une rafale de vent
a gust of wind
Les rafales de vent ont atteint jusqu’à 100 kilomètres à l’heure.
The wind gusts reached speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour (62 mph).
Vocabulary Section: Weather and Geography, Word of the Day
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Jupiter
n.f., Jupiter
La semaine dernière, Jupiter était au plus près de la Terre depuis 47 ans.
Last week, Jupiter was the closest to Earth in 47 years.
REGARDEZ UN VIDÉO!
More advanced learners can see if they can follow along in this explanation of Jupiter and Uranus. If you received this in an e-mail and have difficulty viewing the video, visit our Web site at www.frenchfanatic.com.
Vocabulary Section: Astronomy and Space, Word of the Day
en arrière-plan
in the background
Les nuages sont en arrière-plan de la photo.
The clouds are in the background of the photo.
ABOUT TODAY’S WORD
It’s very useful in conversation to be able to describe spatial relationships — the idea of where one thing is in relation to another. Today’s phrase is an example.
Vocabulary Section: Spatial Relationships, Word of the Day
ravi(e)
delighted
Je suis ravi de faire votre connaissance.
I’m delighted to meet you.
un pneu
a tire
Savez-vous changer un pneu crevé?
Do you know how to change a flat tire?
Other expressions:
pneus toutes-saisons = all-season tires
pneu neige = snow tire
gonfler un pneu = to inflate a tire
ajouter au panier
add to the shopping cart
(literally, panier is basket)
Quand vous faites des achats en ligne, vous ajoutez des articles au panier.
When you shop online, you add items to the shopping cart.
Today’s word is part of the French vocabulary for online shopping.
Vocabulary Section: Shopping and Fashion, Word of the Day
léger, légère
light (in weight or effect)
C’était facile de lever sa valise, parce qu’elle était légère.
It was easy to lift her suitcase, because it was light.
THIS WEEK
For all the daily words we’ve reviewed together, we’ve never spent much time covering adjectives — at least not as a dedicated topic. We’ll try to change that this week with an assortment of useful French adjectives that will help you add some depth to your conversations.
FOR OUR VOILÀ! MEMBERS
Review last week’s words by taking our weekly quiz.
Vocabulary Section: Adjectives, Word of the Day
un grille-pain
a toaster
Vous pouvez dorer le pain dans un grille-pain.
You can brown the bread in a toaster.
télécharger la musique
to download music
De plus en plus, les gens achètent et téléchargent leur musique du Web.
Increasingly, people buy and download their music from the Web.
chuchoter
to whisper
Marie chuchote à l’oreille de son bébé.
Marie is whispering in the ear of her baby.