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How to Say ‘Oh, that's normal, it's the start of the school year!’ in French

Ah, c'est normal, c'est la rentrée !

Ah say eh nor-MAL say eh lah rahn-TRAY

[Ah say eh nor-MAL say eh lah rahn-TRAY]

Phrase Breakdown

Ah, c'est normal,

Ah say eh nor-MAL

Ah, that's normal,

'C'est' sounds like 'say'. In 'normal' the stress falls on the last syllable: nor-MAL.

Example

Ah, c'est normal, il est fatigué.

Ah, that's normal, he's tired.

Words in this phrase

[Ah]

An exclamation expressing various emotions.

Example

Ah, je comprends maintenant.

Ah, I understand now.

[say]

it / that

Short form of ce before a vowel in c'est.

Example

Je réponds : « C'est gentil ».

I reply: “That's kind.”

est

[eh]

Third person singular present of be.

Example

C'est important.

It is important.

normal

[nor-MAL]

normal

Adjective meaning normal, to be expected.

Example

C'est normal d'être fatigué.

It's normal to be tired.

c'est la rentrée !

say eh lah rahn-TRAY

it's back-to-school time!

'La rentrée' is the return to school or work in September. Pronounce it rahn-TRAY, with a nasal 'en'.

Example

Lundi, c'est la rentrée !

Monday is back-to-school day!

Words in this phrase

[say]

it / that

Short form of ce before a vowel in c'est.

Example

Je réponds : « C'est gentil ».

I reply: “That's kind.”

est

[eh]

Third person singular present of be.

Example

C'est important.

It is important.

[lah]

the (feminine singular)

Definite article used before a feminine singular noun.

Example

La réservation est déjà confirmée pour samedi soir.

The reservation is already confirmed for Saturday evening.

rentrée

[rahn-TRAY]

back to school

The start of the school year in September.

Example

La rentrée est en septembre.

Back to school is in September.

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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