French Word of the Day

a food processor

Hachez les oignons rapidement dans un robot culinaire.
Chop the onions quickly in a food processor.

TODAY
Our word is one of many items in the kitchen, dans la cuisine.

QUIZ LINK
Test yourself on today’s word and others like it here.

an heir apparent (as with royalty)

La famille royale veut avoir un dauphin ou une dauphine.
The royal family wants to have a (male or female) heir apparent.

TODAY
One has only to witness the many castles, or chateaux, that dot the French countryside to see evidence of France’s royal past. Today’s words help us discuss royalty, French and otherwise. For more words on this topic, click here.

A ROYAL CHALLENGE
Take our royal quiz to test your knowledge on the language of kings and queens.

winemaker

KNOW THE LANGUAGE OF THE VINEYARDS?
Test your French wine vocabulary with this quiz. Ready for even more? Take another one.

to park

Vous pouvez garer la voiture en arrière de l’hôtel.
You can park the car behind the hotel.

set menu

Le menu à prix fixe est souvent moins cher que la carte.
The set menu is often less expensive than the à la carte menu.

TODAY
Our word is about one of our favorite topics — the menu!

to mend

Elle préfère raccommoder les vêtements au lieu d’acheter de nouveaux.
She prefers mending the clothes instead of buying new ones.

LEARN MORE
For a complete conjugation of raccommoder, visit conjugation-fr.com.

THIS WEEK
Let’s build our reservoir of useful verbs by looking at a few that don’t necessarily come up a lot but nonetheless come in handy.

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

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an appetizer, starter

Tous nos plats sont excellents. Mais si vous me permettez, je vous suggère notre entrée de moules pour commencer.
All of our plates are excellent. But if you’ll permit me, I suggest our mussels appetizer to you to start.

ATTENTION!
Take note that an entrée in French is an appetizer or starter — not a main course as it is in English! It is the entry to the meal, if you will.

TODAY
We’re covering the vocabulary necessary to confidently walk into a restaurant or café. Here is a complete conversation featuring today’s word and others:

Bonsoir, Messieurs, Dames.
— Bonsoir. On n’a pas réservé. Il fallait?
Non, pas du tout. Quatre couverts?
— Oui, exactement. Avez-vous peut-être une table libre à la terrasse ?
Eh, non, malheureusement, la terrasse est complète. Il fait beau ce soir.
–Pas de problème. La salle, ça va.
Je crois que nous aurons une table libre dans dix minutes.
–Merci. C’est possible de nous asseoir au bar pendant que nous attendons?
Bien sûr. Je vous amène. Suivez-moi.
Au bar, ils prennent un verre de vin et les arômes de la cuisine font venir l’eau à la bouche de chacun.
Mesdames, Messieurs, votre table est prête. On vous fait asseoir, si vous voulez.
Ils sont assis maintenant.
–Alors, Monsieur. Qu’est-ce que vous nous suggérez ce soir?
Tous nos plats sont excellents. Mais si vous me permettez, je vous suggère notre entrée de moules pour commencer.

Good evening, gentlemen, ladies.
— Good evening. We didn’t make reservations. Were they necessary.
No, not at all. For four people (place settings)?
— Yes, exactly. Do you have a free table on the terrace?
Uh, no, unfortunately the terrace is full. The weather’s beautiful tonight.
–No problem. The dining room is fine.
I believe we’ll have a free table in ten minutes.
–Thank you. Is it possible to sit at the bar while we wait?
Of course. I’ll take you. Follow me.
At the bar, they have a glass of wine and the aromas of the food make everyone’s mouth water.
Ladies, gentlemen, your table is ready. We’ll seat you now, if you like.
They’re seated now.
–So, what do you suggest this evening.
All of our plates are excellent. But if you’ll permit me, I suggest our mussels appetizer to you to start.

the cork

On a besoin d’un tire-bouchon pour retirer le bouchon.
You need a corkscrew to remove the cork.

TODAY
Our word is inspired by the French love of wine and winemaking.

TAKE OUR QUIZ
Test your knowledge of French words about wine with this quiz.

to work one’s fingers to the bone, to slave away

Bien qu’elle ait bossé dur, elle n’avait jamais de fric.
Even though she slaved away, she never had any money.

TODAY
Every language is full of slang, or l’argot. French is no exception. Today’s word is one example of the slang that makes the language so rich. Words like this are more informal, and you’ll want to use them only in familiar settings.

QUIZ LINK
Find out how much French slang you know when you take our quiz.