Tag: French

Recette / Recipe

Even Cheese Puffs sound elegant in French: Gougères recipe and post by Ann Mah, author of The Lost Vintage

Our family lived on two French vineyards during the last 10 years, beginning in this 2007 post. Ann Mah's book brought it all back–the sights, the sounds, and the scents–especially the beauty, the history, and the passion behind it all. I learned more about wine reading Ann's book, in addition to details of WWII (like the humiliating punishment for collaboration horizontale–or sleeping with the enemy!). The … Continue reading Even Cheese Puffs sound elegant in French: Gougères recipe and post by Ann Mah, author of The Lost Vintage

Kristin Espinasse38 Comments
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(Bilingual Post) Brasser & Houblon: From making rosé to making beer… winemaker gets a lesson in brewing

This time of year while scaredy-cats are talking about hobgoblins, Jean-Marc introduces us to houblons…or Humulus Lupulus. On Tuesday he saw them with his very eyes in the historic quarter of Nice, France! Read on about this bois du diable and its relation to beer, in today's column. (Thank you, Eileen deCamp, for this beautiful photo!) un houblon     : hop, hops     … Continue reading (Bilingual Post) Brasser & Houblon: From making rosé to making beer… winemaker gets a lesson in brewing

Kristin Espinasse33 Comments
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Façon de Parler: L’Ecriture Inclusive & The movement to feminize French

"Languages ​​are not neutral tools: they influence how we talk, think, and represent ourselves…." façon de parler     : manner of speaking, way of speaking    : so to speak Audio: listen to Jean-Marc read the opening sentence, in French:  Facon de parler manner of speaking Façon de parler. Les langues ne sont pas des outils neutres : elles influent sur notre façon de parler, … Continue reading Façon de Parler: L’Ecriture Inclusive & The movement to feminize French

Kristin Espinasse46 Comments
Recette / Recipe

Eplucher + More about friendship… and Bernard’s Courgette Carpaccio!

Eplucher is the word of the day. You've got to peel a few zucchinis to make this easy recipe….  Eplucher     :  to peel   Click here to listen to Jean-Marc read the following sentence in French (English translation is above) Il faut eplucher quelques courgettes pour réaliser cette recette fastoche…. A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse One reward of offering to … Continue reading Eplucher + More about friendship… and Bernard’s Courgette Carpaccio!

Kristin Espinasse25 Comments
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Faire du sport + “forest baths”: your ideas and tips for relaxing mind and body

SABLET HOME– for high quality vacation rentals in the heart of Provence. Recommended by readers. Click here for photos.   Thank you very much for the feedback you sent in on the website redesign at French Word-A-Day. I've so far added a search box, included more posts on the front page and brought back the "recent posts" in the blog's sidebar and footer. Suggestions welcome … Continue reading Faire du sport + “forest baths”: your ideas and tips for relaxing mind and body

Kristin Espinasse35 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
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Stir things up. Submit a French word. Let’s write a story

"My torrid night with a Corsican fisherman" (photo of Elle magazine). It is time to stir things up on this blog. What better way than to write a sizzler! Ready? Your job is to submit a French word. My job is to weave a story with your terms (but not on your terms!). On y va! Let's go! Scroll to the comments link at the … Continue reading Stir things up. Submit a French word. Let’s write a story

Kristin Espinasse131 Comments
April Fool's Day

In the face of bankruptcy : A creative solution to “resserrer les cordons de la bourse”

A controversial "Salon Mixte" in our area.  Photo (c) Le Phare Barber Shop TODAY'S WORD : resserrer    : to close, to tighten, to strengthen resserrer les cordons de la bourse = to spend less, to tighten the purse strings Hear it. Click here to listen to Jean-Marc read the following French sentence Notre ville resserre les cordons de la bourse.Our town is tightening its purse … Continue reading In the face of bankruptcy : A creative solution to “resserrer les cordons de la bourse”

Kristin Espinasse76 Comments
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Cinquante: Jean-Marc’s birthday and special guests

Jean-Marc turned the big five-oh! Here he is in his childhood stomping grounds: the calanque of Sormiou. You are seeing a nice view into Marseilles, from this angle. In the very background you can almost make out Notre-Dame de la Guard. TODAY'S WORD: Cinquante         : Fifty Il a cinquante ans = He's 50 EXAMPLE SENTENCE & Sound File Click here and listen to our son, Max, … Continue reading Cinquante: Jean-Marc’s birthday and special guests

Kristin Espinasse40 Comments
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More smoke–and sizzle! Calanque, Sugiton, sentier, plage naturiste, and les culs nus–scenic French vocabulary :-)

Sugiton calanque–a.k.a. "Les culs nus". I asked friends if the term was okay to share. "Ça depende…" they answered, giving an acceptable, harmless alternative ("Cul-cul" pronounced "kew-kew"). Read on, in today's story, and thanks for sharing this post with a friend. TODAY'S WORD: la calanque         : rocky inlet        : cove        : creek Try Mastering French Vocabulary with Audio MP3 Hear Jean-Marc read the following … Continue reading More smoke–and sizzle! Calanque, Sugiton, sentier, plage naturiste, and les culs nus–scenic French vocabulary 🙂

Kristin Espinasse47 Comments