Cardi B is a multilingual global superstar. She travels the world and comes from a diverse background, but can the superstar speak French?
Cardi B speaks some French. The singer is not completely fluent in French but she knows some phrases.
Cardi B Shows Her French Abilities
Cardi B has said that she speaks four languages: English, Spanish, some French, and some Russian. She does not regularly talk to French or Russian speakers, so she does not have many opportunities to practice those languages and improve her skills.
Despite her limited knowledge and practice, Cardi B still held her own and spoke some French in an interview. Her French interviewer put her on the spot and asked her to speak a little French for him:
Cardi B spoke well and pronounced her French words clearly. She beautifully flowed through a few sentences before having to stop when she ran out of things to say in French.
Cardi B also spoke French on camera while working on the music video for “Taki Taki.” Cardi flawlessly introduced herself in French:
Cardi B worked on “Taki Taki” with the French musician DJ Snake. Her fellow artists also introduced themselves, but Ozuna avoided French and said hello in his native language of Spanish.
Cardi B Learned French in College
Cardi B learned French in her college classes. The artist took French classes at the Boro of Manhattan Community College before she dropped out of school.
Cardi B revealed in an interview that her French improved when she worked in a tourism office in New York City. Visitors from France would come to her with questions and she was able to practice what she learned with them.
Cardi B Wants Her Daughter to be Fluent in French
Although Cardi B is not completely fluent in French herself, she hopes that her daughter will be one day. Cardi B said she wants her daughter, Kulture, to be able to speak four languages: Spanish, English, French, and Italian.
Cardi B does not speak Italian herself, but she said she likes the sound of the language and exclaimed, “I love how those people talk!” referring to Italians.
If Cardi B does successfully teach Kulture French and Italian, the rapper will undoubtedly learn the languages herself along the way. She will also gain the advantage of practicing her French with her daughter.
Cardi B Brought Attention to French Politics
Cardi B is no stranger to rap star drama, but she faced a new kind of criticism for her outfit at the 2019 Paris Fashion Week.
Cardi B attended the fashion show in a dress designed by Richard Quinn. Her ensemble featured a hood and full face covering, making her completely unidentifiable.
People on social media were quick to point out that Cardi B’s face covering reveals a double standard in French society. France banned Muslim women from wearing their religious face coverings, yet Cardi B was allowed to roam France in her fashionable covered look.
The actress Nathalie Emmanuel was among those to call out the problems in France society as they related to Cardi’s outfit. She urged fans to remember the unfair rule:
Critics thought that Cardi B’s outfit may have been insensitive to the Muslim community. Muslim critics were particularly hurt by the fact that they do not have the freedom to wear a religious face covering like Cardi’s outfit.
Some fans argued that Cardi B’s face covering was intentionally drawing awareness to the French law. These fans may have been right, since Cardi B repeated her fashion statement a few months later.
In January 2020 Cardi B attended Men’s Fashion Week in Paris with her husband. Cardi wore another ensemble that completely covered her face.
Cardi B never made a statement regarding her outfits and the French law. However, the repetition of her fashion choice seems to indicate an intentional political commentary.
Cardi B can speak some French and may learn more in the future. She has spoken in French on video before, and also sparked tons of French political conversation with a simple outfit choice.