une pièce
a coin
Avez-vous des pièces pour la machine? Non, j’ai seulement des billets.
Do you have coins for the machine? No, I only have bills.
Today our vocabulary word is about money and banking.
Vocabulary Section: Money, Word of the Day
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la main
the hand
La mère de Jean a pris la main.
Jean’s mother took his hand.
Vocabulary Section: Body and Health, Word of the Day
un carré
a square
Il y avait un petit carré de fleurs sauvages dans le jardin.
There was a little square of wildflowers in the garden.
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Take our quiz to test yourself on today’s word and others from an assortment of topics.
Vocabulary Section: Shapes and Geometry, Word of the Day
la vie en ville
city life, life in the city
Préférez-vous la vie en ville ou à la campagne?
Do you prefer life in the city or in the country?
QUIZ LINK
Test yourself on today’s word and others about city life here.
Vocabulary Section: Society, Word of the Day
les fientes d’oiseaux
n.f.pl., bird droppings
Ne vous asseyez pas là! Le banc est couvert de fientes d’oiseaux.
Don’t sit there! The bench is covered in bird droppings.
A WORD FOR EVERYTHING
Today’s word might serve as a reminder that, for all the beauty of the French language, there are plenty of vocabulary words for some of the less-than-beautiful things we might encounter in everyday life. Click here to discover more words about recreation and life outdoors.
READY TO TALK THE WALK?
Take our Walk in the Park Quiz to find out how much outdoor vocabulary you’ve learned.
Vocabulary Section: Recreation and Outdoors, Word of the Day
partir
to depart, to leave
À quelle heure part le train à Paris?
What time does the train to Paris leave?
TODAY
One of the easiest and most popular ways to get around France is to take the train, or le train. Today’s word will help get us on our way.
TEST YOUR TRAIN VOCABULARY
Take our train travel quiz to find out if you’re ready to take to the rails in French.
Vocabulary Section: Travel and Getting Around, Word of the Day
avoir la langue bien pendue
Actual meaning: to have the gift of gab
Literal meaning: to have a well suspended tongue
Ginette a vraiment la langue bien pendue. Elle parle sans cesse.
Ginette really has the gift of gab. She talks nonstop.
TODAY
We love idiomatic phrases. Today’s phrase is an example of one of these useful gems that provide a fascinating window into the French mindset.
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Find out how many French idiomatic expressions you know by taking our quiz.
Vocabulary Section: Idiom Expressions, Word of the Day
le vase, la vase
le vase = the vase
la vase = the mud, silt
Les fleurs poussent dans la vase avant d’être mises dans le vase.
The flowers grow in the mud before being put in the vase.
TODAY
We’re discovering words that have definitions that vary according to gender. When the gender changes, so does the meaning!
QUIZ LINK
Test yourself on today’s word and others like it here.
Vocabulary Section: Grammar Tips, Word of the Day
au premier plan
in the foreground
La pomme est au premier plan de la photo.
The apple is in the foreground of the photo.
TODAY
It’s very useful in conversation to be able to describe spatial relationships — the idea of where one thing is in relation to another. Today’s phrase can help you do just that. Click here for other similar words and phrases.
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Test yourself on spatial relationships with our quiz.
Vocabulary Section: Spatial Relationships, Word of the Day
en être à se demander si
Actual meaning: to begin to wonder if
Literal meaning: to be at the point of asking oneself if
J’en suis à me demander si le printemps arrivera.
I’m beginning to wonder if spring will arrive.
TODAY
We love idiomatic phrases. Today’s example is one of these fun and useful gems that can make your French vocabulary much richer. To discover more idiomatic expressions, click here.
TAKE OUR QUIZ
Find out how many French idiomatic expressions you know by taking our quiz.
Vocabulary Section: Idiom Expressions, Word of the Day