Harnessing the wind in Hyérès, South of France, a kite surfer’s paradise. More advantages of the wind in today's story. First, our word of the day: LA RAFALE : gusty wind, bluster, squall A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse Brise, rafale, mistral…No matter how poetic it is in French, wind can be disruptive and annoying. My husband used to curse … Continue reading La Rafale: The Gusts of France: An Ode to the Mistral Wind
Gone fishing! I'll see you in a week, when the next post goes out. Meantime, keep up your French vocabulary by visiting the French word archives. Thanks for reading and for sharing our language journal with friends and family. See you soon–with more photos and stories from a French life! Bisous, Kristin la frénésie de ménage (fray-nay-zee deuh may-nazh) : cleaning frenzy … and … Continue reading How to say “cleaning frenzy” in French! + photo vocabulary!
Thank you for your encouraging feedback on the recent video I made with Smokey. But after trying and failing to make a follow up recording, I'm wondering if I should just stick to photography (today's pic taken on our Rhone river cruise) instead! In times like these, I find the following saying to be particularly reassuring: dix fois sur le métier, remettre son ouvrage! … Continue reading Need encouragement? How to say “If at first you don’t succeed try try again”
The drawing reads: "In the war of 1870 he drove a team instead of a camion. French 'corvée' laborers. Too old to serve in the active army and so assigned to the more unromantic uninteresting but vital work of loading camions, tending horses, or building and repairing roads back of the lines. It has been said that the first battle of Verdun was won by … Continue reading corvée
The Beverly Hillbillies meet the Hexagone… Photo taken in front of our "baraque": a bidet, a bécane, a lot of beton and, beyond, a breathtaking view. bécane (bay-kan) noun, feminine bicycle, bike, machine "Bécane" is also slang for "motorcycle" and "machine". You can use the noun to designate a computer, a calculator or any machine upon which one works. Oh, the possibilities for employing today's … Continue reading bécane
un caleçon (kal-sohn) noun, masculine 1. boxer shorts, underpants 2. leggings (for women) Also: caleçons de bain = swim trunks caleçon(s) long(s) = long johns une caleçonnade = a “spectacle de boulevard” (road show) including risqué themes ……………………… Expression: jeter le caleçon à quelqu’un = to provoke someone to fight ………………………. Citation du Jour: Le caleçon est au vaudeville ce que la toge est à … Continue reading Underwear in French: from “caleçon” to “culotte”
