Professional Documents
Culture Documents
UE 2,
FOR WEST
AFKICA
SON Nt es T UC
CAMBRIDGE
At the University Press
1971
Explanatory points
Abbreviations
adj. adjective P-P. past participle
adv. adverb pr.p. present participle
conj. contunction +infin. followed by the
prep. |preposition infinitive
pron. pronoun +subj. followed by the
masc, . masculine subjunctive
fem. feminine qn quelqu'un
pl. plural 8.0. someone
invar. invariable . - qch quelque chose
tr. transitive sth something
intr. intransitive
Genders
The gender of some nouns cannot be shown by the article
le or Ja. Such nouns are followed by (m.) to indicate masculine
or (f.) to indicate feminine.
Parentheses
Letters and words enclosed in parentheses can « .en be
omitted. Other words in parentheses may he required some-
times but not.always. Parentheses are also used to make the
English meaning clearer.
Commas and senticolons
Commas between words qn the’ same line indicate similar
meanings. Semicolons between words on the same line indi-
cate either a different part of speech or a distinctly separate
meaning.
Reflexive verbs
(se) before a verb shows that the reflexive pronoun is usual
if there is no other object, e.g.
(se) cacher il cache l’argent he hides the money
il se cache he hides
Contents
Preface
Explanatory points
Family and Friends
People in Society
House and Garden
Household and Furniture
Food and Drink
Eating and Cooking
Clothes
Human Body and Associated Verbs
00
DWJ Health and Sickness
DAWN
WwW
©&
Town and Traffic
Industry, Commerce and Shopping
Money and Quantity
Size and Shape
Countryside and Seaside
Farming
Living Creatures
The Weather
Season and Time
Geographical
Travel and Communication
School and Study
0 Sports and Pastimes
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CONTENTS
2. People in Society
. to be born naitre (p.p. né)
birth la naissance
birth-place, home town la ville natale
baby le bébé
child; childhood l'enfant (m. and f.); l'enfance
(£.)
little boy, little girl, child le petit, la petite
boy le garçon
girl (up to about 14) la fillerre, la perite fille
young; youth jeune; lajeunesse
youth, young man le jeune homme (pl. jeunes
gens)
girl (over about 14) la jeune fille
PEOPLE IN SOCIETY
young men; young people les jeunes gens
(both sexes
young lady (unmarried)
Miss Mademoiselle (pl. Mes-
demoiselles)
adult, grown-up la grande
people les gens (usually m.)
man; gentleman l’homme (m.); lemonsieur
Sir; Gentlemen
woman; lady
Madam; Ladies
old
old age
old man
old woman, old lady
to die
dead; death
dead man; dead woman
heir
society, company
member
to join
colleague, fellow-member
crowd
baad, gang, oop
master; mistress le maître; la maîtresse
stranger; strange l'étranger (m.); étrange
stranger; unknown l'inconnu (m.); inconnu
half-caste le métis, la métisse
colour bar; having colour le racisme; raciste
prejudice
tle la tuile
corrugated iron la tôle ondulée
storey, floor l'étage (m.}
ground floor, ground Ievei le rez-de-chaussée (pl. invar.)
ceiling le plafond
floor (wood); floor le plancher; le sol
yard, court la cour
compound la concession
wall le mur, la murale
brick la brique
cement le ciment
concrete le béton
swish le banco
to whitewash blanchir à la chaux
window la fenêtre
window-pane la vitre
shutter le volet
thief-proofing l’antivol (m.)
mosquito-proofed, latticed grillagé
bed le lit
mattress le matelas
pillow Poreiller (m.)
blanket la couverture
linen; laundry le linge
(bed-)sheet; cloth (material) le drap
alarm-clock le réveil, le réveille-matin
meat la viande
beef; mutton le bœuf; le mouton
corned beef le bœuf de conserve
ham SR le jambon
soup a le potage, la soupe
stew ee le ragoût
sausage la saucisse, le saucisson
egg 44 l'œuf (m.)
vegetable le légume
garden egg, egg = l’aubergine (f.)
carrot la carotte
mushroom le champignon
cabbage le chou (pl. -oux)
gourd la courge, la gourde
okra le gombo, l’okra (m.)
bean ‘ le haricot
yam l’igname (f.)
