French · BeginnerJ'ai oublié mon portefeuilleMissing Wallet at Checkout

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00:00Intro
Hello everyone and welcome to our podcast!
Hi Léo! You look a bit tired and stressed this morning.
Ah yes, Emma! I had a terrible scare yesterday morning at the bakery.
I arrived in front of the cashier to pay for my purchase.
Haha! What happened to you this time?
I put my hand in my coat pocket, and then, disaster!
I forgot my wallet!
Oh no! That's the classic big moment of panic!
When people behind you sigh in line!
Exactly! Everyone was looking at me impatiently.
It's a really very embarrassing moment for everyone.
Fortunately, today we are going to talk about this everyday problem.
We are going to learn six very practical expressions to stay calm.
Our phrase of the day is: I forgot my wallet.
And stay with us until the end of the show!
In a moment, Léo will tell us about a surprising French habit at the checkout.
So Emma, let me tell you my whole story from yesterday morning.
I'm settling in comfortably and listening to the rest attentively!
I was in a wonderful small neighborhood bakery in Paris.
I wanted to buy a warm baguette and two good croissants.
Mmm, yum! Hot and crispy butter croissants!
Yes! There were at least five people behind me in line.
The pressure rises very quickly in those moments!
The baker told me with a smile: That will be four euros please.
I searched quickly in all my jacket pockets.
Nothing at all! My pockets were completely empty!
Oh dear! And what was your first reaction facing the baker?
I politely told the baker: I forgot my wallet!
What a story! And was the baker understanding with you?
Yes, very nice! He told me not to worry at all.
I almost paid with my phone, but the battery was low!
What an adventure! You really accumulated small problems yesterday!
You know Léo, this little mishap happens very often in France.
That's true! And did you know that in France, contactless payment has become the norm everywhere?
Oh yes? Even to buy a single small roll or a baguette?
Absolutely! Today, you can pay for a simple croissant with your phone or card.
That's great news for all forgetful people!
But many French people still like to keep a traditional small coin purse with coins.
Especially to fetch cheese and vegetables at the market on Sunday morning!
It's a very nice life habit!
Absolutely! That allows keeping a social bond with merchants.
Now, let's look together at our five other useful expressions for this situation.
Great idea! What is the first phrase when looking for your things?
When you can't find your card or your keys, you say: I can't find.
For example: I can't find my bank card in my bag!
One can also use it for glasses: I can't find my glasses!
That's very true! And next, to ask the cashier for a little time?
To ask for a little moment of patience, you say: Wait a moment.
It's a very polite phrase: Wait a moment, please.
If you don't have cash on you, you ask: Can I pay by card?
Very practical! Shopkeepers almost always accept cards today.
And if your friend starts to worry next to you, you tell them: No panic!
I love this expression! No panic, we are going to find a solution together.
Finally, when you find your wallet at the bottom of your things, you breathe a sigh of relief!
You say with joy: It's in my bag!
Haha! What a great relief for everyone!
Tell me Léo, are you more the cautious type or forgetful in life?
Me, I am very proud to be in Team Emma!
I always prepare my bank card long before reaching the checkout.
Well, me, I am clearly in Team Léo!
I always wait until the very last moment to open my bag.
I can see that very well from here! Besides Léo, I have a fun question for you.
Do you know how many people forget their wallet at least once a year?
Mmm, let me think a bit... Twenty percent of people?
No, it's much more than that!
Then maybe forty percent of the population?
I read that almost sixty percent of people experience this moment of stress!
Sixty percent! That's really an impressive figure!
I feel much less alone all of a sudden!
Now let's move to our big practical test of the day!
I will present six concrete situations at the checkout to you.
You must find the best phrase in French!
I am perfectly ready! I'm listening to your questions carefully!
Situation number one: You are in front of the cashier.
You search for your things in all your pockets.
What do you say to the cashier to ask for a little time?
That's easy! In this case, I say very calmly: Wait a moment, please.
Very good! Situation number two: You realize that you don't have coins.
You want to pay for your purchase electronically.
What do you ask the merchant?
Ah, for this situation, the best phrase is: Can I pay by card?
Perfect! Situation number three: You look for your card in your pockets, but it's not there.
What do you say with surprise and worry?
Without hesitation, I answer right away: I can't find my card!
Right! Situation number four: Your friend is worrying a lot next to you.
He thinks that you lost everything.
How do you kindly reassure him?
Very simple! I would say right away: No panic, everything is fine!
Bravo! Situation number five: You touch your wallet at the very bottom of your bag.
You are very glad to have finally found it.
What do you exclaim in front of the cashier?
There, you have to say with a big smile: It's in my bag!
And finally, Situation number six: You are at the store checkout.
Your wallet stayed on the living room table at your house.
What is our phrase of the day to explain your memory gap?
In this situation, I choose: I forgot my wallet!
Perfect score Léo! You passed the test with excellent answers!
Thank you Emma! That was really a very useful and fun training.
Now, we have a very simple little homework for you at home!
Yes! Tomorrow morning, when you get ready quietly in front of your mirror, look at yourself.
Repeat three times out loud our phrase of the day: I forgot my wallet!
Speaking out loud in front of one's mirror gives a lot of self-confidence!
That's completely true! Keeping one's calm is the key to speaking French well.
And always keep your phone well charged to pay contactless.
That is an excellent daily habit.
Absolutely, and it simplifies life at the supermarket a lot!
Take the time to listen to this episode again if you want to practice well.
It's the best method to remember all the vocabulary!
That way, you will never again say with panic: I forgot my wallet!
Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast to learn easy French!
Have a great day and see you very soon for a new episode!
Goodbye everyone and take good care of yourselves!

Key phrases

6 to keep
J'ai oublié mon portefeuilleI forgot my wallet
Désolé, j’ai oublié mon portefeuille à la maison.Sorry, I forgot my wallet at home.
Attendez un momentWait a moment
Attendez un moment, je cherche ma carte.Wait a moment, I'm looking for my card.
Je peux payer par carte ?Can I pay by card?
Excusez-moi, je peux payer par carte ?Excuse me, can I pay by card?
Je ne trouve pasI can't find it
Je ne trouve pas mon ticket de caisse.I can't find my receipt.
Pas de paniqueDon't panic
Pas de panique, on va le retrouver.Don't panic, we'll find it.
C'est dans mon sacIt's in my bag
Ah, c’est dans mon sac !Ah, it's in my bag!

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Yes! Tomorrow morning, when you get ready quietly in front of your mirror, look at yourself.Yes! Tomorrow morning, when you get ready quietly in front of your mirror, look at yourself.

cocoaJ'ai oublié mon portefeuille
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