Barbara is back with her column "A Look at French Culinary Expressions." Whether you read it in French or in English, ne le ratez pas (don’t miss it!) cuire (kweer) verb1. to cook ……………………Expressions: laisser quelqu’un cuire dans son jus = to let someone stew in their juices = to let them deal with their own problems ……………………Proverb Jamais l’affamé ne fait trop cuire son … Continue reading cuire
un terrain (teh-rehn) noun, masculine 1. ground2. land3. plot, site4. terrain Also:un terrain = a piece of landle terrain gras = rich soilun terrain vague = a vacant lotun terrain de sport = an athletic fieldun terrain de golf = a golf courseun terrain de jeu(x) = a playgroundVTT (velo tout terrain) = a mountain bike …………………….Expressions:trouver un terrain d’entente = to find a common … Continue reading un terrain
Max, back when he was nine, at a friend's house in St. Tropez. Note: the following post was written in 2005.My son Max seems to be over "le syndrome de la page blanche" or "writer's block." Today he muses about the brain. Find his column below, in French and English. le cerveau (sair-voh) noun, masculine 1. brain; mind; mastermind . Letter From a Young … Continue reading Le cerveau: the word for brain in French
le miel (myel) noun, masculine 1. honey adjective: mielleux (feminine: mielleuse) = unctuous, honeyed, sugary. ………………… Expressions: une lune de miel = a honeymoon des paroles de miel = honeyed words, sweet nothings doux comme le miel = sweet like honey faire son miel de quelque chose = to profit from something (an idea, information) lit: “to make one’s honey from something” être tout sucre, … Continue reading le miel
My daughter Jackie (7-years-old) has updated her column this week. Don’t miss these “Thoughts of a Little Girl from France.” (The English version follows the French.) redoubler (ruh-doo-blay) verb 1. to increase, to intensify, to step up, to redouble 2. to repeat a year (school) Also: un redoublant (une redoublante) = a student who repeats a grade. ……………… Expressions: redoubler d’efforts = to strive harder … Continue reading redoubler
Don’t miss today’s column “Food-Related French Expressions” for an insight into some charming and useful French sayings. Read it in French and/or English. bouffer (boo-fay) verb 1. to eat 2. to consume 3. to absorb 4. to puff out Example Une bagnole qui bouffe beaucoup d’essence = a car that guzzles gas Also: la bouffe = food (informal) la malbouffe = bad grub, junkfood ………………………. … Continue reading bouffer
un arbre (ar-bruh) noun, masculine 1. a tree Also: l’arbre généalogique = the family tree un arbre fruitier = a fruit tree l’arbre de Judée = Judas tree l’arbre moteur = the driving shaft l’arbre de Noël = the Christmas tree l’arbre de vie = the tree of life ……………………. Expressions: faire grimper quelqu’un à l’arbre = to pull someone’s leg, to kid someone couper … Continue reading un arbre
Thank you very much for your voluntary 2005 subscription to French Word-A-Day. Your support is a great help to this petit word enterprise! Amicalement, Kristin Continue reading merci
Psst…. No word on Monday, see you all on Mardi* 🙂 un mouton (moo-tohn) noun, masculine 1. sheep, sheepskin 2. mutton 3. fluff (dust); piece of fluff Also: moutonnier, ière = sheeplike ………………. Expressions: compter les moutons = to count sheep un ciel moutonné = a sky covered with little white clouds doux comme un mouton = as gentle as a lamb le mouton noir … Continue reading un mouton
