Confusions The following are sentences that initially confused me because I was translating them literally into English.

C'est pas du franais. It's not grammatically correct, formal French. [not the French language in general] La Norvge n'est pas en Europe. Norway is not in the European Union. [not Europe as a continent] J'ai laiss un petit mot pour toi. I left a little note for you. [not word] Tu djeunes pas ? You aren't eating breakfast? [not lunch] Normalement, elle arrive 15h. If everything goes as planned, she will arrive at 3 PM. [not normally or usually] Tes parents s'ennuient de toi ? Do your parents miss you? [not get bored with] Tu veux te baigner aujourd'hui ? Do you want to go swimming today? [not take a bath] J'ai mal aux reins. My lower back hurts. [not kidneys] On a dj donn manger au chat. We've already fed the cat. [not give to eat] Elle l'a connu en Italie. She met him in Italy. [not known]

Filling out forms contact information last name first name address birthdate place of birth Signed [city] ... date birth certificate les coordonnes passport nom prnom adresse visa residency card receipt le passeport le visa la carte de sjour le rcpiss le formulaire / la candidature la demande d'inscription postuler s'inscrire

date de naissance application lieu de naissance enrollment form Fait ... le l'acte de naissance to apply (for a job) to apply/enroll (in university)

Remember the date format in France is day/month/year instead of month/day/year and that you generally capitalize your last name, but not your first name: Jean-Paul BOUCHER.

Asking for clarification or help Excusez-moi de vous dranger, monsieur/madame, mais j'ai un problme. Sorry for bothering you, mister/miss, but I have a problem. Est-ce que je peux vous poser une question ? Can I ask you a question? Qu'est-ce que vous avez dit ? What did you say? Pourriez-vous rpter, s'il vous plat ? Can you repeat that, please? Je n'ai pas entendu ce que vous avez dit. I didn't hear what you said. Comment est-ce qu'on crit a ? / a s'crit comment ? How is that written? Comment est-ce qu'on prononce a ? / a se prononce comment ? How is that pronounced? Qu'est-ce que a veut dire? / a veut dire quoi ? What does that mean?

Food & Eating cold cuts raw vegetables salad (with bacon) onion soup melted cheese (w/ potatoes & cold cuts) cheese, ham & potato casserole melted cheese (with bread) la charcuterie les crudits (f) une salade (avec des lardons) la soupe l'oignon la raclette la tartiflette la fondue beefstew with carrots beefstew in red wine du buf-carottes du buf bourguignon

chicken in red wine du coq au vin Steak & French fries potatoes au gratin ham & cheese quiche dumplings (flavored w/ meat or fish) vegetarian vegan un steak-frites le gratin dauphinois la quiche lorraine les quenelles vgtarien/ne vgtalien/ne

grilled ham and cheese le croque-monsieur grilled ham & cheese with le croque-madame egg

Qu'est-ce que je vous offre ? / Qu'est-ce que je vous sers ? What can I get you? Quelque chose boire ? Something to drink? J'ai la dalle ! J'ai les crocs ! Je meurs de faim ! I'm starving! J'ai trop mang. / J'ai trop bouff. I ate too much.

On the phone / Au tlphone All, est-ce que je pourrais parler ... ? Hello, may I speak to...? C'est de la part de qui ? Who is calling? Qui est l'appareil ? Who is on the phone? Un instant, s'il vous plat. One moment, please. Ne quittez pas. Please hold. Je vous la passe. I'm putting you through to her. Il ne rpond pas. He is not answering. Il n'est pas l. He is not here. Est-ce que vous voulez laisser un message ? Do you want to leave a message? Pouvez-vous rappeler plus tard ? Can you call back later? La ligne est occupe. The line is busy. Vous vous tes tromp(e)(s) de numro. You have the wrong number. Je me suis tromp(e) de numro. I got the wrong number. Cell Phone Vocabulary pay as you go plan credit/minutes to recharge your account contract plan extra charges payment plan land line voicemail account summary empty / no credit sans engagement le crdit recharger votre compte le forfait hors forfait le plan tarifaire la ligne fixe la messagerie vocale le suivi conso puis text message SMS photo message MMS call waiting caller ID le double appel

la prsentation du numro unlimited calls les appels illimits PIN code le code PIN / secret SIM card la carte SIM locked bloqu to download tlcharger ringtone la sonnerie

Le suivi conso is short for le suivi de consommation.

