Aujourd’hui, les citoyens agitent leurs drapeaux pour démontrer leur fierté. Today, citizens wave their flags to demonstrate their pride.
THIS WEEK With Independence Day in the United States this week and Bastille Day in France next, we’ll cover words related to these celebrations of freedom.
DISCOVER 700 WAYS OUR MEMBER SITE VOILÀ JUST GOT BETTER! Now, our members can easily navigate almost every one of the 700+ Words of the Day we’ve ever posted by topic with ourNEW English-French vocabulary word list. Whether you want to learn more French words about Cars, the Doctor’s Office, Restaurants, Money, the Weather or other topics we’ve covered, it’s now easier than ever to find them and see the original examples. SEE FOR YOURSELF!
Nous vous souhaitons de Bonnes Fêtes! We wish you Happy Holidays!
ABOUT TODAY’S WORD
You often see and hear this holiday wish, especially in public settings. Like Happy Holidays, it is embracing of the entire season and no one particular holiday.
THIS WEEK
We’re beginning to look at some of the vocabulary unique to the holiday season.
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Aujourd’hui, les enfants décorent des œufs pour demain.
Today, children decorate eggs for tomorrow.
THIS WEEK With Easter approaching, we thought it would be fun to explore the vocabulary of one of the staples of French cuisine — the egg, l’œuf. After exploring several ways to cook and eat eggs, we’ll close out the week today and tomorrow with a few words related to the holiday.
DON’T FORGET TO REVIEW LAST WEEK’S WORDS!
How well did you learn last week’s words about signs of spring?
Take our Weekly Quiz to find out!
C’est facile de découper une citrouille! It’s easy to carve a pumpkin.
CAN’T WAIT FOR THE REST OF THIS WEEK’S SPOOKY WORDS? After you’ve learned to say to carve a pumpkin in French, follow the links below to discover more of the Halloween words we’re covering this week:
Regardez en vitrine et voyez les ours en peluche!
Look in the window and see the teddy bears!
Vidéo. Today we have a special treat that will take you shopping in Paris without ever leaving your chair. This video of the famed Galeries Lafayette department store shows a recent window display that featured a cast of teddy bears. Regardez en vitrine!
To mark this season of gift-giving, our vocabulary topic for the week is holiday shopping. To see all the words we’ve posted on the topic this week, of if you received this video via e-mail and have difficulty viewing it, please visit our Web site at www.frenchfanatic.com.
Partout dans le pays, les familles font des piques-niques pour célébrer. All over the country, families have picnics to celebrate.
THIS WEEK With Independence Day in the United States this week and Bastille Day in France next, we’ll cover words related to these celebrations of freedom.
DISCOVER 700 WAYS OUR MEMBER SITE VOILÀ JUST GOT BETTER! Now, our members can easily navigate almost every one of the 700+ Words of the Day we’ve ever posted by topic with our NEW English-French vocabulary word list. Whether you want to learn more French words about Cars, the Doctor’s Office, Restaurants, Money, the Weather or other topics we’ve covered, it’s now easier than ever to find them and see the original examples. SEE FOR YOURSELF!
Hanoucca est la fête juive célébrée cette année du 1er décembre jusqu’au 9 décembre.
Hanukkah is the Jewish holiday celebrated this year from Dec. 1 through Dec. 9.
THIS WEEK
We’re beginning to look at some of the vocabulary unique to the holiday season.
VOILÀ! LE NOUVEAU QUIZ Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz by clicking here.
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S’il y a des fantômes chez vous, votre maison est hantée. If there are ghosts in your home, your house is haunted.
THIS WEEK
We can’t help but think of all the witches and goblins and ghosts that will take to the streets for Halloween this weekend. Although Halloween remains a bit of a novelty in France, it continues to grow in popularity. Join us as we ramble through the spooky vocabulary of the holiday.
VIDÉO: MAISON HANTÉE DANS LE NORD DE LA FRANCE? Watch the accounts of locals about this haunted house in Northern France. If you received this video in our e-mail and are having difficulty viewing it, please visit our Web site at www.frenchfanatic.com.
