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Coffee Break French

Coffee Break French

Coffee Break Languages 322 Episodes Aug 22, 2026

Coffee Break French is a language-learning podcast that teaches French in short, manageable lessons designed to fit into a coffee break. The show starts from absolute beginner level and gradually increases in difficulty across seasons. Each lesson focuses on practical language skills to help learners communicate with native French speakers. The podcast is produced by the Radio Lingua Network.

Episodes

The Great Coffee Break Treasure Hunt 2026
The Great Coffee Break Treasure Hunt 2026 Aug 22, 2026 3:05 Four mystery cities. Four cryptic clues. One week to work out where we're going.The Great Coffee Break Treasure Hunt is back for 2026, and everything happens here: https://coffeebreaklanguages.com/treasurehuntEach clue is a short poem describing a European city without ever naming it. Every clue is written from scratch in French, Italian, German and Spanish by the team who teach it, so it rhymes a
7 French idioms and what they really mean
7 French idioms and what they really mean Aug 17, 2026 6:21 Some French expressions make no sense at all if you take them word for word. In this episode, Max turns seven of them into a guessing game: he gives you the idiom and its literal translation, then you work out what it really means before he tells you. Expect mustard, cabbages and a hair in the hand, and by the end you'll have seven expressions that French speakers genuinely use.➡️ Click here to wa
The five meanings of 'passer' in French
The five meanings of 'passer' in French Aug 3, 2026 4:30 In this episode, Max looks at five everyday meanings of the French verb 'passer':passing something or someonespending timesitting an examhow something turns outshowing or broadcasting something on screenIt's a small word that does a lot of work, and knowing its different uses will help your French sound much more natural.➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this episode.➡️ To receive regula
7 French idioms with animals, and what they really mean
7 French idioms with animals, and what they really mean Jul 20, 2026 7:45 French is full of idioms that are borrowed from the animal world, and once you know them you'll start hearing them everywhere. In this episode, Max walks you through seven of the most common ones, from "avoir le cafard" to "se jeter dans la gueule du loup", with the literal meaning, the real meaning, and an example for each.➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this episode.➡️ Get free mini-
French false friends: a 15-word quiz
French false friends: a 15-word quiz Jul 6, 2026 8:28 In this quick quiz, Max tests you on 15 French words that look just like English but don't always mean what you'd expect. You get a few seconds to decide whether each one is a true friend or a false friend, then Max reveals what it really means, from assister à and éventuellement to sensible and librairie. There are a few bonus tricky words along the way too, so play along and see how many you can
The French apéro: food, drinks and the social ritual explained
The French apéro: food, drinks and the social ritual explained Jun 22, 2026 5:18 Max takes you into the world of the French apéro, one of the most enjoyable social rituals in the French-speaking world. You'll find out what an apéro involves, when it happens and how it can even replace dinner, along with the food, the drinks and the all-important phrase "on prend un apéro ?". Which would you choose: an apéro or a full dinner?➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this
The five meanings of the French verb 'mettre'
The five meanings of the French verb 'mettre' Jun 8, 2026 6:38 In this episode, Max takes one small but very useful French verb, 'mettre', and shows you five different ways it's used in everyday French. You'll hear clear examples for each meaning, including the handy way 'mettre' talks about how long something takes. By the end, you'll spot it everywhere and feel ready to use it yourself.➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this episode.➡️ To receive r
How to ask a question in French: 3 ways explained
How to ask a question in French: 3 ways explained May 25, 2026 7:48 There are three main ways to ask a question in French, and the one you choose depends on how formal you want to sound. In this episode, Max walks you through rising intonation, est-ce que and inversion, and shows you how to combine each one with question words like où, quand and comment. By the end, you'll be ready to ask just about anything in French!➡️ Click here to watch the video version of th
1 verb, 5 meanings: how French speakers really use 'prendre'
1 verb, 5 meanings: how French speakers really use 'prendre' May 11, 2026 6:43 Max walks you through five essential uses of "prendre", one of the most flexible verbs in French. You'll see why French uses "prendre" for ordering food and drinks, for catching transport, for illness ("j'ai pris froid"), for the very French structure "prendre quelqu'un pour quelqu'un", and for talking about duration. Which meaning surprised you the most?➡️ Click here to watch the video version of
Stop translating: 5 English phrases French people say differently
Stop translating: 5 English phrases French people say differently Apr 27, 2026 6:33 Max breaks down five everyday English phrases that work completely differently in French, from "I miss you" and "I'm cold" to "it makes sense". Along the way, he explains why word-for-word translation leads learners astray and shows you the more natural French alternatives. Which of these have you been getting wrong?➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this episode.➡️ Want more tips like th
7 everyday French expressions you won't find in a textbook
7 everyday French expressions you won't find in a textbook Apr 13, 2026 6:46 Max breaks down seven essential French words and expressions you'll hear every day in France but probably never learned in a textbook. You'll hear them in context, explore real-life examples, and understand the subtle nuances behind each one. Which one will you start using straight away?➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this episode.➡️ Get free mini-lessons and language tips every week
Scenes Season 2 | Chapter 10: Oui et encore oui
Scenes Season 2 | Chapter 10: Oui et encore oui Mar 23, 2026 25:06 Welcome back to Chez Nico - our charming French café, where the aroma of fresh coffee lingers, conversations flow, and life unfolds around every table. In this immersive series, we follow a compelling story set in a local café and help you build your language skills naturally through storytelling. The café is at the heart of another unforgettable event and this day will be remembered by every

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