Going shopping / Faire les magasins department store outlet store second-hand shop la grande surface le magasin d'usine la boutique d'articles d'occasion fitting room la cabine d'essayage club/loyalty card la carte de fidelit heels flip-flops des talons des tongs

discount store (such le magasin hard discount as Aldi)

flea market department to go windowshopping to go grocery shopping mini market supermarket (food) super store (everything) shopping center

le march aux puces le rayon faire du lche-vitrine faire les courses la suprette le supermarch l'hypermarch (m) le centre commercial

tank/halter top underwire bra thong spotted flowery frilly glittery striped

le dbardeur le balconnet le string pois fleurs frous-frous paillettes rayures

Est-ce que je peux vous aider ? / Je peux vous renseigner ? / Vous dsirez ? Can I help you? Non, je regarde seulement. No, I'm just looking. Je vais rflchir. I'll think about it. Quelle est votre taille ? Vous faites du combien ? What is your size? What size do you wear? Quelle est votre pointure ? Vous chaussez du combien ? What is your shoe size? What size shoe do you wear? a va, la taille ? Cest la bonne taille ? Is the size right? Cest trop grand. / C'est trop serr. Its too big / too small. a cote combien ? How much does this cost? C'est en solde ? Is it on sale? Quelle escroquerie ! / Quelle arnaque ! What a rip-off! Avez-vous une carte de fidlit ? Do you have a club card? Vous rglez comment ? / Vous payez comment ? How are you paying? En espces/par carte bleue. Cash/with a bank card. A good way to increase your vocabulary is to look at ads for stores that are available online, such as Carrefour, Gant, Monoprix, etc.

Going to the doctor / Chez le docteur allergy illness cold fever flu migraine bump itching l'allergie (f) la maladie le rhume la fivre la grippe la migraine la bosse les dmangeaisons (f) swollen dizziness drops pills tablet ointment bandage prescription enfl/e le vertige les gouttes (f) les pilules (f) le cachet la pommade le sparadrap l'ordonnance (f)

poisoning sting / bite scratch scar scab blister sprain ear infection

l'intoxication (f) la piqre l'gratignure (f) la cicatrice la crote l'ampoule (f) la foulure l'otite (f)

medicine vitamins lozenge sleeping pills to skin to sprain to crush to break

les mdicaments (m) les vitamines (f) la pastille les somnifres (m) s'corcher se fouler s'craser se casser

Je voudrais prendre rendez-vous, s'il vous plat. I'd like to make an appointment, please. O est-ce que vous avez mal ? Where does it hurt? Est-ce que vous tes allergique quelque chose ? Are you allergic to anything? Je me suis corch la main en tombant. I skinned my hand by falling. Je me suis fait mal. I hurt myself. The French health care system (called la Scurit Sociale) generally reimburses 70% of your health costs (including dentist and eye doctor visits). If you want to be reimbursed for the other 30%, you have to join a mutuelle and pay a monthly fee. Everyone covered by la Scu receives a Carte Vitale to use at the doctor's consultation and when filling prescriptions at any pharmacie. If you are a recent immigrant to France and have not yet received your Carte Vitale, you will receive feuille de soins forms to fill out in order to be reimbursed. The emergency medical service in France is called SAMU (Service d'aide mdicale d'urgence) and the phone number is 15. You can dial 17 to reach the police, and 18 to reach the pompiers (firefighters). The general emergency number used throughout the European Union is 112. In Belgium, you can also dial 100 for emergency services; in Switzerland, it's 144, and in Canada, it's 911.

Going to the dentist or eye doctor / Chez le dentiste ou l'ophtalmologiste cavity wisdom tooth baby tooth gums jaw crown filling cleaning root canal la carie la dent de sagesse la dent de lait la gencive la mchoire la couronne le plombage le dtartrage le canal dentaire glasses frames glasses case contact lenses cleaning solution contact case near-sighted far-sighted clear les lunettes la monture l'tui de lunettes (m) les lentilles la solution de nettoyage l'tui de lentilles (m) myope hypermtrope net

to pull out, remove (tooth) arracher

blurry

flou

Getting your eyes checked and then choosing your frames are two different processes in France. You go to an ophtalmologiste to get your eyes checked and you will receive a prescription for your glasses/contacts. Then you must go to an opticien in order to choose your frames and turn in your prescriptions. They are not in the same office like in the US.

At the hair salon / Chez le coiffeur bangs highlights hair cut blowdry curly wavy frizzy straight dyed lightened layered la frange les mches / le balayage la coupe de cheveux le brushing boucls onduls friss / crpus raides teints dcolors dgrad braid ponytail barette head band hair clips hairband hairpin buzz cut completely shaved head bald part la natte / les tresses la queue-de-cheval la barrette le serre-tte les pinces cheveux l'lastique (m) l'pingle cheveux (f) la coupe en brosse la boule zro chauve la raie

There is a slight difference between se couper les cheveux (to cut one's hair - by oneself) and se faire couper les cheveux (to get one's hair cut - by someone else). The same is true of se teindre les cheveux (to dye one's hair - by oneself) and se faire teindre les cheveux (to get one's hair dyed - by someone else).

