94 Useful French Words (listen to them here)
Saturday, April 29, 2017
CLICK HERE to listen to Jean-Marc pronounce the words as you scroll down the following list :
1. Facing Bankruptcy - Face à la faillite
toiletteur pour chien = dog groomer
une tondeuse à cheveux = hair clipper, hair cutter, trimmer
calme-toi = calm down
un urinoir = urinal
un teckel à poil dur = a wire-haired dachshund
la maîtresse = mistress
une blague = joke
c'est un poisson d'avril = it's an April Fools' joke
on est le premier avril = it's April Fools' Day
chez le coiffeur = at the hairdresser's
2. Ma Belle Soeur - My Sister-in-Law
le fer = iron
la belle-soeur = sister-in-law
un paravent = a screen
un amour = a love
tout court = period, plain, simply
3. Dents de Sagesse & Un Gros Mot - Wisdom Teeth & A Swear Word
la dent = tooth
la sagesse = wisdom
les dents de sagesse = wisdom teeth
le doudou = security blanket or favorite stuffed animal
la robe de chambre = robe
les petits pois = peas
la marguerite = daisy
une boisson = drink
l'oreiller (m) = pillow
le creux = hollow
le congélo = freezer
bon rétablissement! = get well soon!, hope you feel better right away!
4. La Mercerie & Bonne Lecture - The Notions Store & Happy Reading
hélas = unfortunately, regrettably
l'histoire = story
l'astuce beauté = beauty tip
bonne lecture = happy reading!
5. Submit a Word. Let's Write a Story
remuer les choses = to stir things up
on y va! = let's go!
la plume = feather
l'hippopotame (m) = hippopotamus
une caresse = caress
(plus a list of 125 of your French words)
6. Our Fictional Story! (Part I)
(As most of the French words were featured in the story, here is vocabulary from the day's quote, by Gustave Flaubert)
vouloir = to wish
l'humanité = mankind
toiser = to look at scornfully, to look up and down, to measure
l'orgueil = pride
le néant = nothingness
l'oeuvre (f) = works (art)
7. Frappadingue: Part II of our story
There were 130 French words scattered through our story. Here's a selection of them:
la déchetterie = dump, recycling center
le caoutchouc = rubber
barjo = nuts, crazy
chatoyer = sparkle, shimmer
la guimauve = marshmallow
englouti = swallowed, devoured
8. Boulot - Guess who found a job in Bandol?
un petit boulot de vacances = seasonal or summer job
CV (le curriculum vitae) = resume
trop cher = too expensive
gratuitement = for free
un petit-ami = boyfriend
le cadet/la cadette = youngest, youngest child
dans les nuages = (head) in the clouds
le faux nom = alias
rêvasser = daydream
le lundi de Pâques = Easter Monday
9. Stationner + We surprise our daughter at her new job
le pépin = glitch, hitch, snag
le boulot = job
la corniche = coastal road
stationner = to park
un débardeur = tank top, camisole, slip top
les couverts = cutlery
un pourboire = tip, gratuity
le tartare de bar = raw sea bass fish
la daurade = sea bream fish
Papa = Dad
maître d = maître d'hotel = head waiter, top professional
10. A French Grandmother's Advice for a Happy Marriage
une tournée = a sales round (sales prospecting)
le marché = market
une pulsion =an impulse
un conseil = a piece of advice
ne boude pas! = don't sulk!
C’est terrible—insupportable!—une femme ou un mari qui boude!
It's awful—intolerable—when a wife or a husband sulks!
la grand-mère = grandmother
la mamie = grandma
la guerre = war
porte-à-porte = door-to-door
une cuillère = spoon
méprisant(e) = contemptuous, scornful
un petit salon de dame = a woman's sitting room
faire la tête = to sulk, to give somebody the silent treatment
le plat du jour = the day's special (in a restaurant)
un kilo = a kilo, or 2.2 pounds
une cave = cellar
un jambon-beurre = a ham sandwich with butter
un pan-bagnat = a sandwich made with tuna and olives (specialty from Nice)
une autoroute = motorway, highway
le café au lait = coffee with milk
ALL THE WORDS LEARNED THIS YEAR - Check them out:
February Vocabulary Roundup - click here
January Vocabulary Roundup - click here
Reorder your favorite French products:
EMBRYOLISSE concentrated lait cream - customer reviews here.
