Once a Frenchman said to me, "Mais vous parlez très bien le français, quand même, pour une anglophone", and I answered "Merci, quand même!". Basically he said that my French was ok despite me being an English-speaking person, and I sort of sarcastically thanked him for the backhanded compliment.

@PanglossDr

3 жыл бұрын

Nice one. Your French was perhaps better than he gave credit for.

@higherselfabove

3 жыл бұрын

I think that is indeed the case LOL.

@macvena

2 жыл бұрын

Bravo!

"Nevertheless" is probably the closest expression in English that covers most of the examples you have given in French.

@fredflintstone2234

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, but néanmoins is closer to nevertheless.

@JuanGomez-cs8rh

3 жыл бұрын

In spanish *quand meme* in google translate is "sin embargo" and that spanish word goes "nevertheless" and when i think of the meaning of the sentence "sin embargo" matches in almost every example, not all but it's close

@dickie_white

3 жыл бұрын

Even so works for me.

@lordswindon104

3 жыл бұрын

@@dickie_white That covers the contrasting sense, but overall it's really the idea of "when all is said and done/at the end of the day/taking everything into account

@ivrz

3 жыл бұрын

All the same

"All the same" seems the best translation for "quand même".

@talideon

3 жыл бұрын

Or, more simply, "however".

@georgeadams1853

3 жыл бұрын

I frequently translate it, "Even so".

@vanchopski1

3 жыл бұрын

@@talideon Yep "however" works well. I'd say the exception there is when you use it like, "Quand même!", as an exclamation on its own

@arroxas

3 жыл бұрын

Just the same...

@vilena5308

3 жыл бұрын

I would translate it as 'still', in most cases.

In English, you can use 'all the same' in all the example sentences, very often at the end of the phrase. 'you'll eat them all the same', 'you did your best all the same' 'I'm French, but I still make mistakes all the same' 'All the same, you're not going to swim the Atlantic are you?' 'Arriving an hour late is not nice, all the same' etc etc etc. It has all the varieties of meaning that quand même has in French.

“Even still” is a good translation in many instances.

It’s funny how in Chilean Spanish (maybe in other varieties too, but this is the one I speak) all instances of “quand même” can be translated into the word “igual” as in “igual no está bien llegar una hora tarde” or “igual no te comiste todo el Camembert, ¿o sí?” Or “igual no me esperaba eso” or “igual es raro eso” etc. The interesting part is that the direct translation of “même” in Spanish is “mismo” which is very close in meaning with “igual” (égal in French)... so basically we use sister words to express kind of the same thing.

@cinemozart

3 жыл бұрын

Or you can also use "sin embargo" as well! :)

Best English translation for this is "Even So". or maybe "in any case", "just the same".

In English, I would translate this as "just the same". "Merci quand meme= Thanks just the same."

@Ghimauve

3 жыл бұрын

It's quite funny, as a French person I would translate "merci quand même" as "thanks anyway"!

@songcasserole3773

3 жыл бұрын

@@Ghimauve 'Thanks anyway', and 'thanks just the same' are interchangeable.

"still" works for all of these examples, and that's how i usually interpret the phrase.

We'd say "all the same" in Ireland. These vids are great thanks.

@johngalvin3763

2 жыл бұрын

thanks a million Audrey

The only way I can remember this is "all the same". Because that's the English equivalent that uses the French word "meme", meaning "same". I have always learned languages by finding the nearest connection I can find between the "foreign" word and English. So now I know how to use the phrase, and better how I will understand it when I hear or read it.

Geraldine, in English one would say “ Tell me you’re not going to swim across the Atlantic. Are you?” Not “Aren’t you?”

@mydogdeli

3 жыл бұрын

Exactly. Tag questions are in the negative if the original statement is affirmative, and vice versa. Examples: "She's French, isn't she?" or "She isn't French, is she?"

@AnaPerez-pq5iq

3 жыл бұрын

et alors ?

@mydogdeli

3 жыл бұрын

@@AnaPerez-pq5iq Et alors quoi ?

@AnaPerez-pq5iq

3 жыл бұрын

@@mydogdeli il a fait une faute. Et alors quoi ? Bah on s'en balec

@mydogdeli

3 жыл бұрын

@@AnaPerez-pq5iq Géraldine a fait une petite faute d’anglais, et Jay l’a aidée en corrigeant sa petite faute. Moi, j’ai confirmé sa correction et j’ai expliqué la règle de grammaire. Comme ceci est une chaîne pour mieux apprendre les langues, Sa correction était tout à fait valide. Ça alors. Tu as d’autres questions ?

In the Camembert example, the meaning in English could be "surely", as an incredulity, to imply "it's not possible!" or "you couldn't have" or "please tell me you didn't..." or "please reassure me that you did not..." "You have not eaten ALL the Camembert, surely!" "Surely you have not eaten ALL of it!"