Opening a bank account / Ouvrir un compte bancaire savings account checking account deposit direct deposit cash credit card loan debt wages estimate le compte d'pargne bank / debit card la carte bancaire / la carte bleue le distributeur / le guichet (automatique) le chque le carnet de chques le bilan le montant le relev de compte le traitement l'augmentation de salaire (f) le versement

le compte-chques ATM le dpt le dpt direct les espces / du liquide la carte de crdit l'emprunt (m) / le prt la dette le salaire le devis check checkbook balance sum, amount bank statement salary raise payment

automatic payment to deposit to withdraw to earn to spend

le prlvement dposer / remettre retirer gagner dpenser

transfer/deposit le virement to write a check to cash a check to pay cash to save money faire un chque encaisser / toucher un chque payer en espces faire des conomies

Je voudrais ouvrir un compte. I would like to open an account. Bordereau de remise de chques. Checks deposited slip.

Post Office / La Poste accus de rception avis de rception adresse de l'expditeur adresse de rexpdition colis destinataire expditeur envoi en nombre acknowledgement of receipt notice of receipt return address forwarding address parcel / package addressee sender bulk mail imprims lettre recommande mandat cash par avion port pay retour l'envoyeur tarifs postaux trier printed matter registered letter money order air mail postage paid return to sender postage rate to sort

Currently, the price of timbres (stamps) is 56 Euro cents to send mail within France, 70 cents within the EU & Switzerland, and 85 cents to the rest of the world (for a letter or postcard under 20 grams).

Renting an apartment / Louer un appartement housing apartment rent rent receipt le logement l'appartement le loyer la quittance de loyer lease bill (telephone, etc.) insurance conditions / evaluation of apt. taxes furnished building le bail la facture l'assurance (f) l'tat des lieux (m) les impts (m) meubl immeuble

utilities / fees les charges / les frais expenses les dpenses (rental) les charges (locatives)

charges agency fees private landlord security deposit guarantor needed short-term rental les honoraires / frais d'agence le particulier la caution / le dpt de garantie le garant exig location courte landlord renting renter le propritaire location locataire (m) / locatrice (f)

renting with colocation roommates roommate / flatmate / colocataire (m) / housemate colocatrice (f)

Apartments are generally listed as F1/T1, F2/T2, F3/T3, etc. regarding the number of rooms. This number does not include the kitchen or bathroom, but it does include the living room. If a kitchen is quipe, it will probably have a refrigerator and burners, but may or may not have an oven. If a kitchen is non-quipe, there will be no appliances at all. Some apartments do not have ovens, but they might have plaques lectriques / plaquettes (burners, similar to a stove). A cuisinire is also electric burners without an oven. J'habite en colocation. I live with roommates. Je cherche un colocataire pour un appartement avec 2 chambres. I'm looking for a roommate for a 2 bedroom apartment. Le bail sera sign ds votre arrive la rsidence. The lease will be signed as soon as you arrive at the dorms. Les charges sont comprises dans le prix (eau, lctricit, chauffage). Utilities are included in the price (water, electricity, heat).

Cooking & Kitchen Utensils to chop / grind to grate to peel to pit to mix to stir to beat to whip to sift to pour hacher rper peler / plucher dnoyauter mlanger remuer battre fouetter tamiser verser cooking pot lid saucepan frying pan skillet casserole dish baking sheet cooling rack cake tin pie tin la marmite le couvercle la casserole la pole la sauteuse la cocotte / daubire la plaque gteaux la grille de refroidissement le moule gteaux la tourtire

to cook to roast to fry to steam to boil to simmer to melt to stew to broil / grill to moisten to soften to sprinkle to drain

le bol mixer / le saladier rtir strainer / colander la passoire frire peeling knife l'conome (m) cuire l'touffe / faire cuire slotted spoon / l'cumoire (f) la vapeur skimmer bouillir ladle la louche mijoter spatula la spatule fondre (cheese) grater la rpe ( fromage) cuire en ragot whisk le fouet cuire mixing bowl griller mouiller faire revenir saupoudrer goutter rolling pin can opener aluminum foil plastic wrap wax paper le rouleau ptisserie l'ouvre-bote (m) le papier d'aluminium le film transparent le papier cuisson

For verbs that involve cooking methods, you add faire before them when they are transitive verbs (when they take a direct object). So to cook something is faire cuire, to fry something is faire frire, to boil something is faire bouillir, etc. If you bake American foods in France, you will most likely need to look for certain ingredients that are not used very often in French cooking: condensed milk - lait concentr sucr; evaporated milk lait concentr non-sucr; baking soda - bicarbonate alimentaire; baking powder - levure chimique and yeast - levure du boulanger. It is also very common to use le sopalin instead of essui-tout for paper towel.