coco-yam l’igname taro, le taro
lettuce la laitue
onion loignon (m.)
sweet potato la patate (douce)
plantain le plantain, la banane sauvage
potato la pomme de terre (pl. pommes
de terre)
tomato la tomate
tuber fe tubercule
10 FOOD AND DRINK
sugar le sucre
honey le miel
jam la confiture, les confitures
butter lebeurre
cheese le fromage
margarine la margarine
chocolate le chocolat
sweet le bonbon
fruit le fruit, les fruits
pineapple l'ananas (m.)
avocado pear; pear-tree l'avocat (m.ÿ; l’avocatier (m.)
banana; banana-tree la banane; le.bananier
lemon; lemon-tree le citron; le citronnier
date; date palm la datte; le dattier
fig; fig-tree la figue, lefiguier
guava; guava-tree la goyave, le goyavier
mango; mango-tree la mangue; le mänguier 055::05
Qiwaradast ot | +23
FOOD AND DRINK 11
orange; orange-trec l'orange (f.); l’oranger
grapefruit; grapcefruit-tree le or la pamplemousse; le
pamplemousster
pawpaw; pawpaw-trec la papaye; le papayer
apple; apple-trec la pomme; le pommier
coconut; coconut palm la noix de coco; le cocotier
coconut pulp; (palm-)kernel l’amande (f.)
palm-nut la noix de palme
‘cashew nut la noix d’acajou
shea butter; shea (tree) le beurre de karité; le
Rarité
groundnut l’arachide (f.), la cacahuéte
kola nut; kola-tree le kola; le kolatier
palm oil Vhuile de palme (f.)
groundnut oil Vhuile d’arachide (f.)
to drink botre
thirst; to be thirsty la soif; avoir soif
drunk ivre
to swallow. avaler
taste; to taste le goût; goûter
snack le goûter
to nourish, feed nourrir
appetite; appetising l'appétit; appétissant
greeting before a meal bon appétit
meal le repas
breakfast le perit déjeuner
lunch le déjeuner
to breakfast, to lunch déjeuner
supper; to have supper le souper; souper
dinner; to dine le dîner; dîner
mouthful la bouchée
ball (e.g. of kenkey) la boule
raw cru
koi
delicious
gluant
glouton (fem. -onne), gourmand
la miette
sweet (to taste) sucré
7. Clothes
dress, costume l’habit (m.)
garment le vêtement
clothes des habits, les vêtements
to dress; to undress (s’)habiller; (se) déshabiller
,to disguise déguiser =
to take off, remove ôter
dressed in, clothed in vêtu de
bare, naked mu 30
material Pétoffe (£.)
textile; suiting le tissu (and pl.)
cotton _le coton
wool la laine
drill ‘Te coutil
silk la soie
canvas latoile
footwear la chaussure
‘to put on shoes (se) chausser
leather le cuir
boot la botte
shoe le soulier
sandal; African sandal la sandale; le samara
slipper la pantoufle
overcoat le pardessus
(lady’s) coat; cloak le manteau
raincoat l’imperméable (m.)
umbrella le parapluie
sunshade l’ombrelle (£.)
hat le chapeau
wearing on the head coiffé de
head-dress; hairdressing, la coiffure
hair-style
(Nigerian) cap le capot
sun-helmet, topee le casque (colonial)
(peaked) cap la casquette
fez la chéchia, le fez
kepi, (military) peaked cap le képi
cigarette la cigarette
pipe la pipe
to smoke fumer
tobacco le tabac
head la tête
hair les cheveux (m.)
curly hair les cheveux crépus
straight hair | les cheveux plats
to braid, plait; braid, plait natter; la natte
bald chauve
to breathe respirer
to blow souffler
breath Phaleine (f.)
out of breath essoufflé, hors d’haleine
to yawn bâiller
whistle; to whistle le sifflet; siffler
HUMAN BODY 49
laughter; to laugh le rire; rire
smile; to smile le sourire; sourire
kiss; to kiss le baiser; baiser
to kiss, embrace embrasser
sigh; to sigh le soupir; soupirer
sob; to sob le sanglot; sangloter
tear la larme
to weep, cry pleurer
ear l'oreille (£.)
to hear; to understand entendre
unheard of inoui
to listen (to) écouter
deaf sourd
neck le cou
throat la gorge
shoulder l’épaule (f.)
chest la poitrine
heart le cœur
back le dos
stomach le ventre, l'estomac (m.)
