Best French TV Shows to Learn French: Engrenages (Netflix)
Improve your French (& insider French cultural knowledge) with Géraldine as she explains a scene from the award-winning French Netflix show Engrenages.
💾 Read, save and/or print the full written lesson here (free): www.commeunefrancaise.com/blo...
🎓 Join my Everyday French crash course (free): www.commeunefrancaise.com/wel...
Watching an entertaining French TV series is one of the most effective ways to get better at understanding spoken French at its native (fast) pace from the comfort of your own home. But what should you watch to really get a sense of authentic French language, life and culture?
For starters, try the TV series “Engrenages” - also known as “Spiral” in English! I’ve recommended this show for a long time now, and I’m finally dedicating an entire episode to it.
In today’s lesson, I’ll introduce to you this award-winning crime drama and we’ll break down a scene together so you can practice listening to fast spoken French. In particular, we’ll see examples of more formal French and professional jargon. Don’t forget to let me know in the comments if you learned anything new today.
Take care and stay safe.
😘 from Grenoble, France.
Géraldine
I watched the first six episodes of engrenages on the BBC didn't and still hardly understand much of it. A great series, thank heavens for sous titres
I've learned five foreign languages and French has been a constant thorn in my heel. An uphill battle all the way; I'm a few steps from a reasonable fluency at B2 level but every remaining step has been torture. So thank you for videos like this, they keep reminding me and keeping the embers smouldering.
It's not just Parisians Géraldine.... my whole family love this show, I have watched the entire series about 5 times!
Moi aussi!
En première vue, j'ai compris à peu près la moitié; mais avec l'aide de ce leçon, je comprends toute la conversation. Merci, Géraldine!
Geraldine is a very nice teacher &she's lovely to me
First time around, I barely understood anything; just caught a few words. Last time around, it was much clearer! Merci!
French is such a beautiful language I'm trying but it's so difficult 😪
Season 2 was when Laure had the short haircut. It's interesting that Josephine is sticking up for her, because throughout most of the series, those two hated each other. But I love Engrenages. You would never find a character like Juge Roban on American TV because he isn't young and beautiful. I love the way he would always restate the case of the accused in such a way as to show how ridiculous their logic was. I also like that Commissioner Herville was a complete SOB, but when he's killed, the team bends over backwards to find his killer. Plus, how can you not love Gillou?! Two of the best expressions I learned from Engrenages were « c’est à dire que . . ? », meaning "So what does that mean?" or "What do you mean by that?" and « Ça dit quelque chose? », which in English would mean, “does that ring a bell?” And the way they ask, « Il est où? », whereas In English, we would say, “Where is he?." Great series and even better if you're trying to learn French. I felt pretty much the same way about Le Bureau.
This was a wonderful lesson, Madame! You are an excellent teacher 🙌
Il est incroyable, génial ce que tu fais, Géraldine. Dans le temps d'un quart d'heure je suis allé d'avoir peu compris à avoir tout compris. Merci.
I’ve been using you tips for years. Thank you. Here’s one for you. How to pronounce ‘vocabulary’ in English. /vo ka’ byu la’ ri /, 5 syllables: main accent on the second, secondary accent on the fourth. You’re welcome.
Thanks for your videos.. they are really helping me to understand spoken French.
Very helpful. Thanks Gèraldine!
J’ai déjà regardé tous les épisodes. C’est magnifique! Je ai beaucoup aimé Engrenages!
I thought the last series was the last one? Absolutely loved Engrenages, especially Roban and Gilou. Now addicted to Dix Pour Cent.
Looking forward to binge watching this summer!
Engrenages was one of my favourite shows, especially the first few seasons
your dedication in building these videos enchants me! thank you so much for delivering the best to your followers. God bless you and your family 🙏 a big kiss from Brazil 😘👍👍👍👍🙌.
La méthode de Géraldine marche bien !
Great series but so FAST and full of colloquialisms - definitely need those sub-titles!
Merci - j’ai adoré cette série. Outil précieux pour l’apprentissage surtout du langage argotique. Je la recommande vivement à mes élèves. Votre analyse est très utile aussi.
Merci Geraldine.
J'avoue que j'ai pas fini votre vidéo mais j'ai fini tout de suite la première série, QUI EST MAGNIFIQUE !!! S'il y avait plus de séries comme ça en français...
Classic series. Love the breakdown, thank you.
Yes, excellent on the breakdowns. I don’t know how I’d get them any other way! I could hear the phrases at the end and the vocabulary hit the spot. Milles mercis, Geraldine! Much success! Also, I would say some formal French grammar helps. I will remember those tips in the meantime. Speaking French seems to involve both formal and informal speech. Merci again!!
