It can be difficult enough to learn French, and then you realise that there is a whole other language to learn in the form of French acronyms and initialisms, which can be quite the minefield! I have often seen people complaining on online forums about people using acronyms and begging to know what they mean, and to be honest I didn’t realise until I started writing this article just how common they are in everyday French language.
Rather than just listing them in alphabetical order I thought it might be easier to group them together under different categories to give more context.
WORK
If you are going to be employed in France one of the first things to ask is if it is a CDI or a CDD contract. A CDI (contrat à durée indéterminée) is an open-ended contract with no end date. Most French people dream of obtaining a CDI as this opens the door to an easier life in terms of getting loans, buying or renting or anything else which requires proof of regular income.
A CDD (contrat à durée déterminée) is a fixed-term contract and can be for temporary cover, or seasonal due to needing more staff during a certain period.
The SMIC (salaire minimum interprofessionnel de croissance) means the minimum wage in France and is recalculated every year.
If you are giving or receiving quotes or invoices you will need to know if the price is HT (hors taxe) which is without VAT or TTC (toute taxe comprise) inclusive of VAT. VAT in French is TVA (taxe sur la valeur ajoutée).
This story is from the February 2020 edition of Living France.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 2020 edition of Living France.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Guide To: Working For A Foreign Company
If your current employer is happy to let you continue working for them after you move to France, there are a number of rules and regulations to be aware of to ensure you stay on the right side of the law, as Catharine Higginson explains
On vintage soil
Life in the vineyards of Aude is a dream come true for Leicestershire-born Katie Jones who now successfully exports her wines back to the UK, as Brigitte Nicolas learns
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
What happens if you are buying a French property but can’t attend the completion meeting at the notaire’s office in person? Matthew Cameron explains how a power of attorney can be used and how it works
In safe hands
There can be few more unusual homes than the 11th-century Château de Clérans, situated close to the Dordogne river in the Périgord Pourpre region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
THE CAPTAIN'S TABLE
Robin Ellis made his name as the original Captain Poldark but a diabetes diagnosis led the Tarn-based actor to add cookbook writing to his CV, as Richard Webber learns
My frugal France
Embracing modern technology could save you money and time on both the pleasures and essentials of life in France, says Laura Harley as she shares some of her favourite French apps
Hidden Talents
Moving to France enabled these three expats to switch off from busy careers and in turn discover new creative talents, says Gillian Harvey, who counts herself among them
Beauty to behold
With its legendary vineyards, charming old towns and rich gastronomy, Gironde is quintessential France at its best, as Alison Weeks discovers
AS SEEN ON SCREEN
A Dordogne town, a Charente city and a Pyrenean village all have a starring role in three new films hitting the big screen this year, joining a long list of French locations that have gone before them, as Vicky Leigh learns
A local's view
Trish and Mark Tyler run a beautifully restored chambres d’hôtes, set in six hectares of park and woodland near StÉmilion, which has a fascinating history
