French Word of the Day

currently

Nous sommes actuellement en route.
We are currently on the way.

AVOID THE TEMPTING MISTAKE!
In French, actuellement actually means currently. If you really mean actually, you would want to use en fait.

TODAY
Our example can help you avoid a common mistake. While French and English have many cognates — words that are derived from the same root word and consequently look and sound a lot alike — these words sometimes have similar meanings but other times do not. When they don’t, they are called false cognates and can provide plenty of pitfalls for language learners. Today’s word is a perfect example of a word whose meaning could be easily mistaken.

DISCOVER MORE FALSE COGNATES
Check out these words that aren’t quite what they seem:

• attendre (to wait)
• blesser (to injure)
• demander (to ask)
• la misère (poverty)
• les paroles (words, lyrics)
• sage (well-behaved)

CAN YOU AVOID THE TEMPTING MISTAKE?
Take our French False Cognates Quiz to see if you can say currently in French and avoid the common mistakes presented by French false cognates.

more

Profitez davantage de French Fanatic en visitant chaque jour de l’année.
Get more from French Fanatic by visiting each day of the year.

THIS WEEK
We’re looking at words that remind us of all the possibilities of a new year.

A SPECIAL WAY FOR OUR VOILA! SUBSCRIBERS TO KICK OFF 2011
Start 2011 with a special expanded edition of our weekly quiz featuring 50 questions covering words we posted here throughout 2010, including selections from our Year in Review last week. Members who are logged into Voila! can go straight to this special benefit for our members by clicking here.

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already

Elle est déjà allée à Paris.
She has already gone to Paris.

GRAMMAR NOTE
Déjà is an adverb of time, but it behaves more like an adverb of frequency. In this example, note how it follows the conjugated verb.

TODAY
We’re looking at a word that is among adverbs of time and frequency. Their placement can be a little tricky, but, in general, adverbs of time are placed at the beginning or end of a sentence, while adverbs of frequency are generally placed after the conjugated verb. Sound like too much? Don’t worry. Over time, as you learn French, your ear will start to guide you.

tomorrow

Demain, nous allons voir une pièce au théâtre.
Tomorrow, we are going to see a play at the theatre.

GRAMMAR NOTE
Like many adverbs of time, demain can be placed at the start of a sentence to help emphasize the importance of the time element. We treat these adverbs similarly in English.

THIS WEEK
We’re looking at some adverbs of time and frequency. Their placement can be a little tricky, but, in general, adverbs of time are placed at the beginning or end of a sentence, while adverbs of frequency are generally placed after the conjugated verb. Sound like too much? Don’t worry. Over time, as you learn French, your ear will start to guide you.

TRACK YOUR LEARNING WITH OUR QUIZ!
How well did you learn last week’s words? Take our Weekly Quiz to find out!

TODAY’S WORD BROUGHT TO YOU BY YABLA.
Yabla French Video Immersion.
The fun way to learn French



from now on

Nous allons désormais conduire une voiture électrique.
From now on, we are going to drive an electric car.

GRAMMAR NOTE
Désormais is an adverb of time. But unlike many adverbs of time, it tends to follow the conjugated verb it describes rather than coming at the beginning or end of a sentence.

over there

Le chien joue avec la balle là-bas.
The dog is playing with the ball over there.

THIS WEEK
One of the things you might notice when you visit French-speaking country is that the word là — there — comes up a lot. Inevitably, there seems to be some pointing involved as someone describes to you where something is located. Moreover, là is often combined with other adverbs of place to emphasize the direction of something. This week, we’re going to look at this little word with a big place in day-to-day French language.

WITH MEMBERSHIP, LIFE’S A LITTLE MORE FRENCH!

• MEMBERS can reiview last week’s words by taking our weekly quiz.
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in there

Le sucre est-il dans le buffet de cuisine? Oui, il est là-dedans.
Is the sugar in the kitchen cabinet? Yes, it’s in there.

THIS WEEK
One of the things you might notice when you visit French-speaking country is that the word là — there — comes up a lot. Inevitably, there seems to be some pointing involved as someone describes to you where something is located. Moreover, là is often combined with other adverbs of place to emphasize the direction of something. This week, we’re going to look at this little word with a big place in day-to-day French language.

WITH MEMBERSHIP, LIFE’S A LITTLE MORE FRENCH!

• MEMBERS can reiview last week’s words by taking our weekly quiz.
• SUBSCRIBE TODAY to become a member. Only 3.95 a month!
• Thinking about becoming a member? Take our Visitors Preview.

outside there

Tu vois toutes les nouvelles fleurs là-dehors?
Do you see all the new flowers outside there?

