French 'hein' = Okay? Right?

Brennus   Thu Sep 08, 2005 9:56 pm GMT
I've heard French Canadian speakers use this word before (hein), even when they speak English (Franglish?) however I' not sure if it's still used in France. I've never seen any references to it in text books or on TV programs that teach Parisian French. Does anyone know or have any comments?

Some examples of the word's usage are:

Elles les savent bien hein = They know it well don't they?

On repart dans le futur hein? = Let's continue with the future (tense) okay?

Je te fascine hein? I fascinate you, do I?

Oh ça va hein! = That's enough, okay!
Brennus   Thu Sep 08, 2005 9:57 pm GMT
I' not sure = I'm not sure
Xatufan   Thu Sep 08, 2005 10:20 pm GMT
I *have* seen it in Parisian French.
bernard   Fri Sep 09, 2005 8:55 am GMT
It is very used in France. But it is very informal and familiar (almost unpolite).
greg   Fri Sep 09, 2005 8:56 am GMT
<Hein> se dit partout en France.

Hein ? Quoi ? Répète ce que tu dis !

Hein ? Tu plaisantes !

Hein ? Non ! C'est pas vrai...

Tu le sais, hein ?

C'est bien, hein, dis donc !

Et celle-là, hein, elle est pas belle ?

Il viendra, hein ?

Ho ! Hé ! Hein ! Bon !

C'est lourd, hein ?

Seule, hein ?

M'oubliez pas , hein ?

Hein ! Mon œil, oui !
Brennus   Fri Sep 09, 2005 10:06 pm GMT
Xatufan, Bernard, Greg

Re: 'Hein'

Thanks for your answers. I appreciate it. (Merci pour vos réponses. Je l'apprécie). Any other comments are still welcome (Autres commentaires sont toujours l'accueil).
greg   Fri Sep 09, 2005 10:18 pm GMT
Brennus : de nada.
Guest   Sat Sep 10, 2005 9:36 am GMT
"I've heard French Canadian speakers use this word before (hein), even when they speak English (Franglish?) however I' not sure if it's still used in France."

<Hein> is so widespread in use in France that maybe you mean "oin" or "ouin" which is uniquely French Canadian.
Guest   Mon Sep 12, 2005 5:12 am GMT
Thanks for your interest in this topic. No, it was definitely "hein" that I used to hear my childhood French Canadian friends say but the word has never appeared in any of the textbooks or touristy phrasebooks on French I have seen in my life. On the other hand , some of of the newer series like the "Lonely Planet" phrasebooks (an Australian production) might have an example or two. "Lonely Planet" has been trying to adapt their books to the spoken language a little more. Their phrasebook on American English even discusses the surfer lingo and Val-talk of California a little bit.
Brennus   Mon Sep 12, 2005 7:28 am GMT
Previous post by Brennus. Guest is an error.
-- Brennus