My daughter, Jackie, just turned 5 when this word journal began. Here she is at eleven… helping Braise (brez) get dressed for the party!
time!
*Note: the next word goes out on November 5th. (…not because we
will need time to recover from the fête… but because we will be spending time
with the kids, who are on school break again…).
joyeux, joyeuse
(zhwa-yuh, zhwa-yuhz) adjective
: cheerful, merry, joyful
Listen to my daughter's message, and to the French word "joyeux": Download joyeux.wav.Download joyeux.mp3
I have another confession: I have never been good at
événementiel (or "event organization"). Jean-Marc planned our wedding, each
and every detail (contacted the French priest, ordered the flowers, selected
the menu, had the rings engraved, and all but tried on the long white gown
& satin-trimmed veil for me).
The "big day" found his blushing
bride-to-be tripping over a street grate, late for a very important date! I
have been trying to make up for that unforgettable entrance ever since: by
continuing to "réviser" a simple lesson from my husband: relax and enjoy life
and, especially, celebrate the milestones!
Today marks the 6th
anniversary of this French word journal and I am ready to celebrate this
joyful event. I've ordered the flowers (okay, I swiped several from "Mama
Jules"), and selected the menu: a sweet and savory buffet of words.
Now
listen up: this is where you come in–and not as a clumsy bride!:
I would
like to ask you to share a word or two… about yourself. Are you an 85-year-old
collector of Southwestern art? Or a new mother, up to her ears in dirty
diapers? Are you in a marching band? Do you read this word journal in school?
Are you famous? …or infamous? (or related to someone that is?). Do you speak more than two languages? Can you make your ears
move?
Do you suspect you are the youngest on this list–or the oldest?
Are you a tattoo artist or do you dabble in watercolor? Have you invented something? Do you like frogs legs or are you carrément contre la cuisine des cuisses de grenouilles? Do you have an unusual skill?
Are you involved in a charity? Have you written a book and do you want to
"buzz it" here? Are you shy? Ever won a prize? Do you have a blog or site and
would you like to tell us where to find you on the web?
All in all,
just a line or two about you… s'il vous plaît! Meantime, thank you for
reading this word journal, and for helping to create a community as we
move into our seventh year: one sweet and savoury word at a time.
Note: having trouble posting? Please send your message to me (kristin.espinasse AT gmail.com ) with a "request to post" in the subject line. Include how you would like your name to appear. I will try to post your message in the next week.
PS: to share your photo: check out the French Word-A-Day group at Facebook.
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Felicitations!
I’m a thirty-something banker by day/dance teacher by night who lives in the Twin Cities, MN. As if that weren’t enough, I’m also a writer, with one book (a young adult fantasy) in print. I studied French through high school and college, and spent a month in Paris living with a family my senior year. I love the French language and enjoy adding to my vocabulary through your daily journals.
Here’s to six more years!
– Dena
Ten years ago, my little family was able to live in Genoble for a year. I pulled up my bucket of high school French that had sat at the bottom of a deep well for 30 years to find that 1) the bucket’s holes were small so some French had actually remained, and 2) I had a new zest for the language and culture. Our year in France was far too brief a time, so “French-Word-a-Day” keeps my bucket from falling quite so quickly back into the dark well-depths.
Now, as I am caregiver to my aging parents and travel is out of the question, I am grateful for the daily visits to France.
Thanks, Kristin–and congratulations!
I recently left the active duty Navy serving in Iraq and Afghanistan as Naval Aviator Helicopter Pilot to stay at home with my two pre-schoolers and give them as much of the French language as possible. I’m finding it a wonderful challenge as I haven’t taken French since my days at the University of Texas almost 15 years ago. We live in San Diego and enjoy our Sundays with the French Cottage at Balboa Park where we sing and play in the French language. I’ve started taking French lessons again and I’m suprised at how much French I have learned and re-learned just by staying in the game. I have especially loved learning French children’s songs like Le Petit Escargot, Une Souris Verte, and many many others. It is so amazing to see the French language through the eyes (ears) of children. Thank you for your posts. They are a real joy.