. side le flanc
breast, bosom le sein
to (breast} feed (a baby) donner le sein à
20 ‘HUMAN BODY
arm le bras
elbow 5 le coude
wrist le poignet
hand la main
to clap one’s hands battre des mains
helping hand le coup de main
handful la poignée
handshake la poignée de main
fist; punch le poing; le coup de
poing
finger “ Le doigt
thumb le pouce
(finger-)nail Dongle (m.)
leg la jambe
knee le genou (pl. -oux)
foot; kick le pied; le coup de pied
heel le talon
toe l’orteil (m.)
to limp; lame, limping boiter; boiteux
leap, bound; to leap, bound ~ le bond; bondir
to run courir
balance l'équilibre (m.)
to walk; to work, go (machine) marcher
movement le mouvement
step, pace le pas
jump; to jump le saut; sauter
traffic la circulation
direction le sens, le côté
traffic lights les feux (m.) de circulation
pedestrian crossing le passage clouté
tarred goudronné
laterite (red soil used for la terre de barre
roads)
“to park stationner
car-park le parc de stationnement
lorry-park la gare routière
bus-stop l'arrêt (m.) (d'autobus)
retirement da rerraite
to retire on pension prendre sa retraite
so st; tellement
very trés (adv.)
whole, entire entier
quite; entirely, quite tout (adv.); tout a fait
all, every tout, toute (adj.) (pl. tous,
toutes)
each, every chaque (adj.)
more davantage (adv.)
more; most plus (adv.), le plus
less; least (in importance) moindre (adj.); le moindre
less; least moins (adv.); le moins
at least (= not less than) au moins
at least (= anyway, at all du moins
events)
nearly, about, approximately à peu près
where? où?
here; here is, here are ict (adv.}; votct
there; there is, there arc la (adv.); voilà
somewhere quelque part
somewhere else, elsewhere autre part, ailleurs
apart, aside à part!
everywhere partout
nowhere _ nulle part
hill la colline
valley la vallée
slope; sloping la pente; en pente
steep; stiff raid
mountain la montagne
top, summit le sommet
rock le rocher, la roche
cave, cavern la caverne
38 COUNTRYSIDE AND SBASIDE
stone la pierre
pebble le caillou (pl. -oux)
hole le trou (pl. -ous)
path le sentier
landscape, scenery le paysage
lonely, isolated isolé
distant, far off; distance: lointain (adj.); le lointain
situated situé (adj.)
spot, place, locality l'endroit (m.), le leu
river la rivière
(large) river, e.g. le Niger le fleuve
stream le ruisseau
to flow; to slip couler
flood; to flood l’inondation (£.); inonder
bridge
ferry, ferry-boat
le pont
le bac
spring, source la source
pond, pool l'étang (m.), la mare
lake; lakeside le lac; lacustre (adj.)
creek, branch of.river, le marigot
swampy place
marsh, swamp le marécage, le marais
marshy, swampy eux
reed le roseau
mud; muddy la boue; boueux
puddle, pool (after rain) laflaque
COUNTRYSIDE AND SEASIDE 39
bank, shore, side (river and lake) Ja rive, le rivage
ditch le fossé
well le puits
to draw (e.g. water from well) puiser
fountain la fontaine
15. Farming
farmer; farmer’s wife le fermier; la fermière
peasant, farm-worker le paysan, la paysanne
cowherd; shepherd le vacher; le berger
farmer; to grow, cultivate, le cultivateur; cultiver
farm
cultivation la culture
farming, land farmed l’exploitarion (£.)
farm; farm-house la ferme
barn la grange
stable l'écurie (£.)
(tilled) field; farm de champ
grapes le raisin
bunch, cluster la grappe
vine; vineyard la vigne
vine-harvest la vendange, les vendanges
orchard le verger
[Note: for other fruit trees see Section 4.]
