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How to Say ‘I had a picnic with some friends.’ in French

J'ai pique-niqué avec des amis.

zhay ay peek-nee-KAY ah-vek day ah-MEE

[zhay ay peek-nee-KAY ah-vek day ah-MEE]

🇫🇷 In France: Picnicking in a park is a classic French weekend habit, often with bread, cheese and sometimes a bottle of wine on the grass. Just check for signs, since some parks keep certain lawns off-limits.

Phrase Breakdown

J'ai pique-niqué

zhay ay peek-nee-KAY

I had a picnic

The past tense of 'pique-niquer'. Say 'zhay peek-nee-KAY'.

Example

J'ai pique-niqué au bord du lac.

I had a picnic by the lake.

Words in this phrase

J'

[zhay]

I

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

Example

J'aime les bonbons.

I like candies.

ai

[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.

pique-niqué

[peek-nee-KAY]

picnicked

Past participle of 'pique-niquer' (to have a picnic).

Example

Nous avons pique-niqué au bord du lac.

We had a picnic by the lake.

avec des amis.

ah-vek day ah-MEE

with some friends.

Make the liaison between 'des' and 'amis': 'day-zah-MEE'.

Example

Je joue avec des amis.

I play with some friends.

Words in this phrase

avec

[ah-vek]

with

A preposition indicating accompaniment or association.

Example

Je suis avec elle.

I am with her.

des

[day]

some / plural indefinite article

Plural article used before nouns when speaking generally about unspecified people or things.

Example

Des profils polyvalents sont très recherchés aujourd'hui.

Versatile profiles are highly sought after today.

amis

[ah-MEE]

friends

Plural of 'ami', a friend.

Example

Mes amis sont gentils.

My friends are kind.

Related guides

French Conversation for Beginners: 6 Everyday Dialogues You'll Actually UseSix basic French conversations for beginners, from greeting a neighbour and introducing yourself to booking a restaurant, with translations, native audio and the phrases that keep them going.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.

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