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FRENCH – VOCAB 2014
Table of Contents LIST OF REFLEXIVE VERBS ................................................................................................................ 2
TIME REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................. 3
HOBBIES/LES HOBBYS/PASSE-TEMPS ............................................................................................ 4
TRANSLATING: BECAUSE................................................................................................................... 5
DEBATING, EXPRESSING OPINIONS AND ARGUING: DÉBATTRE ................................................ 6
EMOTIONS ........................................................................................................................................... 10
MEANINGS OF ALORS QUE .............................................................................................................. 11
QUANTITIES (GENERAL) ................................................................................................................... 12
QUANTITIES (SHOPPING/FOOD/DRINK) .......................................................................................... 14
TRANSLATING TO VIST/TO STAY ..................................................................................................... 15
TRANSLATING TO BRING & TO TAKE ............................................................................................. 16
USING PASSER ................................................................................................................................... 17
USING FALLOIR (TO HAVE TO) – [VS DEVOIR]............................................................................... 19
ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH ................................................................................................................ 22
PRONOUNCING PLUS ........................................................................................................................ 27
FRENCH SLANG EXPRESSIONS ....................................................................................................... 29
TALKING ABOUT THE WEATHER IN FRENCH ................................................................................ 32
COMMONLY CONFUSED WORDS: CONDUIRE VS.ROULER (TO DRIVE) .................................... 33
COMMONLY CONFUSED WORDS: ÉCRIRE VS. RÉDIGER (TO WRITE) ....................................... 34
COMMONLY CONFUSED WORDS: NAGER VS. SE BAIGNER (TO SWIM) .................................... 35
COMMONLY CONFUSED WORDS: SEMBLER VS. PARAÎTRE (TO SEEM/APPEAR).................. 36
COMMONLY CONFUSED WORDS: VENIR VS. ARRIVER (TO COME/ARRIVE) ........................... 37
TRANSLATING : EARLY, LATE & ON TIME ...................................................................................... 38
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LIST OF REFLEXIVE VERBS
s’adorer to adore something
s’aimer to love something
s’apercevoir to see something
s’appeler to be named
s’attendre à to wait for
s’écrire to write to someone
s’eloigner to move oneself away
s’embrasser to kiss someone
s’en aller to go away
s’endormir to fall asleep
s’énerver to be annoyed
s’ennuyer to be bored
s’enrhumer to get a cold
s'entendre to get along
s’habiller/se déshabiller
to get dressed/undressed
s’habituer a to get used to
s’habituer à to get used to
s’imaginer to imagine
s’installer to settle in
s’intéresser à to be interested in
s'aimer to love each other
s'amuser to have fun
s'appeler to be called
s'arrêter to stop
s'asseoir to sit down
se baigner to bathe
se brosser to brush
se coiffer to fix one’s hair
se comprendre to understand someone
se connaître to know each other
se coucher to go to bed
se coucher to go to bed
se couper to cut oneself
se demander to wonder
se dépêcher to hurry
se détester to hate each other
se dire speak to each other
se disputer to argue
se doubter to suspect
se fâcher to get angry
se fatiguer to tire
se fier/se méfier to trust/to distrust
se figurer to imagine, picture
se laver to wash oneself
se lever to get up
se maquiller to apply makeup
se marier to get married
se mettre à to begin to
se moquer to make fun of
se moucher to blow one’s nose
se noyer to drown
se parler to talk to each other
se passer to happen
se peigner to comb
se perdre to get lost
se plaindre to complain
se promener to take a walk
se promettre to promise someone
se quitter to leave each other
se raser to shave
se refuser de to deny oneself
se regarder to look at each other
se rencontre to meet someone
se rendre à to go to
se rendre compte de
to realise
se reposer to rest
se retrouver to meet each other
se réveiller to wake up
se rêver to dream
se sentir to feel
se servir to make use of
se soûler to get drunk
se sourire to smile at someone
se souvenir de to remember
se taire to be quiet
se téléphoner to phone someone
se tromper to be mistaken
se trouver to be (situated)
se trouver to be located
se voir to see each other
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TIME REFERENCES
En ce moment at this time
Avant before
Quand j'étais plus jeune when I was younger
Aujourd'hui today
Hier yesterday
Demain tomorrrow
ils avant-hier day before yesterday`
après-demain day after tomorrow
Maintenant right now
Auparavant beforehand
A l’heure actuelle at present
Par le passé historically
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HOBBIES/LES HOBBYS/PASSE-TEMPS Quelqu’un qui…
est passionné de bandes dessinées comics
s’intéresse à la photographie photograph
apprend des langue learn languages
ne fait jamais la grasse matinée lie-ins
fait des arts martiaux martial arts
adore jardiner gardening
va souvent en boîte go to (night)clubs
écrit write
sort avec des amis tous les week-ends go out with friends
s’intéresse à l’astrologie astrology
faire de la randonnes
jouer du piano/etudier le piano/je etudie du piano play/listen to (the) piano
le chasse hunting
au/à la = games or sports (teams) Du/de la = something you can do alone To play…
JOUER
AU
FOOT
TENNIS
BASKET
RUGBY
POKER
à LA PÉTANQUE
AUX CARTES
FLÉCHETTES (darts)
JEUX VIDEO
DU PIANO
VIOLON
SAXOPHONE
DE LA
GUITAIRE
FLÛTE
BATTERIE
TROMPETTE
FAIRE
DU
YOGA
VÉLO
SKI
DE LA NATATION
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TRANSLATING: BECAUSE
French has three ways to say BECAUSE.