FARMING
buffalo le buffle
camel le chameau
chimpanzee le chimpanzé
baboon le cynocéphale, le Hdi
elephant l'éléphant (m.)
ant-eater le fourmilier
gorilla le gorille
hippopotamus l’hippopotame (m.)
leopard: le léopard
licn; lioness le hon; la lionne
wolf le loup
wart-hog le phacochère
porcupine le porc-épic (pl. porcs-épics)
bear Pours (m.)
fox le renard
rhinoceros; rhinoceros beetle le rhinocéros
bush-cat, serval cat le serval
monkey le singe
tiger; tigress le tigre; la tigresse
le poisson
la sardine
le requin
la baleine
le crocodile, le caïman :
la tortue
le crabe
scorpion le scorpion
frog; toad la grenouille; le crapaud
lizard; gecko le lézard; le gecko
chameleon le caméléon
snake le serpent
poisonous, venomous; poison, venimeux; le venin
venom _
viper, adder la vipère
python le python
cobra le cobrd
* wind le vent
breeze la brise
harmattan (wind) le harmattan
rain; to rain la pluie; pleuvoir
rainy pluvieux
shower, downpour l’averse (f.)
heavily (of rain), in torrents à verse, à torrents
wet, damp; to wet mouillé; mouiller
to soak tremper
humid; humidity humide; l'humidité (£.)
shelter; to shelter l’abri (m.); (s’)abriter
dry; dryness sec, sèche; la sécheresse
dew la rosée
mist la brume
fog le brouillard
snow la neige
storm l’orage (m.), la tempête
to burst; burst, flash, bril- éclater; l’éclat (m.)
liancy
thunder le tonnerre
flash of lightning l'éclair (m.)
thunder and lightning la foudre
now maintenant
of the present day, current actuel (adj.)
at present, at the present time actue
at one and the same time à la fois
just as au moment ot (conj.)
meanwhile, in the meantime
during; while
19. Geographical
country (political); region, le pays
district
world; people le monde
fatherland la patrie
region la région, la contrée
capital la (ville) capital”
frontier, border la frontière
nation, people le peuple
foreign; foreigner étranger; l'étranger (m.)
abroad à l'étranger .
abroad, overseas outre-mer (adv.)
native, indigenous indigène, autochtone (adj. and
noun)
according to native custom a l’indigéne
settler, colonist le (vieux) colon
ticket le biliet
time-table l'horaire (m.)
map la carte
passport le passeport
customs; customs officer la douane; le douanier
54 TRAVEL AND COMMUNICATION
holiday(s), vacation les vacances (f.)
stay le séjour
hotel l’hôtel (m.)
inn-kceper l'auberge (f.); l’aubergiste (m.
and f.)
boarding-house; payment for la pension
board and lodging
porter le porteur
barrow, trolley le chariot
underground railway (in le métro
Paris)
lesson la leçon
syllabus, curriculum le programme
time-table Vemploi (m.) du temps
school report le bulletin
break la récréation
lecture; lecturer la conférence; le conférencier
-to read; reading lire; la lecture
58 SCHOOL AND STUDY
/to write; writing, hand-writing écrire; l’écriture (f.)
to translate; translation traduire; la traduction
to dictate; dictation dicter; la dictée
to describe; description décrire; la description
exercise; practice l'exercice (m.)
essay; test la composition
composition ;editing la rédaction
prose; topic, theme le thème
hrome-work, ‘prep’ les devoirs (m.)
examination Pexamen (m.)
to sit for an examination passer un examen
to pass an examination réussir à un examen
diploma le diplôme
school-leaving certificate le baccalauréat
giving university entrance
degree la licence
fountain-pen le stylo:
ballpoint-pen : le stylo
à: bille
Le fountain-pen); nib la plume; le bec
ink; inkwell l’encre (f.); l’encrier (m.)
