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How to Say ‘It's a bit of a detour’ in French

Ça fait un petit détour

sa feh uhn puh-tee day-TOOR

[sa feh uhn puh-tee day-TOOR]

💬 Usage Tip: Ça fait works for distances and amounts as well as prices: Ça fait loin "That's far", Ça fait dix euros "That's ten euros".

Phrase Breakdown

Ça fait

sa feh

That makes / that means

A very common way to describe a consequence. Say 'sa fay'.

Example

Ça fait loin.

That's far.

Words in this phrase

Ça

[sa]

It / that

A very common word in everyday spoken French, often used in expressions like Ça va.

Example

Dans Ça va ?, Ça veut dire it or that in a general sense.

In Ça va?, Ça means it or that in a general sense.

fait

[feh]

makes

To create or construct by combining or shaping resources.

Example

Elle fait du café.

She makes coffee.

un petit détour

uhn puh-tee day-TOOR

a little detour

Noun group with its article. 'Petit' can sound like 'ptit'.

Example

C'est un petit détour.

It's a little detour.

Words in this phrase

[uhn]

a / an

An indefinite article used before a masculine singular noun.

Example

Un casque est important pour le roller.

A helmet is important for inline skating.

petit

[puh-tee]

small / little

Describes something as small in size or modest.

Example

Un petit gâteau avec une bougie serait parfait.

A small cake with a candle would be perfect.

détour

[day-TOOR]

detour

Masculine noun: a longer, indirect route.

Example

Le taxi a fait un détour.

The taxi took a detour.

Guides for French learners

Ordering in French: Cafés, Bakeries and Restaurants (with Menu Vocabulary)How to order in French at a café, a bakery and a restaurant: the phrases, the questions staff ask, and the menu and food vocabulary to understand the answers.Hello in French: Greetings, Good Evening and How to Answer "How Are You?"How to say hello in French, when to switch to good evening, how to ask how are you and what to answer, with tu vs vous and native audio.

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