Quand même is the best friend of Du coup 🤣

When expressing a contradiction, ‘quand meme’ can also be translated into English as “all the same”: “Merci quand meme !” = Thanks all the same!

“Even so”

Fabuleuse comme d'habitude. Pourtant, a 3:20 - est-ce que c'est possible que ça va mieux, "Quand même, arriver une heure de retard, c'est pas sympa"... comme "Come on, arriving an hour late isn't nice"? Et Le train s'est arrêté, qu'est-que je peux faire ? I am certainly not going to hitchhike".

"Comme meme" me fait dresser les cheveux sur la tête ! Thanks Geraldine, for the great content

As James Hopkins says, 'nevertheless' also works well as a translation.

Je pense que cette video est genial. Il y a beacoup a apprendre. Merci pour m'aider.

"At the same time" is probably the closest for preserving form and meaning

@lacdirk

3 жыл бұрын

No, because it doesn't confer the difference between an objective observation and a judgement.

I understand it as 'despite everything'. For me, the trickiest to understand is when after someone has expressed an opinion the other one goes 'quand meme' with emphasis!

It usually means "even though" or "even then" or "anyway" or "can't believe you actually" - in negative sense" or "however."

I haven't finished the video but my first thought is that it translate into something like "at the same time" So her first example would be "He's very nice, but at the same time he talks a lot."

I think the best English equivalent of quand meme is to use it to mean "all the same" in the same way as we would in English. It seems to fit pretty well into all the examples Geraldine gives. btw thanks Geraldine for your delightful approach to helping us to speak and to understand your lovely language. (Apologies for the missing accented e in meme!)

@carolynpalmer7217

7 ай бұрын

Yes, this works quite well, as does - "But Hey......"

Ah ouais!! You, Madame, are a fantastic french teacher. I wish you would've been my french teacher at the University of McGill, in Québec, Canada. Merci!!

Also, “nevertheless”.

For the indignation, it is equivalent to when we say “seriously?” In English. As on you can’t believe it.

@veraciteabsolue1221

3 жыл бұрын

I don't think that the '?' is appropriate. I think it should be 'seriously!'. Quand même is not second degré or sarcastic but on the opposite means don't exagerate or something like that.

@macvena

2 жыл бұрын

Finally, someone said it!

@macvena

2 жыл бұрын

@@veraciteabsolue1221 In English saying "Seriously?!", is a very much a strong question like, "Are you kidding me?!" It's purely rhetorical to express disbelief and outrage at the same time.

There IS a very clear English translation of quand même: “still” or “but, still”. You can literally use the word “still” in almost all those examples in english and it would be perfectly correct and understandable.

@chipham1281

3 жыл бұрын

Nope. 'Still' would NOT work in the context of "Swimming across the Atlantic" or "Eating ALL the different kinds of chese in one short evening", eytc... That's why there are so many 'nuances' in each (world) language! ;=)

@nicholassmith7048

2 жыл бұрын

@@chipham1281 but "still" is the closest direct translation.

@chipham1281

2 жыл бұрын

@@nicholassmith7048 Nope! Then the "Merci, quand même!" would certainly NOT work with your "still". 'Thanks, anyway' would reflect the reality and light additional -- if ever-- sarcasm. While "Thanks, still" would be a 'no goal' in...FIFA World Cup, or Euro 2020 ! NOPE! And/while the Irish way will/would work locally, thus, not applicable in... Australia, for example. Or even Canada. In the U.S., for example, this "Aznavour's 'Quand même!' must be equivalent/translated to a "Frank Sinatra's 'Truly?' or 'No no, not me!' or even 'Can't believe it!' So, that 'still' is so... Google, so 'Marché aux Puces' for tourists.... ;=)

THANKYOU so much. this is the best explanation I have heard

I agree that "even so" or "nevertheless" works for your 1st category, to do with contradictions, but after that the usage varies too much for a single translation, as you say. Another very helpful lesson, at least to know that it's OK to find it confusing!

i always use "all the same" as the translation colloquially as we dont usually say nevertheless all the time

Sometimes it serves as ' however', sometimes it serves as ' anyway'

So I have to tell you this is a really been on my mind for so long and I love all your explanations thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you

My understanding of the expression was taught to me by my Mother, who didn't learn English until she was 10 years old. That the closest meaning was in the way that we add the word "Anyway" into a sentence, replacing the word "But", This can have a positive or negative meaning depending on the inflection in the voice, for example, surprise or anger. Sometimes, if my Mother was upset that something hadn't gone to plan, she would simply say "Quand meme", but we knew by the inflection that she wasn't happy, and probably a good idea to steer clear for a bit.

