le sol (sohl) noun, masculine 1. ground, earth; soil 2. floor Expressions:le sol natal = native soilcloué au sol = rooted to the spotle personnel au sol = ground staffsol glissant = slippery floor/groundétendu sur le sol = spread out on the ground ……………………….Citation du Jour:Les vers de terre s’enfoncent dans le sol pour ne pas tomber amoureux des étoiles. Earthworms bury themselves in the … Continue reading le sol
racine (ra-seen) noun, feminine1. root les racines = roots (origins) Expressions:prendre racine = to take rootprendre le mal à la racine = to get to the root of the problem …………………….Citation du JourLa tempérance est un arbre qui a pour racine le contentement de peu, et pour fruits le calme et la paix. Temperance is a tree, it has for its roots: contentment with little, … Continue reading la racine
Crotte makers in the southern French town of Tarradeau (Var). Crotte (krot) noun, feminine doo-doo The first time we dined together, she remarked that I was stuffy. Specifically, she said she had the impression that she had spent the evening with "la Reine." Her remarks struck me as ironic, for it was this woman and her upper-class status which had so affected me. So when … Continue reading la crotte
un cadeau (ka-doh) noun, masculine 1. a present, gift Expressions:un cadeau publicitaire = a free gift, givaway (product promo)faire un cadeau à quelqu’un = to give someone a presentun cadeau empoisonné = a gift that is more a curse than a blessingne pas faire de cadeau = to not let off lightly ……………………Citation du JourLes cadeaux sont comme les conseils : ils font plaisir surtout … Continue reading un cadeau
A wee addition to yesterday’s "Reference" section: un string (m) = underwear (of the thong type) un trombone (trawn-bon) noun, masculine 1. trombone 2. paper clip Also: tromboniste = "un joueur de trombone" (trombone player) Citation du Jour:L’amour ne sert jamais à transformer les autres. Il n’est que l’instrument de notre propre transformation. Love never serves to transform others. It is none other than the … Continue reading un trombone
la ficelle (fee-sehl) noun, feminine1. string, twine2. stick, small rope (of French bread)3. trick (tip) Terms & Expressions:ficeler (verb) = to tie, to stringC’est ficelle = It’s not easytirer sur la ficelle = to exaggeratetirer les ficelles = to pull the stringsvoir la ficelle = to see how something is doneconnaître les ficelles = to know the ropesles ficelles du métier = the tricks of … Continue reading la ficelle
FRENCH WORD-A-DAY is published twice each week. (The newsletter contains the original blog post, which has the same content, including your ad. Therefore, your ad will appear both in the blog post and the newsletter.) READERSHIP=> Most readers are US citizens, then British, Australian, French…=>The newsletter goes out to 25,500 double opt-in, active subscribers (the list is regularly and automatically cleared of inactive subscribers). TEXT ADSText … Continue reading Advertise
I’m up with the rouges-gorges* this Thursday morning, trying to get today’s word out so that we can hit the road for Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Jean-Marc will be giving a tour of his uncle’s vineyard and the children and I are tagging along. The next word goes out Monday. "See you" then. –Kristin … Continue reading la gorge
une gorgée (gor-zhay) noun, feminine1. a mouthful (of wine, etc.); gulp; sip Expression:avaler quelque chose d’une gorgée = to swallow something in one gulp Citation du Jour:On avale à pleine gorgée le mensonge qui nous flatte, et l’on boit goutte à goutte une vérité qui nous est amère. We swallow, by the mouthful, the lie that flatters us, and we drink, drop by drop, the … Continue reading une gorgée
A patissier chocoloatier – pastry chocolate shop in St. Tropez For la Saint Valentin / Valentine’s Day –a.k.a. in France as "la fête des amoureux" /"the lovers’ celebration"–don’t miss today’s column where you will learn more than a dozen ways to say "darling" in French to your sweet Valentine. le coeur (ker) noun, masculine1. heart There are "heart" expressions à gogo in French, here are … Continue reading le coeur
