Why You Can’t Speak French Like You Do in Your Mother Tongue | What Happens When You Try to Speak French? | So... What Should You Do Instead?
Vous savez quoi ? Let's start with a question!
When you speak French, what do you catch yourself doing the most?
Trying to form complex sentences and getting stuck
Translating word for word from my native language
Looking up every other word in a dictionary
Keeping it simple, even if it’s not perfect
If you choose the last habit, congrats! This article might not be for you, since you're already embracing the right mindset—keeping it simple and focusing on communication over perfection.
If you chose habits 1, 2, or 3, keep reading—this article is for you! It’ll help you shift your approach and make speaking French easier and more natural.
Why You Can’t Speak French Like You Do in Your Mother Tongue
Many people learning French make the same mistake: they try to speak at the same level as their native language. Of course, the goal is to become fluent, but expecting to express yourself with the same complexity as in your mother tongue—right from the start—is unrealistic. This pressure to "sound advanced" often leads to frustration, mistakes, and even misunderstandings. You want to express interesting and profound ideas and construct complex sentences with sophisticated words, but you don’t yet have the tools to do so.
Another common trap is trying to speak French in the same way you read it. However, written and spoken language are two very different things. Think about how you would express something in your native language. Would you use the exact same words and syntax when speaking as you would when writing? Probably not.
To make things even harder, many learners instinctively translate their thoughts directly from their native language into French, but this rarely works. French and English (or any other language) have different structures, and direct translations often create strange, unnatural sentences.
What Happens When You Try to Speak French?
When learners aim for complex sentences, they often struggle to put them together correctly. Imagine you want to say, “I have a sensitivity to lactose.” You might have the vocabulary and grammar to express it in French, or you might not, and you'll end up trying to translate it directly from your native language. But actually, this sentence is unnecessarily complicated. A simpler way to express the same idea would be, “I can’t drink milk.” Shorter, clearer, and much easier to say! Remember, it’s not about perfection—it’s about being understood. Your sentence might not be as detailed as what you would say in your native language, but that doesn’t matter. If your goal is for your French friend not to add milk to your coffee, then mission accomplished! Communication is working, and that’s what truly counts.
Another issue is translating sentences word for word. For example, an English speaker might say, “I had breakfast with a friend today.” The direct translation would be: “J’ai eu le petit-déjeuner avec un ami aujourd’hui,” but it sounds unnatural. Why? Because in French, you don’t "have" breakfast. You "take" breakfast. So, a more natural way to say it would be, “J’ai pris mon petit-déjeuner avec un ami.”. How can you do this? Rely on phrases you've already learned in class and focus on useful expressions in French. For example, start with learning the verbs faire and prendre, along with all the possible phrases that complete them (e.g., faire du sport, faire le ménage, faire du babysitting... / prendre un taxi, prendre une douche, prendre le petit-déjeuner, prendre une photo...).
Using a dictionary can also create problems. While it might help with writing, it often makes the gap between written and spoken French even bigger. You may end up with vocabulary that is too formal or awkward when spoken out loud. Take a look at the following situation to understand!
The result?
These mistakes can sometimes lead to awkward situations! Imagine you’re in a café in France and you want to order a cup of tea. In English, you would say, “Can I have a tea?” If you translate this using an online dictionary, you could end up with “Puis-je avoir un thé?”
It sounds correct, right? Not quite. In fact, it's too formal. The “Puis-je” form is something you’d rarely hear in everyday conversation. A much simpler and more natural way to order would be: “Un thé, s’il vous plaît.” That’s all you need!
So, how can you do this? Ask ChatGPT for different ways to express the same sentence: the formal version, the written version, the most common phrase for conversation, and even the very casual French (though keep in mind, you shouldn’t use that in an exam!).
So... What Should You Do Instead?
Put Your Ego Aside
It’s completely normal to feel frustrated when you can’t express yourself as fluently as in your native language. But learning a language is like training for a marathon—you wouldn’t expect to run 42 kilometers after just a few weeks of practice, even if you’re already in good shape. The same goes for French. No matter how intelligent or experienced you are in other areas, when it comes to speaking a new language, you’re starting from zero. I know you don’t want to sound foolish, stuck with simple and superficial sentences. But here’s the truth: in French, you’re still a “baby,” not an adult. And that’s okay! The only way to grow is to embrace the process and build your skills step by step.
Keep It Simple
Stop overcomplicating your French. Instead of aiming for long and complex sentences, find shorter, more natural ways to express yourself.
Avoid Word-for-Word Translations
Rather than thinking in your native language and translating every word, try to express the same idea in a way that makes sense in French.
The Goal?
Your main objective is to communicate. Speaking, even imperfectly, will help you gain confidence and experience. The more you practice, the easier it will become. Fluency doesn’t come from perfection—it comes from regular use and from learning through experience. And if you follow those rules, you will be able to start speaking French with much more ease.
Good luck!
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