Archive for 'Vocabulary'
To Do The Point – Fun French Expressions Posted by John Bauer on Nov 22, 2017
There are some expressions that can seem really strange. Whether it’s being known like le loup blanc (the white wolf) or being sick as a dog, there is a lot of colorful language that often goes unnoticed by les locuteurs natifs (native speakers). Il y a une expression française (there’s a French expression) that really…
French History – Le Manureva Posted by Tim Hildreth on Nov 21, 2017
Thirty-nine years ago, the French sailor Alain Colas and his boat, le Manureva, disappeared off the Azores (a group of North Atlantic islands about 850 miles west of the coast of Portugal) while particpating in the Route du Rhum. The tale has inspired many, including the French composer Alain Chamfort and the singer/songwriter Serge Gainsbourg…
Reading Signs in French Posted by Tim Hildreth on Nov 14, 2017
A very important skill for traveling abroad is reading signs. This is as true in France as it is in any country. Reading the local signs isn’t generally a matter de vie ou de mort (of life or death), but sometimes it can mean the difference between privacy … and, well, wet shoes. I love…
Check out “Dommage” by Rap Duo Bigflo & Oli! Posted by Josh Dougherty on Nov 12, 2017
Lacking motivation? Let this song give you a glimpse into what could be if you don’t just get up and do it! And these two brothers know what it means to find the drive to follow your passion. Raised in la ville rose (the pink city — Toulouse) to an Argentinianfather and a Franco-Algerian mother…
Little Red Chaperon Rouge – Fairy Tale French Posted by John Bauer on Nov 8, 2017
When I was looking up the origin of the French expression, être connu comme le loup blanc (to be known like the white wolf), I was reminded of the most famous story I know that features un loup: Le Petit Chaperon rouge (Little Red Riding Hood). That made me curious about les contes de fées…
A Household White Wolf – Idioms In French Posted by John Bauer on Nov 1, 2017
When I learned Joe Dassin is a household name, I wanted to use an equivalent French expression in the article. What I found surprised me with how imaginative it is to English speakers: to be known like the white wolf. Les expressions (the expressions) we use every day can be hard to translate because of…
Chartres Posted by Tim Hildreth on Oct 31, 2017
Located just over an hour to the southwest of Paris, the city of Chartres makes a perfect stop on the drive from Paris to points west (like la Bretagne). It is home to, among other things, the beautiful Notre-Dame de Chartres cathedral. That, along with a nice lunch, is just about a perfect detour in…