French Word of the Day

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Learn French vocabulary with one new French word a day
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Monday, September 30, 2013

une table libre

a free table

–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.

–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.

TODAY
When you visit France as a native English speaker, everyday interactions that you take for granted at home can suddenly feel like a lot of work. But they also can be very rewarding. Today’s example illustrates one such common interaction — walking into a café or restaurant and knowing what to say and learning to recognize some of the responses. The dialogue here was originally part of a weeklong exercise in which we built an entire conversation that you can see here.

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

Sunday, September 29, 2013

promener le chien

to walk the dog

Il promène son chien François trois fois par jour.
He walks his dog François three times a day.

Vocabulary Section: Animals and Pets, Verbs, Word of the Day
Saturday, September 28, 2013

la famille immédiate

the immediate family

Gérard a quatre personnes dans sa famille immédiate.
Gerard has four people in his immediate family.

FRENCH FAMILY VOCABULARY WORDS
After you’ve learned how to say immediate family in French, click the links below to discover the French words for these family members:

Vocabulary Section: Family, Word of the Day
Friday, September 27, 2013

enregistrer

to record

J’ai enregistré mon émission de télé préférée.
I recorded my favorite TV program.

Enregistrer is a regular -er verb.
Click here to learn how to conjugate verbs like enregistrer.

For more verb conjugation examples, check out our Quick Verb Guide.

RELATED FRENCH VOCABULARY WORDS
After you’ve learned to say to record in French, follow the links below to discover these related words about music.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Take our French Music Vocabulary Quiz to test your knowledge of musical terms in French.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

la flanelle

flannel

Vous pouvez porter la flanelle en automne pour vous garder au chaud.
You can wear flannel in the fall to keep warm.

TODAY
Our word is one of many types of clothing.

MORE FRENCH CLOTHING WORDS
After you’ve learned to say flannel in French, follow the links below to discover more French vocabulary words for types of clothing and accessories:

Vocabulary Section: Clothing, Seasons, Word of the Day
Wednesday, September 25, 2013

embaucher

to hire

Le patron a embauché deux nouveaux employés.
The boss hired two new employees.

TODAY
Our word is inspired by the workplace and working.

MORE FRENCH WORDS ABOUT WORKING
Follow the links below to discover more words about the workplace:

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

le cœur

the heart

Béatrice a donné son cœur à Robert.
Beatrice gave her heart to Robert.

TIP
Just as the heart has literal and symbolic meanings in English, so does le cœur in French. While le coeur is quite literally the organ that pumps blood through the body, it is also a great symbol of love.

MORE PARTS OF THE BODY IN FRENCH
Follow the links below to discover more French vocabulary about the body:

HOW WELL CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE BODY?
Take our French Body Parts Quiz to find out if you can say heart in French.

Monday, September 23, 2013

l’argent

n.m., money

Je voudrais aller au cinéma, mais je n’ai pas d’argent.
I’d like to go to the movies, but I don’t have any money.

TODAY
Our vocabulary topic is money and banking.

SHOW ME THE MONEY
Learn how to talk the talk of cold hard cash en français. Follow the links below for more French vocabulary words about money:

Vocabulary Section: Money, Word of the Day
Sunday, September 22, 2013

vouloir

to want

Jean-Pierre veut regarder un film ce soir.
Jean-Pierre wants to watch a film this evening.

GRAMMAR TIP
Like the related verb pouvoir (can, to be able to), vouloir is used very commonly in the construction vouloir + infinitive. This is a common way to express the desire to do something. You also can follow the verb with a noun to express that someone wants a thing: Nous voulons une nouvelle voiture (We want a new car).

TODAY
Our French vocabulary word is among essential verbs for conversation. Follow the links below to discover other must-know French verbs.

PRACTICE YOUR FRENCH VERBS
Take our Essential French Verbs Quiz to find out if you can say to want in French and more.

TO SEE A COMPLETE CONJUGATION OF VOULOIR
We suggest conjugation-fr.com.

Vocabulary Section: Verbs, Word of the Day
Saturday, September 21, 2013

une faute d’orthographe

a misspelling

Eifel est une faute d’orthographe. L’orthographe correcte est bien sûr Eiffel.
Eifel
is a misspelling. The correct spelling is, of course, Eiffel.

MORE FRENCH VOCABULARY WORDS
After you’ve learned to say misspelling in French, follow the links below to discover more French vocabulary words about the classroom:

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