Senhora le (papier) buvard
pencil le craÿon
coloured pencil, crayon lé crayon de couleur
rubber, eraser; gum la”gomme
ruler; rule la règle
60 SCHOOL AND STUDY
rule, regulation le réglement
to punish; punishment punir; la punition
to correct; to check (faults); corriger
to punish
correction; punishment la correction
severe punishment. le châtiment
AT 7 Fe MC Le sc, ns RS
te
ENTERTAINMENT AND THE ARTS 63
cinema le cinéma
film le film
screen l’écran (m.)
star; film star la vedette; la vedette de
l'écran
theatre le théâtre
play la pièce (de théâtre)
actor; actress l'acteur (m.); l’actrice (f.)
stage; scene‘ la scène ‘
performance la représentation
comedy; tragedy la comédie; la tragédie
24. Religion
religion; religious la religion; religieux
God Dieu
god le dieu (pl. les dieux)
soul, spirit l’âme (£.)
mystery le mystère
faith la foi
temptation; to tempt; la tentation; tenter
attempt
prayer; grace (at meals) la prière
to say one’s prayers, to pray faire, dire ses prières
to bless; blessing bénir; la bénédiction
cathedral la cathédrale
(protestant) church le temple
church Péglise (f.)
mass la messe
service; (protestant) service l'office (m.); le culte
protestant; roman catholic protestant; catholique
bishop
(protestant) minister
l'évêque
le pasteur
(m.)
(roman catholic) priest le prêtre, le curé
RELIGION 65
minister’s or priest’s house, le presbytère
manse
chapel la chapelle
altar . Pautel (m.)
cross la croix
bell; bell-tower lacloche; leclocher
fetish le fétiche
fetish-worship, paganism; le fétichisme, fénichiste (ad).)
fetish
fetish-worshipper, pagan /le féticheur
fetish priest le chef féticheur
ancestor worship le culte des ancêtres
amulet, charm le gri-gri (pl. gris-gris)
wizard; witch-doctor le sorcier .
witch la sorcière
spell le sortilège
law la loi
justice la justice
court of justice, law-court le tribunal (pl. -aux)
lawsuit, case; trial le procès
judge le juge
barrister; lawyer l’avocat (m.); l’homme
de loi
witness; to witness, testify le témoin; témoigner
to wonder se demander
doubt; to: doubt le doute; douter
to hesitate hésiter
to guess deviner’
gratitude la reconnatssance
grateful (for) reconnaissant (de)
easy facile
difficult, hard difficile
hard, tough dur
soft, flabby, slack mou, mol (fem. molle)
laziness; lazy, idle la paresse; paresseux,
thing la chose
object l’objet (m.)
to possess, own posséder
to protect, guard protéger
to keep; to guard? y garder
to hold, keep; to be, stand, tenir; se tenir
keep
to maintain, Keep up maintenir
to get, obtain obtenir
to take; to catch (fish) prendre
to earn, win, gain; to reach gagner
to receive, get recevoir
to give; to look out on donner; donner sur
to give back, return rendre
to offer, present offrir (p.p. offert)
to exchange échanger
Pronouns
this; that ceci; cela, ça
the latter; the former celui-ci; celui-là
each one, every one; every- chacun, chacune
body
myself, yourself, etc. moi-même, toi-même, Etc.
mine; yours; his, hers, its le mien; le rien; le sien
ours; yours; theirs le nôtre; le vôtre; le leur
Prepositions
about, concerning au sujet de
according to selon
against contre
as for, as to, as regards quant à
because of, on account of à cause de
except sauf, excepté
for, (in order) to pour
in spite of, despite malgré
thanks to grace d
towards (feelings, not envers
motion)
without SUNS
COLOURS AND PARTS OF SPEECH 87
Conjunctions
although, though bien que, quoique (+ subj.)
because parce que
even if, even though; all the quand même
same
for, because car
if, whether; otherwise, if not st; sinon
in order that pour que (+subj.)
in order that, so that; in afin que (+subj.); afin de
order to, so as to (+ infin.)
neither...nor ~ M. mm... . (ne)
(beginning a statement) or
now, well
or; or else ou; ou bien
provided that pourvu que
seeing that, considering that vu que
since, seeing that Puisque
so, and so, therefore, then donc (also adv.)
unless à moins que...ne (+subj.)
whatever quoi que (+subj.)
whereas, while (contrast, not tandis que
time)
without sans que (+subj.)
yet still, nevertheless, how- cependant
ever
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shui. bb +) mp à pou
= ee onto
Prepositions a
eh, Coaering A) er de ä 7
accwrding te “selon | FP |
amis AAnTE |
an fut, #8do, à r-gands quent d ;
because af, 0e nous € » ‘d'oause de
Of, (inonder a
in spate of, dura
tante
te nes (inst, en
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