French Word of the Day

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Learn French vocabulary with one new French word a day
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Sunday, March 31, 2013

une course-poursuite

a high-speed chase

Les deux voitures se sont percutées pendant une course-poursuite.
The two cars collided during a high-speed chase.

QUIZ LINK
Test yourself on today’s word and more like it here.

Vocabulary Section: Cars, Police and Crime, Word of the Day
Saturday, March 30, 2013

un quartier

a neighborhood

Il y a beaucoup de bons restaurants dans notre quartier.
There are a lot of good restaurants in our neighborhood.

NEED HELP WITH FRENCH VERBS?
Check out our  Quick Verb Guide!

Vocabulary Section: Society, Word of the Day
Friday, March 29, 2013

la levure

yeast

Pour faire lever le pain, il faut ajouter la levure.
In order to make bread rise, you have to add yeast.

TODAY
Our word is inspired by bread-making and the breads of France — les pains de France. It’s one of several words in this category that we hope will leave you well-armed to visit a boulangerie or supermarché and buy a loaf that reveals all the simple pleasures of French life.

QUIZ LINK
Test yourself on today’s word and others about bread and bread-making here.

Vocabulary Section: Food and Drink, Word of the Day
Thursday, March 28, 2013

le travail à temps plein (ou le travail à temps partiel)

full-time work (or part-time work)

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

maigrir/grossir

to lose weight (get thin)/to gain weight (get fat)

Elle maigrit pendant que son mari grossit.
She’s losing weightwhile her husband’s gaining weight.

TODAY
Our words are examples of regular -ir
verbs. To learn how to conjugate regular -ir verbs, check out our -ir verb conjugation page in our Quick Verb Guide. Here are also a few links to other regular -ir verbs we’ve published in the past that you might find useful:

QUIZ LINK
Test yourself on today’s word and other -ir verbs here.

Vocabulary Section: Verbs, Word of the Day
Tuesday, March 26, 2013

un tableau

a (chalk)board

Le professeur écrit les phrases en français au tableau.
The professor writes the sentences in French on the board.

ALSO
un tableau blanc = a whiteboard

TODAY
Our word is among essential vocabulary for the classroom.

QUIZ LINK
Test yourself on today’s word and others about the classroom here.

Vocabulary Section: Classroom, Word of the Day
Sunday, March 24, 2013

il tombe des hallebardes

Actual meaning: it’s raining cats and dogs
Literal meaning: it’s raining halberds (halberds are sharp battle axes)

Je ne veux pas sortir. Il tombe des hallebardes!
I don’t want to go out. It’s raining cats and dogs!

TODAY
We love idiomatic phrases. Today’s is a fun and useful one that provides a fascinating window into the French mindset.

QUIZ LINK
Test yourself on today’s word and other idiomatic phrases here.

Vocabulary Section: Idiom Expressions, Word of the Day
Saturday, March 23, 2013

le trottoir

the sidewalk

Henri a laissé tomber son mobile sur le trottoir en marchant à Paris.
Henri dropped his mobile phone on the sidewalk while walking in Paris.

TODAY
We’re going for a walk. Our word is just one of many things you might encounter à pied (on foot).

QUIZ LINK
Test yourself on today’s word and others like it here.

Friday, March 22, 2013

cueillir

to pick or pluck

Les vendangeurs sont embauchés pour cueillir le raisin.
The grape harvesters are hired to pick the grapes.

TODAY
Wine and winemaking are inextricable parts of the French culture. Today, our word is inspired by the vocabulary of the vineyards.

QUIZ LINK
Test yourself on today’s word and others about wine and winemaking here.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

la carte

the menu

Pourrions-nous voir la carte, s’il vous plaît?
Could we see the menu, please?

Today, we’re exploring one of our favorite topics — on the menu! To see other words we’ve posted about the menu, visit us at www.frenchfanatic.com.

Vocabulary Section: Food and Drink, Word of the Day
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