VOILÀ! LE NOUVEAU QUIZ Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz by clicking here.
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S’il y a des fantômes chez vous, votre maison est hantée. If there are ghosts in your home, your house is haunted.
THIS WEEK We’re brewing up our favorite spooky French words for Halloween! N’ayez pas peur. (Don’t be afraid.)
VIDÉO: MAISON HANTÉE DANS LE NORD DE LA FRANCE? Watch the accounts of locals about this haunted house in Northern France. If you received this video in our e-mail and are having difficulty viewing it, please visit our Web site at www.frenchfanatic.com.
Alternative French spelling (not necessarily accepted in dictionaries): l’Alowine
n.m., Halloween
On a récemment commencé à célébrer l’Halloween en France.
They’ve recently begun to celebrate Halloween in France.
Lire. Halloween, an Anglo-Saxon holiday, has only recently gained popularity in France.Author Peter Mayle, who wrote A Year in Provence, published this column in the New York Times on the subject this week: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/25/opinion/25mayle.html
La fête du Travail est un jour pour célébrer des travailleurs.
Labor Day is a day to celebrate workers.
While celebrated on the first Monday of September in North America, Labor Day is celebrated on May 1 in France. To read more about Labor Day in French, please see this Wikipedia article.
Beaucoup de soldats sont morts dans les batailles pour la liberté. Many soldiers died in the battles for freedom.
THIS WEEK With Independence Day in the United States this week and Bastille Day in France next, we’ll cover words related to these celebrations of freedom.
DISCOVER 700 WAYS OUR MEMBER SITE VOILÀ JUST GOT BETTER! Now, our members can easily navigate almost every one of the 700+ Words of the Day we’ve ever posted by topic with our NEW English-French vocabulary word list. Whether you want to learn more French words about Cars, the Doctor’s Office, Restaurants, Money, the Weather or other topics we’ve covered, it’s now easier than ever to find them and see the original examples. SEE FOR YOURSELF!
En France, les enfants mettent leurs chaussures
devant la cheminée pour Père Noël.
In France, children put out their shoes in front of the fireplace for Santa.
We are continuing our look at words related to the holiday season. To see all the words we’ve posted on this topic, visit our site at www.frenchfanatic.com.
Quand il l’a vue, c’était vraiment le coup de foudre.
When he saw her, it was truly love at first sight.
THIS WEEK
Ah, l’amour…. The subject of love was among our most popular Word of the Day topics last year. With Valentine’s Day this week, there’s no better time to explore the French language of love.
EN SAVOIR PLUS – Learn More Check out more words about love that we posted last Valentine’s Day:
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On va célébrer Le Jour de l’Indépendance aux États-Unis aujourd’hui. They’re going to celebrate Independence Day in the United States today.
THIS WEEK With Independence Day in the United States this week and Bastille Day in France next, we’ll cover words related to these celebrations of freedom.
DISCOVER 700 WAYS OUR MEMBER SITE VOILÀ JUST GOT BETTER! Now, our members can easily navigate almost every one of the 700+ Words of the Day we’ve ever posted by topic with our NEW English-French vocabulary word list. Whether you want to learn more French words about Cars, the Doctor’s Office, Restaurants, Money, the Weather or other topics we’ve covered, it’s now easier than ever to find them and see the original examples. SEE FOR YOURSELF!
Le lapin de Pâques, a-t-il apporté les œufs en chocolat chez vous? Did the Easter bunny bring chocolate eggs to your house?
THIS WEEK We’ve been covering French words about spring and Easter. We wish you a wonderful Easter and hope you enjoy les plaisirs of the beautiful spring season.
In France, today is Bastille Day — a very important national holiday commemorating the 1789 storming of the Bastille prison. This event was seen as an important symbol of the overthrow of the French aristocracy and the birth of the modern French nation. The holiday is analogous to Independence Day in the United States and is commonly referred to as le quatorze juillet and more formally as la Fête Nationale.
Normalement, le Réveillon suit la Messe de Minuit.
