French · Real conversations

Sharing a home: French conversation practice

Share chores, supplies, and a household cost. Read the exchange, reveal the translations when you need them, then try your part before looking at the sample answers.

A2 · Read and rehearse

Your role: A housemate planning the week.

Goal: Share chores, supplies, and a household cost.

Read the conversation

Partner
Il faut répartir les tâches de ce soir.
Show English translation
We need to sort out tonight's chores.
You
C'est à qui de faire la vaisselle ?
Show English translation
Whose turn is it to wash the dishes?
Partner
C'est mon tour. Il y a des assiettes propres sur la table.
Show English translation
It's my turn. There are clean plates on the table.
You
Tu pourrais ranger les assiettes ?
Show English translation
Could you put the plates away?
Partner
Oui, après la vaisselle. De quoi d'autre a-t-on besoin ?
Show English translation
Yes, after washing up. What else do we need?
You
On n'a presque plus de lait.
Show English translation
We're running out of milk.
Partner
J'ajoute le lait à la liste. Il faut aussi acheter du liquide vaisselle.
Show English translation
I'll add milk to the list. Someone also needs to buy washing-up liquid.
You
Je m'en occupe.
Show English translation
I'll take care of it.
Partner
Merci. Les courses vont nous coûter un peu à tous les deux.
Show English translation
Thanks. The shopping will cost us both a bit.
You
On peut partager les frais ?
Show English translation
Can we share the cost?

Try your part first

Partner says: We need to sort out tonight's chores. Your goal: Whose turn is it to wash the dishes?
Reveal a sample reply
C'est à qui de faire la vaisselle ?
Whose turn is it to wash the dishes?
Partner says: It's my turn. There are clean plates on the table. Your goal: Could you put the plates away?
Reveal a sample reply
Tu pourrais ranger les assiettes ?
Could you put the plates away?
Partner says: Yes, after washing up. What else do we need? Your goal: We're running out of milk.
Reveal a sample reply
On n'a presque plus de lait.
We're running out of milk.
Partner says: I'll add milk to the list. Someone also needs to buy washing-up liquid. Your goal: I'll take care of it.
Reveal a sample reply
Je m'en occupe.
I'll take care of it.
Partner says: Thanks. The shopping will cost us both a bit. Your goal: Can we share the cost?
Reveal a sample reply
On peut partager les frais ?
Can we share the cost?

Make it your own

Swap the chore.
Replace a different household supply.
Agree to split another cost.

Keep the useful expression and change the detail. There can be several appropriate answers; the revealed replies are examples to learn from.

This rehearsal in other languages

A note on speaking French

Use vous with strangers, staff, and people you address formally; use tu when that relationship is established. Je voudrais and pourriez-vous can make a request considerate. The most appropriate choice depends on the person and the situation.

Keep accents and apostrophes. A familiar spoken expression may differ from its literal English translation. Read the complete line, including the pronoun and the words that connect the request.