Tag: in french

Health

Allergies and hay fever in French: rhume des foins, rhinite

Is it a cold or maybe hay fever? With so much blossoming going on, and le printemps around the corner, it is probably le rhume des foins causing this sneezing and stuffy nose and not simply le rhume. TODAY'S WORD: le rhume des foins         : hay fever, rhinitis EXAMPLE SENTENCE & Audio File Démangeaisons du nez, éternuements, écoulement nasal clair, sensation de nez bouché … Continue reading Allergies and hay fever in French: rhume des foins, rhinite

Kristin Espinasse26 Comments
Uncategorized

Asperge

Have you ever picked wild asparagus? Some call these thin green (and purple!) shoots “The harbingers of springtime.” Pictured: les aspèrges sauvages picked around our house, and lined up in the back of an old remorque, or wagon. une asperge     : asparagus asperger = to spray or to splashune (grande) asperge = a beanpole (person)une pointe d’asperge = asparagus tipune botte d’asperges = … Continue reading Asperge

Kristin Espinasse45 Comments
Well-being/Wellness

The Serenity Prayer in French + La Prière de la Sérénité en anglais

I first saw The Serenity Prayer at a friend's house. We were 13 years old at the time and had free rein (her parents were rarely home). Skipping through the hallway one day, a curling iron in one hand and candy bar in the other–the words in a picture frame stopped me in my tracks. I  hope they'll have the same effect on you. AUDIO … Continue reading The Serenity Prayer in French + La Prière de la Sérénité en anglais

Kristin Espinasse40 Comments
Valentine's Day

Becot, bise, bisou: kisses in French on Valentine’s Day

Don't miss our daughter Jackie's soundfile today, and enjoy this snapshot of Smokey and the heart shutter (roses are from Cousin Audrey). On this, the 14th day of February, la journée de la Saint-Valentin or la fête des amoureux we begin with a string of lip-swaying nouns. Go ahead and pronounce the first line in the next paragraph and just feel your lips move to and fro—the exercise is … Continue reading Becot, bise, bisou: kisses in French on Valentine’s Day

Kristin Espinasse22 Comments
Dad and Marsha, Recette / Recipe

Un mijoteuse: a must-have for cool weather comfort!

No picture of a crock pot to illustrate today's word. How about a windowsill, which is sort of in theme with the corresponding story (the first sentence anyway). P.S. This snapshot was taken in Ménerbes. une mijoteuse (me-zho-teuz)     : slow cooker Also: crockpot, crock pot, or cocotte Audio file / Example Sentence: Listen to Jean-Marc read the following sentence (he's recorded it for … Continue reading Un mijoteuse: a must-have for cool weather comfort!

Kristin Espinasse136 Comments
Alps, French Destinations

Serre Chevalier + How to say “flat rate” when searching for $ deals in France

Ambition is the downfall of man. (L'Ambition est la perte de l'homme). A message on a lazy sundial in Serre Chevalier.  un forfait (for-fay)     : flat rate, package deal,  un forfait week-end = weekend package (price)un forfait mensuel = monthly subscriptionun forfait boisson = drinks includedun forfait de ski = ski pass Audio File and Example Sentence: Download MP3 or WAV Jean-Marc a trouvé un forfait … Continue reading Serre Chevalier + How to say “flat rate” when searching for $ deals in France

Kristin Espinasse58 Comments
Uncategorized

One good reason to learn French!

One thing I love about studying French is the opportunity to improve my English! Just this morning I learned of another set of words I've been confounding all along.  Thank you, Charles, who responded to my post "Zipper Politics." Charles writes: You mention journalists having a heyday, but the correct expression is "field day." You were confusing heyday with field day. Merci encore, Charles! Considering … Continue reading One good reason to learn French!

Kristin Espinasse22 Comments
Uncategorized

To peel or to pare or to shuck in French: éplucher + new video!

Welcome home! Lily the 4-month-old huntress tiger greets Smokey–who returned home safely after Monday's great escape. More in today's story column. éplucher (ay-ploo-shay)     1. to peel, to pare (fruits, vegetable); to shuck (remove corn husk)    2. to comb through (documents, files)   Listen: hear the French word éplucher:Audio File from Wikipedia: For more pronunciation help, check out the guide Exercises in French … Continue reading To peel or to pare or to shuck in French: éplucher + new video!

Kristin Espinasse72 Comments
Plants

Doux: mild, temperate, sweet in French

Jouer à cache-cache means to play hide-n-seek. This was a favorite game of Smokey's when he was one-years-old (pictured), though his hiding places were a bit obvious. Now, at 4, he likes the classics: a good ol' game of catch is fine by him.  doux (do)     : mild, temperate; sweet, pleasant; soft; lenient Doux also refers to a gentle person–or how about a … Continue reading Doux: mild, temperate, sweet in French

Kristin Espinasse88 Comments
Readers

reconfort: a farewell to a reader with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease

Bon voyage, chère Mélo. If you only knew how much you meant to me–je te garderai dans mon coeur pour toujours. Our dear friend and fellow Francophile, Mélanie, passed away September 23rd after surviving 18 years with the neurodegenerative disease known as ALS. Melanie will be honored in a ceremony on Monday. In case, like me, you struggle to find words to comfort a family in … Continue reading reconfort: a farewell to a reader with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease

Kristin Espinasse212 Comments