French Etc

[that it only hold] This expression has quite a few translations: no problem, no big deal, never mind, well then. These are a few translations.

« Tu [ne] veux pas aller en Provence cet été ? Qu’à cela ne tienne, on ira dans les Pyrénées alors. Et t’aimerais mieux louer un refuge? Qu’à cela ne tienne ! »
“You don’t want to go to Provence this summer? Well, we’ll go to the Pyrenees then. And you’d rather rent a cabin? No problem.”

There are many other expressions on the Web site. Don’t miss them.

That was Anne’s native take on a French expression. Bonne journée française.

Visit frenchetc.org – anne@frenchetc.org – Try our e-tutorials.

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froid ressenti is a new component of our French météo – weather reports. we didn’t used to bother. Now, it’s coming out more and more. It means wind chill factor.

« Vents violents sur l’île de beauté et -10 degrés de froid ressenti. »
“Strong winds on Corsica and 14 degrees with a wind chill factor.”

See our Fahrenheit vs. Celsius worksheet in A Native Take in the Member’s Area.

There are many other expressions on the Web site.

That was Anne’s native take on a French expression. Bonne journée française.

Visit frenchetc.org – anne@frenchetc.org – Try our e-tutorials.

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il faut – verb falloir – to be necessary, to have to – conjugated in the present tense.

« Il faut ce qu’il faut. »
“No skimping.”

Falloir is one of these verbs that is hard to grasp. For instance, do you know the difference between falloir and devoir? Do you known how to finish a sentence with il faut que? Find out on the Grammar pages of the Web site.

FALLOIR is a very funny verb. It is used only in the third person singular – il/ça – an impersonal form.

présent : il faut

imparfait : il fallait

futur : il faudra

There are many other expressions on the Web site. Visit regularly as there are new material added every day.

That was Anne’s native take on a French expression. Bonne journée française.

Visit frenchetc.org – anne@frenchetc.org – Try our e-tutorials.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

faire un carton – to make a cardboard- means to be a real success, to nail it in every day French.

« Le bouquin est en tête de gondole. Il fait un carton. »
“The book is at the aisle end display. It’s a real success.”

This sentence is taken from the Advanced podcast called “La librairie”. Don’t miss visiting it.

présent : je fais un carton, nous faisons un carton

passé composé : j’ai fait un carton, nous avons fait un carton

futur : je ferai un carton, nous ferons un carton

There are many other expressions on the Web site. Visit regularly as there are new stuff added every day.

That was Anne’s native take on a French expression. Bonne journée française.

Visit frenchetc.org – anne@frenchetc.org – Try our e-tutorials.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

I love the way the French word for tasting – wine tasting, food tasting – is la dégustation. Sometimes, what you taste is disgusting, however.

« J’peux pas venir au rencard, je vais à une dégustation de Bordeaux. »
“I can’t meet you, I’m going to a Bordeaux wine tasting.”

There are many more of these quirks on the Blogue of the Web site. Go and visit it today.

That was Anne’s native take on a French expression. Bonne journée française.

Visit frenchetc.org – anne@frenchetc.org – Try our e-tutorials.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

la poudre de perlimpinpin. I just love the sound of that word. la poudre de perlimpinpin is a fraudulent and ineffective medicine. It’s also used metaphorically when talking about a solution to a problem, that is not working.

« Le président veut arrêter les remboursements des médicaments à vignette bleue pour baisser le trou de la Sécu. C’est de la poudre de perlimpinpin. »
“The president wants to stop reimbursing blue-labeled medicine in order to reduce Health Care deficit. It’s not going to work.”

There are many other expressions on the Web site. Don’t miss visiting it.

That was Anne’s native take on a French expression. Bonne journée française.

Visit frenchetc.org – anne@frenchetc.org – Try our e-tutorials.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

prendre la poudre d’escampette. “escampette” is not used in any other expression that I know of. You can clearly hear the word “escape” in escampette. prendre la poudre d’escampette means to disappear from the face of the Earth.

« Ils [ne] retrouveront jamais leur argent. Le courtier a pris la poudre d’escampette. »
“They’ll find their money again. The broker disappeared from the face of the Earth.”

présent : je prends la poudre d’escampette, nous prenons la poudre d’escampette

passé composé : j’ai pris la poudre d’escampette, nous avons pris la poudre d’escampette

futur : je prendrai la poudre d’escampette, nous prendrons la poudre d’escampette

Visit the Web site for more conjugated verbs, vocabulary and language games.

That was Anne’s native take on a French expression. Bonne journée française.

Visit frenchetc.org – anne@frenchetc.org – Try our e-tutorials.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

VTT are the three initials of Vélo – short for vélocipède – bike, bicycle – Tout – all – and Terrain – terrain, ground. VTT is un Vélo Tout Terrain, a mountain bike.

« Viens mater mon nouveau VTT. Attention les Alpes ! »
“Come and check out my new mountain bike. Beware Alps Mountains.”

Lots more on sports and on French mountains on the Web site. Give us a look.

That was Anne’s native take on a French expression. Bonne journée française.

Visit frenchetc.org – anne@frenchetc.org – Try our e-tutorials.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

mater is familiar French and means to check out, to watch, to see.

« T’as maté le match de rugby ? C’est qui qu’a gagné le tournoi ? »
“Did you watch the rugby game? Who won the championship?”

présent : je mate, nous matons

passé composé : j’ai maté, nous avons maté

futur : je materai, nous materons

A lot more on Vocab and Verbs on the Web site. Matez-le. Check it out.

That was Anne’s native take on a French expression. Bonne journée française.

Visit frenchetc.org – anne@frenchetc.org – Try our e-tutorials.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

une nana means a gal, a babe, a chick. Often, it is used with ma – ma nana. In that case, it means my girl, my girlfriend, compagnon, wife. In Verlan, which you hear more and more, it’s une meuf. And don’t miss watching this link to listen to Jamel Debbouze, this French wonderfully refreshing comedian in “C’est ma meuf.” (all in French)

« Cette nana-là, elle [n']est partie de rien. Elle a vraiment réussi dans la vie. »
“This chick had nothing to start with. She really made it for herself.”

Got French? Come and surf on our Web site to get more French.

That was Anne’s native take on a French expression. Bonne journée française.

Visit frenchetc.org – anne@frenchetc.org – Try our e-tutorials.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download