1. DROPPING "NE"

This is the number one rule in spoken French.

In writing, you learn:

– Je ne sais pas.

– Tu ne viens pas ?

– Il n’aime pas ça.
 

But in spoken French… the "ne" disappears. Almost always.

✅ Je sais pas.

✅ Tu viens pas ?

✅ Il aime pas ça.
 

And it’s not just young people!

Even adults, teachers, TV presenters... everyone does it.
 

Other examples:

– Je comprends pas.

– On peut pas faire ça.

– Elle veut pas venir.
 

💡 Note: It’s not incorrect. It’s just more natural in everyday speech.

So if you want to sound like a native speaker, start forgetting about the "ne".
 

 

2. "ON" INSTEAD OF "NOUS"

This is another very common shift:

French speakers often use "on" instead of "nous", even when referring to several people.
 

📘 In school, you learn: Nous allons au cinéma.

🗣️ But in spoken French: On va au ciné.
 

📘 Nous voulons essayer ce plat.

🗣️ On veut essayer ce plat.
 

📘 Nous sommes en retard.

🗣️ On est en retard.
 

And remember: even if "on" means multiple people here, the verb stays in the 3rd person singular.

👉 On est, on fait, on peut, on va…

Why? Because it’s shorter and quicker to say.
 

✅ To remember:

"On" = "nous" in everyday French, but with the verb in the singular.
 

 

3. DROPPING THE "E"

In spoken French, we often drop small sounds to speak faster.

Especially the silent “e” in common words.
 

Here are a few examples:

📘 Tu es là ?

🗣️ T’es là ?
 

📘 Je le sais.

🗣️ J’le sais.
 

📘 Je te l’ai dit.

🗣️ J’te l’ai dit.
 

📘 Tu me comprends ?

🗣️ Tu m’comprends ?
 

📘 Je me demande si…

🗣️ J’me demande si…
 

This is called elision.

It makes the rhythm of spoken French more fluid, natural, and fast… but sometimes harder to understand at first.

But don’t worry: once you’re aware of it, you’ll start to hear it everywhere.
 

 

4. COMMON CONTRACTIONS

French people love shortening words. Here are everyday contractions you’ll hear all the time:

  • Je suis → Chui
     
  • Tu es → T’es
     
  • Il y a → Y a
     
  • Je vais → J’vais
     
  • Tu vas → T’vas
     
  • Je ne sais pas → J’sais pas
     
  • Tu ne sais pas → T’sais pas
     

A few examples:

📘 Je suis fatigué.

🗣️ Chui fatigué.

 

📘 Tu es sûr ?

🗣️ T’es sûr ?

 

📘 Il y a un problème ?

🗣️ Y a un problème ?

 

📘 Je vais y aller.

🗣️ J’vais y aller.
 

These are tiny contractions, but they make a big difference in the flow and musicality of spoken French.
 

 

5. NATURAL & INFORMAL EXPRESSIONS

Spoken French also means using ready-made expressions you’ll never find in textbooks… but that you’ll hear all the time in real life!
 

Here are some examples:

  • T’inquiète = don’t worry
    👉 "T’inquiète, ça va aller." (Don’t worry, it’ll be fine.)
     

  • J’sais pas trop = I’m not really sure
    👉 "J’sais pas trop si je vais venir." (I’m not really sure if I’ll come.)
     

  • Ça marche = OK / sounds good
    👉 "On se retrouve à 18h ? – Ça marche !" (Shall we meet at 6pm? – Sounds good!)
     

  • Grave ! = Totally! / Definitely!
    👉 "C’était trop bien ce film ! – Grave !" (That movie was so good! – Totally!)
     

  • Bof… = Meh / Not great
    👉 "T’as aimé le plat ? – Bof…" (Did you like the dish? – Meh…)
     

  • Je pige rien = I don’t get it
    👉 "Ce truc de maths… je pige rien." (This math stuff… I don’t get any of it.)
     

  • C’est clair ! = Definitely / For sure
    👉 "On a besoin de vacances. – C’est clair !" (We need a vacation. – For sure!)
     

These expressions make your French sound real, natural, alive.

The more you hear them, the more you use them, the more you’ll sound like a native speaker.
 

 

📌 QUICK SUMMARY

✔️ "Ne" disappears

✔️ "On" replaces "nous"

✔️ Silent "e" is dropped

✔️ Words get contracted

✔️ You use natural expressions
 

And that changes everything.

 

There you go — you’ve just discovered the 5 essential keys to mastering spoken French.

And you’ve seen: it’s not a completely different language — it’s just a different way of speaking, more fluid, natural, and alive.

Now that you know these rules, you’ll understand natives more easily, dare to reply, and gain fluency.

But this is just the beginning.

🎁 To help you go further, I’ve created a 100% free ebook:

"Maîtriser le français parlé"

Inside, you’ll find:

✔️ Clear explanations of all the rules

✔️ Summary tables

✔️ Real-life conversation examples

✔️ Exercises to practice