Un coup de téléphone

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Permalink Reply by Frank on November 21, 2009 at 10:30pm

Yes, "un coup de téléphone" is perfectly correct.

We also say "un coup de fil" and some people also say "un coup de bigo" although the later sounds a bit oldish.

You can also just say "un appel" (a call)...

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Permalink Reply by Frank on November 21, 2009 at 10:35pm

J'ai reçu un coup de téléphone des USA.

Oh, by the way, "USA" is an interesting term.

You will see it written very frequently.

But as it's a bit long to pronounce, while speaking, we wouldn't say "USA". It feels unnatural to my hears. We would either say "(les) US" (pronounced "U" - "S" as in French) or "(les) States" (pronounced as in English).

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Permalink Reply by Crack1 on November 22, 2009 at 3:00pm

So all the following are grammatically correct. I thought I made tiny mistakes.

2] J'ai reçu un coup de téléphone de France.
3] J'ai reçu un coup de téléphone des Denmark.
4] ] J'ai reçu un coup de téléphone de Maria.
.....................................................................................

J'ai reçu un appel de Maria.
So the above is fine too.
I have received a call from Maria.

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Permalink Reply by Frank on November 22, 2009 at 5:58pm

All of this is correct, except 3)

Try to find why :)

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Permalink Reply by Crack1 on November 22, 2009 at 7:07pm

Thanks Frank
I know, for some reason, French considers Denmark and Portugal as masculine countries.
There are a bunch of masculine countries in French. You might know all of them.

Ce la France mais ce le Denmark.
C'est difficile pour moi.

3] J'ai reçu un coup de téléphone des Denmark.

J'ai reçu un coup de téléphone du Denmark.
Is it correct now?
.................................................................................................................................
Au is the masculine version of a la
Du is the masculine version of de la

de + les = des
de + la = de la
de + l' = de l'
................................................................................................................................

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Permalink Reply by Frank on November 22, 2009 at 7:22pm

Yes, Danemark (with the "e" inbetween, in French) is masculine and singular.

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Permalink Reply by Crack1 on November 22, 2009 at 7:42pm

It is different in French.
If you don't look at a dictionary and write, there are mistakes.
I don't look at dictionaries as it is time consuming.

I know India in French is ' L'Inde' .
I think Hungary is ' La Hongrie.
French has coined a special name for Scotland.
I think it is Ecosse or Ecose.

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Permalink Reply by Frank on November 22, 2009 at 8:51pm

Indeed, it is "Écosse".

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