Le glas sonne dans toutes les églises de France en hommage aux trois victimes de l'attentat dans la basilique de Nice. (-Midi Libre) The death knell is ringing in all the churches of France in homage to the three victims of the attack in the basilica of Nice. (pictured: Catholic church in St. Cyr-sur-Mer) * * * Many of you woke to the news of France's latest, … Continue reading Le glas: The death knell rang today in France
"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
I am the last person to say…you know…today's word (in English or in French). Blame it on this little boat! If you are new here, don't worry, it is rare that a word deemed "vulgar" is featured. But the past year has had a loosening effect (we are unmooring and moving on, or trying to) and not much bothers me anymore–least of which a little … Continue reading Pétou – a little Provencale word (guaranteed to make a man smile!)
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)
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
A charming shop in Paris ricain(e) (ree-kah(n) ree-kahn) : American (slang) Audio File: listen to Jean-Marc pronounce the French lyrics to the famous song, below: Download MP3 or Wav file Si les Ricains n'étaient pas là, vous seriez tous en Germanie. If the Americans weren't there, you'd all be in Germany. -Michel Sardou, French singer A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE… by Kristin Espinasse Ricane English and … Continue reading Hound dog French: Pronunciation practice with my daughter
Thanks to French Word-A-Day readers, we have a treasure trove of colorful ideas and tips on how to improve our French listening skills. Merci beaucoup for your helpful responses after Rob wrote in with the following question: I was wondering if anyone has recommendations for a way for me to build my French listening skills? I am improving in being able to decipher written French, … Continue reading French Listening Skills
The content features a lighthearted glimpse into a dog’s life in St. Tropez and the author’s reflections on writer’s block and “in-box block.” The post highlights a playful exploration of apocope, the practice of shortening words, demonstrated through a creative poem containing several examples. Additionally, the piece touches on the “baby talk” language dog owners use, emphasizing its playful and affectionate nature. Carol Donnay from Belgium is acknowledged for her contributions on apocopes, inviting readers to engage and appreciate the linguistic nuances presented in the text. The post blends personal anecdotes with language learning elements, enriching the reader’s experience. Continue reading abregement
A shopfront in Le Panier–a quartier in Marseilles. Scroll down for a list of ways to sign off email correspondence. TODAY'S WORD: QUITTER 1. to leave, to quit 2. to give up, vacate, forsake, abandon 3. to exit LISTEN: Hear Jean-Marc pronounce today's quote: Download wav Il faut se quitter souvent pour s'aimer toujours. We must leave each other often in order to love each other … Continue reading Best way to sign off or end an email in French: How to say “goodbye” or “cheers” or “sincerely”?
