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How to Say ‘Yes, but a duck stole our bread!’ in French

Oui, mais un canard a volé notre pain !

wee meh uhn ka-NAR ah voh-LAY NOH-truh PAN

[wee meh uhn ka-NAR ah voh-LAY NOH-truh PAN]

🇫🇷 In France: A small, slightly ridiculous mishap like this is perfect small talk with new people: it's funny, self-deprecating and invites a reaction.

Phrase Breakdown

Oui, mais un canard

wee meh uhn ka-NAR

Yes, but a duck

'Mais' (but) sets up the funny twist. Pause after 'oui'.

Example

Oui, mais il pleut.

Yes, but it's raining.

Words in this phrase

Oui

[wee]

Yes

Affirmative response or agreement.

Example

Oui, c'est vrai.

Yes, that's true.

mais

[meh]

But

Used to introduce a contrast.

Example

Il est petit mais fort.

He is small but strong.

[uhn]

Indefinite article used before a singular noun.

Example

Un petit garçon joue.

A little boy is playing.

canard

[ka-NAR]

duck

The water bird.

Example

Les enfants nourrissent le canard.

The children feed the duck.

a volé notre pain !

ah voh-LAY NOH-truh PAN

stole our bread!

Say 'notre' quickly: 'notr'.

Example

Le chat a volé notre poisson !

The cat stole our fish!

Words in this phrase

[ah]

has

Used with a past participle to form the present perfect tense.

Example

Elle a visité Paris.

She has visited Paris.

volé

[voh-LAY]

stolen

Past participle of 'voler', to steal (also means to fly).

Example

Quelqu'un a volé mon vélo.

Someone stole my bike.

notre

[NOH-truh]

our

Possessive adjective used to refer to something belonging to the speaker’s group or company.

Example

Notre entreprise valorise la collaboration.

Our company values collaboration.

pain

[PAN]

bread

Masculine noun; in French restaurants bread is usually served free with the meal.

Example

Encore du pain, s'il vous plaît.

More bread, please.

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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