Archive for 'Vocabulary'
French Slang Expressions with the Letter F Posted by Hichem on Aug 5, 2010
Today, we continue with the second part of la lettre F. * FILER À L’ANGLAISE: Depending on which side of la Manche (the English Channel, that is), you either say “filer à l’Anglaise“, or, conversely, “take the French Leave.” The expression means to “jump ship.” Another close expression is “fausser compagnie à quelqu’un“, like “leaving under a cloud”! * FIN DES HARICOTS: “The…
Beginner French: Conjugating Avoir Posted by Jennie on Jul 27, 2010
Bonjour mes amis débutants! (Hello, my beginner friends!) Hichem and I have so much fun exploring French slang, literature and culture, that we sometimes forget that not everyone is ready for tout ça (all that). Starting ce soir (tonight), we’ll begin Beginner Posts, especially aimed at les débutants who are just starting to learn French…
From Colonial Conquest to Space Conquest Posted by Hichem on Jul 21, 2010
From la Conquête Coloniale (the Colonial Conquest) to la Conquête Spatiale (the Space Conquest), la boucle semble desormais fermée (It has come full circle.) Comment est-ce que cela est arrivé? (How did that happen?) La course à l’espace (the Space Race) between the United States and the USSR lasted almost 30 ans (30 years), from 1957 to…
La Marseillaise (and “la réintégration de l’histoire”) Posted by Hichem on Jul 19, 2010
Last week, la France a fêté “la prise de la Bastille” (France celebrated “the storming of the Bastille.”) Apart from the symbolic value that this iconic day has acquired over the past two centuries, it is now important for the French, who are still rediscovering and “debating” their identité nationale, to reconsider the évènements cruciaux (crucial events) that took place in that year…
Le 14 Juillet and “Les 3 SUiSSES” Posted by Hichem on Jul 15, 2010
Demandez à n’importe qui au hasard (ask anyone randomly): “C’est quoi le 14 Juillet (what is the 14 of July)?”, and you’re likely to hear the answer “C’est la fête nationale!” (It’s the national celebration!) Mais encore? (What else?) “It’s to celebrate a singular event in l’histoire de France: la prise de la Bastille(the storming of the Bastille.)” And…
Encore Rémi GAILLARD! (“Ze Very Best Of”) Posted by Hichem on Jul 2, 2010
In the videos you have previously seen of le farceur (the prankster) Rémi GAILLARD posted two days ago, the Montpelliérain (name of the inhabitants of the beautiful southern city of Montpellier) displayed only two of his many talents cachés (hidden talents): Namely his ability to infiltrate major évènements sportifs, always undetected, as well as his prouesse…
A Little Bit about Canada (in French) Posted by Jennie on Jul 2, 2010
Je ne l’attendais pas du tout—I didn’t expect it at all. Je vous ai proposé le Canada, le Madagascar et le Sénégal (I offered you Canada, Madagascar and Senegal) et vous avez massivement voté pour (and you overwhelmingly voted for)… Le Canada ! You’ve recognized la beauté du chapeau des États-Unis (je rigole je t’aime Canada !)…