Bon Anniversaire…..6 ans!
I am a 60 year young retired high school art teacher who is a francophile. My first trip to France at age 30, got me hooked and I have been going there once or twice a year since then, but fortunately my French is not as good as it should be considering how often I visit France, but I am taking lessons again through the Alliance Francaise.
Taking a photography course many years ago in Provence, introduced me to a world of great food, wine, people and a new way of life. I feel in love with the area and love to return there to photograph and draw it and go to the fantastic markets!
I did the photography for a book which was published in France, called “Jour D’Ete a Lentillac”. My friend Francois, who has a summer home there, wanted to create a book about the village for the millenium. The village of 95 people is located in the Quercy region, the Department of the Lot.
My husband and I love to cook, especially French food and we often have dinner parties of 8 – 12 people or more where we do 6- 7 courses, with French wine, cheese and of course an amuse bouche.
I love reading your French word a Day. The stories are great and I feel as if I know you and your family. On our next trip to Provence we will have to visit your vineyard. We look forward to meeting you.
Felicitations! I have so enjoyed your words over the past couple years… I am a SAHM of one WONDERFUL, and very active, 12 month old. I am currently writing a few children’s books, one that takes place in Paris. I have lived and visited France many times and can’t wait to bring my son there some day. Any other details about my life are slightly dull, so I’ll leave it at that. Thank you!
I’m Brandon. J’aime Hannah Montana.
Hi! I’m Solange and I did quite the opposite of this blog, I married a Frenchman and went back to the US…….(I still dream of going back to France and visit the in-laws as much as i can)……I’m now a French teacher of all things and loving it……..
I have a 6 year old son named Pierre, who is, of course, already sickeningly bilingual French English………
(Apparently my first posting didn’t go through, so I’ll try again – I hope I didn’t miss it and am writing two…?)
Felicitations! I enjoy your words so much Kristin, and have for the past few years. I am currently a stay-at-home mother of one wonderful one year old in the state of Washington, USA, and am doodling around writing a few children’s books on the side – one taking place in Paris, where I studied abroad in college – mommy brain has seized the foreign lanaguage speaking section of my white matter… so forgive if this is en anglais. Anyways, I love all things French and like to live a little vicariously through you – a writer, living on a vineyard in France, with a great family and cute dog. It sounds perfect. Bon chance et merci beaucoup pour les petits vacenses chaque semaine! Did I say that right?
OMG. NOW I see what I wrote the first time… how embarassing!!!!! It wasn’t there before I swear.
Salut Kristin, Joyeux anniversaire!!! Congratulations on the 6th birthday of French Word a Day. I found your site by happy accident a few months ago and have been visiting you ever since, reading with pleasure and delight and trying to learn / improve my French. I’m English, living in Cheshire and I go to weekly French Conversation classes. I have French friends near Paris and we visit one another as often as is possible which isn’t often enough. I’m ashamed to say that their spoken English is much better than my French even though I’ve been learning French off and on since 1952 ( I’m now 68 yrs old )
I don’t see many other Brits in these letters of congratulation. Are you really reading them all ? If so I hope you realise how much pleasure your site gives to your readers. I hope this will spur you on for many years to come. Thank you
A bientôt
My name is Fred. I’m a 42 year old new father and incredibly grateful for all that life has brought me over the last few years. I enjoy this blog because it keeps me up to date on my extended family in France and the wonderful Rouge-Bleu project.
I’m a 64-year-old francofile whose mother was 100% french. I collect things french as that gives me lots of variety in the things I collect. Looking forward to retirement in about 1.6 years when I hope to actually get around to writing that novel. Some of my poetry has been published in collegiate journals. The most important thing about me is my faith and trust in Christ.
