Si j'étais un homme – Bilingual Lyrics French/English
Lyrics & Translation
Key Vocabulary
Vocabulary | Meanings |
---|---|
parlerai /paʁlʁɛ/ B1 |
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redevable /ʁə.də.vabl/ C1 |
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harcèle /aʁsɛl/ B2 |
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gentille /ʒɑ̃.tij/ A2 |
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changer /ʃɑ̃.ʒe/ B1 |
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feu /fø/ A2 |
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vie /vi/ A2 |
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orgueil /ɔʁ.ɡœj/ B2 |
|
envies /ɑ̃.vje/ B2 |
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sentir /sɑ̃.tiʁ/ B1 |
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unique /y.nik/ B2 |
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regarderai /ʁə.ɡaʁ.dʁɛ/ B1 |
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feu /fø/ A2 |
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sentir /sɑ̃.tiʁ/ B1 |
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contrôle /kɔ̃.tʁɔl/ B2 |
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appelerai /a.pə.le.ʁɛ/ B1 |
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salope /salɔp/ C1 |
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Key Grammar Structures
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J'te parlerai comme jamais tu ne parles à ta mère
➔ Subjunctive Mood after 'comme'
➔ The use of the subjunctive mood 'ne parles' after 'comme' indicates a comparison to a hypothetical or unreal situation. In this case, it emphasizes that she would speak to someone in a way that is completely different from how they speak to their mother.
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Tu me seras redevable si je te paie un verre
➔ Future Simple + 'si' Clause (Conditional)
➔ This sentence uses a type 1 conditional structure. If I buy you a drink ("si je te paie un verre"), then you will be indebted to me ("Tu me seras redevable"). It expresses a probable or likely condition and its result.
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Si tu me dis "non" j'te ferai changer d'avis
➔ Future Simple + 'si' Clause (Conditional)
➔ Again, a type 1 conditional. If you say no ("Si tu me dis 'non'"), I will make you change your mind ("j'te ferai changer d'avis").
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J'te foutrai la misère, j'te pourrirai la vie
➔ Future Simple
➔ Expressing actions that will occur in the future. "J'te foutrai la misère" (I will make your life miserable) and "j'te pourrirai la vie" (I will ruin your life) are both using the future simple to express a threat.
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J'ferai selon mon orgueil, selon mes envies
➔ Future Simple + 'selon'
➔ The sentence uses the future simple tense (J'ferai) to describe an action that will be carried out in the future. 'Selon' means 'according to' or 'depending on.' The sentence means 'I will act according to my pride, according to my desires.'
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Si j'étais un homme, si on inversait les rôles
➔ Imperfect Subjunctive + 'si' Clause (Hypothetical)
➔ This is a type 2 conditional sentence. The imperfect subjunctive 'j'étais' expresses a hypothetical or unreal condition in the present. It sets up a thought experiment about what would happen *if* she were a man.
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Je soulèverai ta robe, garderais-tu le contrôle?
➔ Conditional Mood + 'si' (Hypothetical)
➔ Linked to the previous line using the type 2 conditional, this sentence asks a question about a hypothetical outcome. The conditional mood ('soulèverai' and 'garderais') expresses what *would* happen under the unreal condition. The sentence asks: If I were a man and lifted your dress, *would* you keep control?
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Si j'étais un homme, si on échangeait de peau
➔ Imperfect Subjunctive + 'si' Clause (Hypothetical)
➔ Similar to the previous 'si j'étais' line, it's a type 2 conditional, creating a hypothetical scenario with 'j'étais'. 'Si on échangeait de peau' (if we switched skins) further reinforces the unreal condition.
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Je t'appellerai "salope", me tournerais-tu le dos?
➔ Conditional Mood + Question + 'si' (Hypothetical)
➔ This continues the type 2 conditional. Using the conditional mood in a question ('Je t'appellerai', 'me tournerais-tu'), it asks what would happen under the hypothetical condition of being a man and swapping skins. If I called you a "slut", *would* you turn your back on me?