New here? This is lesson 147 of a free 240-lesson French course.
Talking about luck in French
Sam, Karim and Gaspard walk up the hill toward the quiet paths above the 11th.
Karim talks about everyday luck. He says the postcard brings good luck. Gaspard touches wood and then says nothing more.
By the end, you'll keep your voice down, talk about good and bad luck, and ask if a friend believes those stories.
This walk is about small superstitions, not a religious visit.
By the end of this lesson
Talk about everyday luck on a quiet walk.
- On parle doucement.Let's keep our voices down.
- Touche du bois.Touch wood.
- Je croise les doigts.I'm crossing my fingers.
- Ça porte bonheur.That brings good luck.
- Ça porte malheur.That brings bad luck.
- Tu crois à ces histoires ?Do you believe those stories?
Scene — up the hill
A quiet afternoon on the hill above rue des Tilleuls. Sam walks with Karim and Gaspard on a stone path under the trees.
Few people are out. Gaspard uses the path like a sidewalk and keeps his café crème unfinished, as always.
Karim is sure the old postcard brings luck. The window table is still empty back at the café.
Learn — luck and a quiet voice
Six short lines cover a quiet voice, touching wood, crossing your fingers, and good or bad luck.
You'll also ask a friend if they believe those stories.
On parle doucement.
Let's keep our voices down.
When to use it: Use this on a quiet path or in a calm place.
On here means we, the people walking together.
Say it: The t in doucement is silent.
Touche du bois.
Touch wood.
When to use it: Say this when you hope bad luck will stay away.
It is a set phrase; say the three words together.
Say it: The e at the end of Touche is silent.
Je croise les doigts.
I'm crossing my fingers.
When to use it: Say this when you hope something will go well.
Je is for you as the speaker; others would change the start.
Ça porte bonheur.
That brings good luck.
When to use it: Say this about a thing you think brings good luck.
Ça points at the thing; bonheur is the good-luck word.
Say it: The on in bonheur is a nasal sound.
Ça porte malheur.
That brings bad luck.
When to use it: Say this about a thing you think brings bad luck.
Same shape as the good-luck line; only the last word changes.
Tu crois à ces histoires ?
Do you believe those stories?
When to use it: Ask a friend if they believe talk like this.
Tu is for a friend; with a stranger you would use vous.
Say it: The s in ces links into histoires.
Story — he touches wood
Watch the three of them on the quiet hill path. Karim talks luck. Gaspard touches wood and then goes quiet.
The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.
- A quiet path up the hill. Stone walls, trees, and almost no one else.
KarimOn parle doucement.Let's keep our voices down.
SamC'est calme.It's quiet.- Karim means the old postcard behind the bar. He does not say who wrote it.
- KarimÇa porte bonheur.That brings good luck.
GaspardTouche du bois.Touch wood.- Gaspard taps the bench with one hoof. He says nothing more.
- SamTu crois à ces histoires ?Do you believe those stories?
- KarimOui, j'y crois. Je croise les doigts.Yes, I believe it. I'm crossing my fingers.
- SamBonne chance.Good luck.
- A cat slips across the path. Karim laughs under his breath.
- KarimÇa porte malheur.That brings bad luck.
- SamJe ne sais pas.I don't know.
Practice — good luck or bad
Eleven quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.
They stay on this walk, so the round stays focused.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
Touche du bois.
What do you say?
What do you say?
You hope the rest of the walk goes well. Cross your fingers to show it.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
That brings good luck.
Ça porte ____.
Build the line
Build the line
Let's keep our voices down.
.
Tap the words in order.
Swap the word
Swap the word
A cat crosses the path. Say that this brings bad luck.
Ça porte ____.
Match the pairs
French
Ça porte bonheur.Drop the English hereÇa porte malheur.Drop the English hereTouche du bois.Drop the English hereJe croise les doigts.Drop the English hereEnglish
Pick the reply
Karim says:
Pick the reply
La carte, ça porte bonheur.
The card, that brings good luck.
And you reply with:
True or false?
True or false?
This line means the place is quiet.
What do you say?
What do you say?
Karim is hoping the postcard story stays kind. Wish him luck.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
I don't know
Je ne ____ pas.
Say it — say it softly
Now you are Sam on the quiet hill path. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.
Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.
- KarimOn parle doucement.Let's keep our voices down.
- Sam (you)Agree, and keep the volume low.
Agree, and keep the volume low.
On parle doucement.
Let's keep our voices down.
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| French | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| On parle doucement. | Let's keep our voices down. | |
| Touche du bois. | Touch wood. | |
| Je croise les doigts. | I'm crossing my fingers. | |
| Ça porte bonheur. | That brings good luck. | |
| Ça porte malheur. | That brings bad luck. | |
| Tu crois à ces histoires ? | Do you believe those stories? |
Save your progress — it’s free
Keep your place in the course and see which lines you’ve learned.
Want the next lesson in your inbox?
Get the next lesson by email, one a day.
Join the newsletterDaily lesson emails are coming soon. Newsletter subscribers get them first.
Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Want to keep these luck lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.
A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps these luck lines ready for a quiet walk.
Open Yak Cards