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Dans le Port d’Amsterdam (Brel vs. Bowie) Posted by Hichem on Jun 5, 2010
Today we discover a song by a special *Belgian* artist. Most people, till today, tend to mistake him for a French. That, if anything, reflects how profound of an impact he left on la chanson française. His name is Jacques Brel, and contrary to many other singers and musicians, he is one whose artistic life “se passe de tout de commentaire” (does not…
L’Homme au Masque de Fer Posted by Hichem on Jun 3, 2010
Today, we will evoke une énigme de l’histoire de France, and it is not related to a fiction character (fans of “Iron Man”, désolé, but stick around nevertheless.) Usually, les secrets d’états (state secrets) take a few decades before they are divulgués (divulged) to le public, but it seems that some secrets are never really meant to be unveiled…
French Slang Expressions with the Letter D Posted by Hichem on Jun 1, 2010
Last time, we finished covering the letter ‘C’, learning and exploring words and expressions that you most likely wouldn’t encounter in your usual French classroom, but knowing them would definitely come in very handy once you’re in France or around French speakers. But before we start, here’s a curious piece of “antiquité” for you (extracted not from “le zoo des locutions“, but rather from what we may…
Summer Reads Summary (en français, svp!) Posted by Hichem on May 27, 2010
C’est l’été, et les vacances sont enfin arrivées (It’s the Summer, and the holidays have finally arrived.) Quel bonheur ! Je remercie aussi Jennie de ses nombreux compliments (I thank her for her many compliments), et je souhaite lui dire ceci: J’aime sincèrement beaucoup tes contributions, elles sont variées (they are varied), très souvent amusantes (very often amusing), et particuliérement informatives…
Une “Casse à-la-Cassel” ! (Grand “Théft” à-la-Menthe) Posted by Hichem on May 25, 2010
We keep you au courant of tous les événements majeurs qui se passent sur la scène française (all major events that happen on the French scene.) Alors, que s’est-il récemment passé? (So, what happened recently?) It seems that just this past jeudi (Thursday), May 20th, someone was able to enter overnight into the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris – (The “Paris…
“Avez-vous déjà vu…?” (“Have you already seen…?”) Posted by Hichem on May 21, 2010
Today, we have a special DMCV (which stands for “Dieux Merci C’est Vendredi”, if you still don’t know it yet), and I wonder if you have already seen it? “Avez vous déjà vu … Cendrillon qui prend l’avion?“ I mean: Avez-vous déjà vu… “Avez-vous déjà vu“? (Have you already seen… “Have you already seen”?) Hold on a second. Did I…
French Slang Expressions with the Letter C Posted by Hichem on May 20, 2010
We pick up our alphabet of French slang with the letter C! * * * C comme… (C, as in…) * Charier: Charier quelqu’un means to tease or to make fun of someone. Example: “Tu me charies, chérie?” (Are you kidding me, Darling?”) Obviously, “chérie” and “charies” here are phonetically closer in French than English.) * Chaud: Literally…