Permis PrêtQuébec expressions heard at the dépanneur: pinte, breuvage, piasse…
At the dépanneur you hear everyday French that is not the textbook kind.
Short answer : The dépanneur (the “dep”) is a small neighbourhood shop open late. You hear words such as “breuvages” (drinks), “piasses” (dollars, familiar), “comptant” (in cash) or “NIP” (PIN). Listen to the dialogue At the corner store to hear them in context.
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Words and phrases from the dialogue
| Québec | Standard French | English | Dialogue |
|---|---|---|---|
| dépanneur, dep | petite épicerie de quartier | corner store open late | At the corner store |
| une pinte de lait | un litre de lait (environ) | a quart of milk (about 1 litre) | At the corner store |
| breuvages | boissons | drinks | At the corner store |
| beignes | beignets | doughnuts | At the corner store |
| piasses | dollars (familier) | bucks (familiar) | At the corner store |
| passer mon tour | renoncer, décliner | to pass on something | At the corner store |
| comptant | en espèces | in cash | At the corner store |
| NIP | code confidentiel | PIN | At the corner store |
| pas pire | pas mal, ça va bien | not bad (usual reply to “how are you?”) | At the corner store |
| bienvenue (en réponse à merci) | de rien, je vous en prie | you’re welcome | At the corner store |
Worth remembering
“Pas pire” is a common answer to “Comment ça va?”. “Bienvenue” can answer “merci”, like “de rien”. Many of these words are familiar: in formal writing or an exam exercise, use the standard French in the “Standard French” column.
See also: “ça marche”, “pas pire”, “avoir de la misère à” and déjeuner, dîner, souper.
Dialogues to listen to
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Vocabulary fiche. The content is in beta: a review by a native Québécois speaker is under way.