🤏😣⏳

How to Say ‘A little, but I still find it hard.’ in French

Un peu, mais j'ai encore du mal.

uhn puh meh zhay ay ahn-KOR dew mal

[uhn puh meh zhay ay ahn-KOR dew mal]

Phrase Breakdown

Un peu,

uhn puh

A little,

A common way to answer 'how much?'. Say 'un' as a nasal 'uh(n)', and 'peu' with rounded lips, like 'puh'.

Example

Tu parles français ? Un peu.

Do you speak French? A little.

Words in this phrase

[uhn]

a / an

Masculine singular indefinite article.

Example

Un plombier peut peut-être réparer le chauffe-eau.

A plumber may be able to repair the water heater.

peu

[puh]

a little

A common expression for a small amount or degree.

Example

Le mot "peu" aide à dire qu'il faut se calmer juste un peu.

The word "peu" helps say that we need to calm down just a little.

mais j'ai encore du mal.

meh zhay ay ahn-KOR dew mal

but I still have trouble.

'Avoir du mal' means to struggle with something. 'J'ai' sounds like 'zhay', and 'encore' starts with a nasal 'ahn'.

Example

J'ai encore du mal avec la grammaire.

I still have trouble with grammar.

Words in this phrase

mais

[meh]

But

Used to introduce a contrast.

Example

Il est petit mais fort.

He is small but strong.

[zhay]

Pronoun used by the speaker to refer to himself or herself.

Example

J'aime les bonbons.

I like candies.

[ay]

have

Form of 'avoir' used with past participles to make the past tense.

Example

J'ai beaucoup appris grâce à notre discussion.

I learned a lot thanks to our discussion.

encore

[ahn-KOR]

still

Used to say something remains available.

Example

Dans « Nous avons encore », « encore » signifie qu'il reste quelque chose.

In “Nous avons encore,” “encore” means that something remains.

[dew]

some (partitive)

Part of the expression 'avoir du mal' (to have difficulty).

Example

J'ai du mal à tourner.

I have trouble turning.

mal

[mal]

difficulty / trouble

In 'avoir du mal (à)', it means to struggle with something.

Example

Elle a du mal à freiner.

She struggles to brake.

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.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered feedback on what you say out loud

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Lessons for Your Situation

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Moved to Lyon for a culinary apprenticeship. The food and restaurant lessons were exactly what I needed — my French colleagues were genuinely impressed.”

Tom H., 38, Chef

“Studying in Paris and the academic French I learned in school was useless for daily life. This app filled the gap in weeks, not months.”

Nina W., 29, Graduate Student

“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”

Alex M., 42, Software Engineer