Culture, Heidi

Say “Pink Flamingo” in French + Reverse culture shock

Sunflowers–and come see the exotic pink bird in our garden… at the next wine tasting here at Mas des Brun, August 6th. We hope to see you! Contact jm.espinasse@gmail.com for details. le flamant rose (flamahn rowz)     : pink flamingo Audio File: listen to today's word and example sentence, read by Jean-Marc: Download MP3 or Wave file Flamant Rose. En Camargues, les flamants roses sont des espèces … Continue reading Say “Pink Flamingo” in French + Reverse culture shock

Kristin Espinasse208 Comments
Driving, Jackie, Travel

Unlucky in French

Four weeks flew by since Jackie received this warm welcome from her cousins on arriving in Denver. I picked up my daughter at the Nice airport on Sunday, only she wasn't smiling anymore and neither was I. Read on. manque de chance (mahnk-deuh-shahnse)     : bad luck, ill luck Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc Download MP3 or Wave file On t'a jété un sort? Non, c'est un … Continue reading Unlucky in French

Kristin Espinasse80 Comments
Aix-en-Provence, Max

voler de ses propres ailes

Learn even more French via our instagram page, where new photos will include le français! voler de ses propres ailes(vo-lay deuh say pro-prz zaylz)     : to fly with one's own wings (to stand on one's own two feet) Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc (cicadas chattering in the background): Download MP3 or Wav file Souvenez-vous quand vous ou vos enfants ont volé de leurs propres ailes?Do you … Continue reading voler de ses propres ailes

Kristin Espinasse58 Comments
Readers

hommage

"God is love," I would say. "Dog is love," Bill would suggest. Today, read about my invisible editor, who passed away suddenly. We didn't always agree, but otherwise got along grammar-warily. Photo of my dog Smokey and his mama, Brez. hommage (m)      : tribute présenter ses hommages = to pay one's respectsen hommage de reconnaissance = as a token of gratitude Exclusive French … Continue reading hommage

Kristin Espinasse244 Comments
French Hospital, mother-in-law

Embracing Diversity: Lessons from a Hospital Waiting Room

I made a lovely acquaintance. Don’t miss her in today’s story. Picture taken in Morocco, where my mother-in-law once lived and where we celebrated her 70th (in 2011). la conscience multiculturelle : cross-cultural awareness Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc: Download MP3 or Wav Comment développer la conscience multiculturelle et le respect des autres régions du monde? How to develop cross-cultural awareness and the respect for other world regions? … Continue reading Embracing Diversity: Lessons from a Hospital Waiting Room

Kristin Espinasse72 Comments
Marriage

To have the munchies, in French + We have a party, I learn a few more lessons…

Photo (by Pascale Gauthier) of our wedding anniversary dinner, here at home. AVOIR LES CROCS     : to have the munchies (a sudden desire to snack) A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE… by Kristin Espinasse The following story was written in 2014… On Friday night 45 of our closest friends came over for a sit-down dinner to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. Jean-Marc and … Continue reading To have the munchies, in French + We have a party, I learn a few more lessons…

Kristin Espinasse128 Comments
Uncategorized

Visit our new vineyard? + “hairspray” in French

The sunflower to the prickly pear blossom: "Mousse or Gel?"Prickly Pear (smacking her gum): "Aqua Net, Sweetie–and a perm every three months!" la laque (lah lak)     hairspray une bombe de laque = a can of hairspray Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc read the following example sentence: Download MP3 or Wav La laque est le produit-phare de toute femme un peu coquette. Hairspray is the star performer … Continue reading Visit our new vineyard? + “hairspray” in French

Kristin Espinasse34 Comments
Uncategorized

s’incruster: do you know this popular French word?

My smartphone offers these automatic edits. I know they exaggerate the truth, so I'm letting you know that the fruit you are looking at is un chouiard, or "a smig" lighter in reality. As for the taste, I'm not lying when I say these orange berries will make your face pucker faster than French lips! Exclusive French made clothes now available to purchase on-line. Thomas Hulston Collections. … Continue reading s’incruster: do you know this popular French word?

Kristin Espinasse50 Comments
Uncategorized

Mom goes missing – and What does “quiproquo” mean in French?

"Smokey and the Sunflower Stalk." The day Mom flew home our giant tournesol blossomed. But the joy Mom left in her wake turned into something else…. quiproquo (kee-proh-koh)     : mistaken identity Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc read the following example sentence:Download MP3 or Wav file Un quiproquo est un malentendu qui fait prendre quelqu'un pour un autre ou une chose pour une autre. A quiproquo is … Continue reading Mom goes missing – and What does “quiproquo” mean in French?

Kristin Espinasse78 Comments
Jules

To take off, to get off the ground. Can you say this in French?

Mom's wish before she took off this morning (it could be custom fit to speak to any one of us, no matter our hearts desires!). Read to the end and find out. (Photo of Jules admiring the poireaux, or leeks, which went to seed, beautifully.) décoller (day-ko-lay)     : to take off, to leave the ground (flight)    : to unstick, unglue, blast off … Continue reading To take off, to get off the ground. Can you say this in French?

Kristin Espinasse160 Comments