to get in the car
Je suis monté en voiture, et j’ai mis ma ceinture de sécurité.
I got in the car, and I put on my seat belt.
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 phrase was selected to help you get beyond la voiture and get you moving.
(the) babbling
C’est seulement le babillage ou un vrai langage que les bébés partagent?
Is it just babbling or a true language the babies share?
a flexible schedule
Les employés cherchent de plus en plus des horaires flexibles.
Employees are increasingly looking for flexible schedules.
TODAY
Our word is inspired by the workplace and working.
to wind a watch
Si vous avez une montre à remontage manuel, il faut la remonter.
If you have a manually winding watch, you have to wind it.
ALSO
le remontoir = winder, stem
Il faut tourner le remontoir. (It’s necessary to turn the stem.)
n.m.pl., income
Il faut payer des impôts sur les revenus.
We have to pay taxes on income.
TODAY
Note how the French often use the plural les revenus instead of the singular form of the word as we do with income in English. It’s one example of singular and plural differences between the two languages.
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!
the owner
Pourrais-je parler à la propriétaire, s’il vous plaît?
Could I speak to the owner, please?
TODAY
Small shop owners and entrepreneurs make up a significant part of businesses in France. Today, our word is about small business, or petit commerce.
a round bread loaf
Une boule est un pain en forme ronde qu’on voit souvent dans les boulangeries.
A boule (ball) is a round-shaped bread that you often see in (bread) bakeries.
TODAY
Our vocabulary word is among the breads of France — les pains de France. Bread plays such an important role in French cuisine and indeed the life of the French that it’s essential to learn to ask for the loaf you want.
the second hand
Parfois, il y a aussi une trotteuse sur une horloge.
Sometimes, there is also a second hand on a clock.
TODAY
We’re exploring a common topic that is covered early on in most French classes — the time.
a hat
Coco Chanel a commencé sa carrière en faisant des chapeaux.
Coco Chanel began her career making hats.
Regardez. For this Friday’s video, we thought we’d go for something completely different than the cartoons we’ve had the past few weeks. Below is the trailer for the French film Coco Avant Chanel, which takes a look at the life of the influential 20th century fashion designer. Accompanied by English subtitles, the film provides a great way to learn some French while enjoying learning something of the history of this iconic figure in the fashion world.