So you’ve been saying “mercy” instead of “merci”, haven’t you? Caught in the trap of cute accents and false friends? Don’t worry — em won’t judge. Let’s clean up the mess with some lazy but smart fixes for the most common French mistakes people make. No grammar drills, no pain. Just quick wins.
🧀 1. Don’t Say “Mercy” — Say “Merci”
Let’s start with the obvious.
Wrong: “Mercy for the help!”
Right: “Merci pour l’aide !”
Lazy fix: Imagine you’re politely refusing cheese. “Mer–ci.” Soft, short, no drama. You’re not begging for your life. Just saying thanks.
🚫 2. Don’t Say “Je suis 25 ans”
Literal translation from English = disaster.
Wrong: “Je suis 25 ans.” (You’re saying you’re 25 years old… as an actual age-shaped being?)
Right: “J’ai 25 ans.”
Lazy fix: In French, you have your age like an item. Think: “I have 25 years in my pocket.” Cute, no?
🧍♂️3. Don’t Say “Je suis fini”
You might be saying you’re… dead.
Wrong: “Je suis fini.”
Right: “J’ai fini.”
Lazy fix: Use “être” (to be) for status, but “avoir” (to have) for actions. Finished your croissant? Say “J’ai fini.”Unless you’re emotionally destroyed — then yeah, “Je suis fini.”
📚 4. Don’t Say “Je besoin”
Nope. French wants more effort.
Wrong: “Je besoin d’aide.”
Right: “J’ai besoin d’aide.”
Lazy fix: Think of “need” as something you have, not something you are. Just like “I have hunger” (j’ai faim), you also “have need” — j’ai besoin.
🏫 5. Don’t Say “Je vais à école”
They love their little articles in French.
Wrong: “Je vais à école.”
Right: *“Je vais à **l’*école.”
Lazy fix: Before vowels, “à + la” becomes à l’. Just slip it in smoothly. Don’t fight the flow.
💬 6. Don’t Pronounce Final Letters
Silent letters are French’s favorite prank.
Wrong: “Comment entez-vous” (with full T and Z sounds)
Right: “Comment allez-vous ?”
Lazy fix: Final letters? Skip ’em — unless the next word starts with a vowel and needs a liaison. Just… fake the rhythm until it sounds like music.
🗺️ 7. Don’t Say “Je suis bien” When You Mean “I’m Fine”
This one’s sneaky.
Wrong: “Je suis bien.” (I’m morally good? Like… not evil?)
Right: “Je vais bien.” or “Ça va.”
Lazy fix: Don’t translate “I’m fine” directly. Just roll with “Ça va” — universal, lazy, and beautiful.
🐌 Bonus Tip: Be a Lazy Genius
You don’t need perfection. You need understanding. Keep it casual, play with sounds, and when in doubt — mimic native speakers like a parrot in Paris.
So, no more “Mercy.” Just merci, and a wink. 😏
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