Parenting a Teenager in France
Negotiate curfews, grades, phones and Saturday-night parties with a French teenager.
French teenagers go to collège from 11 to 15, finishing with the brevet exam, then to lycée and the bac. Parents follow grades, homework and absences on school apps such as Pronote, so bad marks are rarely a secret. Parents and teens always say tu to each other, and teens' friends' parents usually expect a quick message or call before a soirée.
- 1
Tu vas où ?
Where are you off to?
- 2
Tu rentres avant 23 h.
You're home by 11.
- 3
J'ai vu tes notes sur Pronote.
I saw your grades on the school app.
- 4
Il faut que tu révises pour le brevet.
You need to revise for your exams.
Tip: Name the exam French pupils sit at the end of middle school.
- 5
Lâche ton portable, s'il te plaît.
Put your phone down, please.
- 6
Laisse-moi tranquille !
Leave me alone!
- 7
Tout le monde a le droit, sauf moi !
Everyone's allowed except me!
- 8
C'est pas juste !
It's not fair!
- 9
Tu me fais trop honte !
You're so embarrassing!
- 10
C'est chez qui, la soirée ?
Whose place is the party at?
- 11
Les parents seront là ?
Will the parents be there?
- 12
Envoie-moi un message quand tu arrives.
Text me when you get there.
- 13
Je viens te chercher.
I'll come and pick you up.
- 14
Ne claque pas la porte !
Don't slam the door!
- 15
Tu es privé de sortie ce week-end.
You're grounded this weekend.
- 16
On peut parler cinq minutes ?
Can we talk for five minutes?
- 17
Je te fais confiance.
I trust you.
- 18
Range ta chambre.
Tidy your room.
- 19
Je suis plus un gamin !
I'm not a kid any more!
- 20
On en reparle plus tard.
We'll talk about it again later.