Normally, the Christmas Eve feast follows Midnight Mass.
MORE ABOUT TODAY’S WORD Le Réveillon is an important part of the French Christmas tradition. It is a meal that often begins with turkey and ends with the Yule log, or bûche de Noël. For practical reasons, the meal is held more and more at the beginning of the evening rather than at the end. In the South of France particularly, the meal also includes a tradition known as Treize desserts, thirteen desserts that symbolize Jesus and his 12 apostles.
Aujourd’hui, c’est le jour pour manger les restes!
Today’s the day for eating the leftovers!
OOPS!
We must have eaten too much turkey and lost our heads! The gender of la dinde was incorrect in yesterday’s e-mail. The word is feminine. You can see the corrected post here.
THIS WEEK
We’re celebrating Thanksgiving with the vocabulary of the holiday.
VOILÀ! LE NOUVEAU QUIZ Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz by clicking here.
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Dans les chansons de Noël françaises des années
passées, on met les souliers par la cheminée.
In French Christmas songs of years gone by, les souliers are put by the fireplace.
MORE ABOUT TODAY’S WORD Les souliers is an old-fashioned, or démodé, synonym for chaussures — shoes. In Christmas songs from the early part of the 20th Century, the word comes up frequently. Les souliers are often referred to nostalgically, because they are part of the longstanding tradition of French children putting their shoes by the fireplace in hopes that Le Père Noël will fill them. This tradition continues today.
THIS WEEK
We’re celebrating the holidays with words about the season.
VOILÀ! LE NOUVEAU QUIZ Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz by clicking here.
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ABOUT TODAY’S WORD Mon chou, although masculine, can be used to refer both to males and females. Think of mon chou as something of a pet name that would only be used with someone who is quite close or familiar. Chou also happens to mean cabbage.
RELATED VOCABULARY
You can also say my dear with the phrase mon chéri or ma chérie.
THIS WEEK
Ah, l’amour…. The subject of love was among our most popular Word of the Day topics last year. With Valentine’s Day this week, there’s no better time to explore the French language of love.
EN SAVOIR PLUS – Learn More Check out more words about love that we posted last Valentine’s Day:
THE LATEST WEEKLY QUIZ FOR OUR MEMBERS
Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz covering the past week’s words by clicking here.
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Les Américains et les Français ont pris d’assaut leurs cibles. The Americans and the French stormed their targets.
THIS WEEK With Independence Day in the United States this week and Bastille Day in France next, we’ll cover words related to these celebrations of freedom.
DISCOVER 700 WAYS OUR MEMBER SITE VOILÀ JUST GOT BETTER! Now, our members can easily navigate almost every one of the 700+ Words of the Day we’ve ever posted by topic with our NEW English-French vocabulary word list. Whether you want to learn more French words about Cars, the Doctor’s Office, Restaurants, Money, the Weather or other topics we’ve covered, it’s now easier than ever to find them and see the original examples. SEE FOR YOURSELF!
Tout le monde sait l’histoire de Rodolphe, le renne au nez rouge.
Everyone knows the story of Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer.
This week, we’re having fun with vocabulary related to the holiday season. To see other words we’ve posted on this topic, visit us at www.frenchfanatic.com.
Les colons et les soldats britanniques se sont battus les uns les autres. The colonists and the British soldiers fought against each other.
THIS WEEK With Independence Day in the United States this week and Bastille Day in France next, we’ll cover words related to these celebrations of freedom.
DISCOVER 700 WAYS OUR MEMBER SITE VOILÀ JUST GOT BETTER! Now, our members can easily navigate almost every one of the 700+ Words of the Day we’ve ever posted by topic with our NEW English-French vocabulary word list. Whether you want to learn more French words about Cars, the Doctor’s Office, Restaurants, Money, the Weather or other topics we’ve covered, it’s now easier than ever to find them and see the original examples. SEE FOR YOURSELF!
En fait, Sophie croit qu’elle veut se marier avec Paul
In fact, Sophie believes she wants to marry Paul.
