Chapter I · Social interactionsA2
11Dialogue · A2
Meeting the next-door neighbours for the first time
Situation
You've just moved in and you run into the neighbours from next door in the hallway, right outside your door. It's the first time you really speak.
The roles
- You (new tenant)Listen
Bonjour ! Excusez-moi, je pense qu'on est voisins. Je viens d'emménager dans le 4B.
Hello! Excuse me, I think we're neighbours. I just moved into 4B.
- The next-door neighbourListen
Ah, bienvenue ! On vous avait entendus monter des boîtes la fin de semaine passée. Moi, c'est Geneviève, je reste juste à côté, au 4A.
Oh, welcome! We heard you carrying boxes up last weekend. I'm Geneviève — I live right next door, in 4A.
- You (new tenant)Listen
Enchanté, Geneviève. Moi, c'est Diego. Désolé pour le bruit, on a essayé de finir avant le souper.
Nice to meet you, Geneviève. I'm Diego. Sorry for the noise — we tried to finish before dinner.
- The next-door neighbourListen
Pas de souci, ça n'a pas duré. Vous arrivez d'où, si je peux me permettre ?
No worries, it didn't last long. Where are you coming from, if I may ask?
- You (new tenant)Listen
On arrive de Colombie. On est à Montréal depuis un mois. C'est notre premier appartement ici.
We're coming from Colombia. We've been in Montreal for a month. This is our first apartment here.
- The next-door neighbourListen
Tout un changement ! On peut se tutoyer, si tu veux, c'est plus simple entre voisins.
Quite a change! We can use « tu », if you'd like — it's easier between neighbours.
- You (new tenant)Listen
Avec plaisir. Tu habites ici depuis longtemps ?
Gladly. Have you lived here long?
- The next-door neighbourListen
Ça va faire six ans. Mon conjoint, Marc, et moi, on est au 4A avec notre chien, Pacha. Si tu l'entends jamais japper, tape sur le mur, on va le faire taire.
It'll be six years. My partner Marc and I are in 4A with our dog, Pacha. If you ever hear him barking, knock on the wall and we'll quiet him down.
- You (new tenant)Listen
Ah, ne t'en fais pas, on aime les chiens. Et vous, est-ce qu'on fait du bruit, nous ?
Oh, don't worry, we like dogs. And us — are we noisy?
- The next-door neighbourListen
Honnêtement, on n'entend presque rien. Les murs sont corrects, ici.
Honestly, we hear almost nothing. The walls are decent here.
Simplifiez votre vie au Québec · Simplify your life in Quebec
Meeting the next-door neighbours for the first timeDialogue 11
- You (new tenant)Listen
Tant mieux. Petite question : la collecte des ordures, c'est quel jour ?
Glad to hear it. Quick question — what day is garbage collection?
- The next-door neighbourListen
Les bacs sortent le mardi soir, et le recyclage, c'est aux deux semaines. Je te montrerai où on les met en bas.
The bins go out Tuesday evening, and recycling is every two weeks. I'll show you where we put them downstairs.
- You (new tenant)Listen
Super, merci. Si jamais tu as besoin de quelque chose — un outil, un coup de main pour monter quelque chose — n'hésite pas à frapper.
Great, thanks. If you ever need anything — a tool, a hand carrying something up — don't hesitate to knock.
- The next-door neighbourListen
C'est gentil ! On va se prendre au mot. Et toi, si tu cherches un bon dépanneur ou un médecin de famille, demande-moi, je connais le coin.
That's kind! We'll take you up on that. And you, if you're looking for a good corner store or a family doctor, ask me — I know the area.
- You (new tenant)Listen
Parfait, je vais en profiter. Bon, je ne veux pas te retenir trop longtemps dans le corridor.
Perfect, I'll take you up on that. Well, I don't want to keep you too long in the hallway.
- The next-door neighbourListen
Pas de trouble. Je descendais juste sortir Pacha. Bienvenue dans l'immeuble, Diego !
No trouble. I was just on my way to walk Pacha. Welcome to the building, Diego!
- You (new tenant)Listen
Merci beaucoup, Geneviève. À bientôt — passe le bonjour à Marc !
Thanks so much, Geneviève. See you soon — say hi to Marc for me!
- The next-door neighbourListen
Je lui dis ça. Bonne fin de journée !
I'll tell him. Have a good rest of your day!
Vocabulary
- emménagerto move in— « Je viens d'emménager » = I just moved in.
- se tutoyerto use « tu » with each other— Proposing it early is normal between neighbours of similar age.
- un conjoint / une conjointea partner / spouse— Common Quebec word for a long-term partner, married or not.
- japperto bark (of a dog)— Standard French would say « aboyer »; « japper » is the usual word in Quebec.
- la collecte des orduresgarbage collection
- le recyclagerecycling— Usually picked up every two weeks in Quebec municipalities.
- un baca bin— The wheeled garbage or recycling bin you put on the curb.
- un coup de maina hand / help— « Donner un coup de main » = to lend a hand.
- un dépanneura corner store / convenience store— A very Quebec word — small neighbourhood shop open late.
- pas de troubleno problem / no worries— Very common Quebec expression, equivalent to « pas de souci ».
Culture note
In Quebec, you don't wait for a big occasion to introduce yourself to neighbours — a chat in the hallway is enough. Switching to « tu » early and offering a small favour — a tool, a hand, a tip about the area — is completely the norm, without committing to much.
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