Archive for 'Vocabulary'
How to make “des noms dérivés” in French Posted by Adir on Jun 1, 2012
Des noms dérivés are nouns that come from a verb and some verbs follow a pattern to do that in French. So here’s a little exercise for you: I will give you an example and you will provide the noun form, ok? Let’s try that! -ment charger (to charge) – le chargement Do the same…
Energy and Power Politics: The French vs. The German Model Posted by Hichem on May 25, 2012
Don’t bury Nicolas Sarkozy just yet! Now that François Hollande is French President, he will have to answer, sur le terrain (on the ground), to some of the tougher questions raised by his ex-rival Sarkozy during their Presidential debate. Let’s pick up from the portion of the debate where we left it last time. Hollande and…
Talking about love, en français Posted by Adir on May 11, 2012
Ah! Love is a many splendored thing, isn’t it? So today let’s learn some vocabulary related to love, dating and (yes!) breaking up! T’est prêt? (Are you ready?) Sortir (avec quelqu’un) = to be seeing someone, to date someone Patrcia semble être beaucoup plus heureuse depuis qu’elle a commencé à sortir avec Michel. [Patricia look…
How to talk about the weather in French Posted by Adir on May 7, 2012
Have you ever been in that awkward situation when you need to break the ice, rompre la glace, and don’t know what to say? Well, talk about the weather! Exactly, the weather is a great conversation opener and here some sentences for you to show off your French when you find yourself in this type…
French Tribute Song to Sarkozy’s Memorable “Casse-toi, Pauv’Con” Posted by Hichem on May 5, 2012
French singer Tum Sally insisted upon paying a vibrant tribute to Nicolas Sarkozy by immortalizing his now (in-)famous slur aimed at an old farmer who had the impudence of refusing to shake his hand: “Casse-toi, Pauv’Con” (“Get Lost, You Jerk”)! Tum Sally’s “Casse-toi, Pov’Con” (“Get Lost, You Jerk”) A bit of a strange name, “Tum…
Hollande Vs. Sarkozy: Comics, Economics, and Freakonomics! (Part II) Posted by Hichem on May 4, 2012
Nicolas Sarkozy is a man of contradictions: When a handful of delinquents welcomed him with rotten eggs at one of the Parisian banlieues, he didn’t hesitate to call them racailles (scum.) Yet he never shied away from using un langage de voyou (thuggish language) himself: To an old man who refused to shake his hand, he said “Casse-toi, pauv’ con” (“F***…
Hollande Vs. Sarkozy: Comics, Economics, and Freakonomics! (Part I) Posted by Hichem on May 3, 2012
As you saw in yesterday’s “Hollande Vs. Sarkozy: Get in the Ring!“, the first round of the French Presidential Debate can be best described by the French motto of “pas de quartier” (“no pity”), especially after media reports quoted Sarkozy saying: “Je vais l’exploser” (“I’m gonna blow him up”)! Things heated up even more when it…