Christmastime in Valbonne. Espoir (es-pwar) noun, masculine hope The following letter is an intimate look into la naissance of a certain "thrice-weekly" journal from France. This online blog began in October of 2002 following its earlier pen-and-paper beginnings—as letters that were sent via snail mail to a group … Continue reading espoir
croire (krwar) verb 1. to believe, to trust 2. to think Citation du Jour:Etrangement, on en veut souvent à la personne qui vous dit une vérité difficile à entendre, impossible à croire. Strangely, you often resent the person who tells you a truth difficult to hear, impossible to believe. –Marc Levy ………………………….A Day in a French Life… Max, Jackie and I are seated at the … Continue reading Croire & Santa Claus: “To believe” in French
une âme (am) noun, feminine 1. soul; spirit; heart; essence ……………………..Citation du Jour:La patience est le sourire de l'âme.Patience is the soul's smile. –Philippe Obrecht ………………………………..A Day in a French Life… In the tiny fishing village of les Goudes, the second to last port along Marseilles' limestone coast, Jean-Marc admires the small Provençal fishing boats while I snap photos. The names of the "pointus" have … Continue reading âme: soul, heart, spirit in French
"Livraison Gratuite!" The sign reads "Free Delivery". Photo of pizza parlor taken in Marseilles' 8th arrondissement. Sabot(sah-bo)noun, masculinewooden shoe, clog, sabot In the eighth arrondissement of Marseilles, at my mother-in-law's apartment complex, Jean-Marc and I climb several flights of stairs until we reach the last two doors in the building. One of the portes has a sign on it that reads "peinture fraîche." The wet … Continue reading sabot
Note: text from this point on will not appear in the book:
Listen: Hear the word voisin
Citation du Jour:
Chacun voudrait que son voisin ait un peu de conscience, mais personne n’en veut pour soi-même. Everyone would like that his neighbor had a bit of conscience, but nobody wants it for himself. –Maxime Gorki
Families of the Vine : Seasons Among the Winemakers of Southwest France “Sanders’s book brings contemporary winemaking in France to life….Absorbing and informative.” –Library Journa
Continue reading voisin
a sidewalk under autumn leaves in the Varois village of Flayosc le trottoir (troh-twahr) noun, masculine 1. sidewalk, footpath, pavement [from trotter (to trot)] Hear my son, Max, pronounce the French word "trottoir": Download trottoir.wav …………………..Expressions:le trottoir roulant = moving walkway or "travelator"le trottoir couvert = arcaded sidewalkfaire le trottoir = to "walk the streets" ………………………….Citation du Jour:Pardonnez à ceux qui vous … Continue reading trottoir
A shopfront in the southern French village of Flayosc une araignée (a-ray-nyay) noun, feminine 1. spider Also:une araignée de mer = spider crabune toile d’araignée = cobweb, spider’s web ………..Listen:Hear my 8-year-old, Jackie, pronounce the word araignée: Download araignee.wav ……………….Expression:avoir une araignée au plafond (or ‘dans le plafond’) = to have a screw loose …………………….Citation du Jour:Quelques gouttes de rosée sur une … Continue reading araignée
Soap advertisement on the side of this building in Brignoles, France…………………………………………………………………………….If you enjoy French Word-A-Day and would like to support it, find out three ways in which you can help…………………………………………………………………………….chauffer (sho-fay) verb1. to warm (up), to heat (up)2. to warm, make warm Also: se chauffer = to warm oneself Hear my daughter Jackie pronounce the word "chauffer": Download chauffer2.wav Conjugation: … Continue reading chauffer
La Place Robinet in Brignoles le robinet (ro-bee-nay) noun, masculine 1. tap, faucet Hear my daughter Jackie pronounce the word "robinet": Download robinet2.wav ……………………..Citation du Jour:Le talent est comme un robinet. Quand il est ouvert, on peut écrire. L’inspiration est une farce que les poètes ont inventée pour se donner de l’importance. Talent is like a faucet. When it is open, one can write. Inspiration … Continue reading robinet
The verb "battre" as witnessed by a somber vine after the vent du nord/northern wind swept through a medieval village, beating crimson leaves to the ground. battre (batr) verb 1. to beat, to defeat 2. to strike, to hit 3. to thresh, to churn; whip, whisk Also: se battre = to fight Listen: hear the word "battre" pronounced Conjugation: je bats, tu bats, il/elle … Continue reading battre
