About.com French Language

French vocabulary: Food

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:00:11 +0000

Whether you're traveling in Europe or just going out to a local French restaurant, food is one of the necessities of life, so here are some key French words and phrases related to food.
More: How to read a French menu | French vocabulary

French vocabulary: Food originally appeared on About.com French Language on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 12:00:11.

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� propos de beaujolais nouveau

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:00:06 +0000

La f�te est termin�e, mais j'ai encore des infos � partager sur le beaujolais nouveau. C'est int�ressant de parler aux Fran�ais et de d�couvrir les diff�rents points de vue au sujet de ce vin.

Beaujolais Nouveau

Par d�finition, le beaujolais nouveau est un vin tr�s jeune, et les puristes r�pugnent donc � le boire. Ils ne sont pas les seuls : beaucoup de Fran�ais pr�tendent que le marketing l'emporte largement sur la qualit� de vin, et refusent de le go�ter. Mais pour d'autres, le troisi�me jeudi de novembre est simplement une bonne occasion de participer � un �v�nement marrant, ni plus ni moins. Ils d�gustent le vin, en ayant pleinement conscience de ses limites. �videmment, on ne peut pas s'attendre � un vin g�n�reux et capiteux, mais pour ceux qui appr�cient les vins l�gers, fruit�s et - surtout - pas trop s�rieux, le beaujolais nouveau est int�ressant.

Attention � ne pas dire tout simplement � beaujolais �. Les termes beaujolais et beaujolais nouveau sont parfois embrouill�s (mot du jour) dans l'esprit des gens, mais il ne s'agit pas du tout de la m�me chose. Les vignobles du Beaujolais se trouvent principalement dans le d�partement du Rh�ne (r�gion Rh�ne-Alpes), mais ils s'�tendent aussi jusqu'au sud de la Sa�ne-et-Loire (en Bourgogne). Un tiers des raisins du Beaujolais devient (tr�s vite) le beaujolais nouveau, qui ne peut pas �tre conserv� ; il est recommand� de le boire dans un d�lai d'un an. Les deux autres tiers suivent la vinification � normale � pour devenir un vin de garde : le beaujolais.

Lire plus : Beaujolais nouveau - Vin fran�ais

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� propos de beaujolais nouveau originally appeared on About.com French Language on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 03:00:06.

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French phrases: Expressing gratitude

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

'Tis the season to be grateful, so now is a good time to review the many different ways to express gratitude in French, including whether to follow a thank you with the preposition de or pour. Take a look at this lesson to learn the formulas.
More: French expressions

French phrases: Expressing gratitude originally appeared on About.com French Language on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 12:00:00.

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Mot du jour: maussade

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:00:13 +0000

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More: French vocabulary | Daily French

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Mot du jour: maussade originally appeared on About.com French Language on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 03:00:13.

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The Real Paris

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:00:46 +0000

I enjoyed reading this article about tourists' idea of Paris vs the "real" Paris, so I thought I'd share it with you.

"The Paris of movies and tourist brochures is, frankly, a load of hooey. If you go to Paris to see the city of 'Am�lie' or 'Avenue Montaigne' or, worse, the city of 'An American in Paris,' you will be disappointed. There is no Maurice Chevalier singing 'Louise,' no Piaf, regrets or otherwise. Paris is a city, not a romantic illusion.... Yet, Paris is still one of the greatest cities in the world. For some of us, the greatest, no contest."
Source: See Paris the way real Parisians do

I think the author's notions of what people expect are a bit off-base. Personally, I didn't really have any of those ideas about Paris before my first visit, when I was 15. I certainly wasn't expecting any singing or dancing in the street, so I was surprised (and pleased) to hear musicians in the m�tro. But the point is well taken - we hear and see so much about what a romantic and magical city Paris is, so it's easy to have high expectations. Fortunately, for most of us, while the reality might not be exactly what we expected, it's still just as good, or better.

More: Visit France

The Real Paris originally appeared on About.com French Language on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 04:00:46.