Christmas Vocabulary Merry Christmas! angel bell bow bulb candle candy cane chimney Christmas card Christmas carols Christmas Eve Christmas Eve dinner Christmas market Christmas tree decorations Joyeux Nol ! lange (m) la cloche / la clochette le nud la boule la bougie / la chandelle la canne en bonbon la chemine la carte de Nol les chansons de Nol la veille de Nol le rveillon de Nol le march de Nol le sapin de Nol les dcorations

egg nog elf fake tree garland holly lights mistletoe nativity scene North Pole present present name tags reindeer ribbon Santa Claus Santas hat Santas sack Santas workshop sleigh sleigh bell snow snowflake snowman star stocking toy wrapping paper wreath Yule log

le lait de poule le lutin le sapin artificiel la guirlande le houx la guirlande lectrique / lumineuse le gui la crche le ple nord le cadeau les tiquettes le renne le bolduc / le ruban le Pre Nol le bonnet de Nol la hotte du Pre Nol latelier du Pre Nol le traineau le grelot la neige le flocon de neige le bonhomme de neige ltoile (f) la chaussette de Nol le jouet le papier demballage la couronne la bche de Nol

Transportation connection track platform restaurant car intersection sedan (4 door) coupe (2 door) station wagon convertible semi-truck la correspondance le quai la voie le wagon-restaurant le carrefour la berline le coup le break le cabriolet le camion subway map book of ten tickets monthly pass subway/bus line bus ticket van minivan pick-up truck SUV / large truck trailer le plan de mtro le carnet la carte orange la ligne le ticket la camionnette le monospace le pick-up le 4x4 (quatre-quatre) le remorque

Merci d'oblitrer votre ticket. Thank you for validating your ticket. O est l'arrt de bus le plus proche ? Where is the closest bus stop? Pour aller au centre-ville ? How do I get downtown? Vous vous installez ici, madame ? Do you want to sit here, ma'am? Vous descendez ? Are you getting off here? Je descends ici. I'm getting off here.

School & Education school district urban district department / division region / area town pre-school elementary education elementary student secondary education middle school middle school student high school high school student higher education university student university prestigious universities library l'acadmie (f) l'arrondissement (m) le dpartement la rgion la commune l'cole maternelle l'cole primaire colier/re secondaire le collge collgien/ne le lyce lycen/ne suprieur tudiant/e l'universit / la facult les grandes coles le CDI middle school principal principal

high school principal proviseur exam after middle school exam after high school mathematics economics & sociology living/foreign language physics chemistry biology life/earth science engineering history/geography philosophy literature research project/seminar P.E. / Gym report card brevet baccalaurat mathmatiques sciences conomique et sociale (SES) langue vivante (LV) physique chimie biologie sciences de la vie et de la terre (SVT) sciences de l'ingnieur (SI) histoire-gographie philosophie littrature travaux personnels encadrs (TPE) ducation physique et sportive (EPS) le bulletin scolaire

La rentre scolaire a lieu dbut septembre. The return to school takes place at the beginning of September. Les vacances d't s'appellent les grandes vacances. The summer vacation is called the

big vacation. Il a eu de mauvais rsultats et il a d redoubler. He got bad marks and he had to stay in the same grade. Cette anne, il passe dans la classe suprieure. This year, he's passing into the next grade. Si je rate / Si j'choue mon bac, je suis oblig de redoubler ma terminale. If I fail my final exam, I have to do my last year of school over again. Ils ont sech les cours aujourd'hui. They skipped classes today. Tu as eu combien ? What (grade) did you get? J'ai eu 13, pas mal. I got a 13, not bad. Note: In French schools, the grades/marks range from 1 to 20 (though 10 is considered passing, so it cannot be easily changed into percentages); and the grades/years descend instead of increasing: sixime is the first year of collge, while troisime is the last year. Ecole maternelle is ages 2-6, cole lmentaire is ages 6-11 (CP, CE1, CE2, CM1, CM2), collge is ages 11-15 (6e, 5e, 4e, 3e), and lyce is ages 15-18 (2nde, 1re, T). LG = Lyce Gnral LT= Lyce Technique LPO= Lyce Polyvalent LGT= Lyce Gnral et Technique CLG= Collge EE= Ecole Elmentaire IA= Inspecteur Acadmique IEN= Inspecteur dEducation Nationale IUFM = Instituts Universitaires de Formation des Matres CP = Cours prparatoire CE1 = Cours lmentaire 1re anne CE2 = Cours lmentaire 2e anne CM1 = Cours moyen 1re anne CM2 = Cours moyen 2e anne T = Terminale Premier degr = maternelle & lmentaire News news les informations / le poverty la pauvret Bac = baccalaurat L = Littraire ES = conomique et sociale S = scientifique STT = sciences et technologies tertiaires STI = sciences et technologies industrielles STL = sciences et technologies de laboratoire SMS = sciences mdico-sociales CAP = certificat d'aptitudes professionnelles BEP = brevet d'tudes professionnelles BTS = brevet de technicien suprieur CPGE = classes prparatoires aux Grandes Ecoles CDI = centre de documentation et d'information CPE = conseillers principaux d'ducation COP = conseiller d'orientation psychologue Second degr = collge & lyce

news shows current events weather report protest demonstration earthquake hurricane flood tsunami drought burglary assault crime robbery military army navy air force invasion battle retreat treaty truce Politics prime minister president vice president dictator nationality community society government election referendum vote environment democracy anarchy

