Skip to content
Contents

Le français au QuébecDialogues · Chapter I

Web version
‹
vieauqc.com

Chapter I · Social interactionsA2

15Dialogue · A2

Catching up with a neighbour after a long absence

Situation

You bump into your neighbour in the lobby of the building for the first time since last fall. You've been away for a long time and you both have a lot to catch up on.

The roles

AYouBThe neighbour
  • The neighbour
    Listen

    Mon doux ! Hugo, c'est bien toi ? Ça fait une éternité qu'on ne s'est pas vus !

    My goodness! Hugo, is that really you? It's been ages since we've seen each other!

  • You
    Listen

    Salut Diane ! Oui, c'est moi. Je suis bien content de te revoir.

    Hi Diane! Yes, it's me. I'm really happy to see you again.

  • The neighbour
    Listen

    Mais qu'est-ce qui s'est passé ? Tu as disparu de la circulation, on ne te voyait plus du tout.

    But what happened? You dropped off the map, we didn't see you at all anymore.

  • You
    Listen

    C'est vrai, j'étais parti longtemps. Je suis retourné dans ma famille, au Brésil, pendant plusieurs mois.

    It's true, I was gone a long time. I went back to my family, in Brazil, for several months.

  • The neighbour
    Listen

    Ah, c'est pour ça ! Et tout le monde va bien là-bas ?

    Ah, that's why! And is everyone doing well over there?

  • You
    Listen

    Oui, ça va. Ma mère a été malade un peu, mais elle se remet tranquillement. Ça m'a fait du bien d'être avec eux.

    Yes, all good. My mother was a bit unwell, but she's recovering slowly. It did me good to be with them.

  • The neighbour
    Listen

    Je comprends. Le temps passé en famille, ça n'a pas de prix.

    I understand. Time spent with family is priceless.

  • You
    Listen

    Exactement. Et toi ? Quoi de neuf depuis l'automne ?

    Exactly. And you? What's new since the fall?

  • The neighbour
    Listen

    Pas grand-chose de spectaculaire ! On a repeint le salon, et j'ai changé de poste au travail.

    Nothing too spectacular! We repainted the living room, and I changed jobs at work.

vieauqc.com— 33 —

Simplifiez votre vie au Québec · Simplify your life in Quebec

vieauqc.com

Catching up with a neighbour after a long absenceDialogue 15

  • You
    Listen

    Ah oui ? Tu aimes ton nouveau poste ?

    Oh really? Do you like your new position?

  • The neighbour
    Listen

    Beaucoup, oui. C'est plus de responsabilités, mais l'équipe est super.

    A lot, yes. It's more responsibility, but the team is great.

  • You
    Listen

    Tant mieux ! Et l'immeuble, il y a du nouveau ?

    All the better! And the building — anything new?

  • The neighbour
    Listen

    Une nouvelle famille a emménagé au quatrième. Très gentils, ils ont deux petits.

    A new family moved in on the fourth floor. Very nice, they have two little ones.

  • You
    Listen

    Je vais essayer de les saluer. Bon, je ne veux pas te retenir trop longtemps.

    I'll try to say hello to them. Well, I don't want to keep you too long.

  • The neighbour
    Listen

    Au contraire, ça me fait vraiment plaisir de te revoir. Passe donc prendre un café un de ces jours.

    On the contrary, I'm really happy to see you again. Drop by for a coffee one of these days.

  • You
    Listen

    Avec grand plaisir. Je te fais signe cette semaine.

    With great pleasure. I'll get in touch with you this week.

  • The neighbour
    Listen

    Parfait. Bon retour parmi nous, Hugo !

    Perfect. Welcome back among us, Hugo!

  • You
    Listen

    Merci Diane. À bientôt !

    Thanks Diane. See you soon!

Vocabulary

  • ça fait une éternitéit's been ages— A warm way of marking a long gap between meetings.
  • disparaître de la circulationto drop off the map / out of sight— Friendly, slightly teasing tone — common in everyday Quebec French.
  • se remettreto recover (from illness)— « Elle se remet tranquillement » = she's recovering little by little.
  • quoi de neuf ?what's new?— The default way to ask for news in casual conversation.
  • pas grand-chosenot much— A typical, modest answer to « quoi de neuf ? ».
  • tant mieuxall the better / good for you— Warm acknowledgement of good news.
  • emménagerto move in
  • te faire signeto get in touch with you— Literally « to make a sign » — to send a message, text, or knock on the door.
  • bon retour parmi nouswelcome back among us— Warmer than a simple « bon retour ».

Culture note

In Quebec, when you reconnect with a neighbour after a long absence, it's not unusual to slip into a real little conversation — not just a « how are you? fine » in passing. Asking about the family is completely normal between neighbours who know each other, and inviting someone over for a coffee is a simple, sincere mark of friendship.

Web version

Translations, save words, play all.

Catching up with a neighbour after a long absenceWeb version ↗
vieauqc.com— 34 —

Simplifiez votre vie au Québec · Simplify your life in Quebec

›
Dialogue 15 / 369 · p. 33–34 / 742