beau-fils
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
***Book Fair near Bonnieux***
Please come and see me and my mom, Jules (pictured). We'll be in Roussillon (Luberon) this Sunday: she, in her colorful poncho, a just-swiped flower in her fedora... and I'll be the one who needs to loosen up a bit. Michel Thomas Speak French For Beginners: 10-CD Beginner's Program
beau-fils (boh-feece) noun, masculine
: son-in-law
synonym: "gendre" (more synonyms, a great soundfile... and a dictionary of terms, after the story column)
It is 7:48 a.m. on Tuesday morning, and my mom and my husband are dancing the tango. Mom's silver hair is swept back; she's laughing though she hasn't yet put her teeth in.
"You know why I married your daughter, don't you?" he asks, with that melts-your-heart French accent.
"Because when she is sixty-two... she will be as beautiful as you!"
* * *
PS: I forgot to add that yesterday was Mom's birthday. We'll be celebrating all week.
PS: I forgot to add that yesterday was Mom's birthday. We'll be celebrating all week.
"Family" dictionary:
la belle-famille = in-laws
le beau-fils (son-in-law, stepson) = gendre
la belle-fille (daughter-in-law, stepdaughter) = bru
la belle-soeur = sister-in-law
le beau-frère (brother-in-law) = beauf
la belle-mère (mother-in-law, stepmother) = marâtre
le beau-père (father-in-law, stepfather) = parâtre
les beaux-parents = step-parents
la belle-famille = in-laws
le beau-fils (son-in-law, stepson) = gendre
la belle-fille (daughter-in-law, stepdaughter) = bru
la belle-soeur = sister-in-law
le beau-frère (brother-in-law) = beauf
la belle-mère (mother-in-law, stepmother) = marâtre
le beau-père (father-in-law, stepfather) = parâtre
les beaux-parents = step-parents
Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc read the lexicon, above: Download beau-fils.wav . Download beau-fils.mp3
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Shopping~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SmartFrench Audio CDs: astep by step approach for understanding French
Wooden ABC blocks: Versatile and timeless - ABC blocks from French company, Vilac
Stone (Granite) Mortar and Pestle -- a must for French pistou!
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Shopping~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SmartFrench Audio CDs: astep by step approach for understanding French
Wooden ABC blocks: Versatile and timeless - ABC blocks from French company, Vilac
Stone (Granite) Mortar and Pestle -- a must for French pistou!
.
"LA BELLE FAMILLE"...
This is a great time to discuss all those "beautiful" members of the French "belle-famille". Why do the French call their in-laws "beau" and "belle" and isn't it a lovely idea, as well?
...Belle-mère, belle-fille, beau-père, beau-fils, beau-frère, beaux-parents...
A mother-in-law is a "belle-mère"... and so is a stepmother. Do you have other examples of how these words are borrowed for other family members? Does Cinderella call her evil stepsisters "belles-soeurs" ("beautiful sisters")?
Finally, if one can refer to her beau-frère as "beauf"... just what can she call her "belle-soeur"?
Your thoughts, anecdotes, questions, and answers are welcome here:
This is a great time to discuss all those "beautiful" members of the French "belle-famille". Why do the French call their in-laws "beau" and "belle" and isn't it a lovely idea, as well?
...Belle-mère, belle-fille, beau-père, beau-fils, beau-frère, beaux-parents...
A mother-in-law is a "belle-mère"... and so is a stepmother. Do you have other examples of how these words are borrowed for other family members? Does Cinderella call her evil stepsisters "belles-soeurs" ("beautiful sisters")?
Finally, if one can refer to her beau-frère as "beauf"... just what can she call her "belle-soeur"?
Your thoughts, anecdotes, questions, and answers are welcome here:
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