Dans la Zone – Bilingual Lyrics French/English
Lyrics & Translation
Key Vocabulary
Vocabulary | Meanings |
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zone /zon/ A2 |
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frère /fʁɛʁ/ A1 |
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vie /vi/ A1 |
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ville /vil/ A1 |
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feu /fø/ A1 |
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nuit /nɥi/ A1 |
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argent /aʁ.ʒɑ̃/ A1 |
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haine /ɛn/ B1 |
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guerre /ɡɛʁ/ A2 |
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crime /kʁim/ B1 |
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soleil /sɔ.lɛj/ A1 |
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surveiller /syʁ.vɛ.je/ B1 |
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banlieues /bɑ̃.ljø/ B1 |
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souffrir /su.fʁiʁ/ B1 |
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traître /tʁɛtʁ/ B2 |
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perte /pɛʁt/ B1 |
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faim /fɛ̃/ A1 |
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paix /pɛ/ A2 |
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mélange /me.lɑ̃ʒ/ B1 |
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découvert /de.ku.vɛʁ/ B1 |
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Key Grammar Structures
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Comme Biggie, faut pas que tu voies nos têtes et tout ça
➔ Impersonal expression 'il faut que' + Subjunctive mood (informal contraction)
➔ "**Faut pas que tu voies**" is an informal contraction of "Il ne faut pas que tu voies". "Il faut que" (or "faut que" informally) expresses necessity or obligation, and it is always followed by the subjunctive mood. Here, "tu voies" is the subjunctive of "voir" (to see). The phrase means "you shouldn't see" or "it's necessary that you don't see".
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J'ai qu'à faire un filiation pour causer ta perte
➔ Colloquial expression 'n'avoir qu'à' + infinitive + purpose clause 'pour' + infinitive
➔ "**J'ai qu'à faire**" is an informal contraction of "Je n'ai qu'à faire". The expression "n'avoir qu'à" + infinitive means "to just have to do something," suggesting that it's easy or the only thing needed. "**Pour causer ta perte**" is a purpose clause, meaning "in order to cause your downfall/ruin."
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Elle a donné son corps mais toi tu t'es mouillé pour elle
➔ Pronominal verb 'se mouiller' + idiomatic expression
➔ "**Tu t'es mouillé pour elle**" uses the pronominal verb "se mouiller" (to get wet), but in this context, it's an idiomatic expression meaning "to stick your neck out for someone," "to take a risk for someone," or "to get involved/compromise oneself for someone." It implies taking a risk or suffering consequences for someone else.
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Toute la nuit on dort, hup, il y a des bébés à surveiller
➔ Impersonal expression 'il y a' + noun + 'à' + infinitive (expressing obligation/necessity)
➔ "**Il y a des bébés à surveiller**" uses the impersonal expression "il y a" (there is/are) followed by a noun ("des bébés") and the preposition "à" with an infinitive verb ("surveiller" - to watch over). This construction signifies something that needs to be done, or an obligation/necessity. It means "there are babies to be watched" or "babies that need watching."
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J'ai dû le faire, on m'a rien offert
➔ Past modal verb ('devoir' in passé composé) + informal 'on' + negative pronoun 'rien' (omission of 'ne')
➔ "**J'ai dû le faire**" is the passé composé of "devoir" + infinitive, meaning "I had to do it" (expressing past obligation). "**On m'a rien offert**" is an example of informal French where the "ne" in the negation "ne...rien" is omitted. "On" is used informally as a pronoun for "nous" (we) or "quelqu'un" (someone), meaning "I was offered nothing" or "they offered me nothing."
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L'État nous prend pour des animaux
➔ Idiomatic verb 'prendre quelqu'un pour'
➔ The verb phrase "**prendre quelqu'un pour**" (to take someone for) is an idiomatic expression meaning "to consider someone as," "to mistake someone for," or "to treat someone as if they were." In this context, it means "The State considers us as animals" or "The State treats us like animals."
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2026, ça va partir en sucette
➔ Future proche (going to happen) + informal idiomatic expression
➔ "**Ça va partir en sucette**" uses the "futur proche" (va partir) for an immediate or certain future event. The expression "**partir en sucette**" is a very informal and colloquial idiom meaning "to go haywire," "to go badly," "to go downhill," or "to become chaotic/out of control."
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De base, je me donne pas un spectacle
➔ Informal adverbial phrase + pronominal verb + informal negation (omission of 'ne')
➔ "**De base**" is an informal adverbial phrase meaning "basically," "fundamentally," or "originally." "**Je me donne pas un spectacle**" uses the pronominal verb "se donner un spectacle" (to put on a show for oneself or others), and it demonstrates the common omission of "ne" in informal spoken French negation. The full form would be "je ne me donne pas un spectacle," meaning "I don't put on a show" or "I don't make a display of myself."
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Pot de chou, personne peut stopper le traître qui pleure
➔ Indefinite negative pronoun 'personne' + informal negation (omission of 'ne')
➔ "**Personne peut stopper**" is an example of informal French where the "ne" in the negative construction "ne...personne" is omitted. The correct formal form would be "Personne ne peut stopper." The phrase means "No one can stop."