I. CAR
ONLY used mid-sentence
Usually used in formal, written French
E.g. La réunion fut annulée car le président est malade (The meeting was cancelled cause the chairman is sick)
II. PARCE QUE
used mid-sentence; or
can start a sentence
E.g. Parce qu'il n'a pas d'argent, il ne peut pas venir.(Because he doesn't have any money, he can't come)
III. PISQUE
means since or because
can begin a sentence or be used mid-sentence
gives an obvious explanation or justification, rather than a cause
E.g. Puisque c'était son erreur, il m'a aidé (Since it was his mistake, he helped me)
COMME also means since
IV. A CAUSE DE
means “as a result of”/because of/due to
à cause de
blames someone or something for a negative situation
when the DE is followed by a definite article LE OR LES, the is a contraction to DE/DES
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DEBATING, EXPRESSING OPINIONS AND ARGUING: DÉBATTRE Donner son avis: Giving your opinion
HEALTH WARNING: expressing negative beliefs with QUE = need to use subjonctif
__
Giving your opinion
D’après moi In my opinion
Selon moi
à mon avis
il semble que + subjonctif It seems that
Bien sûr que It’s certainly the case that
Il faut que + subjonctif It’s necessary that
On dit que It is said that
Je trouve que I find that
Je crois que I believe that
Je pense que I think that
Oui, moi aussi Yes, me too
Non, moi non plus I don’t agree/Me neither
Indicatif + subjunctive
Je ne crois pas…
Il faut que
Il semble que E.g.
Je crois que les tatouages sont intéressants
Je ne crois pas que les tatouages soient intéressants
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Disagreement: sentence starters
On sait que Everyone knows that
Ent tant que As a, (in my capacity as)
D’ailleurs (PRON: “dyer”) By the way
C’est à dire que That is to say…
Par rapport à Regarding…
En effect.. As a matter of fact, actually
Car Because (only used mid-sentence)
Parce-que Because (at start or mid-setence)
Je ne partage pas l’avis de I don’t share the point of view of…
Il est vrai que…., mais It’s true that…, but…
Par contre On the other hand
Par consequent Consequently
Vouz avez tort/raison You are wrong/right
Bien que + subjonctif Even though
Alors que + indicatif Whereas/Just when/as/Although
Tandis que Whereas/while
Il s’agit de It’s a question of…
Vous devriez + cond You should
Il est nécessaire que + subj. It’s necessary that
Il faut que + subj. It’s necessary that
Il faudrait que + subj. It would be necessary that
Il est primordial que + subj. It’s of overriding importance that
Il serait bien que + subj It would be good that
Vous pourriez… You could (vous)
Tu pourrais You could (tu)
Sentence openers
en effet
mais
aussi
même
premièrement
deuxièmement
troisièmement
d’abord
ensuite
enfin
sûrement
certainement
Addition
De plus
Puis
En outre
Non seulement… mais encore Alternative
Ou/Ou bien
D’un côté… de l’autre But
Pour
De peur de + infinitif
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Cause
Car
En effet
Comme
Parce que
Puisque
Etant donné que
Grâce à Compare
Comme
De même que
Ainsi que / Concession
Malgré
Alors que
Tandis que
Même si
Toutefois Conclusion
En conclusion
Pour conclure
Donc
En résumé
En un mot
Finalement / Enfin Condition
Si
Probablement
Sans doute Conséq
Donc
Alors
Par conséquent
C’est pourquoi
De façon que Timings
D’abord
Tout d’abord
En premier/2ème, 3éme lieu
En dernier lieu
Premièrement
Deuxièmement
Après
Ensuite
De plus
Puis
Pour conclure
Enfin
Explication
C’est-à-dire
Illustration
Par exemple
Entre autre
En particulier Liaison
D’ailleurs
En fait (in realtà)
En effet Opposition
Mais
Cependant
En revanche
Pourtant
Par contre
Tandis que
Au contraire /Au lieu de
Malgre tout
Temps
Quand
Lorsque
Comme
Avant que
Après qu
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apprécier que to appreciate that j’apprécie que
avoir honte que to be ashamed that j’ai honte que
il est honteux que it is shameful that
avoir peur que* to be afraid that j’ai peur que
craindre que* to fear that je crains que
déplorer que to deplore that je déplore que
être content que to be happy that je suis content que
être désolé que to be sorry that
être étonné que to be amazed that
être heureux/heureuse que to be happy that
être surpris que to be surprised that
être triste que to be sad that
il est bizarre que it is odd that
il est bon que it is good that
il est dommage que it is too bad that
il est étonnant que it is amazing that
il est étrange que it is strange that
il est heureux que it is fortunate that
il est inutile que it is useless that
il est rare que it is rare that
il est regrettable que it is regrettable that
il est surprenant que it is surprising that
il est utile que it is useful that
redouter que* to dread that
regretter que to regret that
se réjouir que to be delighted that je me suis réjouis que
*These verbs are followed by the ne explétif: Je crains qu’il ne parte. I’m afraid he’ll leave.