This is a huge help, I've struggled with quand meme for years!

@ez8546

2 жыл бұрын

Me, too! That was really difficult for me. I just assumed it meant "whatever" or "anyway."

Wow! "Quand meme" means (can be used) so much! A lot to learn.

Thanks for breaking things down in this terrific video! I had no idea "quand meme" had so many uses!

'Even so' seems to be an appropriate translation.

Now I understand that it's used to demonstrate contradiction somehow.. Thanks for your explanation

Hello gorgeous Géraldine, I think the correct translation of “tu ne vas pas traverser…” would be “You’re not going to swim…,ARE YOU? “ and not “aren’t you?”

I go for “at the same time” for english and “a la vez” en español.

@foresthallee7378

3 жыл бұрын

I think in Spanish it’s much more similar to “de todas maneras”

Thank you so much for this!

Thank you for explaining the concept so simple

Love this expression! Well explained! Thank you!

This video was quand meme very helpful! ;)

Thank you for explaining, Geraldine. It makes perfect sense to me. 😊

Really excellent lesson/sharing. Many thanks.

Thanks a lot Géraldine

'de todos modos' also works for most examples in spanish

I would agree with the other comments. "Even so" can be used in most of these examples - even if it sounds a bit strange or out of place - and is the nearest English equivalent.

@AriD2385

3 жыл бұрын

I think this is the phrase I’ve tended to translate to in my head for “quand meme”. But some of the examples of disapproval don’t quite fit “even so”.

@johnknight9150

3 жыл бұрын

@@AriD2385 There are a few that don't fit, yes, or they work but a bit strangely (forced and unnatural to the setting, but still technically correct).

First time seeing you. You're so good. You're such a good teacher. I'm so glad you repeat with expression in the way I might hear it in normal life. C'est quand meme bien. Quand meme, c'est bien. (One of these, i think says it.)

Merci beaucoup pour les bonnes explications. T'es super compréhensive!

Oh we have a phrase in my language that is contextually used the same way! This made it easier for me to grasp the usage! Merci!

En France, j'ai entendu très souvent "quand même". Pour moi, un équivalent pourrait être "anyway" en anglais. Et aussi pour exprimer surprise, comme vous indiquez, "Marie, quand même!" :)

@octobre4623

3 жыл бұрын

Surprise avec une pointe d'indignation.

I have a (probably irrational) annoyance with the expression “untranslatable” when people say something is untranslatable and then proceed to translate it. Translatable doesn’t mean Word for Word, like one word equal to one other word, it’s describing a sense of something, a larger or subtler meaning etc. Everything is translatable, as this comment section has shown :)

Very helpful lesson!

Thank you for always including an example and repeating it twice. Your videos are very helpful and i always learn something from them.

Ah ouais, quand même ! Sushant, from India.

Here in the US we use a phrase 'just the same' which sounds similar.

It can also be pretty close to "however" most of the times , in English.

Très utile. Merci.

Merci Geraldine, vous m'avez beaucoup aidé avec cette vidéo.

Thank you for explaining this particular phrase. It's one I've thought about for a long time. Seems like it could be used in almost any sentence! lol

Wow...very thorough explanation, Geraldine. I never realized how versatile those two words could be. In my experience, it’s only by total immersion in the language that you can truly get a handle on it. À force de l’entendre dans le langage courant, on s’y habitue et on apprend l’usage car ce n’est pas évident, quand même !

merci pour ces examples :)

Great session! Thanks so much.

J’adore les pièces mexicains que vous avez sur les étagères !

Merci beaucoup! I hear it all the time here in France but no one has been able to translate it fully as you have here. Now, how to remember or use all this...

Merci

Another excellent video, thanks! Very very small point - at 3.04, we'd say "You're not going to swim across the Atlantic Ocean, are you?" Rather than "aren't you"? Apologies if this has already been picked up, I haven't read all the comments

Hi Geraldine, I think “Quand Même” could also be thought of in English, as “really” or “seriously”. As in “you don’t seriously expect me to walk there” or “How long will you be staying? Two more weeks, “ Ah, quand même” [ this being with a negative connotation] or “ Oh really?”. Just a thought.

I would say 'even so', 'all the same' and 'nevertheless' would probably cover all of the uses of 'quand même'. It 's a surprisingly useful expression.

Thank you! Now I know why no one was willing to explain it to me!

yes here she abled to wide up on this verb quand meme thanks my sister.

Merci.... Bonjour de Grèce.. 🙏❤️❤️❤️

Actually "quand meme" translates into English fairly easily as "at the same time" as a current argument. Example: I like to be warm but "at the same time" I don't want to burn wood. Or... I like to watch football but "at the same time" it's too expensive to go to the match.

