French Word of the Day

the wind chill factor

Avec le facteur de refroidissement éolien, la température ressentie est de -15.
With the wind chill factor, the temperature feels like -15.

THIS WEEK
The winter storms that have been affecting much of the United States over the past several weeks give us much to talk about. This week we’ll look at some winter weather vocabulary to help us do it.

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freezing rain

La pluie verglaçante a rendu les routes très dangereuses.
The freezing rain made the roads very dangerous.

THIS WEEK
The winter storms that have been affecting much of the United States over the past several weeks give us much to talk about. This week we’ll look at some winter weather vocabulary to help us do it.

THE LATEST WEEKLY QUIZ FOR OUR MEMBERS
Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz covering the past week’s words by clicking here.

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a snowflake

Les flocons de neige sont tombés par milliers sur la terre.
The snowflakes fell by the thousands on the ground.

THIS WEEK
The winter storms that have been affecting much of the United States over the past several weeks give us much to talk about. This week we’ll look at some winter weather vocabulary to help us do it.

THE LATEST WEEKLY QUIZ FOR OUR MEMBERS
Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz covering the past week’s words by clicking here.

DON’T MISS OUT ON THE BENEFITS OF A VOILA! MEMBERSHIP
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a blizzard, snowstorm

La tempête de neige a frappé plus de 100 million d’habitants.
The blizzard struck more than a 100 million residents.

THIS WEEK
The winter storms that have been affecting much of the United States over the past several weeks give us much to talk about. This week we’ll look at some winter weather vocabulary to help us do it.

THE LATEST WEEKLY QUIZ FOR OUR MEMBERS
Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz covering the past week’s words by clicking here.

DON’T MISS OUT ON THE BENEFITS OF A VOILA! MEMBERSHIP
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When y and en are used together, remember that y always comes first. If you forget, just remember that, when used in the correct order, they make the sound of a donkey (c’est vrai!).

• Y a-t-il des voitures? Oui, il y en a beaucoup.
  Are there any cars? Yes, there are a lot of them.

THIS WEEK
Instead of having a different word each day, we’re focusing on just two words — the adverbial pronouns y and en.

THE LATEST WEEKLY QUIZ FOR OUR MEMBERS
Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz covering the past week’s words by clicking here.

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En is used in several common phrases to express a range of indefinite ideas.

• Elle n’est pas fâchée. J’en suis positif.
  She’s not mad. I’m positive about it.
• J’ai perdu mon argent. Je n’en reviens pas.
  I lost my money. I can’t get over it. (literally, I can’t return from it.)
• Elle s’en est allée.
  She went away.
• Je vous en prie.
  You’re welcome (very polite — literally, I ask you to think nothing of it.)

THIS WEEK
Instead of having a different word each day, we’re focusing on just two words — the adverbial pronouns y and en.

THE LATEST WEEKLY QUIZ FOR OUR MEMBERS
Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz covering the past week’s words by clicking here.

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some, of it/them, from there

• Voulez-vous du beurre? Oui, j’en veux.
  Do you want some butter? Yes, I want some.
• Vous avez besoin de livres? Oui, j’en ai besoin.
  You need books? Yes, I  need some.
• Vous avez des lampes? Combien en avez-vous?
  You have some lamps? How many of them do you have?
• Tu as les trois clés? Non, j’en ai deux.
  You have the three keys? No, I have two of them.
• Tu viens de Londres? Oui, j’en viens.
  You’re coming from London? Yes, I’m coming from there.

ABOUT EN
The adverbial pronoun en typically replaces phrases that begin with de — especially the partitive article. It may also be used to stand in for de + a place or to demonstrate a portion of a definite quantity (Il en a cinq/He has five of them).

THIS WEEK
Instead of having a different word each day, we’re focusing on just two words — the adverbial pronouns y and en.

THE LATEST WEEKLY QUIZ FOR OUR MEMBERS
Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz covering the past week’s words by clicking here.

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Y is used as part of  several idiomatic expressions:

• Réfléchissez-y.
  Think about it.
• J’y pense.
  I’m thinking about it.
• Ça y est!
  That’s it! It’s finished!

THIS WEEK
Instead of having a different word each day, we’re focusing on just two words — the adverbial pronouns y and en.

THE LATEST WEEKLY QUIZ FOR OUR MEMBERS
Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz covering the past week’s words by clicking here.

DON’T MISS OUT ON THE BENEFITS OF A VOILA! MEMBERSHIP
Join Voilà for only 3.95 per month to access online practice quizzes like our special 2010 Year in Review Quiz and our archives by subject.

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