FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!

The French Correction Trivia Quiz

When you're trying to practice a new language, oh what bloopers you can commit! Here are some real-life examples of fractured French. Can you correct them?

A multiple-choice quiz by SBH. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
SBH

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
351,336

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
1105

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. I'm working at a fast-food restaurant and I'm supposed to suggest that the customers might like a dessert. I offer one couple the delicious "chaussette aux pommes" and they break up laughing. What have I just offered them? Hint

An apple necklace

An apple sock

An apple dog

An apple turtle

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. In a conversation about clothing and fashion, I tell an acquaintance how much I enjoy my "boutons". I think I'm talking about the cute lapel pins I like to wear. What have I really said? Hint

Bombs, or worse

Chopsticks, or worse

Pencils, or worse

Pimples, or worse

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. My friend goes into an upscale French restaurant and is asked whether she'd like to check her coat. Oh no, she says, since it's chilly, she'd rather carry it... on her "jambe". Where has she announced she'll carry her coat? Hint

Her leg

Her hamster

Her ham

Her shrimp

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. My friend at the upscale restaurant is asked by the waiter how she'd like her steak done. She doesn't like it undercooked, so she says she'll have it "singe". What has she just asked for? Hint

Steak singing

Steak single

Steak saintly

Steak monkey

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Why would your French friends be alarmed if you told them you'd just had fish for dinner by saying "J'ai mang� du poison"? What have you said? Hint

I've eaten mangy fish

I've eaten poison

I've sleeved my fish

I've eaten fifty fish

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. The young student going back to school by train surprised her friends by announcing, as she was leaving, "Je vais � la guerre". What did she probably mean to say? Hint

Je vais � lager

Je vais � la terre

Je vais � la gare

Je vais � mon p�re

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. At the end of a fine meal, your host or hostess asks you whether you would like another helping. No, you say, "je suis plein". Suddenly there's silence in the room, and you realize you've just told everyone... what, exactly? Hint

You have gas

You're pregnant

You're very plain

Your host is rude

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. At the butcher, you want a pound of ground beef, so you ask for "un livre de viande hach�". He'll probably give you a funny look, then serve you what you want, but what have you actually asked for? Hint

A tonne of ground beef

A gold coin of ground beef

A book of ground beef

A liver of ground beef

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. I ask the child of my French neighbours what she's wearing for Hallowe'en. "Tu portes un costume?" I ask. She stares at me blankly. What have I just asked her? Hint

Are you wearing a business suit?

Are you wearing an insect?

Are you wearing a habit?

Are you wearing a bathing suit?

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. I'm very proud of the jam I've just made from fresh raspberries I picked myself. I offer my French friends some lovely "confiture", which I proudly tell them, contains absolutely no "pr�servatives". From the look on their faces, I know I've committed a blunder, and an embarrassing one at that. What did I just say? Hint

The jam contains no life jackets.

The jam contains no prophylactics.

The jam contains no firefighters.

The jam contains no preserves.

(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

Select a User ID:

Choose a Password:

Your Email:

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: An apple sock

"Chaussette" and "chaussure" both refer to footwear. What I meant to offer this nice young couple was an apple turnover: a "chausson aux pommes".

2. In a conversation about clothing and fashion, I tell an acquaintance how much I enjoy my "boutons". I think I'm talking about the cute lapel pins I like to wear. What have I really said?

Answer: Pimples, or worse

"Bouton" can mean pimple or boil or even nipple. What I should have been discussing was my "epingles".

Answer: Her leg

"Jambe" means leg. She might have said she'd carry her coat on her arm (her "bras"). But it might have been better just to use that coat check service after all.

4. My friend at the upscale restaurant is asked by the waiter how she'd like her steak done. She doesn't like it undercooked, so she says she'll have it "singe". What has she just asked for?

Answer: Steak monkey

"Singe" means monkey. If she'd wanted her steak well done, my friend should have said "bien cuit". If she'd wanted it really charred, she could have said "Carbonis�".

5. Why would your French friends be alarmed if you told them you'd just had fish for dinner by saying "J'ai mang� du poison"? What have you said?

Answer: I've eaten poison

The French word for fish is "poisson", and you could certainly say "J'ai mang� du poisson". The S in "poison" sounds like a Z, while the SS in "poisson" sounds like an S.

6. The young student going back to school by train surprised her friends by announcing, as she was leaving, "Je vais � la guerre". What did she probably mean to say?

Answer: Je vais � la gare

"Guerre" means war. The young student might have felt like the new term was going to be a battle; however, she most likely meant she was going to "la gare", the train station.

Answer: You're pregnant

"Plein" can mean full, when you're talking about cups or buckets. When referring to living creatures, not only is "plein" a somewhat old-fashioned way of referring to pregnancy, but it's generally only used when referring to pets and farm animals. "Je suis plein" would also simply sound rude.

Instead, you might say "J'ai assez mang�" (I've eaten enough), or just "Non, mer�i" (No, thank-you).

Answer: A book of ground beef

"Un livre" is a book. "Une livre" is the measurement. It's a fine distinction, but that's what languages are all about, right?

9. I ask the child of my French neighbours what she's wearing for Hallowe'en. "Tu portes un costume?" I ask. She stares at me blankly. What have I just asked her?

Answer: Are you wearing a business suit?

In French, "un costume" is what a gentleman wears to the office every day. If I'd wanted to ask about the child's costume, I should have asked whether she was planning to wear "un d�guisement".

Answer: The jam contains no prophylactics.

"Pr�servatives" are prophylactics (condoms). If I'd wanted to boast that the jam had no preservatives, I should have told my friends it was free of "conservateurs".

Source: Author SBH

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.