Merci. Je pr`ef'ere voir avec les subtitles. Mais, j'ai comprendre plus bien le fin clip que le premiere.
Oh, this show is great! I watched a couple of episodes some years ago. Don’t know why I didn’t finish it. I’ll have to get back to it.
"c'est quoi, tout?" bonne question !! ahaha. these videos are really great !
I love that show.
Most of what i learned was how flexible the use of the term "putain" is! At least seeing how differently it was translated in the English subtitles. PS Still somewhat in love with Laure! PPS Also, if you like your stylish French series, try "Speakerine" (The Announcer en Anglais!). Set in Paris in 1962, it's about a TV announcer, whose world is shaken by politics, sexism etc. against a background of unrest against the Gaullist regime, and tensions due to immigration. It's not in the same class as Engrenages, but it's still good viewing, and the French is also reasonably easy to follow, even to my old English ears.
How could one not be in love with Laure?
Engrenages is fantastic. One can also learn to spot simplified subtitles in English! (UK)
J’ai regardé 5 saisons d’Engrenage sans un problème de compréhension (sans sous titres). D’autres series que j’ai beaucoup aimé: Un Village François, Braquo et un series Belge en français Le Trêve.
The English equivalent of "ce n'est pas un self-service" would be something like, "this [court] isn't a cafeteria." I can totally hear this expression being used on _Law & Order._
I love(d) this show. Up to about 3 years ago, I watched it up to its 8th season. I liked it a lot better than LAW & ORDER. But, with France's special system of the Juge d'Instruction (which does not exist in the Anglo-Saxon (US/Brit) judicial systethen m (and having been a paralegal), I had a difficult time understanding the concept at first until I studied and understood how the French system works. Otherwise, it was a very gripping show and I thought Audrey Fleurot was so hot!! I also like UN VILLAGE FRANCAIS.
Wait, there's a new one coming out?!? Must be a new cast. This show was outstanding!
I thought Season 8 was going to be the finale, but maybe . . . ?
Great series
Ironically, in English, for “self-service” (insofar as restaurants) in the U.S, the French term “buffet” is used. (« DIY » c’est plutôt le bricolage, au moins aux States.)
(For 14:33)
will there be a ninth season? Most sources say not.
I love this show, but since I'm in the US it stopped showing at season 4 or 5. If all seasons are on Netflix US I might resubscribe. Interesting take on the French justice system. The red head Josephine is my favorite character. I wish some shows would show subtitles in the original language (not only French) instead of English. It helps brush up my French, I can pick up some basic words (je, vous, notre, comme, etc.) but don't understand the rest. Subtitles fill the gap. Brut is helpful on this part, subtitles are part of their videos. This improves my reading and hearing comprehension, but not much on writing or speaking.
FYI Netflix has bought it but no date announced yet for release.
Where can I find it?? I can’t find it on UK Netflix :(
I have Netflix and Engrenages does not show up there. Am I missing something?
It's a great show, but unfortunately we don't have it in Netflix Brazil, nor any other streaming 😓
I have watched a bit of this show. So, basically it's French Law and Order in a way.
❤ Engrenages👍
good exercise
Please help me. What is the best definition for this word in french - THE GREAT APOCALYPSE. Tq.
Unfortunately, Netflix doesn't show this is in my country (Sweden). Strange.
It's no longer on Netflix unfortunately. MHz is the streaming platform that carries it.
Boo. Was just looking for it.
@@wendychiles4057 Try your local library!
@@moodbeast Thanks! I will.
The Wire was a story that was based on true facts,,, and my Baltimore cops were actors in show.
Est-ce que vous connaissez le vieux émission s'appelle French in Action? C'était une émission Américain dans les années quatre-vingt.
Oui, je l'ai vue en Allemagne Il y a beaucoup d'années.
Hi Geraldine. I noticed that when you were saying the name of the show "Dix Pour Cent", you pronounced the number as "Deese". I would have pronounced it "Dee" in this context. I'm not a native speaker, so obviously you are right, but can it be said both ways or is there a reason that it should be pronounced "Deese" in this context?
