French course

Lesson 18 of 240

New here? This is lesson 18 of a free 240-lesson French course.

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One cup, one bowl in French

Sam is back at Café des Tilleuls, still new at the counter. The chalkboard is up, but he has not read it yet.

Gaspard already knows what to say. He orders bread and jam for Sam, kind as ever.

Odile still waits for Sam to speak for himself.

By the end, you will order a juice, a water, some bread, some jam, some croissants, and a little more of something.

By the end of this lesson

Order a drink and some food at the café.

  • Un jus d'orange.An orange juice.
  • Une eau.A water.
  • Du pain.Some bread.
  • De la confiture.Some jam.
  • Des croissants.Some croissants.
  • Encore un peu de ___.A little more ___.

Scene — he has not read the board

Same café on rue des Tilleuls. Sam stands at the zinc counter. The chalkboard is still a blur to him.

Odile waits with her glasses on the chain. Gaspard sits at the table next to the window table, croissant in reach, café crème unfinished.

The window table stays empty, blank brass sign in place.

A wide morning view of the café with Sam at the zinc, Odile waiting behind it, and Gaspard at the table beside the empty window table.

Learn — a juice and some bread

Six short lines cover a juice, a water, some bread, some jam, and some croissants.

You also get a little more of something, ready for Odile.

  1. A medium two-shot of Sam at the zinc reaching toward a tall glass of orange juice while Odile waits behind the counter.

    Un jus d'orange.

    An orange juice.

    When to use it: Say this at the café when you want orange juice.

    Learn it as one piece for one juice.

    Say it: The n in un is not pronounced separately.

  2. A close-up of Sam’s hands closed around a carafe of water on the zinc.

    Une eau.

    A water.

    When to use it: Say this when you want a bottle of water.

    Learn it as one piece for one water.

    Say it: The n in une is pronounced before eau.

  3. An over-the-shoulder view past Odile as Sam lifts a basket of sliced bread and Gaspard leans in from the next table.

    Du pain.

    Some bread.

    When to use it: Say this when you want some bread with a meal.

    Learn it as one piece for some bread.

    Say it: The vowel in pain is nasal; the n is not said on its own.

  4. A low-angle shot of Sam leaning over the zinc toward small jars of jam.

    De la confiture.

    Some jam.

    When to use it: Say this when you want some jam for your bread.

    Learn it as one piece for some jam.

    Say it: The last e in confiture is silent.

  5. A high-angle view of Sam opening both hands toward a plate of croissants while Gaspard sits at the next table.

    Des croissants.

    Some croissants.

    When to use it: Say this when you want more than one croissant.

    Learn it as one piece for some croissants.

    Say it: The final s in croissants is silent.

  6. A profile of Sam holding out a small dish as Odile spoons a little more jam into it.

    Encore un peu de ___.

    A little more ___.

    When to use it: Say this when you want a little more of something.

    Learn it as one piece, then add the food.

Story — he orders first

Watch Gaspard order bread and jam for Sam. Odile still wants to hear Sam speak.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. The chalkboard is up. Sam has not read it.
  2. OdileBonjour.Hello.
  3. SamBonjour.Hello.
  4. Odile waits. Gaspard leans in from the next table.
  5. GaspardDu pain. De la confiture.Some bread. Some jam.
  6. Odile looks at Sam. She still wants him to speak.
  7. SamUn jus d'orange.An orange juice.
  8. SamUne eau.A water.
  9. GaspardDes croissants.Some croissants.
  10. Gaspard glances at the jam. His café crème stays full.
  11. SamEncore un peu de confiture.A little more jam.
  12. SamMerci.Thank you.

Practice — juice or water

Ten quick exercises wait here. You will listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What does it mean?

    Une eau.

  3. What do you say?

    You want some bread. Odile is waiting for your order.

  4. Fill the gap

    Some jam.

    De la ____.

  5. Build the line

    Some croissants.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  6. Pick the reply

    Odile says:

    Vous voulez encore un peu de confiture ?

    Do you want a little more jam?

    And you reply with:

  7. Swap the word

    You want one orange juice, not some.

    ____ jus d'orange.

  8. Match the pairs

    French

    Un jus d'orange.Drop the English here
    Une eau.Drop the English here
    Du pain.Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its French, or tap one and then the other.

  9. What do you say?

    You walk into the café. Odile looks at you and waits.

  10. True or false?

    This line orders a water.

Say it — place the order

Now you are Sam at the counter. When it is your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. OdileBonjour.Hello.
  2. Sam (you)Order an orange juice.

    Un jus d'orange.

    An orange juice.

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

FrenchEnglish
Un jus d'orange.An orange juice.
Une eau.A water.
Du pain.Some bread.
De la confiture.Some jam.
Des croissants.Some croissants.
Encore un peu de ___.A little more ___.
Next: lesson 19Order breakfast

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these orders handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your café orders ready.

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