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EMOTIONS
Bof !
Ça m’est égal!
C’est scandaleux!
C’est dégoûtant !
Beurk!
C’est atroce!
C’est génial
C’est nul !
C’est inadmissible!
C’est super!
C’est choquant!
J’adore!
C’est lamentable!
Je ne supporte pas ça!
Quelle horreur!
C’est complètement débile!
Ça me laisse indifférent!
Passionnant!
Je détester que
J’adore que
J’aime
Je préfère
Quand je m’ennuie = when I’m bored
Ça ne m’interesse = it doesn’t interest me
Je suis pour (+ object/subject) = I’m for…
Je suis triste (la tristesse) = I’m sad (sadness)
Le surprise
La joie = joy
Le regret
La peur = fear
Le dégout = dislike/disgust
Le souhait = the wish
Le désir = desire
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MEANINGS OF ALORS QUE 'Alors que' in French has many different meanings: I. 'CONJONCTION DE TEMPS
meaning juste au moment où ) = just when
meaning au moment où ) = as / ( meaning pendant que ) = while / whilst Examples
alors qu'il montait dans le bus, ... As he was getting onto the bus, .
alors qu'il effectuait son doctorat , ... : while doing his PhD II. CONJUNCTION DE CONTRASTE, D'OPPOSITION
tandis que = whereas / while Example
Elle est brune alors que sa soeur est blonde.
III. CONJUNCTION OF CONCESSION
Synonym: bien que
although /though Example
Nos ventes globales ont baissé de 3% alors que nos ventes à l'export ont elles progressé de 7.
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QUANTITIES (GENERAL)
RULE
BEAUCOUP + DE/D' + NOM + nom masc/fém (singl/pluriel)
Table of adverbs
assez (de) quite, fairly, enough
autant (de) as much, as many
beaucoup (de) a lot, many
bien de* quite a few
combien (de) how many, much
davantage/plus (de) more
encore de* more
environ around, approx
la majorité de* the majority of
la minorité de* the minority of
moins (de) less, fewer
un nombre de a number of
pas mal de quite a few
(un) peu (de) few, little, not very
la plupart de* most
plus (de) more
une quantité de a lot of
seulement only
si so
tant (de) so much, so many
tellement so
très very
trop (de) too much, too many
__
RULE: "DE" FOLLOWS THE ADVERB (BUT NOT THE DEFINITE ARTICLE)
E.g.
beaucoup de soupe
plus de jambon
assez d'oranges
Adverbs of quantity (except très) are followed by de + noun. When this happens, the noun
usually does not have an article in front of it (as above).
__
RULE: WHEN IS THE DEFINITE ARTICLE USED?
1. The starred adverbs in the table above are always followed by the definite article.
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2. When the noun after de refers to specific people or things, the definite article is used and contracts
with de.
E.g.
Beaucoup des problèmes sont graves - A lot of the problems are serious.
- Specific problems, not general problems.
Peu des étudiants de Thierry sont ici - Few of Thierry's students are here.
- there's a specific group of students, not students in general.
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QUANTITIES (SHOPPING/FOOD/DRINK)
QUANTITY + DE + NOUN (W/O ARTICLE)
E.g.
RIGHT: un kilo(gramme) de pommes
WRONG : un kilo des pommes
une assiette de plate of
une boîte de can, box, tin
une bouteille de bottle
une cannette de a drinks can
un carton de box
un côtlette de porc pork cutlette
une cuillère à soupe de tablespoon
un cuillère de (cwuyear) spoon of
une douzaine de a dozen
50 grammer de 50 grams of
une cuillère à thé de teaspoon
un kilogramme de kg
un kilo de kilogram
un litre de liter
une livre de pound
un monreau de a piece of
un paquet de a bag/packet of
un pichet de a pinch of
un plat de dish/platter
un pot de jar, cup
un rôti de bœuf a joint of beef
un pouce inch
une tablette de chocolat chocolate bar
une tasse de cup
un tranche de a slice of
un verre de glass
Voilà !
