Your guide to sounding more French this Easter!
Easter in France is a joyful mix of family traditions, mouth-watering food and chocolate galore. If you’re heading to France this spring or simply want to sound more French when chatting about seasonal celebrations, this post is for you! Whether you’re brunching in Bordeaux or talking Easter eggs in Toulouse, knowing how to talk about Easter in France will help you blend in like a local.
Let’s hop (pun intended!) into some everyday vocabulary, useful phrases and fun facts that’ll make your French sound magnifique this Easter!
Easter in France: The Basics
In French, Easter is called Pâques (pronounced pahk). It’s a bank holiday weekend full of family time, traditional meals and chocolate — lots of it.
Key Vocabulary:
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Pâques – Easter
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Les cloches de Pâques – The Easter bells (not the Easter Bunny!)
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Les œufs en chocolat – Chocolate eggs
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Le gigot d’agneau – Leg of lamb
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Un repas de famille – A family meal
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La chasse aux œufs – Easter egg hunt
Useful French Phrases for Easter
Want to sound more French this Easter? Try out these everyday phrases:
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Joyeuses Pâques ! – Happy Easter!
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On fait une chasse aux œufs ce matin. – We’re doing an egg hunt this morning.
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J’ai mangé trop de chocolat ! – I’ve eaten too much chocolate!
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On va chez mes grands-parents pour le déjeuner de Pâques. – We’re going to my grandparents’ for Easter lunch.
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Tu as vu les cloches ? Elles ont laissé des œufs partout ! – Did you see the bells? They left eggs everywhere!
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C’est une tradition en France de manger du gigot d’agneau. – It’s a tradition in France to eat leg of lamb.
Fun Facts About Easter in France
1. The Bells Bring the Chocolate
Forget the Easter Bunny! In France, it’s les cloches de Pâques that deliver the treats. Legend says the church bells fly to Rome on Good Friday and return on Easter Sunday, dropping eggs and chocolates on their way back.
2. Chocolate is an Art
French chocolate shops go all out for Easter. Expect to find beautifully crafted eggs, hens, bells, and even little chocolate fish called les fritures.
3. Easter Monday is a Holiday
Lundi de Pâques (Easter Monday) is a public holiday in France. It’s a day for relaxing, enjoying leftovers and spending time with loved ones.
A Typical French Easter Menu
French families love a big meal for Easter! Here’s what you might find on the table:
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Entrée: Salade pascale
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Plat principal: Gigot d’agneau with green beans or gratin dauphinois
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Dessert: A strawberry tart or lots of chocolat
Naturally, there’ll be a crusty baguette and a glass (or two) of wine. Santé!
Sound More French This Easter
Take these words and phrases for a spin! Practise saying them aloud, sprinkle them into your conversations, or even use them in an Easter card or video message. The more you use them, the more natural and confident you’ll sound.
Tell me in the comments: What’s your favourite Easter treat? Are you team chocolate egg or team gigot d’agneau?
Ready to Sound More French All Year Round?
If you loved learning these Easter phrases, come and join our lovely community on Facebook inside Sound More French with Frannie! You’ll find pronunciation tips, confidence boosts and a whole lot of French fun.
Joyeuses Pâques, mes amis ! 💖
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