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…
Caromb, next-door neighbor to the beloved towns of Bédoin and Crillon-le-Brave. mansuétude (man-sooay-tood) noun, feminine : tameness, gentleness, "mercifulness"; leniency Exercises in French Phonics is… " a great book for learning French pronunciation""useful and practical""high quality material, good value for your money" –from Amazon customer reviews. Order your copy here. A Day in a French Life…by Kristin Espinasse We were watching, she and me—that … Continue reading mansuetude
Meet Madame Alberte. It's cold out, but inside Madame's nest there's enough warmth for new friends: feathered, furry, and foreign, like me. Come along and see… mamie (mah-me) noun, feminine : granny A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse I was hoping she would talk to me. Chances were, she would, for as I advanced along one of the many ruelles that make … Continue reading mamie
A brocanteur and his santons in the town of Suze-la-Rousse. languir (lahn-geer) verb : to yearn. Verb conjugation: je languis, tu languis, il/elle languit, nous languissons, vous languissez, ils/elles languissent => past participle : langui Audio File & Example Sentence: Listen to this sentence: Download Wav file or Download MP3 Je languis de vous voir à Paris! Venez nombreux — amenez des amis!I … Continue reading languir
Bignonias always remind me of our home in Les Arcs, where the flowers clambored up and over the metal pergola beside our driveway, throwing shade onto the boules (or "pétanque" or "bocce ball") court just beyond. Our house in Les Arcs-sur-Argens was a 30-minute drive from Bagnols-en-Forêt, where my English friend, Michèle, had a "pied-à-terre", or second home…. ravissant rah-vee-sahn lovely At Michèle's home in Bagnols, … Continue reading ravissant
We met near the WWI memorial. Her family name was engraved into the sad stone tribute. Read on, in today's story column. From French Word-A-Day: don't miss this blog, for nearly 800 posts, words and stories. entrelacer (ontr-lah-say) verb to interlace, intertwine Sound File & Example Sentence Listen to my daughter, Jackie, pronounce these French words:Download Entrelacer On a marché, mon amie et moi, … Continue reading entrelacer
lavoir (laah-vwar)noun, masculine wash house, washing place Audio File & Example SentenceListen to my daughter's dear friend, Sonia, pronounce these French words:Download MP3 sound fileOn lave son linge sale au lavoir.We wash our clothes at the (community) wash basin. Improve your French pronunciation with the Exercises in French phonetics book. Click here. . A Day in a French Life…by Kristin Espinasse At the old stone lavoir* … Continue reading lavoir
See the little sign hanging from the clothespin (lower left)? The faded writing reads "Je suis couchée" ("I am in bed"). Leave it to the French to post such warnings out front their doors! Discover the sleepy town (and sleepy inhabitants…) of Mirabel-aux-Baronnies in today's story column. roupillon (roo-pee-yon) noun, masculine nap, siesta piquer / faire un roupillon = to have a nap, rest. … Continue reading roupillon
French art and a classic car along the port in St. Tropez la toile (twal)noun, femininecanvas Françoise has not changed much in the three years since Mom and I have frequented her art shop. She still has her ballerina-thin figure and still paints cherry-red streaks through her chocolate-brown hair; the contrast is as stark as her customers' paintings, which line the store's entrance hall and … Continue reading Canvas: Toile, carte bancaire, papeterie and belle époque in French
Jean-Marc's frangine. la frangine : sister (in informal French). A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse When Jean-Marc's sister comes to stay with us, the kids want to touch their aunt's pink hair, ride in her orange car, and give up their beds for her comfort. Do you still live in a school bus and can we come visit? they want to … Continue reading la frangine
