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THEMATIC VOCABULARY
During your on-site orientation in France, you will begin your
vocabulary study. From the beginning weencourage you to carry a
small notebook to keep track of new words and expressions. We also
have foundthat making index cards or “fiches”: is a very effective
way to learn groups of words. Below you will find (1)an explanation
of how “fiches” work, (2) words and expressions to talk about
eating and drinking, (3) wordsto talk about family relations and
health issues, (4) words to talk about emotions and
sentimentalrelationships and (5) a list of fun and very useful
expressions “Pour mieux discuter”.
“Les fiches”: An important technique for helping you acquire new
vocabulary, and retain it as well, is tolearn vocabulary not by
memorizing the French word and its definition in English, but
rather by learninggroups of French words that are associated with
each other. An excellent way to compile vocabulary itemslearned in
this way is to keep a file of index cards with headings such as La
vie nocturne, Mon coursd’histoire, La nourriture en
France, etc. You should pick themes that are likely to come up
in your everydaylife in France. Each card should contain no more
than 9 words: 3 nouns, 3 verbs, and 3 adjectives. Theseshould be
words you DO NOT already know.
La vie nocturne
nouns l’aube le billet le/la trouble-fête(early morning)
(admission ticket) (party-pooper)
verbs draguer se donner rendez-vous s’amuser(to try to pick up)
(to plan to meet) (to have a good time)
adjectives soûl/e génial/e animé/e(tipsy) (wonderful)
(lively)
An important characteristic of the advanced speaker of French is
the ability to handle situations that require
present, past and future tenses
. The advanced speaker can alsoexpress likes and dislikes,
opinions,
react and recommend and hypothesize about people and events. To
reinforce the new vocabulary youare acquiring, it may be helpful to
use the reverse side of the index card with the nine vocabulary
items towrite 4 sentences (a past tense, a reaction or
recommendation, an expression of likes or dislikes and
ahypothesis.) Each “fiche” would contain the 9 associated words on
the front and 4 four practice sentenceson the back, which combine
some of the new vocabulary words and the advanced grammar
structures youwant to master.
Past Il n’y avait pas de billets parce que nous sommes
arrivés trop tard.
Likes /dislikes Mon petit-ami aime beaucoup les fêtes finissent
à l’aube.
Reaction/ C’est génial que nous nous amusions toutes les
nuits, sans excéption.Recommendation
Hypothesis Si un garçon soûl voulait danser avec moi, je ne
le ferais pas.
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VOCABULARY TO TALK ABOUT EATING & DRINKING
Les adjectifs pour décrire comment tu te
Les adjectifs pour décrire la nourriture sens avant ou après
avoir bu et mangé
dégoûtant/e- disgusting soûl/e tipsyexquis/e- exquisite
gris/e
sucré/e-
sweetivre
- drunkpourri/e - rotten, spoiled affamé/e- starvingbrûlé/e-
burned rassasié/e- fulldélicieux/se- delicious mort/e de
soif- very thirstypiquant/e- spicy satisfait/e-
satisfiedsalé/e- saltysain/e- healthy fade- blandtendre-
tender Les adjectifs pour décrire les personnes
glouton/ne- a big eater délicat/e- picky
La préparation des plats en forme
- in shapegourmand/e- sweet toothed
fumé/e- smoked végétarien/ne- vegetarian assaisonné/e- with
dressingrôti/e- roastedla béchamel- cream sauceà
l’étuvée/l’étouffée- steamed Les verbes pour parler de la
nourriturecru/e- raw à l’escabèche in brine essayer- to
try frit/e- fried goûter- to sample au four- baked
digérer- to digest bouilli/e- boiled être au régime- to be on
a diet
grillé/e-
grilled/broiled mastiquer-
to chew
à la broche
barbecued sentir-
to smell/like
farci/e stuffed donner faim- to make hungry mijoté/e
stewed/simmered avoir le goût de- to taste like
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VOCABULARY TO TALK ABOUT FAMILY RELATIONS & HEALTH
Les adjectifs pour décrire les parents et les enfants
affectueux/se- loving naïf/ve- naivecompréhensif/ve-
understanding charmant/e- charmingconservateur/trice conservative
autoritaire- bossy déçu/e- disappointed gâté/e- spoiled
égoïste-
selfish fier/ère-
proud
indiscret/ète- meddlesome préoccupé/e- worried,
concerned jaloux/se- jealous rebelle- rebellious
strict/e- strict soumis/e- submissiveexigeant/e- demanding
coquin/e- mischievous impliqué/e- involved
sympa(thique)- nice
Les verbes pour parler de liens familiaux
remercier- to thank élever- to bring up/raiselouer- to
praise manquer- to miss someone
se conformer à-
to adjustregretter-
to regretsoutenir- to support emotionally faire attention
à- to pay attention topunir- to punish obéir à- to
obeypartager- to share gronder- to scold compter avec- to
count on se plaindre de- to complain about
Les problèmes de santé Les verbes pour parler de la santé
une allergie- allergy faire peur à- to frightenune crampe- cramp
se couper- to cut oneselfla chirurgie- surgery
guérir
- to cure
mal à la gorge
- sore throats’évanouir-
to faintles frissons
- chillsfaire mal-
to hurtla constipation- constipation tomber malade- to