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TRANSLATING TO VIST/TO STAY Vocab options
French English Auxiliary Passé composée When used ?
se passer to go by Etre Passé(e)s Les vacances se sont passés sans problem
passer to spend/stay (time)
Avoir Passé E.g. nous allons passer deux semaines en France (We're going to spend two weeks in France)
rester to stay Etre Resté(e) Je suis resté
aller voir to stay with Etre Je suis allé(e) voir des amis/chez des amis
séjourner to stay PLACE, e.g. hotel/resort
Un séjour = a stay (e.g bon séjour !)
visiter to visit Avoir J’ai visité THINGS: Visting monuments/churches
une visite a visit PLACE
une visite guidée
guided tour PLACE: La visite du musée dure 15 minutes. (The museum visit lasts 15 minutes.)
un séjour a visit PERSON: Son séjour chez nous durera 3 jours (your visit at our’s will last 3 days)
rendre visite to visit Avoir J’ai rendu visité PEOPLE : Visiting friends - Je rends visite à Anne
PLACES : Je me suis rendu à la bibliothèque"
aller voir to visit Etre Je suis allé(e) voir…
PEOPLE: Je suis allé(e) voir des amis/chez des amis
aller à to go Etre Je suis allé(e) TOWNS, PLACES
futur proche going to go Etre Je vais aller
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TRANSLATING TO BRING & TO TAKE
TO BRING
In French there are two words.
AMENER PEOPLE/ANIMALS/VEHICLES
APPORTER FOR OBJECTS (things that are carried)
Examples
J’ai amené mon frère à la fête. I brought my brother to the party.
J’ai apporté mon livre à la fête. I brought my book to the party.
TO TAKE
EMPORTER FOR OBJECTS (things that are carried)
EMMENER PEOPLE/ANIMALS/VEHICLES
Examples
J'ai emmené mon frère à la fête. I took my brother to the party.
J'ai emporté mon livre à la fête. I took my book to the party.
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USING PASSER
VARIOUS MEANINGS
to pass by
to go to do something
to come to do something
to pass/cross/go through something
to spend time
se passer: to take place
NOTE: may be conjugated with avoir or être in the compound tenses, depending on whether it is transitive (has a direct object) or intransitive.
Transitive vs Intransitive
The difference is in the object (noun following the verb).
If there is no object / a preposition separates the verb and object, the verb is intransitive (e.g. Je suis passé devant la porte).
If there's no preposition, it's transitive (e.g. J'ai passé la porte).
TO PASS BY
When & how ?
With no direct object, passer means "to pass,"
requires être in the compound tenses.
Examples
Le train va passer dans cinq minutes Nous sommes passés devant la porte à midi
TO SPEND TIME
As a time reference “passer” means "to spend":
Examples
Nous allons passer deux semaines en France J'ai passé trois mois sur ce livre
TO GO/COME TO DO SOMETHING
When & how
This is the meaning when PASSER is followed by an infinitive.
Examples
Je vais passer te voir demain Pouvez-vous passer acheter du pain?
TO PASS/CROSS/GO THROUGH
When & how
When passer is transitive (i.e. has a direct object), it means "to pass/cross/go through"
requires avoir in the compound tenses.
Examples
On doit passer la rivière avant le coucher du soleil
Il a déjà passé la porte = He has already gone through the door
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SE PASSER
MEANS
"to take place"
"to happen"
"to go by" (referencing time)
Qu'est-ce qui se passe? = What's going on?
Tout s'est bien passé = Everything went smoothly
Deux jours se sont passés = Two days went by
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USING FALLOIR (TO HAVE TO) – [VS DEVOIR]
Why is this verb important?
Having previously (briefly) studied the subjunctive via learning the phrase “il faut que…” (it’s necessary that…) we have taken a step back and been studying “il faut + infinitive). This confused me.
Lesson: to avoid using the subjunctive but
What does “FALLOIR” mean?
to have to
to (strongly) need to
How is it used?
only used in the third person singular: IL FAUT
followed by an infinitive, the subjunctive, or a noun
When followed by an infinitive or noun, it may be used with an indirect object pronoun to indicate who or what needs whatever comes next
o e.g. "il me faut écouter plus souvent à la français"
Il faut + infinitive = it’s necessary…
Il faut que + subjunctive = It must be done o e.g. "Il faut que j’y aille moi maintenant!" (I need to be going myself now (aller
in subjunctive for je)
The difference between FALLOIR and DEVOIR
Both mean “to have to”/“must” but FALLOIR is stronger than DEVOIR.
Je dois… Nous devons… J’ai dû… (passé composé)
Tu dois… Vous devez…
Il/On doit… Ils doivent…
NB. DEVOIR + à can also mean to owe (e.g. Je dois de l’argent à John = I owe John some money)
Avoid using “devoir” where the necessity involves money because that will cause confusion with the translation “to owe”, e.g. use “ll te faut de l’argent/tu as besoin d’argent” to say “you need money”
Alternatives are “être necessaire” or “avoir besoin” to suggest “need to”
To sound more French, use FALLOIR
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Options
Each sentence belows conveys «I have to/need to go to the bank»
Je dois aller à la banque (devoir)
Il faut que j'aille à la banque (subjunctive)
Il me faut aller à la banque (infinitive)
Conjugation
Present tense: il faut
Conditional: Il faudrait
Imperfect: il fallait
Future: il faudra
Passé composée il a fallut
Examples
INFINITIVE: Il faut partir = It's necessary to leave
Il faut manger = It's necessary to eat
Il nous faut manger = We have to eat
SUBJUNCTIVE: Il faut que nous partions = We have to leave
NOUN: Il faut de l'argent pour faire ça = It's necessary to have money to do that
Il faut une voiture = It's necessary to have a car
Il me faut une voiture = I need a car
Just to complicate it a bit more
Take this example: ‘Bonjour, vous savez déjà tout ce qu’il vous faudra?’, meaning ‘Good morning, do you know everything you want already?’ However, it literally means ‘do you already know what will be necessary to you?’
