logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2021
22m 15s

A very big fuss over a little French wor...

Plain English
About this episode

"

The gender-neutral pronoun, “iel,” was recently added to the French dictionary, and is meant to be used when you don’t want to specify the gender of the person or people you’re talking about. “Iel” has been widely used and accepted among young people, but traditionalists are fiercely objecting to it. It’s clear these arguments are about more than just language. Plus, learn “point out.”

--

At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world.

-- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/429

-- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current events and trending topics you care about: business, travel, technology, health, science, politics, the environment, and so much more. Our free English lessons always include English expressions and phrasal verbs, too.

-- Learn even more English at PlainEnglish.com, where we have fast and slow audio, translations, videos, online English courses, and a supportive community of English learners like you. Sign up free at PlainEnglish.com/Join

-- Aprende inglés gratis en línea con nuestro curso de inglés. Se habla a una velocidad lenta para que todos entiendan. ¡Aprende ingles con nosotros ahora! | Aprenda Inglês online grátis com o Plain English, a uma velocidade menor, para que todos possam entender.

Contact: E-mail jeff@plainenglish.com | WhatsApp +1 312 967 8757 | Facebook PlainEnglishPod | Instagram PlainEnglishPod | Twitter @PlainEnglishPod

"

Mentioned in this episode:

The Expressions are back!

Subscribe to our new podcast, "Essential English Expressions." Each episode shows you step-by-step how to use a common English expression, with plenty of examples. Season 1 is available now. Download or stream all 14 episodes at [link].

Up next
Yesterday
New discoveries from ancient Pompeii
Today's story: Archaeologists are excavating a never-before-studied part of Pompeii, the ancient Roman city buried by a volcanic eruption. They’ve uncovered luxury homes, decorated bathhouses, and evidence of how residents tried to survive the disaster. These new finds offer a vi ... Show More
14m 1s
Oct 6
More schools are banning cell phones
Today's story: A growing number of state and national education systems are banning cell phone use during the school day. Supporters say phones are distracting, addictive, and bad for learning. Not everyone agrees, but teachers—and even some students—say the changes are making a ... Show More
13m 43s
Oct 2
Newest status symbol? Your water bottle
Today's story: Reusable water bottles have become a big global industry, driven by health trends, social media, and changing values around sustainability and style. Brands like Stanley turned practical hydration into a fashionable status symbol—but are they environmentally friend ... Show More
13m 35s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2023
50 most useful American English phrasal verbs
Learning phrasal verbs is an excellent way to improve your English! It can help you to sound more natural when you speak or write, as many English speakers use these expressions in their everyday conversations. Phrasal verbs can also help you understand native speakers more easil ... Show More
32m 1s
Sep 2022
Common English phrases for your daily conversations
Don’t worry about speaking perfect English, in today’s lesson I’ll teach you the imperfect phrases that are more commonly used in daily English conversations. Americans don't speak perfect English, the kind of English that is taught abroad, that's why it can be so challenging whe ... Show More
12m 6s
Aug 2023
Learn 28 popular English Idioms in the United States
Looking to improve your English conversation skills and sound more like a native speaker? In this video, I'll be teaching you 28 commonly used idioms and phrases in the United States that you need to know. This video will provide clear explanations and fun examples to help yo ... Show More
31m 7s
Feb 2023
12 phrases to upgrade you English conversations
Learning natural English phrases is important because it helps you to better understand the language and communicate more effectively with others. Natural English phrases are those that are commonly used in everyday conversation, whereas basic English phrases are more formal and ... Show More
8m 41s
Aug 2022
Ways to say "I'm excited" in English (video)
It's important to be able to express your feelings in the language that you are speaking. Excitement is a wonderful emotion and I will review the most common ways that advanced English speakers express excitement. Learn a variety of phrases to express your emotions in English so ... Show More
8m 16s