L'hiver, Vive le vent!
L’HIVER (lee-VAYR* = the winter) HIVER (ee- VAYR) means winter in French. On this January day, winter is now in full force in the northern hemishere. At my home in Canada, the ground is covered with a dazzling layer of…
Le Soleil
Le SOLEIL (luh soh-LAY = the sun) Le soleil means the sun. As I write here in Canada, the days are getting longer as we move through the winter and anticipate the arrival of spring. The English word solar means “having…
Les Transports
Les Transports Workpages – $9.95 CDN Make French unit studies easy with Nallenart’s Workpages series! Les Transports (lay trahz-POHR = transportation) is a resource book of reproducible worksheets with a theme of transportation and travel, the verb aller, etc. Puzzles, vocabulary, verb…
Le Dos
le dos (luh DOH) = the back The French word for back comes from the Latin word for back – dorsum. The English word dorsal (on the back of something, as a dorsal fin on the back of a whale) is…
Le Nez
le nez (luh NAY)* = the nose The French word for nose comes from the Latin word for nose – nasus. Related English words include nasal (pertaining to the nose), nose, and nostril. Many French and English words have a common origin…
Le Pied
le pied (luh PEEAY)* – the foot The French word for foot comes from the Latin word for foot – pedis. English words that are related are pedestrian (someone walking on foot), and pedal (something operated with your foot). * This pronunciation guide gives only…
La Main
la main (la MEH)* – the hand The French word for hand comes from the Latin word for hand – manus. English words that are related are manual (as in manual labour, which means working with your hands), and manuscript (something written by hand). *…
Expressions with AVOIR – peur de
avoir peur de = to be afraid of The French phrase avoir peur de is another example of a French expression that uses avoir, to have, where English uses to be. Eg.: Robert a peur des araignées. = Robert is…
Expressions with AVOIR – faim
j’ai faim (zhay* FEH)** = I am hungry In English, we use the phrase “I am hungry” to let someone know we need food. In this sentence “am,” the being word, is used. To make the same statement in French,…
Expressions with AVOIR – age
French uses the verb avoir to tell how old someone is. How old are you? Quel âge as-tu? (kel ahzh* ah tyoo)** I am ten years old. J’ai dix ans. (zhay* deez ah)**Read the question, then answer in French. Quel…