journal le magazine d'actualits l'actualit (f) la mto la protestation la manifestation le tremblement de terre l'ouragan (m) l'inondation (f) le tsunami / le raz-demare la scheresse le cambriolage l'agression (f) le dlit le vol les militaires (m) l'arme (f) la marine les forces ariennes l'invasion (f) la bataille la retraite le trait la trve

homeless murder genocide riot curfew harassment epidemic plague cloning drug addiction drug trafficking trial testimony evidence ceasefire gun rifle troops soldier hostage casualty winners losers

les sans-abri le crime / le meurtre le gnocide l'meute (m) le couvre-feu le harclement (m) l'pidmie (f) la peste le clonage la toxicomanie le trafic de drogue le procs le tmoignage la preuve le cessez-le-feu le revolver le fusil les troupes (f) le soldat l'otage (m) les pertes (f) les vainqueurs (m) les vaincus (m)

le premier ministre le prsident le vice-prsident le dictateur la nationalit la communaut la socit le gouvernement l'lection (f) le rfrendum le vote l'environnement (m) la dmocratie l'anarchie (f)

citizen senator representative mayor law bill policy proposal grant legislation negotiation regulation democrat liberal

le citoyen le snateur le dput le maire la loi le projet de loi la politique la proposition la subvention la lgislation la ngociation la rglementation dmocrate libral/e

capitalism socialism communism

le capitalisme le socialisme le communisme

conservative socialist communist

conservateur/trice socialiste communiste

The current major political parties in France include: Parti Socialiste (PS) and Parti Communiste Franais (PCF) - left-wing, Union pour la Dmocratie Franaise (UDF) centrist, Union pour un Mouvement Populaire (UMP) - right-wing, and Front National (FN) - far right-wing.

Television the news series/program soap opera tv movie documentary channel remote control subtitles commercials actor/actress director comedian les infos la srie le feuilleton le tlfilm le documentaire la chane la tlcommande les sous-titrages les publicits (pub) le/la comdien/ne le ralisateur l'humoriste to be on (TV) to act (in) to channel surf to turn on the TV to turn off the TV push the button turn up the volume turn down the volume to plug in to unplug what's it about? to be continued passer jouer zapper allumer la tl teindre la tl appuyer sur le bouton monter le son baisser le son brancher dbrancher a parle de quoi ? suivre

Programs do not start at the hour or half hour in France, and the majority of "prime time" shows begin at 8:50 pm (20h50) with more than one episode each week. The nightly new is always on at 8 pm (20h). Commercials are rarely shown during the programs, but more likely between the shows. There are a few French channels that you can watch without subscribing to a cable provider: TF1, France 2, France 3, France 5, Arte, M6, and depending on where you live, there are local channels as well as foreign channels of bordering countries. Canal+ is available at some times, but you must subscribe and pay extra if you want to watch it at all times. There are of course several other channels: France 4, France , W9, TMC, NRJ, Paris Premire, Tva, RTL9, AB 1, NT1, etc. Most American television shows are eventually broadcast in France, though several months later than in the US and dubbed in French. (You will find that almost every foreign program is dubbed rather than subtitled). Not all programs or channels support subtitling/closed captioning, but if your TV is equipped with tltexte, you should be able to read the subtitles in French as well. And a series does not have to be a hit in the US to be

broadcast in France; several shows that were cancelled after one year in the US are still shown here. A lot of programs have the same names in French (Bones, Heroes, Desperate Housewives, etc.) while others have French words added (Lost, les disparus). Here are a few programs that are different in French: Baywatch - Alerte Malibu; Seventh Heaven - 7 la Maison; CSI - Les Experts; Without a Trace - FBI: Ports Disparus; The Young & the Restless Les Feux de l'Amour; One Tree Hill - Les Frres Scott; Crossing Jordan - Preuve l'appui. And because I watch several shows that involve solving crime, here is some specialized vocabulary that you probably won't ever use, but you'll need to recognize if you watch crime dramas: assault blackmail blackmailer criminal record defendant evidence federal case gun handcuffs homicide investigation kidnapping laundering lead loaded (gun) murder paperwork Soccer ball captain captain armband cleats coach coin toss le ballon le capitaine un brassard de capitaine les crampons l'entraneur / le selectionneur un tirage pile ou face pass penalty kick player playoffs quarter-finals red card une passe un penalty un joueur le tableau final les quarts de finale carton rouge l'agression (f) le chantage le matre-chanteur le casier judiciaire l'accus (m) la pice conviction dlit fdral le flingue les menottes (f) l'homicide (f) l'enqute (f) l'enlvement (m) le blanchiment la piste / l'indice charg le meurtre la paperasse prosecutor rape sketch stabbed strangled surveillance suspect to arrest to con/cheat to harass to press charges to report missing to run away to shoot warrant weapon witness le procureur le viol le portrait-robot poignard trangl la filature le suspect arrter escroquer harceler porter plainte porter disparu s'enfuir tirer le mandat l'arme (m) le tmoin

corner kick defense fans final forward foul/penalty game goal goal post goalie goalie box group (in tournaments) header jersey kickoff midfield net off-sides out of bounds (behind the goals) out of bounds (on the sides)

un corner un dfenseur les supporters la finale un attaquant une faute un match un but les cages un gardien de but la surface de rparation la poule / le groupe une tte un maillot un coup d'envoi / un engagement un milieu de terrain le filet hors-jeu une sortie de but en touche

referee replacement semi-finals shinguards shorts shot slide tackle socks standings starter player team tie game to pass to score to shoot to throw in the ball tournament wave What's the score? yellow card

l'arbitre le remplaant les demi-finales les protge-tibias la culotte un tir un tacle les chausettes les classements le titulaire une quipe un match nul passer marquer tirer faire une touche le tournoi la ola Quel est le score? carton jaune

