Kristin Espinasse's Blog, page 50

Stir things up. Submit a French word. Let's write a story

"My torrid night with a Corsican fisherman" (photo of Elle magazine). It is time to stir things up on this blog. What better way than to write a sizzler! Ready? Your job is to submit a French word. My job is to weave a story with your terms (but not on your terms!).

On y va! Let's go! Scroll to the comments link at the end of this post and submit a French word. I will post our story in the next edition. Va-va-voom!

TODAY'S WORD: remuer les choses

        : stir things up, shake things up...

La Mercerie, une astuce beauté + Bonne lecture!

 A popular French toothpaste, and iconic soap, the classic barrette -- check out the MADE IN FRANCE page, where you will find products Francophiles tote home in their suitcase.

TODAY'S WORD: la mercerie

        : haberdashery (items for sewing, couture) , notions store
        : dry goods store

Speak French on your next trip to France with 30 lessons based on real-life conversations.


AUDIO FILE & EXAMPLE SENTENCE

Click here to Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce the following sentence

La m...

Vocabulary Roundup + Listen to all the French words we learned in March

This is our 3rd Vocabulary Roundup for the new year. By now you should be speaking like sailors! Ohé Ohé matelot... let's navigate through all the terms we learned in March. First, take two minutes to relax and listen to Jean-Marc read the list of French words:

Click here to listen to the following list

1. L'Herbe in French & Les Tondeuses de L'Espoir

tasser = pack, press, compress, tamp down
le bourgeon = bud
se régaler = to enjoy, relish
s'apprêter = to get ready (to do something)
ta...

Dents de Sagesse & Purée! + A popular cuss word substitute

Purée! Patricia Wells' latest book is out! Imagine you’re in France with a marvelous teacher… Wells calmly guides readers through essential techniques and offers illustrative “master recipes”. Order "My Master Recipes" here . (Review by Library Journal)

TODAY'S WORD: purée!

    : mushy, mashed, creamy (peas, potatoes, spinach)
    : gee! whoah! oh! jeepers!



EXAMPLE SENTENCE & AUDIO FILE

Jean-Marc pronounce the following  French words, click here

Les exclamations « purée » ou « punaise...

Metal, Bois, Fer - Meet my Belle-soeur! + Bilingual side-by-side text (new!)

Mirrors and coffee tables and a paravent, or screen, made by my belle-soeur, who is a welder, and artisan, and un amour. Read on.

30-Day French will teach you everything you need to know to speak French on your next trip to France with 30 lessons based on real-life conversations. Try it out.

TODAY'S WORD: le fer

        : iron

le chemin de fer = railroad
le fer à repasser = iron (for shirts, slacks, etc)
le bras de fer = the game of arm-wrestling
le fer à cheval = horseshoe

Try Mastering...

In the face of bankruptcy : A creative solution to "resserrer les cordons de la bourse"

A controversial "Salon Mixte" in our area.  Photo (c) Le Phare Barber Shop

TODAY'S WORD : resserrer

    : to close, to tighten, to strengthen

resserrer les cordons de la bourse = to spend less, to tighten the purse strings

Hear it. Click here to listen to Jean-Marc read the following French sentence

Notre ville resserre les cordons de la bourse.
Our town is tightening its purse strings.


Easy French is a bestseller, recommended by readers. Order a copy. 
And in today's story, more ab...

Cinquante: Jean-Marc's birthday and special guests

Jean-Marc turned the big five-oh! Here he is in his childhood stomping grounds: the calanque of Sormiou. You are seeing a nice view into Marseilles, from this angle. In the very background you can almost make out Notre-Dame de la Guard.

TODAY'S WORD: Cinquante

        : Fifty

Il a cinquante ans = He's 50


EXAMPLE SENTENCE & Sound File

Click here and listen to our son, Max, read the following French

L'âge atteint par un quinquagénaire.
The age reached by a 50-year-old

 Master French V...

More smoke--and sizzle! Calanque, Sugiton, sentier, plage naturiste, and les culs nus--scenic French vocabulary :-)

Sugiton calanque--a.k.a. "Les culs nus". I asked friends if the term was okay to share. "Ça depende..." they answered, giving an acceptable, harmless alternative ("Cul-cul" pronounced "kew-kew"). Read on, in today's story, and thanks for sharing this post with a friend.

TODAY'S WORD: la calanque

        : rocky inlet
        : cove
        : creek

Try Mastering French Vocabulary with Audio MP3

Hear Jean-Marc read the following French sentence. Click here.

Dimanche on est parti balader...

Accident, and the French words drame, fumée, cheminee, feu, buche, poumon, respirer

I searched my photo archives for a picture of "fumée" or "feu", when this popped up. (The lace symbolizes smoke and the little red mailbox, fire?) Ah well, it is much prettier than the scene that took place here last night.... (Photo taken in the town of Ramatuelle, France)

TODAY'S WORD: la fumée

        : smoke

panache de fumée = plume of smoke

Try Mastering French Vocabulary with Audio MP3

EXAMPLE SENTENCE:

Listen to Jean-Marc read this sentence in French. Click here

Le drame s'est...

Bilingual Post: Feuille & "third leaf" meaning in French?

From planting the vines to pressing the grapes.... It is a great pleasure today for Jean-Marc to present to you his first Provence rosé. (photo of Jean-Marc and our son Max)

TODAY'S WORD: LA FEUILLE

    : leaf; sheet

EXAMPLE SENTENCE
La vigne commence à donner un peu de fruit dès la troisième feuille (Ampelographie Française)
The vine begins to produce a bit of fruit around the third leaf (cycle).

Click here for the 3 Common Mistakes That Explain Why Some People Quickly Speak and Understa...