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How to Say ‘I don't speak well’ in French

Je ne parle pas bien

zhuh nuh parl pah bee-ehn

[zhuh nuh parl pah bee-ehn]

💬 Usage Tip: The "not" is wrapped around the verb: ne … pas. In everyday speech people often drop ne and just say Je parle pas bien.

Phrase Breakdown

Je ne parle

zhuh nuh parl

I don't speak

'Ne' comes before the verb to start the negation. The final 'e' of 'parle' is nearly silent.

Example

Je ne parle pas allemand.

I don't speak German.

Words in this phrase

Je

[zhuh]

I

Pronoun used by the speaker to identify themselves.

Example

Je suis content.

I am happy.

ne

[nuh]

not

Used to make a negative.

Example

Je ne sais pas.

I do not know.

parle

[parl]

speak

First-person form of 'parler', to speak.

Example

Je parle avec mon ami.

I speak with my friend.

pas bien

pah bee-ehn

well (not)

'Pas' completes the negation and 'bien' means 'well'. Say 'pa byan' with a nasal ending.

Example

Je ne dors pas bien.

I don't sleep well.

Words in this phrase

pas

[pah]

not

Used with 'ne' to form a negative.

Example

Je ne comprends pas.

I do not understand.

bien

[bee-ehn]

well

An adverb meaning in a good way or satisfactorily.

Example

Dans Se passe bien ?, bien montre que l'on parle d'une situation positive.

In "Se passe bien?", "bien" shows that one is talking about a positive situation.

Related guides

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.How to Learn to Speak French, Not Just Read ItWhy reading French doesn't make you speak it, and a practical way to learn to speak French: real conversations, speaking out loud from day one, and practice with people.

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