A garden on a grape farm. souci (soo-see) noun, masculine : calendula flower (pot marigold) [from the Latin solsequia, meaning tournesol (sunflower)] souci (soo-see) noun, masculine : preoccupation; concern [from se soucier, from the Latin sollicitare (to worry)] A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse It is with a big fat lip and a bevy of bad luck that I sit here in le Cafe du Commerce. An Hitachi is blaring … Continue reading souci
Charm at a new chum's house. I've met a few new friends over the past quinzaine. Now to sort out the souvenirs and, eventuellement, share them with you. Today, meet Malou and Doreen…. vivace (vee-vace) adjective 1. perennial, hardy2. inveterate, indestructible, vivid3. (in music) vivace noun: une vivace = a perennial . A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse At the annual … Continue reading vivace
For the purposes of this edition (there's always the need for an illustrative photo) Smokey pretends to be a weed. But we're not buyin' it, are we? sarcler (sar-clay) verb : to weed A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse (Note: this story was written one year ago.) Our neighbor stopped by the other day to drop off a forklift—something we … Continue reading Sarcler: To Weed in French
Jean-Marc is concerned that I am writing too much about dogs, so we'll switch to drunkenness for a spell. (Photo of sign taken in Pont-Saint-Esprit. Notice the play on words: l'ivresse = drunkenness (in this case, Livresse, we have livre lushes or book boozers!) beurré (beur-ay) adjective : "buttered" (plastered, sozzled, drunk) French definition:"qui est dans un état d’ébriété avancé" that which is … Continue reading The French word for plastered drunk…
For muddy faces… Braise recommends this triple-milled soap from Provence! Thanks for ordering some savon here. ébouriffé(e) (ay-boor-ee-fay) adjective : tousled, disheveled, rumpled Looking for a room with a view of Monte Carlo and a short walk down to the beaches, the Casino de Monte Carlo, the Grimaldi Forum & the Port of Monaco? See the newest studio at France & Monaco Rentals …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. A … Continue reading ebouriffe
In Soave Italy, where "museum-worthy" meets mundane. The art of life includes being able to have a cup of coffee, post a letter, and study a sculpture. robustesse (ro-bus-tess) noun, feminine : robustness, sturdiness, strength A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse "Robustesse"Sensitive… yet Strong The highlight of Spring Break was visiting Cousin Audrey (oh-dray) in Verona. Before Jean-Marc and I … Continue reading robustesse
The picture of Peace… but go "behind the scenes" with me today and learn about photography… especially les hazards du métier. acariâtre (ah-kar-ee-atre) adjective : cantankerous Before reading today's story, have a look at these synonyms for the French word acariâtre (and so get to know our harpy of a heroine): grincheux (grumpy), une chipie (a bad-tempered woman) A Day in a French Life… … Continue reading What is the French word for “cantankerous”?
Smell the roses, see the butterfly's wings… slow to a snail's pace but not so slow as to sleepwalk through the day. éveiller (ay-veh-yay) verb : to wake up, to excite… "to pull from sleep" (tirer du sommeil) A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse "Présent!" It is what my son replies when his teacher reads aloud his name for roll call. Every French child … Continue reading The French word “eveiller” & how to wake up and become more lively
High up in the Hautes-Alpes… there lives a blue-shuttered window with sunflowers, snowflakes, and the spirit of France peeking out. Coucou… it's time to contribute! Have you ever thought about supporting this word journal? Thank you for taking a moment to do so now.If you enjoy French Word-A-Day for its vocabulary-enriching essays, for the just-snapped photos, for the audio files, or for the growing … Continue reading coucou
The ponies of Provence stand before Mont Ventoux and a lone French mas. French Word of the Day: chahuter (sha-hew-tay) verb 1. to make a racket, to create an uproar 2. to heckle, to tease "Chahuter" comes from the word "chat-huant" and once meant "to cry like a screech owl." "Un chahuteur" ("une chahuteuse") is a rowdy or disorderly student and "un professeur chahuté" … Continue reading What is the French verb for “tease” + bullying and being bullied