I am a high school teacher in California who teaches English Language Development (aka English as a second language) and French. I have been teaching since 1974 but just started teaching French again three years ago after going other directions for seventeen years. I love to read your blog, and I have started using your technique of mixing English and French for an activity for my French classes. We call it our weekly “Diglot Histoire”, and the students use the French they learn to create something interesting to share with the class. Thank you for the inspiration and for sharing your interesting life!
I’m 66 years young of Polish Heritage, was never in Europe but enjoy hearing stories of the “old country”. Your FRENCH WORD A DAY is interesting, like reading a diary of your daily life. I co-host http://www.polkasonline.com and have written columns for a local monthly “Good-News paper. I have six grandchildren.
Thank you for an enjoyble site. Keep up the good work.
Dobra Dzien (have a good day)
Mary Ann of Fulton, New York
Dear Kristin,
I have really enjoyed a few E-mails back and forth with you in the past and I have two of your books which I purchased over the net. I’ve followed your column faithfully for about four or five years. Your writing always inspires me and I love hearing about your family. I bought a wondereful bottle of wine from Jean Marc when he was visiting in Portland, Oregon where I live with my husband, our three dogs and one very old (20) cat. I think I fell in love with France when I was a teenager. That is so long ago I can’t even admit when it was. (I may be the oldest!) My mother used to play French music and much as I wanted to study French, it was impossible at the time. Our little small town high school only offered Spanish which I did study but grudgingly. Some 25+ years later, I had an opportunity to go to France with a French teacher friend. With my petite little phrase book, I tried to talk to everyone. I was quite silly and naive but had a great time with my few serious French phrases. Since that trip, I have never stopped studying French. In fact, I have been teaching it now in my school district for about 13 years and recently began teaching at Portland Community College. My husband and I have traveled to France 9 times and I had the good fortune last summer to take an immersion program in the Dordogne region. What a good time I had! I, like so many others, love the South of France and Provence, think that Paris is the most beautiful city in the world, adore the Alsace area, the Dordogne, Normandie, etc. I have never been anywhere in France I didn’t like and I have rarely met a French person who was rude. On the other hand, they have been helpful and kind. Thank you, Kristin, for your constant work in helping all of us who are loving and learning from your column
Hi…I am a 53 year old nurse married to a geologist turned winemaker. {Here in California} I check in to see how your harvest is going and trying to learn french a word a day!!!!
denise
Happy anniversary! I have only been reading this website for a few months, after I realized that I better start learning French. Last week, I married a Frenchman in Meudon, just outside of Paris. Though we currently live in Cambridge, UK, plans include someday moving to France. And I am originally from Texas, which means I learned Spanish.
Bonjour à tous. C’est curieux que c’est presque toutes femmes qui ont répondues. Normal mais curieux. Pourquoi?
Quant à moi, j’ai le même age de Jules, mais j’avais une jeunesse un peu comme celle de Kristine, je pense. Je sais bien l’intérieur d’une caravane. Par hazard de la guerre j’ai grandi en Louisiane où j’ai fait la connaissance de beacoup de mes meilleurs amis. Ils portent des noms français comme Thibodeaux, Broussard, Ardoin, et Frugé et ils restent aujourd’hui entre mes meilleurs amis. A cause de ce fait j’ai commencé mon affair avec la langue française il y a 45 ans. Malgré la pauvreté de la jeunesse, la vie était bonne. Belle et bonne. D’abords j’ai servécu deux voyages à VietNam (quelle bonne chance!). Grace au G. I. Bill j’ai gagné le doctorat et un très bon travail à l’université où je peut enseigner un cours de français chaque année. Après 30 ans de service (actif et reserve)j’ai pris ma retraite de la marine de guerre comme capitaine. Il y a 33 ans je me suis marié à une femme incroyable et nous avons été béni de deux fils extraordinaire (à nous, au moins)et deux petite-filles absolument parfaites (sans doute). Et nous avons des billets pour aller en Provence en moi de mai prochain. La vie est vraiment belle!