I think it is very locale specific and maybe even specific from one individual to another or in which context it is uttered.. Ok.. Dix (the numeral) is pronounced "Deece" (ending with a hard S) Dixième (the cardinal) is pronounced "Deez-ee-m" (note the soft S or Zee sound) Dix pour cent does not have any formal way to be pronounced, and it may be dependent on the context ... Like : - Comment ? 10% seulement - What ? Only 10 percent ? (In which case it's going to be a clear Deece because the question is about the 10 !) - On va dire 10% alors (Ok, let's say 10 percent) - In which case the S may be softer - more akin to a 'z' - il a obtenu 10% des votes (He registered 10 percent of ballots) - the S or Z goes away - purely factual.. In English think on how you would put the stress on the '10'.. Hard stress, hard 'S', Mid stress, 'soft z', low stress muted.
Is it on any network other than Netflix?
On MHZ in the US.
Can't find the show on Netflix under its French name. Do you know any English name used to broadcast it?
Spirals
J’adore Engrenages, même la 🧙🏻Joséphine. 😂 Et le pauvre Pierre 💔💔💔.
Nous avons regarde cette serie il y a des annees et nous l'avons adoree
Les Français connaissent-ils le personnage de Perry Mason ? C'était un avocat très célèbre à la télévision américaine.
Among the ways to solve problems: (Whatever health, social or financial) 1. Continuous daily charity even a little 2. Repetitive supplication anyway (two words) Oh Lord bless me, Lord heal me, Lord spend my religion. 3. Kiss your father and mother's hand every day, even once. 4. Morning and Evening Prayers . (Mention of God ) 5. Forgiveness ( of God ) while continuing. 6. Repeat..there is no power and no strength but Allah. 7. Prayers to the Prophet while continuing. 8. Read Surat Al-Baqarah daily, even if it is by mobile phone, even if it is intermittent in stages. 9. Humanitarian aid and supplication afterwards. [The meaning of this paragraph is (benevolence to creation) whether it is a human being or an irrational being cat or sparrow]. 10. Duha prayer four rak'ahs. 11 . Two units of prayer of need... with the intention of (healing / marriage / sustenance) repeat it every day. 12. Al-Raqiya Al-Shari'a - by yourself - from it - To read Surat Al-Ikhlas or Al-Fatihah or something else on the Water and drink..every day even once. And you will see good and pleasant results, God willing These are all tried and true in real life... and there are people who adhere to them And reap a lot of good results... And it is not a requirement that you do it all... Take from it What suits your situation and condition.. even if I stuck with one paragraph of it, and I won.. May God grant you success... God bless our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions . Do not forget us from the good prayers . ،،،
I loved this show but need the subtitles as they talk so fast.....
Are you sure it is on Netflix ? I don't see it.
It's no longer on Netflix.
Engrenages est sur Netflix?
Non plus malheureusment. MHz, c'est le "streaming" platform.
Too bad this show doesn't stream on Netflix in the States. One can get the first season through Netflix's DVD service, but that's all.
I think you can watch it on MHZ (and many other series and movies in foreign languages) which, however,, requires a subscription.
The Bureau
Les advocates parlent clairement, mais les flics!! Je trouve que Bureau des Legendes est meilleur pour l’etudiant.
French people need to get over Emily in Paris
This is confusing, Engrenages is no longer; cancelled a while ago. Is this video older than 2022, but uploaded a few days ago for a second time?
I prefer French film to TV drama, this one "Spiral" seems indebted to western virtue signalling and depression
I believe Netflix is now traded in for Hulu and other providers like Peacock etc, etc, etc. I dont do Netflix because they've never been as great as Hollywood Videos and neither better than Block Busters. Interestingly enough, I prefer to just buy the DVD on Amazon (because often when you buy the Official version of the film you get a lot of footage, like bloopers, games etc.). So I prefer to wait for it in the mail. Netflix, the irony, they don't do foreign films, nor independent films at least they didn't at first. But the real reason I don't use them is because..like RED, they would place vending machines in the HOT Florida SCORTCHING SUN..place public...at 110F 24/7 most of the year where I live..this happened for about 2 years plus...and then expect people to use it like they're buying Nestle Coffee...lets unroll the red carpet once again. After that, I never bought anything. Wait, I've never bought anything from them. Sure the lines would be 50 people plus long...waiting outside for an hour. Here you can have a heat stroke, hart attack, stroke, faint etc...just from the hot sun...this is worst than the desert. The desert gets extremes, not here in south florida. It gets worst, all the best have passed on from Marvel, to Golden Girls directors, Johnny Carson and actors etc, etc, etc. So for now, I think many waste their time because really to produce a Chef D'Ouvre most may need a PHD in Literature or both Medical Sciences etc. It really does take a lot of people but not editing, editing that's the least of concerns. So once again lots of plagiarism in the USA since about the 1980's, I mean since the 70's/60's; that's a 10 year cycle.