Settling Into a French Village
Meet your new neighbours in a French village, learn when the market and the mairie are open, and swap favours like a local.
In a French village the mairie is the hub: you go there to enrol children at school, register on the electoral roll or ask about bins, and it is often only open a few mornings a week. The weekly market, the bakery and the café-tabac are where news travels, and many bakeries close one day a week. Older neighbours expect vous and a proper « Bonjour », and a summer fête du village organised by the comité des fêtes is the easiest way to get to know everyone.
- 1
On vient d'emménager dans la maison d'à côté.
We've just moved into the house next door.
- 2
Ici, tout le monde se connaît.
Here, everyone knows everyone.
- 3
Si vous avez besoin de quoi que ce soit, n'hésitez pas.
If you need anything at all, don't hesitate.
- 4
Est-ce que vous pourriez garder un double de nos clés ?
Could you keep a spare set of our keys?
- 5
Vous pourriez arroser nos plantes pendant notre absence ?
Could you water our plants while we're away?
- 6
Je jetterai un œil à la maison.
I'll keep an eye on the house.
- 7
C'est très gentil de votre part.
That's very kind of you.
- 8
Je vous revaudrai ça.
I'll return the favour.
- 9
C'est normal, entre voisins.
That's what neighbours are for.
- 10
Dans un village, les nouvelles vont vite.
News travels fast in a village.
- 11
Le marché, c'est le jeudi ?
Is the market on Thursdays?
- 12
La boulangerie est fermée le lundi.
The bakery is closed on Mondays.
- 13
Le supermarché le plus proche est à un quart d'heure en voiture.
The nearest supermarket is a quarter of an hour away by car.
- 14
Je dois passer à la mairie pour l'inscription à l'école.
I need to go to the town hall to enrol my child at school.
- 15
La mairie est ouverte le samedi matin ?
Is the town hall open on Saturday mornings?
- 16
Vous venez à la fête du village ?
Are you coming to the village fête?
- 17
Ici, ça capte très mal.
The phone signal is really bad here.
- 18
Le ramassage des poubelles, c'est le mardi.
The bins are collected on Tuesdays.
- 19
On pense s'installer ici pour de bon.
We're thinking of settling here for good.
- 20
C'est quand même beaucoup plus calme qu'à Paris.
It's so much quieter than in Paris.