letter I
4. Numbers, il y a, avoir (to have), the letters A and O
5. Telling time, c’est / il est, indefinite articles, the letter E
    
6. Calendar, être (to be), –ir verbs, the letter U
7. Dates, good-bye, aller (to go), accents
8. Weather, faire (to do, make), adjectives, the letter H
9. Food, partitive articles, pouvoir (to be able to), nasal vowels
10. Feelings, easy questions (est-ce que), negation, consonants
     
11. Family, drinks, preposition de, recent past (venir de), the letters B and D
12. Body, toiletries, reflexive verbs, the letter C
13. Clothes, colors, hard questions (inversion), the letters F and P
14. Descriptions, à, stem-changing verbs, the letter G
15. Home and furniture, possessive adjectives, vouloir (to want), the letter K
     
16. School, office, adverbs, devoir (to have to), the letter J
17. Transportation, questions, savoir vs connaître (to know), the letter Q
18. Directions, demonstrative adjectives, –re verbs, the letter L
19. Personality, prepositions, dormir-partir-sortir, the letters M and N
20. Professions, passé composé, auxiliary verbs, the letter R
     
21. Ordinal numbers, coordinating conjunctions, imperfect, the letters S and T
22. Fractions, passé composé vs imparfait, the letters V and W
23. Hobbies, direct objects, dire-écrire-lire, the letter Y
24. Shopping, shops and businesses, indirect objects, imperative, the letter Z
25. Weights and measures, adverbial pronoun y, future tense, silent letters
     
26. Restaurant, adverbial pronoun en, conditional, liaisons
27. Nationalities, subordinating conjunctions, past perfect, enchaînement
28. Languages, à vs de, infinitive, e instable
29. On the phone, stressed pronouns, present participles, elisions
30. Dishes and silverware, comparatives, superlatives, contractions

Et voilà ! Follow the above for a thorough grounding in beginning French, then use the links below to continue your studies. Bonne continuation !
 

 Useful resources

• Beginning French lessons and reading/listening
• Explanation of CEFR levels
• Find a French tutor
• French Workbook for Dummies
• Independent study
• Progress with Lawless French
• Relearning French
• Verb conjugations
   

 En español

• Spanish for beginners
   

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