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French pronunciation: Wine and related vocabulary

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

If you love French wine but hate ordering it, here's a page that can help. This list of French wines and related vocabulary includes sound files to help you pronounce the names of French wines.
More: Restaurant French | How to read a French menu

French pronunciation: Wine and related vocabulary originally appeared on About.com French Language on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 12:00:00.

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Beaujolais nouveau 2009

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:42:54 +0000

Quand j'ai d�gust� le beaujolais nouveau pour la premi�re fois l'ann�e derni�re, j'ai dit que je voulais aller en Bourgogne cette ann�e pour vraiment profiter de cette f�te. M�me si le vin n'est pas terrible, toute cette folie annuelle fait partie de la culture fran�aise, et pour cette raison j'aimerais �tre au c�ur de la c�l�bration, au moins une fois. Malheureusement, ce ne sera pas cette ann�e - nous sommes actuellement trop occup�s � voyager.

Beaujolais Nouveau 2009 © LKL

Heureusement, nous avons r�ussi � trouver une bonne fa�on de participer � cet �v�nement ici � Hy�res : le beaujolais nouveau coulait (mot du jour) � flots chez notre marchand de vin, qui a propos� une petite d�gustation de 8 bouteilles, dont la moiti� vient de l'incontournable Georges Dub�uf. Nous avons essay� trois rouges, et achet� trois bouteilles du beaujolais-village du Domaine de la Levrati�re - tr�s l�ger, fruit�, d'une jolie couleur rouge violet. En voyant le beaujolais nouveau ros� (qui n'est pas du tout connu, m�me s'il a �t� introduit en 2006), nous l'avons go�t� aussi : � peine buvable.

Lire plus : Beaujolais nouveau

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Beaujolais nouveau 2009 originally appeared on About.com French Language on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 10:42:54.

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French verb of the week: d�guster

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:00:00 +0000

Simple verb conjugations, similarly conjugated verbs (if any), and links to related lessons for this common French verb.
French verb conjugator

Mot du jour: paletot
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More: French vocabulary | Daily French

French verb of the week: d�guster originally appeared on About.com French Language on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 06:00:00.

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French expression: Le nouveau est arriv� !

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:00:32 +0000

What does the French expression le nouveau est arriv� ! mean? Click the link above to learn all about it, and then come back here to share your thoughts.
More: French expressions

French expression: Le nouveau est arriv� ! originally appeared on About.com French Language on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 01:00:32.

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Password - French Classroom Game

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Some days students just aren't in the mood to learn, which can make French classes frustrating for them as well as for the teacher. Playing games in French is one technique that can help recapture students' interest while helping them learn or review French. This game, called Password, is a fun way to practice descriptions.
More: French class games

Password - French Classroom Game originally appeared on About.com French Language on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 12:00:00.

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French quiz: Survival French

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:00:04 +0000

Can you get by, oui ou non? Test yourself on the most basic French vocabulary with this little quiz, or take a look at the lesson to review.
More French Tests

Mot du jour: engelure
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More: French vocabulary | Daily French

French quiz: Survival French originally appeared on About.com French Language on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 06:00:04.

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French grammar: Present participle

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:00:16 +0000

The French present participle is the verb form that ends in -ant. It is far less common than its English counterpart, which ends in -ing. The French present participle may be an adjective, gerund, noun, or verb. Learn all about the French present participle and then test your skills.
More: French grammar

French grammar: Present participle originally appeared on About.com French Language on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 12:00:16.

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Et vous ?

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:00:06 +0000

Je parle souvent de moi-m�me dans ces articles, de ma vie et mes voyages en France. Vous me connaissez assez bien (voire tr�s bien, si vous me lisez depuis plusieurs ann�es), mais je ne vous connais pas du tout, � part la poign�e de visiteurs qui parlent d'eux-m�mes dans les commentaires. Aujourd'hui, je vous donne la parole : qui �tes-vous ? Pourquoi visitez-vous ce site ? Aimez-vous la France et le fran�ais autant (mot du jour) que moi ? Veuillez laissez vos r�ponses en bas de ce message. J'appr�cierais aussi que vous � votiez � dans mes sondages. Je vous �coute !

