at the last minute
Vous avez encore des choses à faire à la dernière minute?
Do you still have things to do at the last minute?
We’re continuing our look this week at words related to the holiday season.
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discounted (literally, at reduced prices)
C’est possible d’acheter des billets d’avion à prix réduits.
It’s possible to buy discounted airline tickets.
about (on the subject of)
to plug in/to unplug
Branchez l’appareil avant de l’utiliser. Débranchez-le après avoir fini.
Plug in the device before using it. Unplug it when finished.
FUN FACT:
Branché, which literally means to be plugged in, is also widely used to mean someone who is hip — plugged in, if you will — to current trends, fashion and other popular culture.
You might hear a conversation like this:
— Natalie est assez branchée, non?Natalie’s rather hip, no?
— Oui, bien sûr, elle est très chic. Yes, of course, she’s very stylish.
That’s great/fantastic!
Elle a réussit à ses examens. C’est génial!
She passed her exams. That’s fantastic!
TIP
This phrase is a pretty strong exclamation in French, maybe slightly stronger than it’s great in American English — something more akin to it’s brilliant in British English. The phrase can imply a certain degree of cleverness.
THIS WEEK
Our vocabulary topic is expressions that matter. We’re covering some common phrases that come up in conversation so that you can both recognize them and use them to impress native French speakers. To see other vocabulary we’ve posted on this topic this week, visit us at www.frenchfanatic.com.
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That’s why…
Je n’ai pas d’argent. C’est pour ça que je vais à la banque.
I don’t have any money. That’s why I’m going to the bank.
TIP
In a French class, you likely will learn learn that c’est pourquoi would be the best way to say this. Of course, c’est pourquoi is perfectly acceptable. But you’re at least as likely to hear c’est pour ça que.
THIS WEEK
Our vocabulary topic is expressions that matter. We’ll cover some common phrases that come up in conversation so that you can both recognize them and use them to impress native French speakers.
PARDONNEZ-NOUS!
We made a mistake in yesterday’s translation sent to our e-mail subscribers. We incorrectly paired a formal form of the verb mettre with an informal pronoun. The correct translation of Put on your coat before going outside should have been Mettez votre manteau avant d’aller dehors. Thank you to one of our readers for pointing out the error!
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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?
I don’t care/It’s all the same to me/It doesn’t matter to me
(literally, it is equal to me)
Que veux-tu regarder à la télé? Ça m’est égal.
What do you want to watch on television? It doesn’t matter to me.
TIP
This is one of those great little expressions that will make you sound like a native. Now, all that’s left to do is to practice it with that certain French je ne sais quoi that makes you appear as if you truly couldn’t care less!
THIS WEEK
Our vocabulary topic is expressions that matter. We’re covering some common phrases that come up in conversation so that you can both recognize them and use them to impress native French speakers. To see other vocabulary we’ve posted on this topic this week, visit us at www.frenchfanatic.com.
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How’s it going?, How are you doing?
Ça va? is more informal and what you would typically say to other students or friends.
Ça va, Paul?
How’s it going, Paul?
Paul might respond to this question in a number of ways:
That’s it.
Ça y est! J’ai fini mes devoirs.
That’s it! I finished my homework.
THIS WEEK
Our vocabulary topic is expressions that matter. We’re covering some common phrases that come up in conversation so that you can both recognize them and use them to impress native French speakers. To see other vocabulary we’ve posted on this topic this week, visit us at www.frenchfanatic.com.
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER
Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter for more thoughts on all things French.
TODAY’S WORD BROUGHT TO YOU BY YABLA.
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to have a snack
Cassons la croûte avant de nous coucher.
Let’s have a snack before going to bed.
in any case, anyway
De toute façon, c’est possible d’apprendre une autre langue.
In any case, it’s possible to learn a foreign language.
to take a road
Empruntez le chemin à droite à travers la campagne.
Take the road on the right through the countryside.
MORE ABOUT THIS EXPRESSION
Although emprunter usually means to borrow, it takes on a slightly different meaning in this expression.
THIS WEEK
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. This week, we’ll help you get past la voiture to some practical words and phrases that will keep you moving.
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to do some shopping
Emilie ont fait des courses au centre-ville.
Emilie did some shopping downtown.
to wait in line
to knock on the door
Quelqu’un a frappé à la porte.
Someone knocked on the door.
It’s windy
(le vent = the wind)
My name is… (literally, I call myself)
Je m’appelle Edouard.
My name is Edouard.
I’m dying of thirst
Je viens de faire la pelouse. Je meurs de soif .
I just mowed the lawn. I’m dying of thirst.
THIS WEEK
We’ll cover words about the summer heat wave, la vague de chaleur.
