Coffee Break French

How to ask a question in French: 3 ways explained 25.05.2026 7min

There are three main ways to ask a question in French, and the one you choose depends on how formal you want to sound. In this episode, Max walks you through rising intonation, est-ce que and inversion, and shows you how to combine each one with question words like où, quand and comment. By the end, you'll be ready to ask just about anything in French!➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this episode.➡️ To receive regular free mini-lessons like this straight to your inbox, visit: https://coffeebreaklanguages.kit.com/newsletter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1 verb, 5 meanings: how French speakers really use 'prendre' 11.05.2026 6min

Max walks you through five essential uses of "prendre", one of the most flexible verbs in French. You'll see why French uses "prendre" for ordering food and drinks, for catching transport, for illness ("j'ai pris froid"), for the very French structure "prendre quelqu'un pour quelqu'un", and for talking about duration. Which meaning surprised you the most?➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this episode.➡️ Want more tips like these delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free newsletter: https://coffeebreaklanguages.kit.com/newsletter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stop translating: 5 English phrases French people say differently 27.04.2026 6min

Max breaks down five everyday English phrases that work completely differently in French, from "I miss you" and "I'm cold" to "it makes sense". Along the way, he explains why word-for-word translation leads learners astray and shows you the more natural French alternatives. Which of these have you been getting wrong?➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this episode.➡️ Want more tips like these delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free newsletter: https://coffeebreaklanguages.kit.com/newsletter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

7 everyday French expressions you won't find in a textbook 13.04.2026 6min

Max breaks down seven essential French words and expressions you'll hear every day in France but probably never learned in a textbook. You'll hear them in context, explore real-life examples, and understand the subtle nuances behind each one. Which one will you start using straight away?➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this episode.➡️ Get free mini-lessons and language tips every week by signing up to our newsletter: https://coffeebreaklanguages.kit.com/newsletter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scenes Season 2 | Chapter 10: Oui et encore oui 23.03.2026 25min

Welcome back to Chez Nico - our charming French café, where the aroma of fresh coffee lingers, conversations flow, and life unfolds around every table. In this immersive series, we follow a compelling story set in a local café and help you build your language skills naturally through storytelling. The café is at the heart of another unforgettable event and this day will be remembered by everyone. Dans ce dixième chapitre, Bastien et Tanguy célèbrent leur PACS et les amis lèvent leurs verres à l’amour et à l’avenir. Des décisions importantes sont prises et de nouvelles rencontres se profilent.Get ready for the 10th and final episode of Scenes from the Coffee Break French Café Season 2. Installez-vous confortablement et profitez de cette belle conclusion.Want to take your learning further? Click here to access support materials and get more out of each chapter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scenes Season 2 | Chapter 9: Casting et cœur brisé ? 16.03.2026 23min

Welcome back to Chez Nico - our charming French café, where the aroma of fresh coffee lingers, conversations flow, and life unfolds around every table. In this immersive series, we follow a compelling story set in a local café and help you build your language skills naturally through storytelling. Sometimes joy and worry mix together and emotions run high Chez Nico. Dans ce neuvième chapitre, Aurore doit prendre une décision importante pour sa carrière et Fifi se demande ce que l’avenir leur réserve. Pendant ce temps, Romain apporte une nouvelle qui mérite d’être fêtée. Scenes Season 2 Chapter 9 is now available. Installez-vous confortablement et profitez de l’histoire.Want to take your learning further? Click here to access support materials and get more out of each chapter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scenes Season 2 | Chapter 8: Un nouvel uniforme 09.03.2026 27min

Welcome back to Chez Nico - our charming French café, where the aroma of fresh coffee lingers, conversations flow, and life unfolds around every table. In this immersive series, we follow a compelling story set in a local café and help you build your language skills naturally through storytelling. The café regulars never miss an opportunity for a friendly comment and today there is something new to talk about. Dans ce huitième chapitre, Jérôme commence sa tournée de facteur et raconte ses premières impressions. Jacques et Dominique réfléchissent à l’hiver qui approche.Scenes Season 2 Chapter 8 is now available. Prenez votre café et profitez de l’histoire.Want to take your learning further? Click here to access support materials and get more out of each chapter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scenes Season 2 | Chapter 7: Bonnes nouvelles en vue 02.03.2026 30min