get sickla fièvre- fever se refroidir- to get chilledle rhume- cold
avoir un rhume/ la grippe- flu ` être enrhumé/e- to have a
coldune insolation- heat stroke éternuer- to sneezeles nausées-
nausea garder le lit- to stay in bedune éruption- rash avoir la
tête qui tourne- to get dizzyla toux- cough grater - to
itch
récupérer
- to get bettersaigner - to bleedattraper un coup de
soleil
- to get a sunburn
Adjectifs pour parler de la santé
aigu/ë- sharp horrible- horrible effrayé/e-
frightened enflammé/e- swollen terrorisé/e- terrified
insupportable- unbearablenu-pieds- barefoot pâle-
pale douloureux/se- painful dangereux/se- dangerous
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VOCABULARY TO TALK ABOUT EMOTIONS & SENTIMENTAL
RELATIONS
Les adjectifs pour décrire les émotions Les verbes
triste- sad prendre dans ses bras- to hug honteux/se-
embarrassed avertir- to warnprudent/e- cautious profiter de- to
take advantagejaloux/se- jealous embrasser- to kiss
embrouillé/e
- confusedtrouver sympathique
- to like a personenthousiaste- excited se marier avec- to
marryflatté/e- flattered partager- to sharefatigué/e de- fed
up with se confier à- to confide in
quitter- to leave someonese disputer avec- to argue
with
Les adjectifs pour décrire tomber amoreux/euse- to fall in
loveles qualités positives rater- to fail
draguer- to try to pick updoux/douce- sweet, gentle
haïr-détester- to hateamical/e - friendly
rompre/casser avec - to break up with animé/e- lively
rêver de- to dream about
farceur/se-
full of fun être dingue de-
to be crazy aboutcomique-drôle- funny laisser froid/e- to
leave someone coldpoli/e- courteous/polite ennuyer- to
bore cultivé/e- well-educated plaire- to pleasecharmeur/se-
charming contrarier- to annoy raisonnable- sensible
aimer- to likesensible- sensitive sortir avec- to
date
Les adjectifs pour décrire Les adjectifs pour décrire
les les défauts relations sentimentales
stupide-bête
- stupidnocif/ve-
harmfulfou/folle-
crazydurable
- lastingdistrait/e- spacy passionnant- excitingindiscret/ète-
meddlesome réussi/e- successfulgrossier/ère- rude génial/e-
wonderfulennuyeux/se- annoying inoubliable-
unforgettablesuffisant/e- conceited passager/ère-
fleetingétrange-bizarre- strange, weird emporté/e-
stormyavare- stingyentêté/e- stubborn
Des expressions utiles
au bout du compte-
in the endle coup de foudre
- love at first sightimporter- to matter to taquiner- to
teasequant à...-
as far as...is concernedmettre les pieds dans -
to put one’s foot inêtre des âmes soeurs - to be kindred spirits
le plat one’s mouth
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POUR MIEUX DISCUTER
The following expressions are provided early on so you can begin
immediately to enjoy using and hearingnew language.
C’est génial It's amazing.
Merci pour tout Thanks for everything.
Vous êtes très aimable You are very kind.
Quelle horreur How awful!
C’est incroyable That's incredible!
C’est passionnant That's fascinating!
C’est très génant How embarrassing!
C’est super (familier) How awesome!
C’est pas de chance What bad luck!
Quelle chance What (good) luck!
Quel bazar Quelle histoire What a mess!
C’est nul (familier) What a bummer!
Vraiment? Really?
Pas question No way!
Tu peux toujours rêver (familier) In your dreams!
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QUELQUES PLATS FRANÇAIS - Common foods you will see on menus
Menu à prix fixe (menu du jour) – Most restaurants offer a
"menu of the day" that includes a selection ofa first course of
soup, a second course (usually meat, poultry and/or fish), bread,
dessert, and coffee.
Des crudités – raw vegetables served with dressing, usually
as an appetizer
Des moules marinières – mussels in white wine and garlic
sauce
Du pâté de campagne
– country style pâté (ground meat with seasonings)
Un pâté de foie gras – goose/duck liver pâté
Une quiche lorraine – pie made with eggs, cream, cheese,
and bacon
Une salade niçoise – mixed salad with tuna, anchovies,
olives, and vegetables
La bouillabaisse – fish soup with different kinds of
Mediterranean fish (main course)
Un consommé – clear beef or chicken soup (broth)
Un potage de légumes
– vegetable soup
Un croque monsieur – grilled ham and cheese sandwich
Un pot-au-feu – beef stewed with vegetables
Un boeuf bourgignon – beef cooked in red burgundy wine and
onions
Un Châteaubriand – beef from very tender filet
Du coq au vin – rooster cooked in red Burgundy wine with
bacon
De la ratatouille
– vegetable casserole with onions, eggplant, tomatoes,
zucchini, and peppers
Les coquilles Saint-Jacques – scallops
Une crème caramel – flan, caramel custard
Une brioche – sweet roll
Des profiteroles – puff pastries filled with whipped cream
or ice cream and covered in hot chocolate sauce
À LA BOULANGERIE – AT THE BAKERY
Une baguette – long loaf, icon of FranceUne boule – round loaf,
various sizesUne ficelle – thin version of baguetteUn pain de
campagne – rustic, hearty loaf with thick crustUn pain complet –
bread made from whole wheat flourUn pain de mie – soft, white
bread, used for toasts and stuffingUn pain aux noix – bread with
walnutsUn pain aux raisins – sweet bread with raisinsUn pain
viennois – shape of baguette, but sweeter and softer