How about you?

I often talk about myself in these articles, about my life and travels in France. You know me fairly well (or even very well, if you've been reading me for several years), but I don't know you at all, other than the handful of visitors that talk about themselves in the comments. Today, I'm giving you the floor: who are you? Why do you visit this site? Do you love France and French as much as I do? Please leave your answers at the bottom of this message. I'd also appreciate it if you could "vote" in my polls. I'm listening!

Your answers (please post unrelated comments in the forum)

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Et vous ? originally appeared on About.com French Language on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 03:00:06.

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Expressions with falloir

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:00:36 +0000

The impersonal French verb falloir means "to be necessary" or "to need" and is used in some idiomatic French expressions. Learn how to say it takes all kinds, you shouldn't have, to do the right thing, and more with this list of French expressions with falloir.
More: All about falloir | Impersonal verbs | French expressions

Expressions with falloir originally appeared on About.com French Language on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 12:00:36.

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Mot du jour: alourdir

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:00:57 +0000

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More: French vocabulary | Daily French

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Mot du jour: alourdir originally appeared on About.com French Language on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 03:00:57.

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French expression: � mon avis

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:00:06 +0000

What does the French expression � mon avis mean? Click the link above to learn all about it, and then come back here to share your thoughts.
More: French expressions

French expression: � mon avis originally appeared on About.com French Language on Friday, November 13th, 2009 at 06:00:06.

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La saison de vaccination

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:00:38 +0000

Le gouvernement fran�ais vient de lancer une campagne de vaccination contre le virus grippal H1N1, dit � la grippe A �. D�s cette semaine, une premi�re vague de quelque 6 millions de personnes prioritaires* peuvent se faire vacciner en pr�sentant le bon de vaccination qu'elles ont re�u de la CNAM (Caisse nationale d'assurance maladie). Il faut se rendre dans l'un des 1 060 centres de vaccination deux fois, � trois semaines d'intervalle, pour recevoir les deux piq�res (mot du jour).

Cette vaccination gratuite, pas obligatoire mais recommand�e par le Minist�re de Sant�, est tr�s controvers�e en France. Il y a beaucoup de questions sur son innocuit� et son efficacit�, et puis il y a le prix : les 94 millions de doses que le gouvernement a command�es ont co�t� plus d'un milliard d'euros. D'apr�s un sondage r�alis� en octobre, seulement 17 % des Fran�ais iront se faire vacciner. Cette semaine, mon mari a sond� l'opinion d'une quarantaine de retrait�s ici � Hy�res, parmi lesquels pas un seul n'a l'intention de le faire. (Ceci �tant un sondage sans valeur scientifique, il faut pr�voir une �norme marge d'erreur.)

*Les personnes consid�r�es comme � prioritaires en raison de leur vuln�rabilit� par rapport au virus � sont, par exemple, les jeunes enfants, les femmes enceintes, ceux qui ont des probl�mes de sant� chroniques, et cetera.

Sources :

AFP - Vaccination mode d'emploi : visite dans un gymnase parisien
La D�p�che - 3 000 doses pour lancer la vaccination
L'Expres - La France recommande deux doses de vaccins contre la grippe A
Ouest-France - Seuls 17 % des Fran�ais pr�ts � se faire vacciner
Le Parisien - Quand les labos financent les experts de la grippe A
Sant� Log - Le manque d'information explique les r�ticences

English translation Read more...

La saison de vaccination originally appeared on About.com French Language on Friday, November 13th, 2009 at 03:00:38.

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Fun with French: Top 10 French Gestures

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

My lessons on French gestures are among the most popular pages on my site, partly because gestures are so frequently used when speaking French, and partly because many gestures are not commonly taught in French classes. Among the dozens of gestures and facial expressions in my lessons, there are ten that really stand out.

Fun with French: Top 10 French Gestures originally appeared on About.com French Language on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 12:00:00.

