in the front (as in a room or some other three-dimensional space)
Hélène est assise à l’avant de la salle.
Helen is seated at the front of the room.
TODAY
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 example is one phrase that will help you do that.
although
Bien qu’il soit tard, je ne peux pas m’endormir.
Although it’s late, I can’t go to sleep.
to be out of time
Pour l’instant, nous n’avons plus de temps.
For the time being, we’re out of time.
TODAY
Our phrase is an example of how we talk about matters of time.
high tide
Allons à la plage à marée haute.
Let’s go to the beach at high tide.
a convertible
Sophie aime conduire son décapotable rouge dans le Midi.
Sophie likes to drive her red convertible in the South of France.
(Wouldn’t we all?!)
TODAY
When you learn the word for car, la voiture, in French class, the vocabulary sometimes doesn’t go too far beyond that. But there is, of course, so much vocabulary related to cars and driving. Today’s word is one example.
a piece of paper
Pourrais-tu me donner une feuille de papier, s’il te plaît?
Could you give me a piece of paper, please?
RELATED WORDS
to be or feel sleepy
Le bébé a commencé à crier parce qu’il avait sommeil.
The baby started to cry because he was sleepy.
EN SAVOIR PLUS: Learn More
Avoir sommeil is an expression using the verb avoir. To use it, you must always conjugate the verb. Click here to see a complete conjugation of avoir.
TODAY
Our word is inspired by something that we spend about a third of our lives doing — sleeping.
to mind your own business
(literal, unused translation: to mingle in your own onions)
Ce ne sont pas là vos affaires. Vous voulez vous mêler de vos oignons?
That’s not your concern. Do you want to mind your own business?
TODAY
One of the most difficult things about becoming fluent in French is learning to recognize all of the many idiom expressions — those phrases that mean something different than their literal meanings suggest. In English, think of the phrase It’s raining cats and dogs.
Today’s phrase was suggested by a friend of our site, Bill Scoble, who has assembled a great selection of commonly used French idioms for you. Add these to your vocabulary and you’ll sound like a native speaker in no time.
a demonstration
Les manifestations étaient paisible.
The demonstrations were peaceful.
an extra
Elle voulait être la vedette mais elle n’était qu’une figurante.
She wanted to be the star, but she was only an extra.
MORE FRENCH FILM WORDS
Explore more words about film from some of our past daily words:
TODAY
We’re looking at French vocabulary words about movies and filmmaking.