This is a good example of how common falloir is in everyday French
Expressions with Falloir
ce qu'il faut what is needed
Il a bien fallu ! I/We/They had to!
s'il le faut if (it's) necessary
Faudrait voir à voir (informal) Come on! Come off it!
Il faut ce qu'il faut (informal) You've got to do things right
Il va falloir que ça change That’s going to have to change.
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S'en falloir
Meaning: to be missing or short of something
i.e "this action did not occur because something was missing":
Tu as raté son appel, il s'en est fallu de 10 minutes = You missed his call by 10 minutes
Je n'ai pas perdu, mais il s'en est fallu de peu = I very nearly lost (I didn't lose, but it was close)
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ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH
exhaust fumes/emissions gaz d’échappement (m/pl) higher
harmful dangereux / mauvais
on foot à pied
pollution pollution (f)
reduction réduction (f)
to harm, damage endommager
harmful dangereux
unleaded sans plomb higher
noise / noisy bruit (m) / bruyant
environment l’environnement (m)
environmentally friendly bon pour l’environnement
environmentally unfriendly mauvais pour l’environnement
habit habitude (f)
to give up abandonner
to recycle recycler
le recyclage recycling
to save économiser
to stop arrêter
to try essayer
unhealthy malsain/e
balanced équilibré
breathing difficulties problèmes respiratoires (m/pl)
overdose surdose (m)
poverty pauvreté (f)
recycling recyclage (m)
smell odeur (f)
smoker’s cough toux de fumeur (f)
to compost rubbish faire du compost
to contribute to contribuer
to resist temptation résister à la tentation
to succumb to tempation succomber (à la tentation)
to separate/sort the rubbish trier
l'eau polluée polluted water
l'eau salée salt water
l'eau potable drinking water
consommer to consume
nos réserves our reserves
s'épuiser to become exhausted
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peu à peu little by little
l'effet de serre the greenhouse effect
las gaz a effet de serre greenhouse effect
la disparition de certaines espèces animales
the extinction of some animal species
devenir to become
l'atmosphère the atmosphere
les écosystèmes the ecosystem
(re)utiliser to (re)use
la terre the earth
inutilisable unusable
un geste a gesture
trier to separate/sort the rubbish
anodin trivial
ramasser to pick up
détruire to destroy (used for rubbish breaking down in landfill)
étouffer un oiseau to suffocate a bird
flotter to float
l’industrie pétrolière oil industry
limiter la distribution en invitant leurs clients à les réutiliser,
to limit distribution and encourage reuse
les interdire purement et simplement to purely/simply ban
les remplacé par des sacs en matières biodégradables
the replacement with biodegradable materials
La solution n’est-elle donc pas plutôt d’éduquer nos compatriotes au respect de l’environnement
the simple solution is to educate people to respect the environment
ramasser le sac qui s’envole/les déchets to pick up dropped bags/rubbish
l'énergie (nucléaire / solaire) energy (nuclear/solar)
une centrale nucléaire a nuclear power station
les déchets nucléaire nuclear waste
l'écologie ecology
une marée noire oil slick
la pluie acide acid rain
une bombe aérosol aerosol spray
l'essence sans plomb lead free petrol
la culture biologique organic farming
la protection protection
la chasse hunting
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les déchets nucléaires nuclear waste
les combustibles fossiles fossil fuels
les CFCs CFCs
les espèces menacées endangered species
des énergies douces safe energy sources
polluer to pollute
sauvegarder to safegard
protéger to protect
la fonte melting
les glaciers icebergs
pour protéger la monde to protect the world
la réchauffement de la planète global warming
la surpopulation de la planète overpopulation of the world
la déforestation deforestation
les déchets rubbish/waste
les panneaux solaires solar palnes
les éoliennes wind turbines
le trou dans la couche d’ozone the hole in the ozone layer
l’empriente carbone carbon footprint
nuire à to harm
préserver to preserve
le rechauffement de la terre global warming
le gaspillage wastage
un groupe de pression a pressure group
le monde the world
un arbre a tree
une feuille a leaf
un arbuste a bush
la nature nature
le climat climate
le réchauffement climatique global warming
l'écologie ecology
l'océan (m.) the ocean
la mer the sea
un lac a lake
un étang a pond
un glacier a glacier
fondre to melt
geler to freeze
une montagne a mountain
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une vallé, un val a valley
un fleuve a river
une rivière a river
l'herbe grass
une fleur a flower
la plage the beach
une légume a vegetable
organique organic
la forêt the forest
la marée the tide
le marais the marsh, swamp
le paysage the landscape
la campagne the countryside
réduire to reduce
réutiliser to reuse
