French Word of the Day

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Monday, December 20, 2010

les achats de Noël

n.m.pl., Christmas shopping

Nous allons faire nos achats de Noël dans les grands magasins.
We’re going to do our Christmas shopping in the department stores.

THIS WEEK
We’re celebrating the holidays with words about the season.

VOILÀ! LE NOUVEAU QUIZ
Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz by clicking here.

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Vocabulary Section: Holidays, Word of the Day
Sunday, December 19, 2010

un(e) mordu(e) de

a nut for, crazy about
(literal translation: a bitten one, implying having been bitten by the bug)

Elle est une vraie mordue du cinéma.
She’s a real movie nut.

THIS WEEK
We have a special treat. One of the most difficult things about becoming fluent in French is learning to recognize all of the many idiom expressions — those phrases that mean something different than their literal meanings suggest. In English, think of the phrase It’s raining cats and dogs.

This week, a friend of our site, Bill Scoble, has assembled a great selection of commonly used French idioms for you. Add these to your vocabulary and you’ll sound like a native speaker in no time.

VOILÀ! LE NOUVEAU QUIZ
Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz by clicking here.

Les ClochesGIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF FRENCH FANATIC!
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Vocabulary Section: Idiom Expressions, Word of the Day
Friday, December 17, 2010

On met les voiles?

Shall we leave?
(literal translation: to put up the sails)

il se fait tard. On met les voiles?
It’s getting late. Shall we leave?

THIS WEEK
We have a special treat. One of the most difficult things about becoming fluent in French is learning to recognize all of the many idiom expressions — those phrases that mean something different than their literal meanings suggest. In English, think of the phrase It’s raining cats and dogs.

This week, a friend of our site, Bill Scoble, has assembled a great selection of commonly used French idioms for you. Add these to your vocabulary and you’ll sound like a native speaker in no time.

VOILÀ! LE NOUVEAU QUIZ
Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz by clicking here.

Les ClochesGIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF FRENCH FANATIC!
Join Voilà for only 3.95 per month to access online practice quizzes and more.
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Vocabulary Section: Idiom Expressions, Word of the Day
Wednesday, December 15, 2010

à dormir debout

that put you to sleep standing up
(literal, unused translation: to sleep standing)

C’est un mec vraiment bavard; il vous raconte des histoires à dormir debout.
He’s one talkative guy; he’ll tell you stories that’ll put you to sleep standing up.

THIS WEEK
We have a special treat. One of the most difficult things about becoming fluent in French is learning to recognize all of the many idiom expressions — those phrases that mean something different than their literal meanings suggest. In English, think of the phrase It’s raining cats and dogs.

This week, a friend of our site, Bill Scoble, has assembled a great selection of commonly used French idioms for you. Add these to your vocabulary and you’ll sound like a native speaker in no time.

VOILÀ! LE NOUVEAU QUIZ
Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz by clicking here.

Les ClochesGIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF FRENCH FANATIC!
Join Voilà for only 3.95 per month to access online practice quizzes and more.
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Vocabulary Section: Idiom Expressions, Word of the Day
Tuesday, December 14, 2010

du gâteau

easy, a piece of cake
(literal, unused translation: of the cake)

Pour moi, ce sera plutôt difficile, mais pour lui ce sera du gâteau.
For me, it will be rather difficult, but for him, it’ll be a piece of cake.

THIS WEEK
We have a special treat. One of the most difficult things about becoming fluent in French is learning to recognize all of the many idiom expressions — those phrases that mean something different than their literal meanings suggest. In English, think of the phrase It’s raining cats and dogs.

This week, a friend of our site, Bill Scoble, has assembled a great selection of commonly used French idioms for you. Add these to your vocabulary and you’ll sound like a native speaker in no time.

VOILÀ! LE NOUVEAU QUIZ
Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz by clicking here.

Les ClochesGIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF FRENCH FANATIC!
Join Voilà for only 3.95 per month to access online practice quizzes and more.
SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

Vocabulary Section: Idiom Expressions, Word of the Day
Sunday, December 12, 2010

une couronne de Noël

a Christmas wreath

J’ai accroché une couronne de Noël sur ma porte d’entrée.
I hung a Christmas wreath on my front door.

THIS WEEK
We’re beginning to look at some of the vocabulary unique to the holiday season.

VOILÀ! LE NOUVEAU QUIZ
Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz by clicking here.

Les ClochesGIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF FRENCH FANATIC!
Join Voilà for only 3.95 per month to access online practice quizzes and more.
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Vocabulary Section: Holidays, Word of the Day
Saturday, December 11, 2010

allumer le sapin

to light the tree

Quand leur papa a allumé le sapin, les enfants ont crié de joie.
When their dad lit the tree, the children shouted with joy.

THIS WEEK
We’re beginning to look at some of the vocabulary unique to the holiday season.

VOILÀ! LE NOUVEAU QUIZ
Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz by clicking here.

Les ClochesGIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF FRENCH FANATIC!
Join Voilà for only 3.95 per month to access online practice quizzes and more.
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Vocabulary Section: Holidays, Word of the Day
Friday, December 10, 2010

une vitrine de Noël

a Christmas window (shopping display)

Les vitrines de Noël à Paris sont merveilleuses.
The Christmas windows in Paris are wonderful.

REGARDEZ UN VIDÉO!
We always marvel at the creativity of the displays of the department stores in Paris this time of year. Enjoy this video of this year’s display at Galeries Lafayette.

THIS WEEK
We’re beginning to look at some of the vocabulary unique to the holiday season.

VOILÀ! LE NOUVEAU QUIZ
Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz by clicking here.

Les ClochesGIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF FRENCH FANATIC!
Join Voilà for only 3.95 per month to access online practice quizzes and more.
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Vocabulary Section: Holidays, Word of the Day
Thursday, December 9, 2010

une hanoukkia

a Hanukkah menorah

On allume une lumière supplémentaire de la hanoukkia chaque nuit de la fête.

An additional light of the Hannukah menorah is lit each night of the holiday.

THIS WEEK
We’re beginning to look at some of the vocabulary unique to the holiday season.

VOILÀ! LE NOUVEAU QUIZ
Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz by clicking here.

Les ClochesGIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF FRENCH FANATIC!
Join Voilà for only 3.95 per month to access online practice quizzes and more.
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Vocabulary Section: Holidays, Word of the Day
Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Hanoucca

Hanukkah

Hanoucca est la fête juive célébrée cette année du 1er décembre jusqu’au 9 décembre.
Hanukkah is the Jewish holiday celebrated this year from Dec. 1 through Dec. 9.

THIS WEEK
We’re beginning to look at some of the vocabulary unique to the holiday season.

VOILÀ! LE NOUVEAU QUIZ
Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz by clicking here.

Les ClochesGIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF FRENCH FANATIC!
Join Voilà for only 3.95 per month to access online practice quizzes and more.
SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

Vocabulary Section: Holidays, Word of the Day
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