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n.m. shelter
être à l’abri de: to be sheltered from
Leave me alone
Je ne veux pas en parler. Laisse-moi tranquille.
I don’t want to talk about it. Leave me alone.
TIP
For the days when you’ve just had enough of someone, this is good to know. However, keep in mind it’s a pretty strong statement and not to be used too lightly. You might also hear, laisse-moi seule.
TODAY
Our vocabulary topic is expressions that matter. We’re covering some common phrases that come up in conversation so that you can both recognize them and use them to impress native French speakers.
the toll (as from an accident or disaster)
also, a balance sheet
déposer le bilan: to declare bankruptcy
happiness
Elle a enfin trouvé le bonheur.
She finally found happiness.
THIS WEEK
We’ve been covering words about emotions and feelings.
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window-shopping
Elles faisaient du lèche-vitrines toute la journée.
They were window-shopping all day long.
Lécher les vitrines and faire du lèche-vitrine both mean to go window-shopping.
(n.m.pl.) shivers down the spine
(literally, chills in the back)
Pour ceux qui ont sauvé des autres, ils avaient les frissons dans le dos.
For those who saved others, they had shivers down the spine.
THIS WEEK
Our vocabulary topic is emergency relief at a disaster scene.
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(n.m.) someone’s words
We’ll see.
Peux-tu venir ce soir? On verra.
Can you come tonight? We’ll see.
THIS WEEK
Our vocabulary topic is expressions that matter. We’re covering some common phrases that come up in conversation so that you can both recognize them and use them to impress native French speakers. To see other vocabulary we’ve posted on this topic this week, visit us at www.frenchfanatic.com.
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Open your mouth…
Ouvrez la bouche et faites <<Aah.>>
Open your mouth and say, “Aah.”
THIS WEEK
We’ll cover vocabulary useful for a visit to the doctor’s office, chez le médecin.
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otherwise, moreover
to bet on
C’est l’année pour parier sur la Bourse?
Is it the year to bet on the stock market?
THIS WEEK
We’re looking at words that remind us of all the possibilities of a new year.
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to weigh one’s words carefully
Il a pesé ses mots avant de parler.
He weighed his words carefully before speaking.
to make an appointment
Puis-je prendre rendez-vous avec le médecin pour demain?
Can I make an appointment with the doctor for tomorrow?
THIS WEEK
We’ll cover vocabulary useful for a visit to the doctor’s office, chez le médecin.
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Take your time!
Prenez votre temps! C’est samedi.
Take your time! It’s Saturday.
As you can see, this is what we did today.
You can, of course, also say this in the informal form: Prends ton temps!
What’s wrong?
Le docteur vous demande, <<Qu’est-ce qui ne va pas?>>
The doctor asks you, “What’s wrong?”
THIS WEEK
We’ll cover vocabulary useful for a visit to the doctor’s office, chez le médecin.
THE LATEST QUIZ IS READY FOR OUR VOILÀ! SUBSCRIBERS
Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz by clicking here.
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delighted
Je suis ravi de faire votre connaissance.
I’m delighted to meet you.
to take the highway
Je m’engage sur l’autoroute vers Marseille.
I’m taking the highway (motorway) to Marseille.
MORE ABOUT THIS EXPRESSION
This expression could be used with any road:
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, we’ll help you get past la voiture to a practical phrase that will keep you moving.
to sweat
Il suait comme un bœuf.
He was sweating like a pig. (literally, He was sweating like a cow.)
THIS WEEK
We’ll cover words about the summer heat wave, la vague de chaleur.
FOR OUR VOILÀ! MEMBERS
Review last week’s words by taking our weekly quiz.
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a cockroach
N’ayez pas peur! C’est juste un cafard.
Don’t be afraid! It’s just a cockroach.
Also:
avoir le cafard: to be depressed or to have the blues
a glance
Vous pouvez lire cette phrase en un coup d’œil.
You can read this sentence at a glance.
a finger
Elle n’a pas remué le petit doigt.
She didn’t lift a finger.
This expression, translated literally, says: She didn’t move a little finger.
a movement, move or gesture
Il a parlé en faisant beaucoup de gestes de la main.
He spoke while making a lot of gestures with his hands.
Ne fais pas un geste!
Don’t make a move!
You’ve finished?
Tout était bon? Vous avez terminé?
Everything was good? Have you finished?
TIP
You’ll hear this question a lot in restaurants at the end of a meal.
THIS WEEK
Our vocabulary topic is expressions that matter. We’ll cover some common phrases that come up in conversation so that you can both recognize them and use them to impress native French speakers. To see other vocabulary we’ve posted on this topic this week, visit us at www.frenchfanatic.com.
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER
Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter for more thoughts on all things French.
TODAY’S WORD BROUGHT TO YOU BY YABLA.
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The fun way to learn French