recycler to recycle
le recyclage recycling
une ressource a resource
naturel/naturelle natural
renouvelable renewable
l'atmosphère (m.) the atmosphere
la pollution pollution
polluer to pollute
la couche d'ozone the ozone layer
l'eau (f.) water
un jardin a garden
une plante a plant
le sol the ground, soil
semer to plant, to sow
un nuage a cloud
une tempête a storm
gaspiller to waste
le monoxyde de carbone carbon monoxide
l'oxygène (f.) oxygen
vert/verte green
émettre to emit
le plastique plastic
le verre glass
le caoutchouc rubber
émettre to emit
produire produce
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Health related vocab on the environment
ill malade
low-fat allégé
non - alcoholic non alcoolisé
non-smoker non fumeur (m)
organic bio(logique)
smoker fumeur(m) / fumeuse (f)
stressed stressé
stressful stressant
to exercise, work out, practise s’entraîner / faire de l’exercice
to keep fit garder la forme
cold rhume (m)
cough toux (f)
dependent dépendant
drug addict drogué/e
drug advice centre centre des addictions (m)
drug(s) drogues (f/pl)
fast food fast-food (m)
fizzy drinks boissons sucrées (f/pl)
organic food nourriture bio (f)
Useful Expressions On devrait réutiliser nos sacs du marché; c'est meilleur pour l'environnement. We should reuse our bags from the market; it's better for the environment. Si on grimpe une montagne, le climat au sommet sera plus froid et il y aura moins d'oxygène. If one climbs a mountain, the climate at the top will be colder and there will be less oxygen. Un lac, un océan, une mer, un fleuve, et étang son tous des corps d'eau. A lake, an ocean, a sea, a river, and a pond are all bodies of water. Je pousse un jardin plein de légumes organiques. I am growing a garden full of organic vegetables. Le plastique n'est pas une ressource renouvelable, donc il faut éviter ce produit autant que possible. Plastic is not a renewable resource, so we must avoid this product as much as possible. Il faut que / Il ne faut pas que qu’on…
réduise les gaz à effet de serre
recycle plus
fait il covoiturage (car sharing)
utilise les énergies renouvelables
utilise les transports en communes
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PRONOUNCING PLUS
Plus has different pronunciations, depending on how it's used.
je voudrais plus MORE
je (ne) voudrais plus de NO MORE
non plus NEITHER/NOT EITHER
ne….plus que
-
ADVERB USAGE
W/O the "S" : ploO
With the "S" : plooS
-
POSITIVE USAGE: pronounce the "S"
means e.g. more, extra, additional
E.g. Je veux plus de beurre. = I want more butter. Il y aura plus de choix demain. = There will be additional choices tomorrow. J'ai plus de 1 000 livres.= I have more than 1,000 books.
NEGATIVE USAGE: don't pronounce the "S"
meaning "no more"
Ne ... plus
Ne is often omitted in spoken, informal French
E.g.
Je ne le veux plus. = I don't want it any more. Je ne veux plus de beurre. = I don't want any more butter. Plus de beurre, merci.** = No more butter, thank you.
Expressions where plus is negative without ne, because there is no verb for ne to negate (normally at the beginning of a clause
Plus besoin (de) - (there's) no more need (to/of)
Plus de + noun - (there's) no more + noun
Plus maintenant - not any more, not any longer
Plus que + noun - (there are) only ___ more
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Non plus means "neither" or "not ... either"
Je n'aime pas les pommes non plus = I don't like apples either.
Je n'ai pas de montre. = I don't have a watch
Moi non plus ! = Me neither!
Ne ... plus que = "only" or "nothing more than"
Il n'y a plus que miettes.There are only crumbs (left). Y a-t-il des pommes ? = Are there any apples? - Plus qu'une.** = Only one.- - Ne ... pas plus means "no more than" (pretty much the same thing as ne ... plus que) Il n'y a pas plus de 3 médecins. There are no more than 3 doctors. - Puis-je emprunter un stylo ? - Je n'en ai pas plus d'un. - Can I borrow a pen? - I only have one.
Comparative/superlative adverb
Plus as a comparative or superlative adverb is the exception to the above rules. When the comparative or superlative plus is in the middle of a sentence, it is pronounced [ploo], unless it precedes a vowel, in which case the liaison causes it to be pronounced [plooz]. When plus is at the end of a sentence, as in the final example, it is pronounced [ploos].
Plus ... que or plus ... de indicates superiority in comparatives and can compare adjectives Je suis plus grand qu'elle. I'm taller than she is. adverbs Je cours plus vite qu'elle. I run faster than she does. nouns J'ai plus d'amis qu'elle. I have more friends than she does. verbs Je cours plus qu'elle. I run more than she does. Le plus or le plus de indicates superiority in superlatives and can compare adjectives Je suis le plus grand étudiant. I'm the tallest student. adverbs Je cours le plus vite. I run the fastest. nouns J'ai le plus d'amis. I have the most friends. verbs Je cours le plus. I run the most.