Bonjour, hello, It seems to me important to precise that "Quand même" is the abbreviation of "quand bien même" (which could be translated by "Despite the fact" or "Even though") which is usually the start of a sentence to significate that a contradiction will be announced. For exemple in a conversation, someone you wait says you: - "Désolé si j'arrive en retard, mais je n'habite pas à côté !". ("Sorry if I'm late, but I don't live next door !") Normally you should answer: - "Quand bien même, tu avais un long trajet pour venir jusqu'ici, il t'appartenait de te lever plus tôt pour être à l'heure." ("Even though you have a long drive to get here, it was up to you to get up earlier to be on time."). "Quand même" is so a good term to abreviate this same sentence. Cause it will replace "you have a long drive to get here" Which suddenly is implied. So you just have to answer: - "Quand même, tu aurais pu te lever plus tôt pour être à l'heure". (Still, you'd have woken up earlier to be on time.) Merci beaucoup "Comme une française" d'aider ainsi tous ces gens qui désirent apprendre notre langue. :)

Sans pareille! C'est comme je décris votre vidéo! Que Dieu vous bénisse! Je vous en remercie de tout mon coeur! Salut

@gagapa76

3 жыл бұрын

En français, "sans pareille" n' est pas utilisé. Concernant votre deuxième phrase, en tant que français je ne comprends pas le sens. Si c'est pour signifier que vous souhaitez dire que vous decrivez cette vidéo "sans pareille", en français "Sans équivalent", on dira : "Sans équivalent ! C'est de cette façon que je décrirais votre vidéo!"

Merci beaucoup pour le vidéo . I love French language and I try to learn it but yeah thank for made the good videos for us,I'll follow and like for your channel.

Bonjour. J'apprends l'anglais du coup en vous écoutant ! ^^ c'est intéressant vous nous faites nous rendre compte a nous, francophones, des bizarreries du Français que les étranger subissent, sans que nous nous en rendions compte. Je suis plutôt très au fait des difficultés que rencontrent les espagnols avec le français (surtout pour la prononciation, par exemple, ils n'arrivent pas a prononcer différemment "dessus" et "dessous") mais je n'avais que peu d'idées précises sur les difficultés que rencontrent les anglophones.

This is so complex but this was so good!

I think of quand meme as a way of emphasizing whatever is being said. Emphasizing the surprising aspect of something. Like, "My car might be ugly, but quand meme is it ever fast!

I usually think of it as the English “even so”.

Quand même... could also use ‘even so’ or ‘even though’, or ‘all the same’. Love your lessons!💕😘🇬🇧➡️🇫🇷

This video reminds me of linguist John McWhorter’s discussion of the use of “even” in English, as in “I invited him to my party and he didn’t *even* come.” Or, “I’ve studied French for 5 years and didn’t *even* know that word.” It’s something you insert for emphasis, to express that something didn’t happen as you’d expect it to, and that you’re disappointed or surprised by it. Used in this way “even” isn’t really translatable in itself, but its presence in the sentence adds nuance to the speaker’s emotion. Quand meme is different, but it seems like it’s a similar type of thing.

Merci beacoup!!!

Quand Même - another way is to express something like, "I don't care what anyone says, arriving late is rude." English has a billion ways to say simple things ,

My in laws say quand même all the time and finally I understand now. Can you also do one for “dit donc”? That’s another one they say all day long and I never understand

The most direct translation of quand même to English is "still".

Could you make a video about how and when to use “si”? Thanks - love your videos .

One of those very difficult idioms to master. Thank you for the excellent explanation and examples. FYI An English speaker would say "you're not going to swim across the Atlantic are you" or "You're going to swim across the Atlantic aren't you " (which have opposite meanings! )Thus avoiding a double negative which is confusing. Keep up the excellent work.

Brava💖

However, whenever (but for me the closest is 'nevertheless') all have flavours / shades of quand meme. Etymologically, the literal "when same" is almost a verbatim translation "when ever" if you accept the close equivalence of ever = constant (especially over time) = same = even = level = not greater = not smaller = not less = never the less etc they all boil down to the same core concept: never the less = always equal = always the same = when same. Notwithstanding all that, English has dozens of phrases which map onto the sublety of use of the French quand meme. And if I'm wrong....whatever... :)

Excellent lesson as always Geraldine. Can you explain the placement of "quand même in a sentence and when it can fit in multiple places?

Non non non, the best translation for quand même is "remark"

It is translatable as "even though."

merci,merci,merci,merci

interesting lesson, i was not aware how versitile the expression was, however, surly you can not drop the ne when using ne (plus verb) que

Il me semble que c'est très similaire à l'utilisation de dans certains cas en anglais... au moins qu'en l'anglais américain