French Word of the Day

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Saturday, August 18, 2012

déraciner

to uproot

Les vents ont déraciné trois des arbres.
The winds uprooted three of the trees.

TODAY
Our word is inspired by thunderstorms and their effects — les orages et leurs effets.

Friday, August 17, 2012

rassasié

satisfied, full (in the context of food)

Aimeriez-vous d’autre chose? Ah, non, je suis rassasié.
Would you like something else? Oh, no, I’m satisfied (I’ve had enough).

To stress the idea that you’re full — not just satisfied — you would say: J’ai trop mangé (I ate too much).

Thursday, August 16, 2012

une fête, une soirée

a party

Mireille a invité ses amis pour une fête chez elle.
Mireille invited her friends for a party at her house.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

la musique classique

classical music

Elle aime écouter la musique classique le dimanche.
She enjoys listening to classical music on Sundays.

Vocabulary Section: Arts and Culture, Music, Word of the Day
Monday, August 13, 2012

Quelle heure est-il?

What time is it?

Quelle heure est-il, Henri?
What time is it, Henri?

Henri might respond to this question in a number of ways:

It’s two o’clock: Il est deux heures.
It’s a quarter past two: Il est deux heures et quart.
It’s two thirty: Il est deux heures et demie.
It’s a quarter until three:
Il est trois heures moins le quart.
It’s 2:23: Il est deux heures vingt-trois.
It’s noon: Il est midi.
It’s midnight: Il est minuit.

Vocabulary Section: Time and Calendar, Word of the Day
Saturday, August 11, 2012

un magasin de bricolage

a home repair store

Philippe va visiter le magasin de bricolage pour acheter des outils.
Philippe is going to visit the do-it-yourself store to buy some tools.

TODAY
Our word is inspired by do-it-youself home repair — le bricolage.
The example was originally part of a story about Philippe’s trip to the home repair store. 

Vocabulary Section: Home Repair, Word of the Day
Friday, August 10, 2012

la cérémonie de clôture

the closing ceremony

La cérémonie de clôture sera tenue tôt.
The closing ceremony will be held soon.

TODAY
Our word is inspired by the Summer Olympics.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

C’est quoi, ça?

What’s this?

C’est quoi + a noun makes for useful – and sometimes philosophical – questions.

C’est quoi le bonheur?: What’s happiness?
C’est quoi la vie?: What’s life?

Vocabulary Section: Expressions, Word of the Day
Wednesday, August 8, 2012

banal(e)

common, run-of-the-mill, ordinary

Le repas n’était pas très speciale. En fait, c’était assez banal.
The meal was not very special. In fact, it was rather ordinary.

Vocabulary Section: Adjectives, Word of the Day
Tuesday, August 7, 2012

un bras de fer

a standoff

Il y avait un bras de fer entre les étudiants et la police.
There was a standoff between the students and the police.

Vocabulary Section: Civics, Word of the Day
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