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Heading to the Euros? Here's all the French you need*

*Almost.

HEADING OVER TO France for the Euros?

You lucky sod.

We reckon you’re going to need a few words of French to get by. And if your school French is a bit rusty, your knowledge of verb conjugation not so plus-que-parfait (pun definitely intended), then we’ve got you covered. Pas de sweat, mon ami.

Here is your totally comprehensive and entirely practical guide to talking the talk like a true blue Francophone during Euros 2016.

(Just don’t blame us if your vocab gets you in hot water… Or, er, eau chaude)

1. First things first

French: Excusez-moi – une baguette avec poulet près d’ici, s’il vous plait? J’ai une gueule de bois

English: Please sir, the nearest chicken fillet roll? I have a hangover

Meaning: An invaluable phrase for the morning after Ireland romps home with a stunning victory and you’ve had one or two glasses of fine vin rouge too many. Oh well, we can but dream…

oulet Flickr Flickr

2. Sweet little lies

French: Nous ne sommes pas si incompétent en Irlande

English: We’re not this bad at home

Meaning: Not sure we’re going to cod anyone with this little line, whether you’re saying it in English, French, Greek, Zulu or whatever you’re having yourself.

giphy Giphy Giphy

3. The universal bonding phrase

French: L’abitre est un con

English: That ref is a pox

Meaning: Just like scribbling in the air is the official and universal sign language for ordering the bill (or l’addition to you), bonding with a fellow soccer fan over the ref is a total rite of passage when you travel to support your country. Sweden may be against us, and we’re against Sweden, but everyone is against the ref.

the most fabulous referee you'll ever see - Imgur

4. Fine dining

French: Mon bifteck n’est pas cuit – c’est toujours rose

English: This steak isn’t cooked, it’s still pink

Meaning: And let’s not even go there with the offensive stereotypes about frog legs and garlic snails. Oh wait. Forget we said anything.

pomme The only food-related vocab you'll need, tbh Imgur Imgur

5. Sweet dreams are made of this

French: Nous rêvons tous d’une équipe de Gary Breens

English: We all dream of a team of Gary Breens

Meaning: It may not rhyme in translation, but damn it – it’s still true.

shiner9999 / YouTube

6. #COYBIG

French: Nous faison partie de L’Armée de Jackie

English: We’re all part of Jackie’s Army

Meaning: Self-explanatory. If this song doesn’t bring a hot, salty tear to your eye, then we’d like to inform you that your Ireland jersey is being confiscated. And you know what? Your passport is being revoked as well.

almery1916 / YouTube

7. And when all else fails…

If it all goes a bit pear shaped and you don’t feel your Gallic charm flowing, just go with the funniest sounding word in French you can think of. In our opinion, this is definitely “pamplemousse” – which means “grapefruit”. It’s worth a shot, right?

PAMPLEMOUSSE HIM, REF!

pample Giphy Giphy

Got any other invaluable Franglais vocab you want to send our way? On y va – let us know dans the comments…

Bonne chance to the boys in green!

CityJet are the official airline partner of the Football Association of Ireland. Want to win two flights to anywhere on the CityJet network? Just click here to enter.

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27 Comments
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    Mute Kevin Higgins
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    Feb 27th 2014, 7:48 PM

    Shatter resign now

    119
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    Mute Kevin Higgins
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    Feb 27th 2014, 7:48 PM

    Callinan resign now

    110
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    Mute Were Jammin
    Favourite Were Jammin
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    Feb 27th 2014, 7:54 PM

    Between the GSOC affair and the McCabe dossier, if there was no cover up going on, then 3 months out from the local elections this government should be falling over themselves to be seen to spearhead the push for an open and independent investigation into all of these matters.

    Instead, we have a ‘review’ and an investigation into whenther an investigation is needed.

    It stinks, and the damage it has done to public perception of our institutions of law and order for the sake of protecting the minister and commissioner is truly sickening.

    100
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    Mute Kevin Higgins
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    Feb 27th 2014, 7:49 PM

    McCabe for commissioner

    97
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    Mute Colette Kearns
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    Feb 27th 2014, 7:59 PM

    Maurice McCabe will be the only 1 to suffer here, Shitter & co will never be beaten.

    94
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    Mute Kevin
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    Feb 27th 2014, 8:10 PM

    In the end your right.

    36
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    Mute Gearoid O Machain
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    Feb 27th 2014, 9:14 PM

    correct cos the people of ireland sat back and let it all happen instead of demanding justice and the right thing be done!! shame on us all for continually giving these corrupt fcukers a free pass to keep screwing the good left in the country!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    41
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    Mute Colette Kearns
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    Feb 27th 2014, 7:51 PM

    A LOT OF €€€€€€€€€

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    Mute Johnny Merren
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    Feb 27th 2014, 8:10 PM

    “When a finger points at the moon, the imbecile looks at the finger”.
    Confusius
    Think, finger = whistle blower
    imbecile = MINISTER.

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    Mute Barry Burke
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    Feb 27th 2014, 8:02 PM

    ‘Whether it is considered desirable in the public interest for the Government to establish a commission of investigation’. These words kinda sum up the get out clause. Whitewash, I’ve heard there is quite an abundance around Merrion Square

    41
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    Mute Gearoid O Machain
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    Feb 27th 2014, 9:15 PM

    the people of ireland should be out on the streets demanding an end to all this diversionary bullshit, spin, lies, corruption etc.

    instead our responce is

    32
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    Mute Gearoid O Machain
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    Feb 27th 2014, 9:17 PM

    carry on as normal lads cos we’re never going to say enough is enough, get as powerful and dirty as ye like, don’t even bother to hide it anymore cos we all know what’s going on, tis great craic, please sir, can i have some more!!

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    Mute Mindfulirish
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    Feb 27th 2014, 9:36 PM

    Maurice Mc Cabe for President as he is the only one with integrity. The commissioner has no place to go. Why is it in Ireland nobody resigns? I bet he may retire soon and ride off with both satchels full of cash. If he were fired he may even face prosecution. Shatter could face the same but I doubt it.

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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Feb 27th 2014, 10:10 PM

    Interesting to note Shatter will not be interviewed. From statements he has made to the Dail and in public I would have thought he has all the facts and figures to help this investigation….

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    Mute John Hartigan
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    Feb 27th 2014, 10:21 PM

    Seems shatter has shit on kenny and co

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    Mute Mary Griffin
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    Feb 27th 2014, 11:29 PM

    And after all that – when the Taoiseach gets the report – what then????

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