This week we reunite with three characters from the archives, French personnages who have touched me in one way or another. I hope they will touch you, too. Note: a sound file for today's word, and more, can be found at the end of this letter. * * * Pantoufle (pahn-too-fle) noun, feminine : slipper The man in line in front of me wore … Continue reading une pantoufle
In the town of Violès (Vaucluse) rencontre (rahn kontr) noun, feminine : encounter, meeting (of persons); duel, skirmish.A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse (Note: The following post was written in 2009) Jules made it from Mexico to Marseilles yesterday! On the way out … Continue reading rencontre
When the last time you were "cat" off guard? What did you discover about yourself: pridefulness? greed? Read on in today's story…. à fond (ah fohn) prepositional phrase : deeply, thoroughly Audio File: listen to Jean-Marc read the following quote: Download MP3 or Wav file A mon avis, vous ne pouvez pas dire que vous avez vu quelque chose à fond si vous n'en avez pas pris une … Continue reading à fond
Fishing boats, or "pointus", at the end of Marseilles… These vessels have almost as much character as the man in today's story. Read on and enjoy. une âme (am) noun, feminine 1. soul; spirit; heart; essence La patience est le sourire de l'âme.Patience is the soul's smile. –Philippe Obrecht. A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse In the tiny fishing village of … Continue reading âme
Taken at the bed and breakfast in Italy. SmartFrench CD-ROM –"the smart way to learn French" acceuillant,e (listen to the sound clip, below) adjective welcoming, friendly Le véritable poète a pour vocation d'accueillir en lui la splendeur du monde. The true poet's vocation is to welcome within himself the world's splendor. –Johann Wolfgang von Goethe … Continue reading accueillant
Grocery shopping cart, or un caddie, and a shopping list. une fripouille (hear audio file, below) noun, feminine rogue, scoundrel, crook une petite fripouille = little devil A Day in a French Life… by Kristi EspinasseAt the supermarket, I compared check-out lines to finally settle on the queue next to the last conveyor belt which held only a six-pack of beer and a box of … Continue reading fripouille
Photo: Jean-Marc, right, tastes wine near Montpellier. My Life in France by Julia Child is a "playful memoir of the famous chef's first, formative sojourn in France with her new husband…" –Publishers Weekly. le troc (trok) noun, masculine exchange, barter Synonyms: échange (m) (swap), commerce (m) (trade) L'amitié n'exige rien en échange, que de l'entretien.Friendship demands nothing in exchange, except upkeep. –Georges Brassens A Day … Continue reading troc
Photo taken at the restaurant "La Grotte" at the end of Marseilles, in Callelongue… Dédommagement (day-doh-mazh-mahn) noun, masculinecompensation. In a menswear boutique in Draguignan, I stand at the comptoir, hesitating between the powder-blue chemise and the olive-green one. As I hem and haw, Jackie taps her foot, says either shirt will look good on Papa, and sighs for the nième time. I remind her that … Continue reading dedommagement
une âme (am) noun, feminine 1. soul; spirit; heart; essence ……………………..Citation du Jour:La patience est le sourire de l'âme.Patience is the soul's smile. –Philippe Obrecht ………………………………..A Day in a French Life… In the tiny fishing village of les Goudes, the second to last port along Marseilles' limestone coast, Jean-Marc admires the small Provençal fishing boats while I snap photos. The names of the "pointus" have … Continue reading âme: soul, heart, spirit in French
Les toits / Rooftops Overheard in the car on the way to school this morning:"Eh, Jackie–attention à ton dos aujourd'hui!"(Hey, Jackie–watch your back today!) I don't think 9-year-old Max needs to worry about his little sister. Jackie got up early to cut out and color her paper fish… now all she needs is a kilometer of tape and she can "pin" fish until her thumb … Continue reading le toit
