Year: 2017

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Bichonner & wise words concerning beauty by Sam Levenson

Today's bilingual post was inspired by Douglas's comment in a post called Papillon. Douglas shared the following recipe for beauty, adding it was from " Sam Levenson (although often attributed to Audrey Hepburn because she enjoyed reading it to her children)". Listen to our daughter read these sage words in French…. TODAY'S WORD: bichonner         : to pamper oneself Can you distinguish between the French … Continue reading Bichonner & wise words concerning beauty by Sam Levenson

Kristin Espinasse17 Comments
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To shut somebody up (in French): clouer le bec

Peace and quiet outside the Relais Odeon Bistro in Paris. Sit down and enjoy a slice of pie–just don't fling it at anybody…. TODAY'S EXPRESSION: clouer le bec     : to shut somebody up French listening tip: do you hear "le" in this French sentence?             *    *    * "Le Bec ( the beak) has lots of uses in French. It can be used to … Continue reading To shut somebody up (in French): clouer le bec

Kristin Espinasse13 Comments
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Commentary on French presidential election. Emmanuel Macron. Laisser le champ libre à quelqu’un

I am turning over today's post to my husband, Jean-Marc, who has written a commentary in French (with an English translation) on Sunday's French presidential election. (Photos from yesterday's walk in Calanque de Port-Miou, Cassis. For more photos, follow here on Instagram.) TODAY'S WORD: Laisser le champ libre à quelqu'un         : to leave the field free for someone (to step in…) Try Mastering French … Continue reading Commentary on French presidential election. Emmanuel Macron. Laisser le champ libre à quelqu’un

Kristin Espinasse78 Comments
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Pétou – a little Provencale word (guaranteed to make a man smile!)

I am the last person to say…you know…today's word (in English or in French). Blame it on this little boat! If you are new here, don't worry, it is rare that a word deemed "vulgar" is featured. But the past year has had a loosening effect (we are unmooring and moving on, or trying to) and not much bothers me anymore–least of which a little … Continue reading Pétou – a little Provencale word (guaranteed to make a man smile!)

Kristin Espinasse29 Comments
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Draguer? At what age are you “lucky” to be noticed? (Or, by chance, hit on?)

A "liste des courses" spotted at our local supermarché…where pick-up artists and good Samaritans operate. Read on. TODAY'S WORD: se faire draguer or se faire brancher         : to get hit on brancher une nana = to hit on a girl CLICK HERE to listen to the following example sentence Ah bon? Tu t'es fait draguer au supermarché?Oh really? You got hit on at the … Continue reading Draguer? At what age are you “lucky” to be noticed? (Or, by chance, hit on?)

Kristin Espinasse34 Comments
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Say “premier mai” and two thoughts will pop into the mind of a Frenchman…

TODAY'S WORD: le porte-bonheur         : lucky charm Try Mastering French Vocabulary with Audio MP3 EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Click here to listen to the following sentence in French Muguet de mai : le 1er mai 1561, le roi Charles IX de France initie cette tradition : ayant reçu à cette date un brin de muguet en guise de porte-bonheur, il décida d'en offrir chaque année aux … Continue reading Say “premier mai” and two thoughts will pop into the mind of a Frenchman…

Kristin Espinasse27 Comments
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94 Useful French Words (listen to them here)

This month's vocabulary roundup is a walk through a candy shop–pick and choose your favorite French words along the way! Relax and enjoy the sound file for a rainbow of French terms we learned this month. And if you enjoy this journal and find it helpful in any way, please take a moment to support it. Merci beaucoup!   CLICK HERE to listen to Jean-Marc … Continue reading 94 Useful French Words (listen to them here)

Kristin Espinasse15 Comments
Marriage

Faire la tête + A French grandmother’s advice for a happy marriage

If you have followed this blog a while, you've seen this photo a million times. Jean-Marc and I were both scared to death about an imminent "for life" decision! Soon after this picture was taken, we got some very good marriage advice from Jean-Marc's grandmother. Twenty-three years later, it is still one of the best tips for a healthy relationship I've come across — even … Continue reading Faire la tête + A French grandmother’s advice for a happy marriage

Kristin Espinasse38 Comments
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Stationner + we surprise our daughter at her new job

Stationner was word of the day on November 11th, 2005. You can listen to a then 8-year-old Jackie in the soundfile for that post. Jackie is now 19 and finishing up her academic year in Aix-en-Provence, where we found her a studette in le centre ville. She returned for Easter break, to have her dents de sagesse removed and to begin her summer job in … Continue reading Stationner + we surprise our daughter at her new job

Kristin Espinasse21 Comments
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Boulot: Guess who found a job in Bandol?

The port of Bandol where our story takes place, among the old wooden fishing boats, or “les pointus”…. TODAY’S WORD: boulot         1.  job, work 2.  chubby, plump metro, boulot, dodo = the daily grind, all work and no play EXAMPLE SENTENCE: Hear Jean-Marc read the following sentence in French Notre fille, Jackie, a trouvé un boulot en tant que “runner.” Le runneur est un … Continue reading Boulot: Guess who found a job in Bandol?

Kristin Espinasse17 Comments