Along la rue Gambetta in St. Tropez le drap (drah) noun, masculine 1. woolen fabric 2. (drap de lit) bed sheet Listen:Hear the word drap pronounced: Download drap.wav …………Also:le drap-housse = fitted sheetle drap de bain = bath towelle drap de plage = beach towel …………………Expressions:se mettre entre deux draps = to go to bedêtre dans de beaux draps … Continue reading drap
Looking due south, toward the Mediterranean Sea la boussole (boo-sol) noun, feminine 1. compass Listen: Hear Jean-Marc pronounce the word "boussole": Download boussole.wavExpression:perdre la boussole = to lose one’s head; to go haywire ……………………..Citation du Jour:Vivre sans but, c’est naviguer sans boussole. Living without an aim is like sailing without a compass. –John Ruskin A Day in a French Life…Yesterday I joined two other … Continue reading boussole
Leaves falling in the village of Grimaud, near St. Tropez tomber (tohn-bay) verb 1. to fall; to come down; to go down; to hang …….. Listen:Hear my daughter Jackie pronounce the word "tomber": Download tomber.wav …………………Expressions:tomber amoureux = to fall in lovetomber malade = to fall illtomber par terre = to fall downtomber dans les pommes = to fainttomber à l’eau = to not pan … Continue reading tomber
Jean-Marc busy with the 'mise en scène' for his next wine article. (The bottle is lying on a bed of sea urchins.) une épine (ay-peen) noun, feminine1. thorn, prickle, spine Also: épine dorsale = backbone Listen:Hear the word "épine" pronounced: Download epine.wav ……………….Expressions:être sur des épines = to be on pins and needlestirer à quelqu'un une épine du pied = to relieve someone's mind or … Continue reading épine
Cypress trees make me run for a box of mouchoirs… Photo taken in Collioure, France You are invited to join Jean-Marc and me in Phoenix, Arizona on October 29th. There will be a wine tasting / book signing at Sportsman's on Camelback (3205 E. Camelback Rd – East corner or 32nd St and Camelback Rd – http://www.sportsmans4wine.com (602) 955-7730) from 3-5p.m. Please … Continue reading mouchoir
"Hand made." Hammocks for sale along the Grand Canal in Sète, France. une arapède (ara-ped) noun, feminine 1. a limpet Listen:Hear the word arapède pronounced: Download arapede2.wav ……………….Expression:coller comme une arapède = to tagalong / cling to someone (who’d rather have some time alone) …………………….Citation du Jour:Une âme pure est comme une belle perle. Tant qu’elle est cachée dans un coquillage, au fond de la … Continue reading arapède
Les coquillages (shellfish) in Sète une boule (bool) noun, feminine 1. ball Listen:Hear my daughter Jackie pronounce "boule": Download boule.wav ………………..Expressions:avoir les nerfs en boule = to be irritatedfaire boule de neige = to snowballperdre la boule = to go crazyavoir une boule dans la gorge = to have a lump in one’s throat Also: une boule de billard = a billard ball ……………………Citation du … Continue reading boule
A colorful slice of Sète, an historic port on the French Mediterranean (sign says: "For sale–salted anchovies") le noeud (neuh to pronounce noeud, say the word "nerd" leaving off the "rd") noun, masculine 1. knot; bow; node – –Listen:Hear my son Max pronounce the word "noeud" – Also:le noeud papillon = bow tiele noeud coulant = slipknot – …………………Expressions:une tête de noeud = an idiotavoir … Continue reading noeud
A pigeon's life… tiring of tossed crumbs and considering take-out Tiède (tee-ed) adjective tepid, lukewarm For our eleventh wedding anniversary dinner, mon mari chose a restaurant facing the midnight-blue sea in the old Catalan village of Collioure. I had carefully ironed a two-piece ensemble en lin and applied an extra dusting of bronzing powder sur les pommettes in preparation for our romantic … Continue reading tiède
Elle a huit ans! She’s eight! Jackie, third from right. Thank you Papa Poule for today’s photo. huit (weet) adjective and noun, masculine 1. eight …………..Listen:Hear my mother-in-law pronounce the word "huit": Download huit2.wav …………………Expressions:donner ses huit jours = to give someone a week’s notice (to fire)le rendez-vous de 5 à 7 = an illicit meeting ……………………Citation du Jour:Huit forces soutiennent la Création: le mouvement … Continue reading huit