TODAY
One of the things you might notice when you visit a French-speaking country is that the word là — there — comes up a lot. Inevitably, there seems to be some pointing involved as someone describes to you where something is located. Moreover, là is often combined with other adverbs of place to emphasize the direction of something. Today, we’re looking at one example of this little word with a big place in day-to-day French language.

QUIZ LINK
Test your knowledge on the use of là and related adverbs here.

underneath there

Le chat est sous la table. Il se cache là-dessous.
The cat is under the table. He’s hiding underneath there.

THIS WEEK
One of the things you might notice when you visit French-speaking country is that the word là — there — comes up a lot. Inevitably, there seems to be some pointing involved as someone describes to you where something is located. Moreover, là is often combined with other adverbs of place to emphasize the direction of something. This week, we’re going to look at this little word with a big place in day-to-day French language.

WITH MEMBERSHIP, LIFE’S A LITTLE MORE FRENCH!

• MEMBERS can reiview last week’s words by taking our weekly quiz.
• SUBSCRIBE TODAY to become a member. Only 3.95 a month!
• Thinking about becoming a member? Take our Visitors Preview.

on top of it (over there)

Tu as mis les livres sur l’étagère? Oui, là-dessus.
You put the books on the bookshelf? Yes, on top over there.

OPEN UP AND SAY LÀ!
One of the things you might notice when you visit a French-speaking country is that the word là — there — comes up a lot. Inevitably, there seems to be some pointing involved as someone describes to you where something is located. Moreover, là is often combined with other adverbs of place to emphasize the direction of something. Today, we’re looking at one example of this little word with a big place in day-to-day French language.

DISCOVER MORE EXPRESSIONS WITH LÀ

• In There
• Outside There
• Over There
• There
• Underneath There
• Up There

ARE YOU THERE YET?
Test your knowledge of expressions with là with our French Vocabulary Quiz.

up there

Regarde l’oiseau là-haut.
Look at the bird up there.

Oh là là
One of the things you might notice when you visit a French-speaking country is that the word là — there — comes up a lot. Inevitably, there seems to be some pointing involved as someone describes to you where something is located. Moreover, là is often combined with other adverbs of place to emphasize the direction of something. Today’s word is one example of how là works with another adverb.

far

La lune est très loin d’ici.
The moon is very far from here.

anytime

Vous pouvez commencer n’importe quand.
You can start anytime.

GRAMMAR NOTE
N’importe quand behaves like an adverb of time. It is common for it to come at the end of the sentence.

THIS WEEK
We’re looking at some adverbs of time and frequency. Their placement can be a little tricky, but, in general, adverbs of time are placed at the beginning or end of a sentence, while adverbs of frequency are generally placed after the conjugated verb. Sound like too much? Don’t worry. Over time, as you learn French, your ear will start to guide you.

TRACK YOUR LEARNING WITH OUR QUIZ!
How well did you learn last week’s words? Take our Weekly Quiz to find out!

TODAY’S WORD BROUGHT TO YOU BY YABLA.
Yabla French Video Immersion.
The fun way to learn French



sometimes

Parfois, j’aime chanter des chansons françaises.
Sometimes, I like to sing French songs.

GRAMMAR NOTE
As you can see, parfois is an adverb that doesn’t necessarily follow the pattern of most adverbs of frequency. Although it sometimes comes after the verb, you’ll more commonly hear it at the start of a sentence.

THIS WEEK
We’re having a look at some adverbs of time and frequency. These words are critical in adding meaning to our conversations in French. Their placement can be a little tricky, but, in general, adverbs of time are placed at the beginning or end of a sentence, while adverbs of frequency are generally placed after the conjugated verb. Sound like too much? Don’t worry. Over time, as you learn French, your ear will start to guide you.

TRACK YOUR LEARNING WITH OUR QUIZ!
How well did you learn last week’s words? Take our Weekly Quiz to find out!

TODAY’S WORD BROUGHT TO YOU BY YABLA.
Yabla French Video Immersion.
The fun way to learn French



souvent

Il a souvent appelé sa petite-amie.
He called his girlfriend often.

GRAMMAR NOTE
Souvent is an adverb of frequency and consequently follows the verb it describes.

right away, immediately

Voulez-vous manger tout de suite?
Do you want to eat right away?

GRAMMAR NOTE
Tout de suite is an adverb of time.

THIS WEEK
We’re looking at some adverbs of time and frequency. Their placement can be a little tricky, but, in general, adverbs of time are placed at the beginning or end of a sentence, while adverbs of frequency are generally placed after the conjugated verb. Sound like too much? Don’t worry. Over time, as you learn French, your ear will start to guide you.

TRACK YOUR LEARNING WITH OUR QUIZ!
How well did you learn last week’s words? Take our Weekly Quiz to find out!

TODAY’S WORD BROUGHT TO YOU BY YABLA.
Yabla French Video Immersion.
The fun way to learn French