BIODERMA Makeup remover - see the reviews here
AVENE thermal spring water - check out the reviews here
KLORANE dry shampoo - all hair types, adds volume - read the reviews here
La ROCHE-POSAY Anthelios sunscreen - see the reviews reviews here
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For more online reading: The Lost Gardens: A Story of Two Vineyards and a Sobriety
Spectacular sunrise/sunset (?) photo.
Posted by: Robert | Saturday, April 29, 2017 at 10:05 AM
Hello Kristi, I have been following you for a few years now, always enjoying your posts. I live in Australia and have been studying French for many years. Thank you so much for all the vocabulary. I look forward to your posts.... Bonne fête du Muguet!
Posted by: Barbara Watts | Saturday, April 29, 2017 at 01:37 PM
Many thanks Kristi for the wonderful roundup and revision. It's fantastic to have all this handed on a plate when it would otherwise take me many hours or days to do myself and I would lose track and heart too. It's like a very personal French course just for me. And so much more meaningful than just lists etc as it's rooted in the blog and illustrated by your beautiful and memorable photos. It's truly a work of art. I'm very grateful.
Posted by: Margaret | Saturday, April 29, 2017 at 01:38 PM
As usual a great help for we ex-pats It will go in my 'important file ' to use for practice .Thank you Jean-Marc & Kristin ! Lovely photos too .
Posted by: Audrey Wilson | Saturday, April 29, 2017 at 03:46 PM
Hi,
The vocabulary is wonderful, but it would be helpful for me to see the words while hearing the pronunciation.
Posted by: Jackie | Saturday, April 29, 2017 at 04:39 PM
I really appreciate the word round ups. Keep them coming!
Posted by: Rob T | Saturday, April 29, 2017 at 05:56 PM
Our dear Kristi,
This is absolutely wonderful!
It helps do much to hear the correct pronuniciation as well as seeing things written down!
THANK YOU!
Love
Natalia. xo
Posted by: Natalia | Saturday, April 29, 2017 at 06:35 PM
"Boudoir," a cooking term, also equates to "ladyfinger" in American English. I can't quite picture eating ladyfingers while in a pout in one's dressing room...
Posted by: Mary from Gettysburg | Saturday, April 29, 2017 at 07:31 PM
Thank you all for these very endearing messages. I appreciate every word! Re the sound file, I need to look into the technology of having those words parade across the screen as Jean-Marc reads them. If anyone has any ideas at all, thanks for letting me know.
I am so happy to say that Max and Jackie are home now for a few days. Wishing you a relaxing weekend. Enjoy.
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Saturday, April 29, 2017 at 07:33 PM
The vocabulary is helpful to read French, but not to speak it. I wish you would add the pronounciation after each word. I've been reading your blogs for years, and really enjoy following your family and seeing your beautiful photographs.
Posted by: carol clark | Saturday, April 29, 2017 at 11:08 PM
I slipped into my community garden tonight, just before dusk, and picked some muguets I am growing, not thinking about the May Day tradition. I just want to wake up smelling them because tomorrow is my birthday. I was born at a lucky time of year for flowers. I guess that is appropriate: my father and grandfather were florists!
On Monday I will make a point to give some to someone.
Thank you for the reminder!
Posted by: Leslie NYC | Sunday, April 30, 2017 at 04:00 AM
Thanks once more for the vocabulary round-up, always very useful. Bonne Fête du Muguet avec la famille.
Posted by: Petrina in Brittany | Sunday, April 30, 2017 at 04:44 PM
Hi Kristi and JM! Thanks for the words and pronunciation! Love the photos and hope you are having a wonderful weekend!
Posted by: Eileen deCamp | Sunday, April 30, 2017 at 10:15 PM
Bonne après-midi CHRISTINE ! et JEAN MARC !
could we come to-morrow Friday the 5 th of MAY to say HELLO ! and buy some wine and a book or two ?
How do we get to your place ? we are hoping to arrive around eleven . From GARGAS I drive to AIX then CASSIS .
à bientôt !
Pierre ...
Posted by: pierre maisonneuve | Thursday, May 04, 2017 at 03:57 PM
Pierre, We do not have a storefront and are not open for drop-by visits or purchases. Occasionally we organize wine-tastings or meetups. These have been put on hold as we are in the middle of selling our vineyard. Thanks for your understanding.
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Thursday, May 04, 2017 at 06:34 PM