Congratulations on your 6th anniversary! I’m a mother of three living in northern Indiana. We’ve been a host family for three delightful French ‘sons’ during the past three summers, and I enjoy seeing glimpses of French life through your site. We’re planning a trip next summer to visit all of our boys- I can’t wait!
Happy Birthday, French Word-A-Day!!! I’m a 22 year old English language assistant living (and occassionally working!) in Lyon, France. I used to read your blog from my room at university in Ohio but for the past month and a half I’ve enjoyed it from my room in France! I returned today from my Toussaint vacation in Provence and I loved it – I could finally see (in real life) the beauty of this region that you describe thrice-weekly! I hope to have the opportunity to attend one of your husband’s wine events during my sejour here. Something inconnu de moi – I am a 4-time U.S. synchronized ice skating champion.
Congratulations and thank you for sharing the images you photograph and your words with us. I live in Northern England and dream of Roussillon, I took my husband there 2005 he painted what he saw and loves France too now. My paid job is dialogueing with seniors so life’s difficulties get solved more easily. I read your words to my husband when he’s carving one of his hand made chairs.
Salut, Kristin and thank you for sharing your journal with us. You know, you asked
whether we spoke more than 2 languages, but since you didn’t add the word well or comprehensibly, I’ll say English, French, Spanish, Greek and I’m trying to learn 1 more. at least a little bit).
I love France (and have since I was 18). Now after teaching for over 33 years, I am thankful for your writing and the photos which makes things French come near even though I’m far. It also offers my students a little taste of France. Thanks!
Hi, Bonjour,
I’m an 8 month old with a French Papa and an American Momma. We’re in Washington, though we visit my Papa’s family every year near Marseille, during the beautiful Provence summers. They’re raising me bilingual, but so far, my only words are “hi” and “uh oh” and “coo coo!” It’s a start. Hey, I’m only 8 months old, after all. I love reading French word-a-day because it helps me keep in touch with my uniquely dual-nationalitied compatriots. Hope you’ll come visit and read about the adventures of early life as a French-American Baby in the US Capitol. http://frenchamericanbaby.blogspot.com.
I’m a retired high school chemistry teacher from Denver who started learning French when my daughter and her French beau looked liked they were serious. (they met on the ski patrol at Steamboat Springs, Colo. Vincent was an exchange patroller from Les Menuires) That’s 4 years ago. But the clock is really ticking now because little 5 week old Tristan Hubert Dupays will be speaking French in about two years and I’ll need to be able talk to him. Bon Anniversaire French Word A Day.
I am a sahm with one beautiful red headed girl. My husband and I are anarchists and try to work as little as possible. We are actually going to be in Paris on Nov 13 – 20 and then on to Barcelona for 18 days. This is my 40th birthday trip.
Julie
J’ai dix-huit ans, je suis étudiante en Connecticut, mais je viens de la Louisiane ou on essaye encore de “laisser les bons temps rouler…” en français, si on peut. J’etudie francais depuis sept ans, plus ou moins, j’ai pris un an d’espagnol, mais ça j’ai perdu parce que maintenant je prends italien. Et moi aussi je tricote! Merci Kristen.
Well, I’m a student in the boonies of Western PA with friends who live near Nîmes, so reading this journal simultaneously keeps me connected to Provençal life and familiar with its lovely language. Besides French, I’ve studied a little Spanish, a little German, and a little Greek. I’ve also dabbled in Latin, Russian, Arabic, and Chinese. And of course, I’ve been whining, moaning, screaming; joking, chit-chatting, conversing; writing, teaching, and thinking in English since my birth.
Bonjour Madame! I am a physician in Virginia and I adore French culture.Currently I have restarted French lessons so that I may be a bit more fluent when I return to Paris.
