How do you say "A little, but I prefer talking." in French?

"A little, but I prefer talking." in French is "Un peu, mais je préfère parler.". This phrase is commonly used in France.

What does "Un peu, mais je préfère parler." mean in English?

"Un peu, mais je préfère parler." means "A little, but I prefer talking." in English.

🕺➡️🗣️

How to Say ‘A little, but I prefer talking.’ in French

Un peu, mais je préfère parler.

uhn puh meh zhuh pray-fair pahr-lay

[uhn puh meh zhuh pray-fair pahr-lay]

🇫🇷 In France: This is a smooth, low-pressure way to steer things toward conversation instead of dancing. It sounds more natural and less pushy than directly asking to go somewhere quieter right away.

Phrase Breakdown

Un peu,

uhn puh

Words in this phrase

[uhn]

Indefinite article singular, with masculine singular nouns.

Example

Un peu de discussion est bien.

A little discussion is good.

peu

[puh]

little

Small in size or degree.

Example

Un peu de discussion est bien.

A little discussion is good.

Mais je préfère parler.

meh zhuh pray-fair pahr-lay

Words in this phrase

mais

[meh]

but

To introduce a contrast.

Example

Je danse un peu, mais je préfère parler.

I dance a little, but I prefer to talk.

[zhuh]

First person singular pronoun.

Example

Je préfère discuter.

I prefer to discuss.

préfère

[pray-fair]

prefer

To like better over something else.

Example

Je préfère discuter tranquille.

I prefer to discuss quietly.

parler

[pahr-lay]

to speak

To communicate with words.

Example

Parler à voix basse.

Speak quietly.

Guides for French learners

The Best App to Learn French: An Honest ComparisonDuolingo, Babbel, Pimsleur, Busuu, italki and PrettyFluent compared for learning French: what each is best at, how you pay, and which fits your goal.French Conversation for Beginners: 5 Everyday Dialogues You'll Actually UseFive short French conversations for beginners, from greeting a neighbour to booking a restaurant, with translations, native audio and the phrases that keep them going.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Custom Scenarios

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Moved to Lyon for a culinary apprenticeship. The food and restaurant scenarios were exactly what I needed — my French colleagues were genuinely impressed.”

Tom H., 38, Chef

“Studying in Paris and the academic French I learned in school was useless for daily life. This app filled the gap in weeks, not months.”

Nina W., 29, Graduate Student

“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”

Alex M., 42, Software Engineer