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FRENCH SLANG EXPRESSIONS
Ca gaz? (Is it gassing?) How’s it going?
C’est pas terrible (It’s not terrible) It isn’t that great.
Et patati et patata (And blah, blah, blah,) When someone won’t stop talking.
Un froid de canard (A duck’s cold) It’s extremely cold outside.
Faire la grasse matinée (Doing the fat morning) Sleeping in.
Avoir une araignée au plafond (Having a spider on the ceiling)
The ceiling refers to a person’s head and means that he/she is a little odd but that it doesn’t bother anyone.
Rentrer bredouille (Returning bredouille) There’s no real translation for the word bredouille but it means returning empty-handed.
Tomber à pic (Falling at the peak) To arrive at just the right time.
Avoir les yeux plus gros que le ventre (Having eyes bigger than the stomach)
This refers to a person whose desire for food was larger than their stomach and they end up overeating or not being able to finish the food on their plate.
Mettre la charrue avant les bœufs (Placing the plow before the oxen)
This is similar to the phrase “Putting the cart before the horse” and has the same meaning.
Bête comme un chou (Dumb like a cabbage) Refers to a person who is dumb, similar to the expression “Dumber than a sack of hammers/rocks.”
Avoir le feu au derrière (Having fire on your behind)
To be in a hurry.
Donner sa langue au chat (To give one’s tongue to the cat)
To give up or to stop guessing.
Avoir d’autres chat à fouetter (Having other cats to whip)
Similar to “Having bigger fish to fry” meaning having other things to do.
Boire un coup/Prendre un verre (Drink a blow/Take a glass)
To have a drink.
Avoir le cafard (Having the cockroach) Feeling down or depressed.
Être dans de beaux draps (Being in nice sheets)
Being in a mess.
Dormir sur les deux oreilles (Sleeping on both ears)
Sleeping well, having restful sleep.
Vieux/Vieille comme Hérode (Old like Herod) Referring to King Herod in the Bible, this simply refers to a very elderly person.
À fond la caisse (At full throttle) To go real fast, especially in a vehicle.
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Pousser comme un champignon (Growing like a mushroom)
When something grows rapidly, usually in reference to children or to plants.
Bon vent! (Good wind!) Farewell
Quelle galère! (What a galley!) It’s a pain/It’s a real grind!
Tirer les vers du nez (Pulling the worms out of the nose)
Dragging something out of someone.
Avoir une faim de loup (Having a wolf’s hunger) To be famished.
La croix et la bannière Something that is difficult to achieve.
À tes souhaits! (To your wishes) Bless you!
Se mettre le doigt dans l’œil (To put your finger in your eye)
To be fooling oneself.
Le coup de foudre (The strike/bolt of lightning) Love at first sight.
Se faire du mouron (To do the ‘mouron’) To be worried sick.
C’est kif-kif (It’s ‘kif-kif’) It’s all the same.
Ne pas se moucher du coude (Not blowing your nose with your elbow)
To think highly of oneself.
La moutarde lui monte au nez (The mustard rises to his/her nose)
He/she is losing his/her temper.
Au nez et à la barbe (At the nose and at the beard)
Right under someone’s nose.
Il n’y a pas le feu (There’s no fire) Telling someone to slow down or to be patient.
Avoir un chat dans la gorge (Having a cat in the throat)
Unable to speak freely/having a frog in one’s throat.
Faire la pluie et le beau temps (Making rain and good weather)
Calling the shots.
Sourd comme un pot (Deaf like a pot) As deaf as a post.
Pleurer comme un madeleine (Crying like a ‘madeleine’)
To cry one’s eyes out.
Se regarder le nombril (To gaze at one’s navel) To be self-centered.
Il fait un temps de chien! (It a dog time!) It’s very bad weather!
Coincer le bulle (Trapping the bubble) Not doing anything, relaxing.
Par monts et par vaux On the move.
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Avoir les dents longues (Having long teeth) Being very ambitious.
Casser sa pipe (Breaking one’s pipe) Dying.
Tuer la poule aux œufs d’or trade long term benefits for immediate profits.
Avoir le nez creux (Having a hollow nose) Having good intuition.
Être un as (Being an ace) Being the best at something.
Boire du petit lait (Drinking little milk) To feel satisfied upon receiving compliments.
Pot aux roses (Pot of roses) A secret or a mystery.
À tombeau ouvert (At open tomb) Going way too fast.
Mettre le feu aux poudres Stirring up trouble.
S’ennuyer comme un rat mort Being very bored.
Clouer le bec (Nailing the beak) Silencing someone.
Garder son sang-froid (Keeping one’s blood
cold)
Remaining calm or maintaining self-control.
Avoir bon dos (Having good back) Being easy to blame.
Le roi n’est pas son cousin (The king is not
his/her cousin)
S/he is happier than a king.