I have a daughter living in France with her husband, who is a Swedish citizen. We are planning a visit in the spring. 3 children, their spouses, 4 grandchildren, the dear husband and a host of other first level family monopolize my time. I make my living as an educator, but my passion is knitting. The audio recording of the daily word and how it sounds in a sentence is the best! Oh, and stories about your life where you use the word(s). Thanks for allowing us this glimpse – and congratulations on 6 years!
I live on a farm in Saskatchewan, Canada and am a freelance editor. I’ve wanted to be fluent in French ever since I participated in a group-volunteer youth project called Katimavik, and only got conversationally fluent when I lived for a year with someone who, I insisted, had to speak only French to me while I lived with him in northern New Brunswick. That was almost 30 years ago, and since then I’ve rarely had the opportunity to speak or hear French, though I remember all that I knew and I miss it, particularly the Acadian way of speaking that I picked up when I was there. I still love the language and hope someday, perhaps after my youngest son has left the nest about two years from now, to spend enough time in francophone Canada to be immersed in the language long enough for it to become second nature to me once more. Your Word a Day is preparing me for that.
Congratulations on your Sixth Anniversary! I live in Redmond, Washington, and am a graphic designer. I read your posts while relaxing at home in the evenings. I’ve wanted to study the French language since I was a child, and just got around to it about five years ago. I accidentally stumbled across your site about a year ago and am enjoying your stories. Thanks!
Salut Kristin!
I’m a fan of your site and your book, and stumbled onto both two years ago while searching online for a way to keep up my rudimentary high school French. I have been fortunate enough to visit France several times (and have attempted to speak comme les francais each time). Nevertheless, I am still in search of a friend here in the Boston area to share my passion for the French language (I have a reputation, admittedly deserved, for being a bit of a Francophile). At any rate, I thank you for being willing to share tidbits of your life in France, and wish you all the best! Congratulations on your 6 year “anniversary”!
Dear Kristin,
Congratulations on your 6th Anniversary! I am an ex-desert rat as well. While you and rouge-blue were working at PV mall, I was just down the road at the Fashion Square. It was PV, was it not? I was putting myself through ASU and loving every minute in the Valley of the Sun! Now, I call Wisconsin home with my hubby and 7 year old triplets. I am a former flight attendant whose wings were clipped when the trips were born. Prior to their birth, I flew to Paris every week for ten years. I miss it terribly, jet lag and all! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your world with me. After I tuck my little ones in bed at night, I read and savor your words like a fine wine! A votre sante and here’s to another six years!
I loved reading everyone’s little story! I’m a 38 year-old mom of four (ages 4, 5, 7, and 9), and a 6th grade teacher. And a lover of French and France since I was 15 years old. Though French is not in the official curriculum at my school, and Spanish is the only language taught there, I still sneak in 15 minutes of French teaching every day!
My claim to fame this past autumn was winning “Best of Show” at the County Fair with a dramatic photograph of Monfort castle (located between Sarlat and Souillac). My husband and I traveled from our remote Idaho village to France for the first time last May. Retirement brings time for other lovely choices: I work occasionally at the public library, lead a Bible study, and check my computer frequently for French Word-a-Day and a web cam view of the Eiffel Tower.
Bonjour, Kristin–
Je suis maman, enseignante, et poète qui attend mon deuxième livre de poèsie pour les enfants(Pumpkin Butterfly, automne 2009). Avec ma famille j’ai passée l’année dernière à Vincennes, à coté de Paris. Pendant ce temps j’ai ècrit un petit blog sur sujet de nos aventures. Maintenant je lis ton blog dans ma cuisine un peu provençale à Bethesda, MD, et j’invite tout le monde avec des gosses qui aiment le poèsie: visitez-vous mon site http://www.heidimordhorst.com/WhisperShout.html
et m’envoyez-vous ton poème, en français ou également en anglais!
I’m a children’s television and book writer, living in Los Angeles. My books have been published in many languages – I am still hoping for France. I only speak a few words of French but I can dream! My husband attended the Sorbonne, my son’s girlfriend was at the Sorbonne for a year and my son spent a lot of time visiting her there and in the south of France(his French improved greatly). Me? I just read about it. I love your book, Kristin, your fresh voice, your family, and your book recommendations. Congratulations and keep up the good work!
