FRENCH WORD-A-DAY

vif

Wednesday, January 12, 2005

In today's column: the men's reading for Aquarius. A vrai dire,* the Aquarius info is en avance,* as we are still in the month of Capricorn!

le vif (veef) noun, masculine
1. the quick (live flesh)

2 living person

vif, vive (veef, veev) adjective
1. living, live
2. lively, vivacious
3. sharp, keen
4. brusque, quick-tempered
5. bright, vivid

Also:
vif-argent (m) = quicksilver

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Expressions:
entrer dans le vif du sujet = to get to the heart of the matter
piqué au vif = cut to the quick
sur le vif = on the spot

de vive voix = by word of mouth
avoir les nerfs à vif = to be on the edge, to have frayed nerves

être touché du vif = to be touched to the quick

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Citation du Jour:
Peut-être les lucioles ne vivent-elles que le temps de briller un instant d'un vif éclat. Comme nous tous d'ailleurs !

Perhaps fireflies live only long enough to sparkle one instant from a bright outburst. Like all of us, actually. --Gabrielle Roy

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Le Verseau / Aquarius

Les hommes nés en Janvier sont vifs, spirituels, aimables et affectueux. Doués d'un cerveau solide, aptes à juger, cultivant les sciences, calmes dans leur actes comme dans leurs paroles, tout en étant sincères et loyaux: on peut avoir confiance en eux. Ils sont fidèles à leurs amis; amoureux de la gloire, leur mérite sera justement apprécié; mais ils ne doivent pas compter sur la richesse
dans leur jeunesse.

Men born in January are vivacious, spiritual, kind and affectionate. Endowed with a solid mind, quick to judge, science oriented, calm in their acts and words, while remaining sincere and loyal: we can have confidence in them. They are faithful to their friends: love glory, their merit will be justly appreciated; but they should not count on wealth in their youth.

For the women's Aquarius profile, visit:

http://french-word-a-day.typepad.com/motdujour/2005/01/le_verseau.html
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*References: à vrai dire = to tell the truth; en avance = ahead of time

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le Verseau

Tuesday, January 11, 2005

Something new (and just for fun) in today's column:

From an old French encyclopedia "Tout en Un",* issued by la Librairie Hachette in the early 1900's (and une "trouvaille"* from the dusty shelves at our local brocante dracénoise)*: here is an excerpt of "L'Astrologie chez Soi."* Read it in French, in English, or both!

le Verseau (vair-so) noun, masculine
1. the Water-carrier
2. Aquarius

[Verseau is from the verb, "verser" (to pour) and the noun, "eau" (f) water]

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Citation du Jour:
Comme tous les verseaux, je ne crois pas à l'horoscope.
Like every Aquarius, I don't believe in the horoscope.
--Paulo Vincente

...............................
Le Verseau / Aquarius

Les femmes nées en Janvier sont gaies, aimables, sympathiques constantes dans leurs affections et sincères. Douées d'un bon caractère, elles ont du calme, de l'énergie et de la suite dans les idées. Aimant les distractions, et les plaisirs, elles savent rester sérieuses.

Women born in January are cheerful, kind, likeable, constant in their affection and sincere. Endowed with a good nature, they are calm, have energy and follow through with their ideas. They like entertainment, having a good time and (yet) they know (when) to be serious.

Aquarius, homme, à suivre...

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References: tout en un = all in one; une trouvaille (f) = a discovery, find; une brocante (f) = a second-hand store; dracénois(e) (from Draguignan) (the capital of the Var, France); L'Astrologie chez Soi = Astrology at Home; homme (m) = man, à suivre = to be continued

A Message from Kristi: Ongoing support from readers like you keeps me writing and publishing this free language journal each week. If you find joy or value in these stories and would like to keep this site going, donating today will help so much. Thank you for being a part of this community and helping me to maintain this site and its newsletter.

