Transparent Language
French Language Blog
Menu
Search

French Vocabulary – Open Doors Posted by on Jul 7, 2020 in Culture, Vocabulary

Business promotional materials can provide tons of great practice for language learners. They can help us work on telling time, recognizing the names of days and the months, and even learn a little bit about local culture. Like in this week’s video from my favorite French business … La pépinière Les Hortensias du Haut-Bois.

Vous aimez les plantes?

La pépinière Les Hortensias du Haut-Bois is my favorite French business because it is owned by two people who are very important to me. But it is also an amazing place to learn about and to enjoy some amazing plantes.

Plantes is the generic umbrella term that covers les fleurs (flowers), les arbustes (shrubs/bushes), and even les arbres (trees).

This month, the nursery will hold its annual journées portes ouvertes (open house, lit. days of open doors) during which, if you’re lucky enough to be dans le coin (in the area, lit. in the corner), you can discover the nursery’s 27 acres (13 hectares1Un hectare is equivalent to approximately 2 acres) of over 50,000 plants.

Pro Tip: Remember, you can always use YouTube’s playback controls to slow down the video if Ronan speaks too fast for you initially. I find 75% speed works well with minimal distortion. As you get comfortable, switch back to normal speed. Or for an extra challenge, try speeding up the playback!
C’est parti. Here we go.
En ce début d’été les hortensias donc sont en plein fleuraison. As summer begins, the hydrangeas are in full bloom.
La pépinière, les treize (13) hectares sont au top. The nursery, the 27 acres are at peak.
Donc2Donc is a common French conjunction. You can read more about it and other conjunctions here. n’hésitez pas à venir découvrir notre pépinière, So don’t hesitate to come discover our nursery,
les différents jardins, The different gardens,
les … le salon de thé, The … the tea room,
et la boutique ou vous allez pouvoir en fait déguster l’infusion à l’hortensia. And the store where you can sample the hydrangea tea.
Donc voilà, si vous avez besoin de quoi que ce soit, So there you have it, if you need anything at all,
n’hésitez pas à nous rappeler au 063France has 5 phone regions. 01 represents the Ile-de-France region around Paris, 02 is Northwest France, 03 is Northeast France, 04 represents the southeast (including Corsica), and 05 is the southwest. 06 (and 07) are reserved for mobile phones. 08 is for free calls (also called numéro vert / green number), the equivalent of 800 (or 888) numbers in the United States. 16 96 44 99. Don’t hesitate to call us at 06 16 96 44 99 4Click here for a review of numbers in French.
En tout cas on est ouvert du lundi au samedi de 9h à 18h30 en été, In any case, we are open from Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. for summer,
donc en juillet et aout. So in July and August.
Euh du onze (11) au dix-neuf (19) juillet vous aurez les « portes ouvertes » de la pépinière. Um, from the 11th to the 19th July you have the nursery’s “open house”
Donc les horaires, ça sera 9h – 18h30 non-stop. And our hours will be from 9 to 6:30 without interruption5Ronan insists on this detail because during other times the nursery would, like most small French businesses, close for lunch around mid-day; usually from 12  – 2:00 or 2:30.
Là il y aura des différents voilà des différents jardins qui sont vraiment au top de la floraison. There will be different, so different gardens which are really at peak bloom.
Ce qu’il faudra savoir aussi What you should also know
c’est que les deux dimanches le 12 et le 19 juillet Is that on the two Sundays, the 12th and the 19th July,
je vais animer une petite conférence à partir de 10h45 I’m going to host a small discussion starting at 10:45 a.m.
donc n’hésitez pas, il y a pas besoin de réserver, So don’t hesitate, there is no need to make a reservation,
on n’attend plus que vous pour pouvoir pour euh en fait passer un bon moment
 We are waiting for you for um a nice moment
lors de cette conférence pour tout vous expliquer sur les hortensias et leur entretien. during this discussion to explain to you hydrangeas and their care.
A très bientôt. Au revoir. See you soon. Good bye.

All photos (C) Tim Hildreth. Used with permission.

  • 1
    Un hectare is equivalent to approximately 2 acres
  • 2
    Donc is a common French conjunction. You can read more about it and other conjunctions here.
  • 3
    France has 5 phone regions. 01 represents the Ile-de-France region around Paris, 02 is Northwest France, 03 is Northeast France, 04 represents the southeast (including Corsica), and 05 is the southwest. 06 (and 07) are reserved for mobile phones. 08 is for free calls (also called numéro vert / green number), the equivalent of 800 (or 888) numbers in the United States.
  • 4
    Click here for a review of numbers in French.
  • 5
    Ronan insists on this detail because during other times the nursery would, like most small French businesses, close for lunch around mid-day; usually from 12  – 2:00 or 2:30
Keep learning French with us!

Build vocabulary, practice pronunciation, and more with Transparent Language Online. Available anytime, anywhere, on any device.

Try it Free Find it at your Library
Share this:
Share
Pin it

About the Author: Tim Hildreth

Since my first trip to France at 16, I have been a passionate francophile. I love the language, food, music, art, people, and more that make France and la Francophonie in general such an amazing part of our global community. Having lived in France and studied the language and culture for over 35 years, it is my great pleasure to be able to share a little bit of my deep love with you through this blog.

Comments:

  1. CathyL:

    What a great post. I am a gardener and this post was very helpful to me. And, what a fun way to learn. Thank you.

    • Tim Hildreth:

      @CathyL Merci, Cathy! Given the personal nature I really enjoyed writing this one. I’m so happy you liked it.

  2. lisa:

    This is really helpful I just started it and I think it is good for me