Hi, I’m another American in Provence…not far from you I think. my French husband and I are rasing two bilingual girls. For fun, I play the trombone in my town’s harmonie.
Meredith
I am a 40 something Florida native, mother of 2 girls currently living in the Netherlands. I learned French at school and was accepted for a study abroad semester at the Sorbonne but didn’t get to go – much to my chagrin. I took French lessons with a nice French lady also living here – until she moved back to France. I’ve enjoyed relearning some French and we love to travel in France when we can. We bought some of your wine in Paris and quite enjoyed it.
I just stumbled upon your word a day while looking for easy french (could it ever get any easier?) I’m 62 yr young father of a jeune fille studying in Montreal Que. where I feel illiterate when I visit so I am looking forward to improving. I was in France for a month in 1971. My mother has American french heritage. J’aime du ski and hope to do so in Tremblant and eventually in the Alps
I am looking forward to your emails:)aran
I have always loved the sound of the french language and love not being able to quite understand the words just to listen to the lilts.
Travel through France in summer a while ago with my young family by car.. nowhere particularly ..gave us the opportunity to see some beautiful countryside and colours and meet some wonderful generous people where language was no barrier.
Your photos and stories bring back happy memories…Thankyou
Having discovered this blog a few months back, I just can’t get enough of it. Congratulations on your anniversary and good luck for many more. As France is my favorite country to visit, your blog is the next best thing to being there. Hopefully, a trip across the pond will happen soon and the new words I have picked up here will be put to good use. In the meantime, I keep busy with my woman’s travel website: http://www.wavejourney.com
I am a Mum, a wife, an author, a consultant and a trainer. I am 61 and my husband and I have a beautiful home in France. Our neighbours the farmers only speak French and we always wanted to integrate into the local french community by being able to speak fluently with them. We have had our home in France for 12 years now and we are very much a part of the village life – we love it.
bonjour Kristin and happy anniversary. looking forward to all your posts to come.
i’m a 31 translator living in central europe and grew to like french through my parents – we lived in morocco (where most of the folks speak french) for a couple of years right after i was born. the first language i learned was french, unfortunately, after moving back to europe i lost touch with it, which i regret heavily. nevertheless, i’m still fond of all things french, the language, the country, the food&wine.
i am a70 yo male from illinois, my greatgrandfather came from allsase lorraine, i believe the town was st. quirin i enjoy your coumn daily
Bonjour, Kristin! I am a pediatric ophthalmologist (eye doctor for kids) at one of the university hospitals in Boston. Now 65 years old, I studied French in Paris at the Alliance Française when I was in my twenties. I developed in Paris a lifelong affection for France and for everything French. (Prior to studying in Paris I attended a German university for two years and am fluent in German. [French is the easier language. Such a beautiful language, as well.]) You are a gifted writer, Kristin, and give me a glimpse into contemporary French life that I would otherwise not have. By the way, I love hearing your children. Mille mercies! David
great blog some how i found you when i was researching things on our sons birth defect esophageal atresia and other complications. i wish you nothing but the best. I was also wondering if there is anyway if i put your link on my site if you would be able to return the favor and add my ink on your sight, i again wish you the best.
Happy birthday to the Love of my life.
Jean-Marc
Joyeuse Anniversaire: My name is Mette, am Danish of origin, lived in France, and now in the US. My American husband and I met while living in France, both of us working for EuroDisney :). We are both HUGE francophiles and absolutely love this website. My dream is to once again live in France.
Bonjour,
I love your words and stories. I am 62 and still teaching French which has been my lifelong passion. I travel to Provence in the summer and last year went to Languedoc. I am presently teaching my two little grandsons French. Keep up your good work. There are more francophones out there than one would believe. Joanna Cavan (Georgia)