French Word of the Day

a friend, buddy, mate, pal

Je vais au pub avec mes potes ce soir.
I’m going to the pub with my buddies tonight.

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

the path

Ils ont suivi le chemin qui serpentait à travers le parc.
They followed the path that wound through the park.

TODAY
Our vocabulary topic is au parc (at the park).

at the doctor’s office

Si tu es malade, va chez le médecin.
If you’re sick, go to the doctor (or doctor’s office).

ALSO
The phrase chez le docteur means the same as chez le médecin.

TODAY
Our vocabulary word is just what the doctor ordered to describe a visit to the doctor’s office, chez le médecin.

to cross

Quand est-ce qu’on peut traverser la rue? En savoir demain!
When can we cross the street? Find out tomorrow!

a coffee table

Une table basse est normalement devant le divan.
A coffee table is usually in front of the sofa.

TODAY
Our French vocabulary word is one of many about furniture, les meubles.

the seaside, by the sea

Nous allons passer nos vacances au bord de la mer.
We’re going to spend our vacation at the seaside.

Le bord also means the edge of something.

guilty

L’homme était trouvé coupable.
The man was found guilty.

n.f., the check

Pourriez-vous apporter l’addition, s’il vous plaît?
Could you bring the check, please?

Today, we’re exploring one of our favorite topics — on the menu

• to take out, to get out (as a transitive verb)
• to go out or leave (as an intransitive verb)

Philippe sort l’aspirateur du placard.
Philippe is taking the vacuum cleaner out of the closet.

Philippe sort à 19h00.
Philippe is leaving at 7 o’ clock.

GRAMMAR NOTES
Sortir is usually first learned as an intransitive verb meaning to go out. However, when used with an object, or as a transitive verb, it means to take something out or get something out. Interestingly, these two meanings also require different auxiliary verbs to form the past tense. When using sortir to mean to leave or to go out, conjugate the passé composé with être: Elle est sortie (She left). But when using sortir as a transitive verb to mean to take something out, conjugate the passé composé with avoir: Elle a sorti les œufs (She took out the eggs).

TODAY
Our word is inspired by a topic that has been very popular with our readers in the past — le ménage, or housework.