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une tarte

Wednesday, January 05, 2005

une tarte (tahrt) noun, feminine
1. a pie

adjective: stupid, ridiculous

...................
Expressions:
c'est pas de la tarte = it's not that easy
prendre une tarte à la crème dans la figure = "to take a pie in the face"

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Proverb
C'est sur la partie brûlée de la tarte que l'on met le plus de sucre.
We put the most sugar on the burnt part of the pie.

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A Day in a French Life...

My poem "From here to there" (a few impressions on returning to the Valley from the Var) is now a chapter in this book!

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References: une récompense (f) = a reward; un livre (m) = a book; un bisous (m) = a kiss; un billet (m) = a bill (banknote); un sanglier (m) = wild boar; sair-veese kom-pree = pronunciation for service compris = tip included; pay-ee ah-dah-ptee (pays adopté) = adopted country

A Message from Kristi: Ongoing support from readers like you keeps me writing and publishing this free language journal each week. If you find joy or value in these stories and would like to keep this site going, donating today will help so much. Thank you for being a part of this community and helping me to maintain this site and its newsletter.

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For more online reading: The Lost Gardens: A Story of Two Vineyards and a Sobriety

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un billet

Tuesday, January 04, 2005

un billet (bee-yay) noun, masculine
1. bill, banknote
2. ticket

Expression:
un billet doux = a love letter

Citation du Jour:
Si je perdais ma bibliothèque, j'aurais toujours le métro et l'autobus. Un billet le matin, un billet le soir et je lirais les visages.

If I were to lose my library, I would always have the metro and the bus. A ticket in the morning, a ticket at night and I would read the faces. --Marcel Jouhandeau

A Message from Kristi: Ongoing support from readers like you keeps me writing and publishing this free language journal each week. If you find joy or value in these stories and would like to keep this site going, donating today will help so much. Thank you for being a part of this community and helping me to maintain this site and its newsletter.

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For more online reading: The Lost Gardens: A Story of Two Vineyards and a Sobriety

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un voeu

Monday, January 03, 2005

Meilleurs Voeux pour 2005!

Our plane taxied into the Nice Côte-d'Azur airport at just past eight yesterday morning after a 20 hour voyage from the Arizona desert back to France. Somewhere between there and here, the all familiar Question was posed:

"What is your New Year's resolution?"

I was about to respond, when my husband pursed his lips... My ears lurched forward to hear the Frenchman-who-never-makes-New Year's-wishes declare his voeu:

"Recycler!" he said.

Apart from recycling, many people are resolving to give this year: their thoughts, time and money, to those in need: specifically to victims of the tsunami disaster. A special salute to humanitarians everywhere.

un voeu (veuh) noun, masculine
1. vow
2. wish

Also:
une carte de voeux = a greetings card

Expressions:
meilleurs voeux (pour 2005)= best wishes (for 2005)
faire un voeu = to make a wish
tous mes voeux = with all good wishes
faire le voeu de faire quelque chose = to vow to do something

Citation du Jour:
Borné dans sa nature, infini dans ses voeux,
L'homme est un dieu tombé qui se souvient des cieux.

Limited in his nature, with infinite wishes,
Man is a fallen god who remembers the heavens.
--Alphonse de Lamartine

Recommended by French Word-A-Day readers! Learn French with Fluenz French -- includes engaging, interactive workouts to improve your reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills -- including a recording engine to perfect your accent. More info here.

A Message from Kristi: Ongoing support from readers like you keeps me writing and publishing this free language journal each week. If you find joy or value in these stories and would like to keep this site going, donating today will help so much. Thank you for being a part of this community and helping me to maintain this site and its newsletter.

Ways to contribute:
1.Zelle®, The best way to donate and there are no transaction fees. Zelle to [email protected]

2.Paypal or credit card
Or purchase my book for a friend and so help them discover this free weekly journal.
For more online reading: The Lost Gardens: A Story of Two Vineyards and a Sobriety