Welcome back to Chez Nico - our charming French café, where the aroma of fresh coffee lingers, conversations flow, and life unfolds around every table. In this immersive series, we follow a compelling story set in a local café and help you build your language skills naturally through storytelling. Some mornings start better than others and today is full of good surprises. Dans ce septième chapitre, Ségolène et Jérôme reçoivent de très bonnes nouvelles qui vont changer leur été. Il est temps de sortir le champagne ! Installez-vous avec votre café et profitez de la suite de l’histoire.Want to take your learning further? Click here to access support materials and get more out of each chapter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scenes Season 2 | Chapter 6: Où est passé Milou ? 23.02.2026 24min

Welcome back to Chez Nico - our charming French café, where the aroma of fresh coffee lingers, conversations flow, and life unfolds around every table. In this immersive series, we follow a compelling story set in a local café and help you build your language skills naturally through storytelling. Today the café is full of concern when one of the regulars faces a sudden worry. Dans ce sixième chapitre, Monique cherche désespérément son chien tandis que les amis du café s’organisent pour l’aider. Retrouveront-ils Milou à temps ? There’s only one way to find out!Want to take your learning further? Click here to access support materials and get more out of each chapter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scenes Season 2 | Chapter 5: Entretiens, extras et poulets 16.02.2026 22min

Welcome back to Chez Nico - our charming French café, where the aroma of fresh coffee lingers, conversations flow, and life unfolds around every table. In this immersive series, we follow a compelling story set in a local café and help you build your language skills naturally through storytelling. There is a lot happening Chez Nico today, with exciting news and more customers than expected. Dans ce cinquième chapitre, Romain raconte comment s’est passé son entretien tandis qu’Aurore se prépare à travailler davantage au café. Les choses se bousculent mais Nico garde le sourire.Want to take your learning further? Click here to access support materials and get more out of each chapter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scenes Season 2 | Chapter 4: Un congé pluvieux 09.02.2026 23min

Welcome back to Chez Nico - our charming French café, where the aroma of fresh coffee lingers, conversations flow, and life unfolds around every table. In this immersive series, you’ll follow a compelling story set in a local café and build your language skills naturally through storytelling. Even when the weather is grey, Chez Nico stays warm and welcoming.Dans ce quatrième chapitre, les clients bravent la pluie et de nouvelles amitiés se créent autour de crêpes et de gaufres. Mais tout le monde n’est pas de bonne humeur… Scenes Season 2, Chapter 4 is now available. Prenez votre café et profitez de la suite de l’histoire.Want to take your learning further? Click here to access support materials and get more out of each chapter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scenes Season 2 | Chapter 3: Un spectacle de haut vol 02.02.2026 25min

Welcome back to Chez Nico - our charming French café, where the aroma of fresh coffee lingers, conversations flow, and life unfolds around every table. In this immersive series, you’ll follow a compelling story set in a local café and build your language skills naturally through storytelling. Between special visitors and a very popular event, there is never a dull moment Chez Nico.Dans ce troisième chapitre, le village se vide pour un spectacle aérien impressionnant. Pendant ce temps, Bastien et Tanguy finalisent les préparatifs pour leur grande journée.Scenes Season 2 Chapter 3 is now available. Installez-vous confortablement et profitez de la suite de l’histoire. Want to take your learning further? Click here to access support materials and get more out of each chapter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scenes Season 2 | Chapter 2: Le mal du pays 26.01.2026 25min

Welcome back to Chez Nico - our charming French café, where the aroma of fresh coffee lingers, conversations flow, and life unfolds around every table. In this immersive series, we follow a compelling story set in a local café and help you build your language skills naturally through storytelling.Some days are more emotional than others and today Nico lends an ear to a friend who is feeling down.Dans ce deuxième chapitre, Ségolène se confie sur ce qui la préoccupe tandis que Jacques et Dominique doivent faire face à un gros problème. Comment tout cela va-t-il se terminer ?There’s only one way to find out! Chapter 2 is now available. Prenez votre café et profitez de la suite de l’histoire.Want to take your learning further? Click here to access support materials and get more out of each chapter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scenes Season 2 | Chapter 1: Une nouvelle carrière 19.01.2026 25min