Zodiac Signs signs of the Zodiac horoscope astrology Aries Taurus Gemini Cancer Leo Virgo Libra les signes du zodiaque l'horoscope (m) l'astrologie (f) Blier Taureau Gmeaux Cancer Lion Vierge Balance

Scorpio Sagittarius Capricorn Aquarius Pisces

Scorpion Sagittaire Capricorne Verseau Poissons

Marriage & Civil Unions couple date relationship civil union engagement wedding wedding announcement honeymoon le couple le rendez-vous la relation le PACS (Pacte Civile de Solidarit) les fianailles (f) le mariage le faire-part de mariage la lune de miel to enter a PACS contract to get engaged to get married to break up / leave to get divorced to cheat on to meet to separate se pacser se fiancer se marier rompre / quitter divorcer tromper se rencontrer se sparer

Ils sont tombs amoureux l'un de l'autre. They fell in love with each other. Ils vivent en concubinage / en union libre. They live with each other (without being married). C'est mon copain / ma copine. This is my boyfriend / girlfriend. J'ai une grande amiti pour lui. I have a great friendship with him. Il a de l'affection pour elle. He has affection for her. Mais elle n'prouve aucun sentiment pour lui. But she has no feelings for him. On se disputait sans cesse. We fought all the time. Tu m'en veux ? Are you mad at me? Je t'aime bien. / Je t'aime. I like you. / I love you Si on allait au cinma ce soir ? How about if we go to the movies tonight? Tu es libre, samedi soir ? Are you free Saturday night? Je n'ai rien de prvu pour ce week-end. I have no plans for this weekend. When pulling petals off of a daisy, the French have 5 sayings instead of just He/she loves me; He/she loves me not: 1. Il/Elle m'aime. He/She loves me. 2. Un peu. A little. 3. Beaucoup. A lot.

4. A la folie. Like crazy. 5. Pas du tout. Not at all.

English used in French There are many, many English words used in French, but some of them have a different meaning than in English. Sometimes the French pronunciation is radically different from the English pronunciation, so you may only be able to understand the word in writing but not in speech. Almost all English nouns borrowed into French are masculine, unless otherwise noted below. I've marked which words are used as adjectives in French, even though the original English word may be a noun. agenda baby-foot barman basket baskets bermudes black (adj. / noun) body bowling break brushing caddie camping camping-car catch clean (adj.) clip cornflakes dancing dressing drive entourage fashion (adj.) fast-food flipper foot footing planner / calendar foosball bartender basketball sneakers bermuda shorts refers to skin color onesie / body suit bowling alley station wagon blowdry (shopping) cart campground motorhome / camper pro wrestling sober music video cereal dance hall walk-in closet drive-thru group of friends trendy fast food restaurant pinball soccer jogging mail meeting nickel parking people planning play-back pom-pom girl pressing radio (f) recordman relax relooking rollers scotch self (adj.) shorty slip smoking speed (adj.) string sweat tennisman tongs le top trench tube e-mail rally clean / perfect parking lot celebrities schedule lip-synching cheerleader dry cleaner's X-ray record holder lounge chair makeover rollerblades tape self service boy shorts boxers / briefs / underwear tuxedo hectic, busy thong underwear sweatshirt tennis player flip-flops the best trench coat hit song

hard discount (adj.) jogging lifting light (adj.) look lov (adj.) Acronyms

discount jogging suit facelift diet style cuddly / snuggly

tuning type volley zapping zen (adj.)

tune up guy volleyball channel surfing cool / laid-back

Those marked in color are pronounced as a word, rather than each letter individually. Agence Nationale de l'Accueil des Etrangers et des Migrations ANPE* Agence nationale pour l'emploi Association pour l'emploi dans ASSEDIC* l'industrie et le commerce BCBG bon chic bon genre ANAEM BD BN BNP BP CAF CDD CDI CDS DALF DEA bande dessine Bibliothque nationale Banque nationale de Paris bote postale Caisse d'allocations familiales Contrat dure dtermine Contrat dure indtermine Carte de sjour diplme approfondi de langue franaise diplme d'tudes approfondies PC PDG PJ PS Parti communiste prsident-directeur gnral pices joints