THIS WEEK
Ah, l’amour…. The subject of love was among our most popular Word of the Day topics last year. With Valentine’s Day this week, there’s no better time to explore the French language of love.
EN SAVOIR PLUS – Learn More Check out more words about love that we posted last Valentine’s Day:
THE LATEST WEEKLY QUIZ FOR OUR MEMBERS
Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz covering the past week’s words by clicking here.
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Sophie sort avec Paul depuis six mois.
Sophie has been going out with Paul for six months.
THIS WEEK
Ah, l’amour…. The subject of love was among our most popular Word of the Day topics last year. With Valentine’s Day this week, there’s no better time to explore the French language of love.
EN SAVOIR PLUS – Learn More Check out more words about love that we posted last Valentine’s Day:
THE LATEST WEEKLY QUIZ FOR OUR MEMBERS
Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz covering the past week’s words by clicking here.
DON’T MISS OUT ON THE BENEFITS OF A VOILA! MEMBERSHIP Join Voilà for only 3.95 per month to access online practice quizzes and our archives by subject.
Il est de coutume de tirer des coups de feu aux célébrations. It’s customary to fire shots at the celebrations.
THIS WEEK With Independence Day in the United States this week and Bastille Day in France next, we’ll cover words related to these celebrations of freedom.
DISCOVER 700 WAYS OUR MEMBER SITE VOILÀ JUST GOT BETTER! Now, our members can easily navigate almost every one of the 700+ Words of the Day we’ve ever posted by topic with our NEW English-French vocabulary word list. Whether you want to learn more French words about Cars, the Doctor’s Office, Restaurants, Money, the Weather or other topics we’ve covered, it’s now easier than ever to find them and see the original examples. SEE FOR YOURSELF!
Un balai de sorcière fait souvent partie de nos contes d’Halloween. A witch’s broom is often part of our Halloween tales.
THIS WEEK
We can’t help but think of all the witches and goblins and ghosts that will take to the streets for Halloween this weekend. Although Halloween remains a bit of a novelty in France, it continues to grow in popularity. Join us as we ramble through the spooky vocabulary of the holiday.
VOILÀ! LE NOUVEAU QUIZ Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz by clicking here.
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Elle a gardé le billet-doux toutes ces années.
She kept the love letter all these years.
NOTE A love letter also may be translated as une lettre d’amour.
THIS WEEK
Ah, l’amour…. The subject of love was among our most popular Word of the Day topics last year. With Valentine’s Day this week, there’s no better time to explore the French language of love.
EN SAVOIR PLUS – Learn More Check out more words about love that we posted last Valentine’s Day:
THE LATEST WEEKLY QUIZ FOR OUR MEMBERS
Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz covering the past week’s words by clicking here.
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Avez-vous encore choisi ton déguisement d’Halloween? Have you chosen your Halloween costume yet?
TODAY
We can’t help but think of all the witches and goblins and ghosts that will take to the streets for Halloween this week. Although Halloween remains a bit of a novelty in France, it continues to grow in popularity. Join us as we ramble through the spooky vocabulary of the holiday.
CAN’T WAIT FOR THIS WEEK’S SPOOKY WORDS? After you’ve learned to say Halloween costume in French, follow the links below to discover more of the Halloween words we’re covering this week:
Les fantômes sortiront cette semaine ….mais n’ayez pas peur! The ghosts will go out this week…but don’t be afraid!
THIS WEEK We’re brewing up our favorite spooky French vocabulary words for Halloween! N’ayez pas peur! (Don’t be afraid.)
WORDS TO SCARE THE ENGLISH OUT OF YOU! After you’ve learned to say ghost in French, follow the links below to discover more of the Halloween words we’re covering this week:
On doit cacher les œufs pour la chasse aux œufs de Pâques.
We have to hide the eggs for the Easter egg hunt.
THIS WEEK With Easter approaching, we thought it would be fun to explore the vocabulary of one of the staples of French cuisine — the egg, l’œuf. Today, we wrap up this weeklong look with a phrase that doesn’t have so much to do with cooking but rather reminds us of one of the fun activities of many childhoods.