Sucrer les fraises (Sweetening the strawberries) To have shaky hands (referring to the action of
sprinkling sugar on strawberries).
Il n’y a pas un chat (There isn’t a cat) The place is empty or there’s no one here.
Donner carte blanche (Giving the white card) Giving someone authority to do anything.
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TALKING ABOUT THE WEATHER IN FRENCH
Handy vocab
Quel temps fait-il aujourd’hui ? What’s the weather like today?
Le ciel est bas.. It’s overcast
Conjugated Weather Verbs
faire chaud/froid … il/cela/ça fait chaud/froid it’s hot/cold
neiger … il/cela/ça neige it snows/is snowing
pleuvoir … il/cela/ça pleut it rains/is raining
venter … il/cela/ça vente the wind is blowing
verglacer … il/cela/ça verglace there is black ice
Vocabulaire
cloud … m … nuage
cold … m/f … froid/e
cool … m/f … frais/fraîche
dew … f … rosée
drizzle … f … bruine
drought … f … sécheresse
fog … m … brouillard
frost … f … gelée
gust of wind … f … rafale de vent
iced … m/f … glacé/e
lightning … m … éclair
rain … f … pluie
rainbow … m … arc-en-ciel
scorching … m/f … caniculaire
snow … f … neige
storm … m/f … orage, tempête
sun … m … soleil
sunburn … m … coup de soleil
thunder … m … tonnerre
to be cold … ø … faire froid
to be hot … ø … faire chaud
to melt … ø … fondre
to rain … ø … pleuvoir
to sleet … ø … grésiller
to snow … ø … neiger
warm … m/f … chaud/e
weather … m … temps
weather report, forecast …
f … météo(rologie)
wind … m … vent
wind chill factor m … froid ressenti
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COMMONLY CONFUSED WORDS: CONDUIRE VS.ROULER (TO DRIVE) Conduire means "to drive," but only transitively, as in these examples: Je dois conduire ma sœur à l'école. I have to drive my sister to school. Qui va conduire le camion ? Who's going to drive the truck? When talking about driving intransitively, however, the verb you need is rouler: La voiture roulait sur l'accotement. The car was driving on the shoulder. Il roule à 120 km à l'heure. He's driving at 120 km per hour.
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COMMONLY CONFUSED WORDS: ÉCRIRE VS. RÉDIGER (TO WRITE) Écrire refers to the physical act of writing: Il m'a écrit une lettre. He wrote me a letter. Je vais écrire l'adresse. I'm going to write down the address. A more elegant verb that references the creative process rather than the physical act of writing is rédiger. While it is commonly translated by "to write," rédiger is more like "to compose": J'ai rédigé deux articles de journal ce matin. I wrote two newspaper articles this morning. Tu rédiges bien ! You write well! (You're a good writer!)
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COMMONLY CONFUSED WORDS: NAGER VS. SE BAIGNER (TO SWIM) Nager simply means "to swim": Sais-tu nager ? Do you know how to swim? J'aime bien nager en mer. I really like swimming in the sea. Se baigner is less straightforward. While nager hints at a serious sort of activity, such as swimming laps, se baigner is more like "to play in the water," and is much more commonly used: Je vais me baigner cette après-midi. I'm going swimming this afternoon. Il aurait voulu qu'elle sache bien nager pour se baigner avec lui dans la mer. (Marguerite Duras, Un barrage contre le Pacifique) He would have preferred that she know how to swim in order to play in the sea with him. Conjugations: nager | baigner (but remember that se baigner is reflexive)
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COMMONLY CONFUSED WORDS: SEMBLER VS. PARAÎTRE (TO SEEM/APPEAR)
Sembler means "to seem": Elle me semble fatiguée. She seems (looks) tired to me. Il nous semble trop compliqué. That seems too complicated to us. Paraître literally means "to appear." Impersonally, however, it is used far more than sembler to mean "it seems": Il paraît que oui. So it seems, That seems to be the case. Suzanne amène son copain, paraît-il. Suzanne is bringing her boyfriend, it seems.
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COMMONLY CONFUSED WORDS: VENIR VS. ARRIVER (TO COME/ARRIVE)
Venir means "to come": Qui vient à la fête ? Who's coming to the party? Venez avec moi. Come with me. When referring to someone or something that is coming (arriving) right now, the verb arriver is more idiomatic: Le voilà, le train arrive. There it is, the train's coming. J'arrive ! I'm coming, I'm on my way, I'll be right there!
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TRANSLATING : EARLY, LATE & ON TIME
The expressions “to be late”, or “to be early” in French are fairly similar to English, but not direct translations.
To be late Uses the verb to be “être”, and the phrase “en retard” (“in lateness”).
Je suis en retard – I am late.
J’étais en retard – I was late.
To be early
Uses “être” and the phrase for early “en avance” (“in advance”).
Je suis en avance – I am early.
On time
The expression for “I’m on time” uses “être” also, with “à l’heure” (“at the hour”).
Je suis à l’heure – I’m on time.