When you learn French, you eventually notice that French people themselves do not always speak like the textbooks. They drop the ne, overuse « du coup » and sometimes get their tenses wrong. So, to sound natural, should you copy them?
The answer depends on the mistake, the situation and your level. Here is how to sort it out.
Key takeaways
- Many of the “mistakes” native speakers make are really informal spoken habits, accepted among friends.
- Others are genuine mistakes, frowned upon in writing and in professional settings.
- Adopting the informal register can help you sound natural, as long as you master the correct form first.
- In formal situations, stick to standard French.
Common mistakes native French speakers make
Even native speakers take liberties with the language. Some are spoken habits, others are genuine errors that have spread.
| What you hear | Standard form | Status |
|---|---|---|
| « Je sais pas. » | « Je ne sais pas. » | Informal, very common in speech |
| « On y va ? » | « Nous y allons ? » | Standard, accepted everywhere in speech |
| « Si j’aurais su… » | « Si j’avais su… » | A genuine mistake, avoid it |
| « Je vais au coiffeur. » | « Je vais chez le coiffeur. » | A genuine mistake, and a frequent one |
| « Après qu’il soit parti… » | « Après qu’il est parti… » | Very widespread, even in writing |
| « Malgré que… » | « Bien que… » | Criticised, avoid it in writing |
| « Du coup » in every sentence | « donc », « alors », « par conséquent » | A verbal tic, use sparingly |
Why do these slips happen? In speech, people want to go fast: the ne disappears and sentences get shorter. Other forms come from blending two structures, like « si j’aurais », which mixes the condition with the conditional. And languages change: some usages criticised today may well be accepted tomorrow.
Should you copy them? Pros and cons
Arguments for
- You will sound more natural in informal conversations.
- You will understand spoken French better, in films, series and on the street.
- Some forms are easier and quicker to say.
Arguments against
- Copying a genuine mistake can make you forget the rule, and the mistake may stick.
- In a professional setting or in an exam such as the DELF, these forms give a poor impression.
- From a learner who is still hesitant, an overly informal register can sound off.
Our advice: learn the rule, then adapt
Separate two categories. Informal spoken habits, such as dropping the ne or using on instead of nous, are fine to adopt with friends: they are part of living French. Genuine mistakes, such as « si j’aurais » or « je vais au coiffeur », are better recognised than reproduced.
The order matters: master the standard form first, then consciously choose to relax it depending on the situation. An advanced learner who says « je sais pas » among friends sounds natural. A learner who only knows that form will struggle on the day of a job interview or an exam.
Good to know: adapting your register to the situation is a skill in its own right. It is even assessed in French exams such as the DELF, which grade how well your language suits the communication situation.
Going further
To know when to switch registers, read our guide to formal and informal French. And if the fear of getting things wrong holds you back, our article on why making mistakes in French helps you progress should reassure you. The best training is still practice: our French conversation lessons and the Live French Club let you hear French as it is really spoken, with a native teacher to help you sort it all out.
Frequently asked questions
Do French people make mistakes in French?
Yes, like all native speakers. Some are informal spoken habits, such as « je sais pas », and others are widespread genuine mistakes, such as « si j’aurais » or « je vais au coiffeur ».
Can you say « je sais pas » instead of « je ne sais pas »?
Yes, in speech and in informal settings it is very common. In writing and in formal situations, keep the full negation: « je ne sais pas ».
Why is « si j’aurais » wrong?
After a « si » that expresses a condition, French does not use the conditional. You say « si j’avais su, je serais venu »: the imperfect or pluperfect after « si », and the conditional in the other half of the sentence.
Should you copy native speakers’ mistakes to sound natural?
You can adopt informal spoken habits with friends once you have mastered the standard form. Avoid reproducing genuine mistakes, though, especially at work or in an exam.
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