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French verb of the week: consid�rer

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:00:21 +0000

Learn simple verb conjugations, see similarly conjugated verbs (if any), and learn more with links to related lessons for this common French verb.
French verb conjugator

Mot du jour: chevet
Learn a new French word every weekday!
More: French vocabulary | Daily French

French verb of the week: consid�rer originally appeared on About.com French Language on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 06:00:21.

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Je m'appelle : French Names

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:00:15 +0000

Read an introduction to French names and a list of more than 200 common names (complete with sound files and English equivalents) and find out about their popularity as well as their origins and meanings.
More: French introductions

Je m'appelle : French Names originally appeared on About.com French Language on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 12:00:15.

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French quiz: Past conditional

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:00:00 +0000

If you had known how to use the French past conditional, you would have already passed this test. See how you do with this little quiz, or take a look at the lesson to review.
More French Tests

Mot du jour: bandant
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More: French vocabulary | Daily French

French quiz: Past conditional originally appeared on About.com French Language on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 06:00:00.

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French grammar: Interrogative adjectives

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:00:42 +0000

Sometimes French grammar is much stricter than English grammar. A simple question like "What book do you want?" is technically incorrect, because in proper English, the question should be "Which book do you want?" In reality, the former is much more common than the latter. In French, however, one does not have this option: the French equivalent of which, quel, must be used whenever there is more than one noun that you are choosing between.
More: French adjectives | Asking questions

French grammar: Interrogative adjectives originally appeared on About.com French Language on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 12:00:42.

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L'huile d'olive � vierge extra �

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:00:22 +0000

Vous savez probablement que la meilleure qualit� d'huile d'olive est vierge extra. En fait ce label n'est pas une question de saveur mais de conditions requises. Le logo vierge extra* garantit que l'huile :

est issue d'une premi�re pression � froid
a moins de 0,8 % d'acidit�
n'a aucun d�faut**

Vous voyez qu'il n'y a aucune condition de go�t, d'ar�me, de consistance... Il y a beaucoup d'huiles d'olive qui correspondent � ces conditions et qui sont donc labellis�es l�gitimement vierge extra, mais qui ne sont pas tr�s savoureuses. Par contre, notre huile pr�f�r�e, la � fruit�e noire � de Haut Jasson, n'a que le label vierge parce que les olives sont (d�lib�r�ment) ferment�es avant la pression. Le go�t est merveilleux, mais la fermentation (le chom�) est consid�r�e comme un d�faut.

*Ce label est une garantie de l'International Olive Council, dont les �tats-Unis ne sont pas membre. Il y a d'autres organisations aux USA, mais la participation est � titre volontaire. Bref, le gouvernement am�ricain ne d�finit pas � vierge extra �, ce qui veut dire que le label peut �tre mis sur n'importe quelle huile dans ce pays. Comme toujours, il faut se renseigner (mot du jour).

**Les principaux d�fauts :

le chom� (fermentation des olives en tas)
le lies (fermentation des particules de pulpe dans les huiles non filtr�es)
le moisi (d� � des olives moisies)
le rance (oxydation due � mauvaise conservation)
le vineux (impression de vinaigrette)

Et encore : Essayez-vous aux jeux de traductions sur les forums : Niveau d�butant | Niveau confirm�

Voil� - c'est la fin de cette s�rie d'articles :
1) Visite guid�e d'une oliveraie
2) Les olives et les huiles d'olive
3) L'huile d'olive � extra vierge �

English translation Read more...

L'huile d'olive � vierge extra � originally appeared on About.com French Language on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 03:00:22.

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French vocabulary: Expressions with Trouver

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:00:09 +0000

The French verb trouver literally means to find, and is also used in a number of idiomatic expressions. Learn how to talk about seeing fit to do something, fainting, meeting one's match, and more with this list of expressions with trouver.
More: French expressions

French vocabulary: Expressions with Trouver originally appeared on About.com French Language on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 12:00:09.

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Mot du jour: boum

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:00:53 +0000

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More: French vocabulary | Daily French

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Mot du jour: boum originally appeared on About.com French Language on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 03:00:53.

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