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«Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité» est la devise de France. “Liberty, Equality, Brotherhood” is the motto of France.
THIS WEEK With Independence Day in the United States this week and Bastille Day in France next, we’ll cover words related to these celebrations of freedom.
DISCOVER 700 WAYS OUR MEMBER SITE VOILÀ JUST GOT BETTER! Now, our members can easily navigate almost every one of the 700+ Words of the Day we’ve ever posted by topic with our NEW English-French vocabulary word list. Whether you want to learn more French words about Cars, the Doctor’s Office, Restaurants, Money, the Weather or other topics we’ve covered, it’s now easier than ever to find them and see the original examples. SEE FOR YOURSELF!
Demain, les enfants se déguiseront et sortiront pour chercher des friandises. Tomorrow, the children will dress up and go out in search of treats.
THIS WEEK
We’ve enjoyed exploring the vocabulary of Halloween with you. Here’s hoping you’ve found just the right amount of spookiness to enjoy the holiday!
FILL YOUR BAG WITH THESE HALLOWEEN WORDS
After you’ve learned to say treat in French, follow the links below to discover more howlingly good French vocabulary words about Halloween.
Les poètes français ont souvent décrit leurs liaisons amoureuses.
French poets often described their love affairs.
THIS WEEK
Ah, l’amour…. The subject of love was among our most popular Word of the Day topics last year. With Valentine’s Day this week, there’s no better time to explore the French language of love.
EN SAVOIR PLUS – Learn More Check out more words about love that we posted last Valentine’s Day:
THE LATEST WEEKLY QUIZ FOR OUR MEMBERS
Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz covering the past week’s words by clicking here.
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Avez-vous pris des résolutions pour le Nouvel An? Have you made any resolutions for the New Year?
THIS WEEK
We’re looking at words that remind us of all the possibilities of a new year.
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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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Sabine se déguise en sorcière pour Halloween. Sabine is disguising herself as a witch for Halloween.
TODAY
We can’t help but think of all the witches and goblins and ghosts that will take to the streets for Halloween this week. Although Halloween remains a bit of a novelty in France, it continues to grow in popularity. Join us as we ramble through the spooky vocabulary of the holiday.
CAN’T WAIT FOR THIS WEEK’S SPOOKY WORDS? After you’ve learned to say witch in French, follow the links below to discover more of the Halloween words we’re covering this week:
Les toiles d’araignée pendaient de la porte. Cobwebs were hanging from the door.
THIS WEEK
We can’t help but think of all the witches and goblins and ghosts that will take to the streets for Halloween tonight and tomorrow. Although Halloween remains a bit of a novelty in France, it continues to grow in popularity. Join us as we ramble through the spooky vocabulary of the holiday.
VOILÀ! LE NOUVEAU QUIZ Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz by clicking here.
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Les vitrines de Noël à Paris sont merveilleuses.
The Christmas windows in Paris are wonderful.
REGARDEZ UN VIDÉO!
We always marvel at the creativity of the displays of the department stores in Paris this time of year. Enjoy this video of this year’s display at Galeries Lafayette.
THIS WEEK
We’re beginning to look at some of the vocabulary unique to the holiday season.
VOILÀ! LE NOUVEAU QUIZ Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz by clicking here.
GIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF FRENCH FANATIC!
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Paul va poser cette question à Sophie: Veux-tu m’épouser? Paul is going to pose this question to Sophie: Will you marry me?
THIS WEEK
Ah, l’amour…. The subject of love was among our most popular Word of the Day topics last year. With Valentine’s Day this week, there’s no better time to explore the French language of love.
EN SAVOIR PLUS – Learn More Check out more words about love that we posted last Valentine’s Day:
THE LATEST WEEKLY QUIZ FOR OUR MEMBERS
Members of our Voilà service can go straight to this week’s quiz covering the past week’s words by clicking here.
DON’T MISS OUT ON THE BENEFITS OF A VOILA! MEMBERSHIP Join Voilà for only 3.95 per month to access online practice quizzes and our archives by subject.
a Hanukkah menorah