French for Talking About Customs: "Chez moi, on..." and Asking About Cultural Norms
Learn to describe customs in your country with "chez moi, on..." and ask French speakers about their cultural norms using polite questions.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
When you want to talk about customs — how people greet each other, what time they eat, how they celebrate — French has a very handy structure: "chez moi, on..." (where I'm from, we/people...). The pronoun "on" is extremely common in spoken French for "we" or "people in general." In this lesson you will learn to describe customs from your own country and ask questions about French-speaking cultures, while keeping the conversation polite and natural.
By the end, you can…
- describe a custom from my country using "chez moi, on..."
- ask someone how a custom works in their country
- compare customs using "alors qu'ici" and "chez vous"
- respond politely when I learn about a different cultural norm
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Chez moi, on se serre la main quand on se rencontre.
Where I'm from, we shake hands when we meet.
shay mwah, on suh sair luh man kan on suh rahn-kontr
Use "chez moi" to mean "in my country/where I'm from." "On" is the natural spoken equivalent of "we."
Et chez vous, comment ça se passe ?
And where you're from, how does it work?
ay shay voo, ko-mahn sa suh pass
A polite, open way to ask about a custom without sounding intrusive. "Chez vous" can mean your country, region or family.
Est-ce qu'on fait la bise dans votre pays ?
Do people do the cheek kiss in your country?
ess-kon fay la beez dahn votr pay-ee
"La bise" is the common cheek-kiss greeting in France and parts of Belgium and Switzerland. The number of kisses varies by region.
Nous, on arrive toujours en retard.
We always arrive late.
noo, on a-reev too-zhoor ahn ruh-tar
"Nous, on..." adds emphasis: "as for us, we..." Useful for contrasting your habits with others.
Je ne savais pas que c'était comme ça ici.
I didn't know it was like that here.
zhuh nuh sa-vay pah kuh say-tay ko-mah see ee-see
A polite way to react when you learn something new about a local custom. The "ne" is often dropped in speech: "Je savais pas..."
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern "Chez moi, on + verb" lets you describe customs without naming a country. Examples: "Chez moi, on dîne vers 18 h" (we eat dinner around 6 p.m.), "Chez moi, on enlève ses chaussures en entrant" (we take off our shoes when we come in). To ask about the other person, switch to "Et chez vous, on + verb ?" — "Et chez vous, on dîne à quelle heure ?" This keeps the question general and polite.
When to use it
Use these structures in casual conversation about daily life, not for formal presentations. "On" is standard in speech but less common in very formal writing, where "nous" is preferred. When comparing, "alors qu'ici" (whereas here) is useful: "Chez moi, on arrive à l'heure, alors qu'ici les gens arrivent plus tard." Be careful: "chez moi" can also mean "at my home," so context matters. If you mean your country, you can say "dans mon pays" for clarity.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Chez moi, on offre toujours un cadeau quand on est invité chez quelqu'un. Et chez vous ?
Where I'm from, we always bring a gift when we're invited to someone's home. And where you're from?shay mwah, on oh-fruh too-zhoor un ka-doh kan on ay-tay een-vee-tay shay kel-kun. ay shay vooIci, c'est courant aussi, mais souvent on apporte des fleurs ou du vin.
Here it's common too, but often people bring flowers or wine.ee-see, say koo-rahn oh-see, may soo-vahn on a-port day fluhr oo doo vanAh bon ? Chez moi, on apporte plutôt des chocolats ou un dessert.
Really? Where I'm from, people bring chocolates or a dessert instead.ah bon? shay mwah, on a-port ploo-toh day sho-ko-la oo un day-sairC'est une bonne idée. Est-ce qu'on enlève ses chaussures chez vous ?
That's a good idea. Do people take off their shoes at home where you're from?say toon bun ee-day. ess-kon ahn-lev say sho-sur shay vooA little context goes a long way
"La bise" is common in France, Belgium and parts of Switzerland, but the number of kisses and whether it's used at all varies by region and by context. In professional settings, a handshake is safer. In Quebec, "la bise" is less common than in France, and a simple greeting or handshake is often preferred. Always follow the other person's lead.
One thing to watch for
Using "Dans mon pays, nous..." for every custom, which sounds formal and slightly distant.
Try this instead: In everyday conversation, use "Chez moi, on..." instead. Example: "Chez moi, on mange tard" sounds natural, while "Dans mon pays, nous mangeons tard" sounds like a formal report. Keep "dans mon pays, nous" for written or official contexts.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you say "Where I'm from, we celebrate Christmas on December 24th"?
Show a sample answer
Chez moi, on fête Noël le 24 décembre.
"Chez moi, on + verb" is the natural spoken pattern. "Nous fêtons" is also correct but more formal.
2Ask a French speaker how people greet each other in their country.
Show a sample answer
Et chez vous, comment est-ce qu'on se salue ?
"Et chez vous" invites comparison politely. "Comment on se salue" is also fine; the "est-ce que" version is slightly more careful.
3React politely when you learn that in France people often arrive 15 minutes late to a dinner.
Show a sample answer
Ah bon ? Je ne savais pas que c'était comme ça ici.
This shows surprise without judgment. "Ah bon ?" is a common, neutral reaction. In speech, you can drop "ne": "Je savais pas..."
Use "Chez moi, on..." to describe your customs and "Et chez vous ?" to ask about others. Keep it curious and polite, and follow local cues.
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