Welcome back to Season 2 of Scenes from the Coffee Break French Café!If you joined us in Season 1 then you will already be familiar with Chez Nico - our charming French café, where the aroma of fresh coffee lingers, conversations flow, and life unfolds around every table. In this immersive series, you’ll follow a compelling story set in a local café and build your language skills naturally through storytelling.We're back with a second series, where life Chez Nico is full of surprises! In this first chapter, one of the regulars has some very good news to share. Find out more in Chapter 1! Installez-vous avec votre café et profitez de la suite de l’histoire. Want to take your learning further? Click here to access support materials and get more out of each chapter. Our 10-lesson premium course includes access to:Chapter textAudio discussionLesson notes / transcript featuring additional examplesVocabulary listsExercisesInteractive quizzes to check your understandingDownloadable files for offline useLifetime access to all lessons Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A French Christmas Eve dinner | A Coffee Break with Max 15.12.2025 6min

Join us for a new mini Coffee Break French lesson in between seasons as we dive into one of the most delicious parts of the festive season: the French Christmas Eve dinner! 🎄🍽️In this episode, you’ll hear about some of the traditional dishes enjoyed at Max’s family table on le réveillon de Noël: from oysters and snails to turkey, red wine, cheese, and of course the classic chocolate Yule log. 🍷🧀🍫➡️ Want more French insights like this? Subscribe to the Coffee Break French newsletter and get regular content straight to your inbox! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Christmas markets look and feel in France | A Coffee Break with Max 08.12.2025 7min

We’re back with another Coffee Break French espresso lesson, and this time we’re taking a stroll through one of the most atmospheric parts of the season: les marchés de Noël! 🎄In this episode, you’ll discover what you’re likely to find at Christmas markets across France, from the smell of roasted chestnuts and mulled wine to sweet crêpes and waffles, and the cosy stalls selling wooden toys, winter hats, scarves and gloves. It’s the perfect episode for getting into the holiday spirit while improving your French.✨ To receive regular free mini-lessons like this straight to your inbox, subscribe to the Coffee Break French Newsletter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The tradition of Saint Nicolas | A Coffee Break with Max 03.12.2025 6min

We’re back with a new mini Coffee Break French lesson, and this time we're exploring a charming tradition that marks the start of the festive season in parts of Europe! 🎄✨In this episode, you’ll learn all about what happens on le 6 décembre in the North and East of France, as well as in Switzerland, Belgium and Luxembourg. It’s a lovely cultural insight and a great opportunity to pick up festive French vocabulary along the way! ➡️ Want more bite-sized French lessons? Subscribe to the Coffee Break French newsletter and get new content straight to your inbox! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coffee Break French - All You Need To Know 17.11.2025 41min

Join Mark and Max for this special episode of Coffee Break French, where we're talking about something a bit different.We receive emails and messages all the time asking us "where should I start?", so we thought we'd answer that in this episode. We share details about how Coffee Break French first started back in 2007 - and all of the French resources we have released since then.We hope you enjoy hearing about the history of Coffee Break, with a few secrets revealed along the way!The links mentioned at the end of this episode are listed below: Find out more about Coffee Break French hereAccess our full range of French courses on the Coffee Break AcademyLearn more about Coffee Break TV herePlease note that the secret link mentioned was part of our Black Friday 2025 promotion which has now ended. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Silent but powerful: the French H explained | A Coffee Break with Max 10.11.2025 10min

Join Max for a coffee break in which he will guide you through one tricky point of French pronunciation: the difference between h muet (silent h) and h aspiré (aspirated h). 🤔You’ll learn how words like l’homme (the man) link smoothly thanks to a silent h, while words like le héros 🦸 (the hero) create a pause because of the aspirated h. With clear examples and simple explanations, this lesson will help you recognise the difference and sound more natural when speaking French.✅Subscribe to the Coffee Break French newsletter for more content like this! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bonus Episode: Clues Explained - La Grande Chasse au Trésor 04.11.2025 9min

We're back with a special bonus episode of the Great Coffee Break Treasure Hunt! Join us for a detailed explanation of this year's Treasure Hunt clues. Sit back, relax and enjoy listening to this episode on your next coffee break. ☕️ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.