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Le français au QuébecDialogues · Chapter I

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Chapter I · Social interactionsA2

24Dialogue · A2

Hosting guests at home for the first time

Situation

You're hosting a couple of friends at your place for the first time on a Saturday evening. They ring the bell, you welcome them in, and you settle them comfortably in the living room before dinner.

The roles

AHostBGuest
  • Guest
    Listen

    Bonsoir ! On n'est pas trop en retard, j'espère ?

    Good evening! We're not too late, I hope?

  • Host
    Listen

    Bonsoir ! Pas du tout, vous tombez juste bien. Entrez, entrez !

    Good evening! Not at all, you're right on time. Come in, come in!

  • Guest
    Listen

    Merci. Tiens, on a apporté une petite bouteille de vin et un dessert.

    Thanks. Here, we brought a little bottle of wine and a dessert.

  • Host
    Listen

    Oh, il ne fallait pas ! C'est vraiment gentil, merci beaucoup.

    Oh, you shouldn't have! That's really kind, thank you so much.

  • Guest
    Listen

    On enlève nos souliers ?

    Should we take off our shoes?

  • Host
    Listen

    Oui, s'il vous plaît, si ça ne vous dérange pas. Vous pouvez les laisser ici, dans l'entrée.

    Yes, please, if you don't mind. You can leave them here, in the entryway.

  • Guest
    Listen

    Pas de problème. Et nos manteaux, je les mets où ?

    No problem. And our coats, where should I put them?

  • Host
    Listen

    Donnez-les-moi, je vais les accrocher dans le garde-robe. Faites comme chez vous.

    Give them to me, I'll hang them in the closet. Make yourselves at home.

  • Guest
    Listen

    Merci. Dis donc, c'est joli chez toi ! C'est lumineux.

    Thanks. Wow, your place is lovely! It's bright.

  • Host
    Listen

    Ah, merci ! On est bien installés depuis l'été. Venez vous asseoir au salon.

    Oh, thanks! We've been settled in nicely since the summer. Come sit in the living room.

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Hosting guests at home for the first timeDialogue 24

  • Guest
    Listen

    Avec plaisir. Ça sent vraiment bon, en passant.

    Gladly. It smells really good, by the way.

  • Host
    Listen

    C'est le plat qui finit au four. Qu'est-ce que je vous sers à boire ? J'ai du vin, de la bière, ou juste de l'eau.

    It's the dish finishing in the oven. What can I get you to drink? I have wine, beer, or just water.

  • Guest
    Listen

    Je vais prendre un verre de vin, merci. Et lui, juste de l'eau pour commencer.

    I'll have a glass of wine, thanks. And he'll just have water to start.

  • Host
    Listen

    Parfait. Plate ou pétillante, l'eau ?

    Perfect. Still or sparkling water?

  • Guest
    Listen

    Plate, ça va être bien.

    Still is fine.

  • Host
    Listen

    Je vous apporte ça tout de suite. Servez-vous des bouchées sur la table, ne vous gênez pas !

    I'll bring it right over. Help yourselves to the snacks on the table, don't be shy!

  • Guest
    Listen

    Merci, c'est super gentil. Et merci de nous recevoir, ça nous fait vraiment plaisir.

    Thanks, that's so kind. And thanks for having us, we're really happy to be here.

  • Host
    Listen

    Tout le plaisir est pour nous. Installez-vous, je reviens.

    The pleasure is all ours. Get comfortable, I'll be right back.

Vocabulary

  • entrezcome in— Said warmly, often doubled — « entrez, entrez ! » — to put guests at ease.
  • il ne fallait pasyou shouldn't have— Standard polite line when accepting a gift from a guest.
  • enlever ses souliersto take off one's shoes— Common at the door in Quebec homes, especially in winter.
  • le garde-robe / l'entréethe closet / the entryway— In Quebec a coat closet is « le garde-robe » (masculine here), not « le placard ». Most Quebec apartments have one right by the door.
  • faites comme chez vousmake yourself at home— Classic host phrase to invite guests to relax.
  • de l'eau plate / pétillantestill / sparkling water— « Plate » here means flat, not boring.
  • des bouchéessnacks / nibbles / small bites— Small finger food served before the meal.
  • ne vous gênez pasdon't be shy / help yourself— Encourages guests to serve themselves without asking.

Culture note

In Quebec people often take off their shoes when entering someone's home — especially in winter, when streets are salty and wet. The host doesn't always need to ask; guests offer on their own. Bringing a small something (wine, dessert, flowers) when invited for dinner is also a well-established habit.

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