Describing ups and downs
Augmenter, baisser, stagner, flamber, chuter
augmenter de · bylay PREE on to-gman-TAY duh trwa poor SAN · “Prices have risen by 3%.”Why: de gives the size of the change, where English says “by”.
Les prixthe pricesont augmentéhave risende 3 %.by 3 %
passer de … à · from … toluh shoh-MAZH PAS duh WEET a SET poor SAN · “Unemployment goes from 8 to 7%.”Why: le chômage = unemployment; être au chômage = to be unemployed.
Le chômagethe unemploymentpassegoesde 8from 8à 7 %.to 7 %
flamber · soarlay PREE duh lay-nair-ZHEE FLANB · “Energy prices are soaring.”Why: flamber literally means to blaze, as in a flambéed dessert.
Les prixthe pricesde l’énergieof the energyflambent.are-soaring
Pay and tax
Brut, net, les cotisations, l’impôt
| French | English | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| le salaire brutsa-LAIR BRÜ | gross pay | What the contract states, before deductions. |
| le salaire netsa-LAIR NET | net pay | What you actually receive. |
| les cotisations socialesko-tee-za-SYON so-SYAL | social contributions | Pay for health, pensions and unemployment cover; roughly a fifth of gross pay for employees. |
| l’impôt sur le revenulan-POH sür luh ruh-vuh-NÜ | income tax | Since 2019 taken directly from pay: le prélèvement à la source. |
| la TVAtay-vay-A | VAT | taxe sur la valeur ajoutée; 20 % for most goods. |
| le SMICSMEEK | minimum wage | salaire minimum interprofessionnel de croissance, revised every year. |
Money verbs, and three slang words
Dépenser, économiser, emprunter, prêter
Tuyoupeuxcanmeto-meprêterlend20 euros ?20 euros
From neutral to slang
Use l’argent anywhere; les sous with friends and family; le fric and la thune only in casual speech.
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