Tag: in french

Ma belle-mère, mother-in-law

mal barre = up the creek, in big trouble, screwed

When Paris looks a little like Provence. Note the subtle details: the outside-the-window cloth blinds, the "pigeon discourager" (can you see those sharp little pins on the window ledge?) the peek inside the stylish interior…  TODAY'S WORDmal barré (mal-baray) DEFINITONup the creek, in big trouble, screwed AUDIO FILE: listen to Jean-Marc read the French words below: Download MP3 or Wav file c'est mal barré = it's not looking … Continue reading mal barre = up the creek, in big trouble, screwed

Kristin Espinasse104 Comments
Recette / Recipe

Un feuilleton: French for soap opera + recipe for Pumpkin-Ginger soup

My mother-in-law's French is so colorful and I love to listen to her stories — no matter how many times she repeats herself! Jean-Marc's mom, Michèle-France, has a great sense of humor and does not take herself too seriously, either. She is a real moulin-à -paroles, or chatterbox, but when my ears go numb I can always tell her to zip it!  and she won't … Continue reading Un feuilleton: French for soap opera + recipe for Pumpkin-Ginger soup

Kristin Espinasse68 Comments
Uncategorized

Une sequelle: The aftermath or scars after an accident

One of the "séquelles" that remain after the two-dog attack on Smokey (years ago!) is that hanging tongue. Read about another, in today's story.  une séquelle (say-kel)    :  aftereffect, aftermath scar, legacy Une séquelle est une lésion qui persiste après la guérison d'une maladie ou blessure. Mot également utilisé lorsque l'on parle d'une conséquence plus ou moins lointaine qui est le contrecoup d'un évènement, d'une … Continue reading Une sequelle: The aftermath or scars after an accident

Kristin Espinasse206 Comments
Uncategorized

How to say “care package” in French?

Since becoming winemaker and majority owner, along with Thomas Bertrand, of Domaine Rouge-Bleu, Caroline Jones has few free moments. Yet, she took time out during her busy first bottling last week, to put together a caring package for a friend.  Read on, in today's missive. Question: How to say "care package" in French?Answer: I'm not exactly sure—but here are some ideas!:  un colis suprise une … Continue reading How to say “care package” in French?

Kristin Espinasse114 Comments
Video: Kristin

billingual video of Jean-Marc + un pointu

If you are not seeing the video, with Jean-Marc and the Provençal boats, then click here to enjoy the clip at the blog. Sign up to our YouTube channel to learn when new videos are uploaded. Click here.  un pointu (pwan-too)     : a little Provençal fishing boat A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE… by Kristin Espinasse Last night I hurried around the house, turning on the … Continue reading billingual video of Jean-Marc + un pointu

Kristin Espinasse30 Comments
Uncategorized

au pied leve

In a spur-of-the-moment decision, I chose this picture (taken in our former hometown of Les Arcs-sur-Argens) for today's post. I noticed, only afterwards, how serendipidous it was for one of the socks to be posed "au pied levé, or "foot on the rise". au pied levé (oh-pyay-leuh-vay)     : impromptu, spur-of-the-moment (literally, a decision made "in mid-step", or au pied levé) Audio File: Listen … Continue reading au pied leve

Kristin Espinasse59 Comments
April Fool's Day, Traditions

Poisson d’Avril – April Fool’s Day in France & Paper Fish Tradition

It's April Fish Day in France and Smokey's hunting for a live one… Smokey Dear, you still don't get it, do you? But then, I don't understand how the French got "fish" from "fool" either ("fool ish"?). .Poisson d'Avril! (pwah soh(n) dah vreel)    : April Fool! Audio File: listen to Jean-Marc pronounce the words in the following sentence: Download MP3 or Wav Attention à votre dos… aujourd'hui, c'est "Poisson … Continue reading Poisson d’Avril – April Fool’s Day in France & Paper Fish Tradition

27 Comments
Harvest

boheme

In a sea of vines… a favorite friend of mine. bohème (bo em) m,f = bohemian  Synonyms: vagabond, indépendant, original, or counterculturist.  A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse "Harvest Heroines" (Part I of the harvest is over and the girls have gone. This story is for them.) Heroines with hot peppers in their hearts, they sizzle with mystery and soul. I want … Continue reading boheme

19 Comments
Driving, French Destinations, Nostalgia

parole

  In the moss-covered village of Rochegude… a courtyard, above, located beside the writer's den that I mentioned in a recent post..    parole (pah-rol) noun, feminine      : lyrics; word (spoken).     Audio File: Hear Aunt Marie-Françoise pronounce the French word "parole":Download Parole   Download Parole À la parole on connaît l'homme.  –PA Manzoli   Help translate today's quote? …or share one of … Continue reading parole

Kristin Espinasse42 Comments
Christmas

How to say lop-sided in French: de guingois

The scene was so classic that I wondered, as I snuck up to snap the photo, if it wasn't staged! Notice the underwear: one per "hook"… Photo taken in Nyons (just next to a chichi restaurant. Well, that oughta show 'em!). de guingois (deuh-gehn-gwah) adverbial and adjectival phrase        : askew, lop-sided marcher de guingois = to walk lop-sidedlytout va de guingois = everything's going … Continue reading How to say lop-sided in French: de guingois

Kristin Espinasse23 Comments