Being introduced to a friend's partner at a get-together

• You (the guest)
  Listen

  Pas loin, à environ vingt minutes à pied. C'est un beau quartier, ici, calme.

  Not far, about twenty minutes on foot. It's a nice neighbourhood here — quiet.

• Marie-Ève (Étienne's partner)
  Listen

  On l'aime beaucoup. Tu prends quelque chose à boire ? On a du vin, de la bière, du jus.

  We really like it. Can I get you something to drink? We have wine, beer, juice.

• You (the guest)
  Listen

  Un verre de vin rouge, ça serait super, merci. Je peux t'aider à mettre la table ?

  A glass of red wine would be great, thanks. Can I help you set the table?

• Marie-Ève (Étienne's partner)
  Listen

  C'est gentil, mais ça va, j'ai déjà presque fini. Détends-toi, fais comme chez toi.

  That's kind, but I'm fine — I'm almost done. Relax, make yourself at home.

• You (the guest)
  Listen

  Merci. Ça sent vraiment bon dans la cuisine — c'est toi qui cuisines ?

  Thanks. It smells really good in the kitchen — are you the one cooking?

• Marie-Ève (Étienne's partner)
  Listen

  Non, c'est Étienne ce soir. Moi, je m'occupe du dessert. C'est notre entente.

  No, it's Étienne tonight. I'm in charge of dessert. That's our deal.

• You (the guest)
  Listen

  Bonne entente ! Bon, je vais aller saluer les autres, mais on se reparle à table.

  A good deal! Well, I'll go say hi to the others, but we'll talk more at the table.

• Marie-Ève (Étienne's partner)
  Listen

  Oui, vas-y. Je suis vraiment contente que tu sois là ce soir.

  Yes, go on. I'm really glad you're here tonight.

• You (the guest)
  Listen

  Moi aussi, merci pour l'accueil, Marie-Ève.

  Me too — thanks for the welcome, Marie-Ève.

Vocabulary

• se faire présenter (à quelqu'un)to be introduced (to someone)— « Étienne nous a présentés » = Étienne introduced us.
• une conjointe / un conjointa partner / spouse— The standard Quebec word for a long-term partner, married or not.
• le cégepcégep— Quebec-only post-secondary level between high school and university.
• une ganga group / a crew— Common in Quebec — pronounced like English « gang », not pejorative.
• un CLSCa CLSC (local community health centre)— A Quebec public-health front-line clinic.
• rester (= habiter)to live (in a place)— Common Quebec usage — « tu restes où ? » = where do you live?
• fais comme chez toimake yourself at home
• une ententean agreement / a deal
• se reparlerto talk again— « On se reparle à table » = we'll chat more at the table.

Culture note

In Quebec, the host often introduces people with a short hook (« you two studied together », « he works in graphic design »). You then follow up with an open question — job, neighbourhood, how you know the host — rather than formal compliments. The informal « tu » settles in quickly, especially between adults of the same generation.

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