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How to Say ‘That's normal at the start.’ in French

C'est normal au début.

suh eh nor-MAL oh day-boo

[suh eh nor-MAL oh day-boo]

🇫🇷 In France: This is the standard reassurance French people give a beginner. It's friendly and encouraging, not dismissive.

Phrase Breakdown

C'est normal

suh eh nor-MAL

It's normal

Used to reassure someone. Say 'say nor-MAL', stressing the last syllable.

Example

C'est normal d'avoir peur.

It's normal to be afraid.

Words in this phrase

[suh]

Used to refer to a thing previously mentioned.

Example

C'est incroyable.

It is incredible.

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.

au début.

oh day-boo

at the beginning.

'Au' sounds like 'oh'. In 'début', the 'u' is the French 'u': say 'ee' with rounded lips.

Example

Au début, c'était difficile.

At the beginning, it was difficult.

Words in this phrase

[oh]

at the

A phrase used to indicate location, time, or a condition.

Example

Elle est au parc.

She is at the park.

début

[day-boo]

the beginning

The first part or early stage of something.

Example

Le début était intéressant.

The beginning was interesting.

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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