Parti socialiste Postes, tlgraphes et PTT tlphones QG quartier gnral Rgie autonome des transports RATP parisiens RDC rez-de-chausse RER Rseau express rgional RF Rpublique franaise RMI Revenu minimum d'insertion RV rendez-vous SDF SIDA Sans domicile fixe

syndrome immunodficitaire acquis Salaire minimum DELF diplme d'tudes en langue franaise SMIC interprofessional de croissance Dpartements d'outre-mer et Socit nationale de chemin de DOM-TOM SNCF Territoires d'outre-mer fer EDF Electricit de France SPA Socit protectrice des animaux ENA Ecole Nationale d'Administration SVP s'il vous plat FLQ Front de la libration du Qubec TER Transport express rgional Fdration nationale des achats de FNAC TGB Trs grande bibliothque cadres

GDF HLM INSEE MGEN MJC MLF MRAP OMI ONU OTAN OVNI PV

Gaz de France Habitation loyer modr Institut National de la Statistique et des Etudes Economiques Mutuelle Gnrale de l'Education Nationale Maison des Jeunes et de la Culture Mouvement pour la libration de la femme Mouvement contre le racisme et pour l'amiti entre les peuples Office des Migrations Internationales Organisation des Nations Unies Organisation du trait de l'Atlantique du Nord Objet volant non identifi procs-verbal

TGV TTC TVA UE UDF

Train grande vitesse toutes taxes comprises taxe la valeur ajoute Union europenne

Union pour la dmocratie franaise Union pour un Mouvement UMP Populaire VF VO version franaise version originale

VOST version originale sous-titre VTT X vlo tout terrain l'cole Polytechnique

* ANPE and ASSEDIC no longer exist. They were merged together in 2009 to form Ple Emploi.

Regions & Departments of France Rgions de France mtropolitaine Alsace Aquitaine Auvergne Basse-Normandie Bretagne Bourgogne Centre Champagne-Ardenne Corse Franche-Comt Haute-Normandie Ille-de-France Alsace Aquitaine Auvergne Lower-Normandy Brittany Burgundy Center Champagne-Ardenne Corsica Franche-Comte Upper-Normandy Paris-Isle-of-France English Translations

Languedoc-Roussillon Limousin Lorraine Midi-Pyrnes Nord-Pas-de-Calais Pays-de-la-Loire Picardie Poitou-Charentes Provence-Alpes-Cte d'Azur Rhne-Alpes Rgions/Dpartements d'outre-mer Guadeloupe Martinique Guyane La Runion

Languedoc-Roussillon Limousin Lorraine Midi-Pyrenees North-Calais Pays-de-la-Loire Picardy Poitou-Charentes Provence-Alpes-Azur Rhone-Alps Overseas Regions/Departments Guadeloupe Martinique French Guiana Reunion

Each rgion is divided into dpartements, except for the overseas regions (they exist as rgions as well as dpartements.) Each dpartement is assigned a two-digit number that begins the zip code (the numbers somewhat correspond to alphabetical order). For example, the dpartement of Ain is 01 and the dpartement of Vosges is 88. DOM-TOM means dpartements d'outre-mer and trritoires d'outre-mer. French territories (also called collectivities) include Polynsie franaise, Mayotte, Saint-Pierre-etMiquelon, Wallis-et-Futuna, Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthlemy. Nouvelle Caldonie has a special status (sui generis) and will vote for independence from France in the next ten years.

The 96 departments of mainland France, grouped according to their region, are: 67 Bas-Rhin 68 Haut-Rhin 24 Dordogne 33 Gironde 40 Landes 47 Lot-et-Garonne 64 PyrnesAtlantiques Alsace Aquitaine 11 Aude 30 Gard Languedoc34 Hrault Roussillon 48 Lozre 66 Pyrnes-Orientales 19 Corrze 23 Creuse Limousin

87 Haute-Vienne 03 Allier 15 Cantal 43 Haute-Loire 63 Puy-de-Dme 14 Calvados 50 Manche 61 Orne 21 Cte-d'Or 58 Nivre 71 Sane-et-Loire 89 Yonne 22 Ctes-d'Armor 29 Finistre 35 Ille-et-Vilaine 56 Morbihan 18 Cher 28 Eure-et-Loir 36 Indre 37 Indre-et-Loire 41 Loir-et-Cher 45 Loiret 08 Ardennes 10 Aube 51 Marne 52 Haute-Marne 2A Corse-du-Sud 2B Haute-Corse Auvergne 54 Meurthe-et-Moselle 55 Meuse Lorraine 57 Moselle 88 Vosges 09 Arige 12 Aveyron 31 Haute-Garonne 32 Gers 46 Lot 65 Hautes-Pyrnes 81 Tarn 82 Tarn-et-Garonne 59 Nord 62 Pas-de-Calais 44 Loire-Atlantique 49 Maine-et-Loire 53 Mayenne 72 Sarthe 85 Vende 02 Aisne 60 Oise 80 Somme ChampagneArdenne

