Arriving as a guest at someone's place

• Guest
  Listen

  Avec plaisir. Tu vis ici depuis longtemps ?

  I'd love to. Have you lived here long?

• Host
  Listen

  Depuis un peu plus d'un an. On s'y sent bien. Voici le salon, et de l'autre côté, la chambre.

  A bit over a year. We feel good here. Here's the living room, and on the other side, the bedroom.

• Guest
  Listen

  C'est très lumineux. Je peux t'aider avec quelque chose en cuisine ?

  It's very bright. Can I help you with anything in the kitchen?

• Host
  Listen

  C'est gentil, mais tout est sous contrôle. Installe-toi, je t'apporte un verre. Tu prends quoi ?

  That's kind, but everything is under control. Settle in, I'll bring you a drink. What will you have?

• Guest
  Listen

  Qu'est-ce que tu as ? Je ne suis pas difficile.

  What do you have? I'm not picky.

• Host
  Listen

  J'ai du vin rouge, du blanc, de la bière, et des jus si tu préfères sans alcool.

  I have red wine, white, beer, and juices if you'd rather have something non-alcoholic.

• Guest
  Listen

  Un petit verre de blanc, alors, merci. Et merci encore de m'avoir invitée, ça me touche vraiment.

  A small glass of white, then, thanks. And thanks again for inviting me, it really means a lot.

• Host
  Listen

  Ça nous fait plaisir. Assieds-toi, je reviens tout de suite.

  We're really happy to have you. Sit down, I'll be right back.

Vocabulary

• tu n'aurais pas dûyou shouldn't have— Polite reply when a guest hands over a gift. « Il ne fallait pas » works too.
• un bouqueta bouquet of flowers— A safe, classic gift when invited to dinner.
• les botteswinter boots— Specifically the heavy, insulated boots worn outside in winter.
• le crochetthe hook— Many Quebec entryways use wall hooks rather than a coat rack.
• faire visiterto give a tour— Hosts often offer a short walk-through of the home.
• passer à tableto sit down to eat— Signals that the meal is about to start.
• je ne suis pas difficileI'm not picky— Useful when offered a choice and you don't mind.
• sans alcoolnon-alcoholic— Always fine to ask for; juice, sparkling water, or soft drinks are usual.

Culture note

In Quebec, arriving on time is appreciated, but being fifteen minutes late for a casual dinner is still perfectly acceptable. People almost always bring something: wine, dessert, flowers, or a small product from home. Refusing to take off your boots in winter would be odd — it's part of the polite arrival ritual.

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