Les voisins du dessous
A noise complaint note stuck to the door in a Lyon apartment building leads two neighbors from tension to an unlikely friendship.
Today's learning
- 2-minute story
- Native narration
- 7 useful words
- 5 comprehension questions
- B1 French
Pre-Reading Vocabulary
Review these key words and phrasing examples before you begin reading.
Your French story — tap highlighted words when you need help
Depuis quelques semaines, un bruit de pas régulier perturbait le calme de l'immeuble. Marc, au premier étage, n'arrivait plus à lire le soir sans entendre des allées et venues. Un matin, en sortant de chez elle, Chloé trouva un mot plié sous sa porte. « Vos pas sont très bruyants après vingt-deux heures. Merci de faire attention. » Chloé lut deux fois. D'abord, elle se sentit vexée. Ensuite, elle soupira. Il avait raison: elle dansait souvent dans son salon tard le soir. Elle prit son courage à deux mains et monta . « Désolée pour . C'est juste que ma nouvelle est un peu bruyante avec les allées et venues. » Marc ouvrit la porte, surpris. Il s'attendait à une réponse agressive ou à du silence. « Ah, euh... merci. Moi non plus, je ne voulais pas être désagréable. » Ils restèrent un moment sur le palier, un peu gênés. Puis Chloé remarqua les livres empilés près de sa porte. « Vous lisez beaucoup ? » demanda-t-elle. Marc lui montra le roman qu'il était en train de finir. Chloé reconnut la couverture. « Je l'ai lu le mois dernier ! Vous voulez que je vous prête le suivant ? » Quelques jours plus tard, Chloé déposa le livre devant sa porte avec un petit mot: « Celui-ci est encore mieux. Bonne lecture ! » Marc lui rendit le prêt avec une bouteille de vin et une invitation: « Si vous voulez, on peut en discuter autour d'un verre. » Le bruit de pas n'avait pas complètement disparu. Mais désormais, au lieu d'un mot froid, c'était un SMS amical qui accompagnait les soirs de danse: « Désolée, je fais attention ! »
Show full English translation
For a few weeks, a regular sound of footsteps had been disturbing the building's peace. Marc, on the first floor, could no longer read in the evening without hearing comings and goings. One morning, leaving her apartment, Chloé found a folded note under her door. "Your footsteps are very loud after ten p.m. Please be mindful." Chloé read the note twice. At first, she felt offended. Then she sighed. He was right: she often danced in her living room late at night. She gathered her courage and went upstairs to apologize. "Sorry about the noise. It's just that my new shared flat is a bit loud with all the comings and goings." Marc opened the door, surprised. He had expected an aggressive response or silence. "Oh, uh... thank you. I didn't want to be unpleasant either." They stood on the landing for a moment, a little awkward. Then Chloé noticed the books stacked near his door. "Do you read a lot?" she asked. Marc showed her the novel he was finishing. Chloé recognized the cover. "I read it last month! Do you want me to lend you the next one?" A few days later, Chloé left the book at his door with a little note: "This one is even better. Happy reading!" Marc returned the loan with a bottle of wine and an invitation: "If you want, we can discuss it over a glass." The sound of footsteps hadn't completely disappeared. But now, instead of a cold note, a friendly text accompanied the dance nights: "Sorry, I'm being careful!"
Vocabulary recap
Reading Comprehension Exercise
B1 French Reading Comprehension Exercises
1. Why did Marc write a note to Chloé?
Correct: Because she was too loud after ten p.m.
Marc wrote the note because Chloé's footsteps were very loud after ten p.m.
2. How does Chloé first react to the note?
Correct: She feels offended, then understands Marc is right
Chloé first feels offended, then sighs and admits Marc is right: she often dances late at night.
3. What does Chloé do after reading the note?
Correct: She goes upstairs to apologize
Chloé gathers her courage and goes upstairs to apologize directly to Marc.
4. What subject brings them together?
Correct: Reading
Chloé notices the books stacked near Marc's door and they discover their shared interest in reading.
5. How does the story end?
Correct: They become friends and exchange books and messages
The noise hasn't completely disappeared, but they now exchange books and friendly texts instead of cold notes.
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Patterns to reuse
Writing a polite complaint note
Vos pas sont très bruyants après vingt-deux heures. Merci de faire attention.
Your footsteps are very loud after ten p.m. Please be mindful.
State the issue directly, then add a polite request.
[observation factuelle] + Merci de [infinitive]
- Votre musique est forte le soir. Merci de baisser le son.
- La porte claque souvent. Merci de la fermer doucement.
- L'odeur de cuisine monte. Merci d'aérer moins longtemps.
In French apartment culture, 'Merci de + infinitive' is a standard way to make a request without sounding aggressive.
Apologizing face-to-face
Désolée pour le bruit. C'est juste que ma nouvelle colocation est un peu bruyante.
Sorry about the noise. It's just that my new shared flat is a bit loud.
Start with 'Désolé(e) pour' then explain without making excuses.
Désolé(e) pour [problem] + [brief explanation]
- Désolée pour le dérangement. C'est que j'ai des travaux.
- Désolé pour l'odeur. Je viens de faire cuire du poisson.
- Désolée pour l'attente. J'ai eu un imprévu.
A direct apology followed by a short explanation is the most effective way to defuse neighbor tension in French.
Softening a statement with 'un peu'
Ma nouvelle colocation est un peu bruyante.
My new shared flat is a bit loud.
Add 'un peu' before an adjective to soften criticism.
[noun] + être + un peu + [adjective]
- Mon appartement est un peu petit.
- Le quartier est un peu bruyant la nuit.
- La cuisine est un peu sombre.
At B1, using 'un peu' signals that you're aware of the issue without overstating it — a key social skill in French conversation.
Making an invitation after resolving a conflict
Si vous voulez, on peut en discuter autour d'un verre.
If you want, we can discuss it over a glass.
Use 'Si vous voulez' to make an open, non-pushy invitation.
Si vous voulez, on peut [verb] [optional detail]
- Si vous voulez, on peut boire un café.
- Si tu veux, on peut se promener.
- Si vous voulez, on peut échanger nos livres.
This construction keeps the invitation casual and leaves the other person room to decline gracefully.
Translator's Note
"This story illustrates a classic French urban ritual: the transition from anonymous cohabitation to neighborly connection. The 'mot sous la porte' — a note slipped under the door — is a common first step in French apartment diplomacy, preferred over direct confrontation."
Story complete
You just understood 285 French words.
- 7 new expressions
- 3 grammar patterns
- B1 level unlocked
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