Basse-Normandie

Midi-Pyrnes

Bourgogne

Bretagne

Nord-Pas-de-Calais

Pays de la Loire

Centre

Picardie

Corse

16 Charente 17 Charente-Maritime Poitou-Charentes 79 Deux-Svres 86 Vienne 04 Alpes-de-HauteProvence 05 Hautes-Alpes 06 Alpes-Maritimes

25 Doubs 39 Jura

Franche-Comt

Provence-AlpesCte d'Azur

70 Haute-Sane 90 Territoire de Belfort 27 Eure 76 Seine-Maritime Haute-Normandie

13 Bouches-du-Rhne 83 Var 84 Vaucluse 01 Ain 07 Ardche 26 Drme 38 Isre 42 Loire 69 Rhne 73 Savoie 74 Haute-Savoie

75 Paris 77 Seine-et-Marne 78 Yvelines 91 Essonne le-de-France 92 Hauts-de-Seine 93 Seine-Saint-Denis 94 Val-de-Marne 95 Val-d'Oise

Rhne-Alpes

Major Cities & Geographical Features of France The 50 most populous cities in France (including the DOM-TOMs) are: City Paris Marseille Lyon Toulouse Nice Nantes Strasbourg Montpellier Bordeaux Lille Rennes Reims Le Havre Saint-tienne Toulon Grenoble Angers Dijon Department Paris Bouches-du-Rhne Rhne Haute-Garonne Alpes-Maritimes Loire-Atlantique Bas-Rhin Hrault Gironde Nord Ille-et-Vilaine Marne Seine-Maritime Loire Var Isre Maine-et-Loire Cte-d'Or Region le-de-France Provence-Alpes-Cte d'Azur Rhne-Alpes Midi-Pyrnes Provence-Alpes-Cte dAzur Pays de la Loire Alsace Languedoc-Roussillon Aquitaine Nord-Pas-de-Calais Bretagne Champagne-Ardenne Haute-Normandie Rhne-Alpes Provence-Alpes-Cte dAzur Rhne-Alpes Pays de la Loire Bourgogne

Brest Nmes Le Mans Aix-en-Provence Clermont-Ferrand Saint-Denis Tours Limoges Villeurbanne Amiens Metz * Besanon Perpignan Orlans Mulhouse Caen Boulogne-Billancourt Rouen Nancy Argenteuil Montreuil Saint-Paul Roubaix Saint-Denis Avignon Tourcoing Fort-de-France Crteil Poitiers Nanterre Versailles Courbevoie

Finistre Gard Sarthe Bouches-du-Rhne Puy-de-Dme La Runion Indre-et-Loire Haute-Vienne Rhne Somme Moselle Doubs Pyrnes-Orientales Loiret Haut-Rhin Calvados Hauts-de-Seine Seine-Maritime Meurthe-et-Moselle Val-d'Oise Seine-Saint-Denis La Runion Nord Seine-Saint-Denis Vaucluse Nord Martinique Val-de-Marne Vienne Hauts-de-Seine Yvelines Hauts-de-Seine

Bretagne Languedoc-Roussillon Pays de la Loire Provence-Alpes-Cte dAzur Auvergne La Runion Centre Limousin Rhne-Alpes Picardie Lorraine Franche-Comt Languedoc-Roussillon Centre Alsace Basse-Normandie le-de-France Haute-Normandie Lorraine le-de-France le-de-France La Runion Nord-Pas-de-Calais le-de-France Provence-Alpes-Cte dAzur Nord-Pas-de-Calais Martinique le-de-France Poitou-Charentes le-de-France le-de-France le-de-France

People who live in Metz pronounce the city more like mess, whereas most other French people pronounce it metz.

Geographical Features of France:

la Loire la Garonne le Rhne la Seine les Alpes (f) le Mont-Blanc le Jura les Pyrnes (f) le Massif Central les Vosges (f) la mer Mditerrane l'ocan Atlantique (m) la Mer du Nord la Manche le Golfe de Gascogne

Loire river Garonne river Rhne river Seine river the Alps Mont Blanc (highest mountain in W. Europe) the Jura the Pyrenees the Massif Central the Vosges Mediterranean Sea Atlantic Ocean North Sea English Channel Bay of Biscay

Writing Letters Your name and address should be placed in the top left corner. The receiver's address is placed below yours, on the right. The city you are in and the date is placed below the addresses, and on the left. (Remember to use French date formats: le 7 octobre 2008). Your name Your address Zip Code & City Receiver's Name Receiver's Address

Zip Code & City City, le # mois 2009 Madame ou Monsieur, Common formal endings:

Dans lattente de votre rponse, je vous prie dagrer, Monsieur, lexpression de mes sentiments respectueux. Veuillez agrer, Madame, Monsieur, lexpression de mes salutations distingues. Je vous prie de croire, Monsieur, l'assurance de mes sentiments distingus.

Notice that you should not use sentiments with Madame because it's considered rude. In less formal situations, such as in certain e-mails, you can just use cordialement.