French Expression · Intermediate
Une poignée de main
A handshake
Pronunciation: ün pwa-NYÉ də MĀN
Meaning
A greeting or farewell gesture where two people clasp hands.
Example
Ils ont scellé l'accord avec une solide poignée de main.
They sealed the deal with a firm handshake.
Common mistakes & tips
- Practice Une poignée de main out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this is a intermediate-level French expression.