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French Acronyms
French Acronyms are an invasive species! But an integral part of the French language. Can you decipher this text full of usual French Acronyms? Marie-France, a French lady, citizen of the RF, lives in...
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Gigantic numbers – just try to count that high!
1000 billion or one trillion? It’s the same thing, but it depends who you ask. In any case they are gigantic numbers. While reading an article recently in the French press where the budgets are flying...
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Why is it called? Part 2: French place names
Why is it called… Part 2: French place names or toponyms Have you ever asked yourself why something is called by a particular name? Place names are also called toponyms. We’ve learned Paris was named...
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A Bon Speak Easy is a good Speak Easy
A Bon Speak Easy Why make a bon Speak Easy? One of the most used words in French must be bon. It is used is wish everyone a good day, week, weekend, trip, courage, luck and more. It also has a negative...
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Ma langue au chat, Tortures et délices d’un anglophone à Paris
Denis Hirson qui donne sa langue au chat. Photo by Adine Sagalyn/akg-images Mon petit accent récit extrait de Ma langue au chat, Tortures et délices d’un anglophone à Paris (Seuil/ Points Editions,...
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Why is it called? Part 3: Foods
Why is it called? Part 3: Foods Have you ever asked yourself why something is called by a particular name? Why are mushrooms called champignons de Paris? How do foods get named? There is often a story....
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Au Gui l’An Neuf ou Bonne et heureuse année à vous
Au Gui l’An Neuf ou Bonne et heureuse année à vous. La saison voulant que le gui abonde, on en cueillit dès le Moyen Âge pour l’offrir avec ce souhait : « Au gui l’an neuf », formule qui fut remplacée...
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When the French are less French
When the French are less French This is the installment that our French hosts, cousins, counterparts, entourage have dreaded. When the French are less French. (We offer it, however, with tender...
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The rooster as symbol of France
Cocorico! says the rooster as symbol of France «Cocorico», the French onomatopoeia for the rooster crowing sound (cock-a-doodle-doo), is also used to express national pride but often with a touch of...
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Learn French! Bear! Espèces d’ours!
Bear! Espèces d’ours! After being charged by an adult male grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park and shouting « Bear! » for real John and Lisa (read the Yellowstone press release here and listen to...
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Why is it called? Part 4: Clothing Etymology
Why is it called…? Part 4: Clothing Etymology Have you ever asked yourself why something is called by a particular name? Why are bérets called that? How do clothes get named? There is often a story....
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The Night before Christmas bilingual
The Night before Christmas bilingual version La Nuit avant Noel, verison bilingue To wish our readers a “Merry Christmas to all et Bonne Année à tous!” here is the famous poem by Clement Clarke Moore...
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Au Gui l’An Neuf ou Bonne et heureuse année à vous
Au Gui l’An Neuf is another way, a bit old fashioned, to say Bonne et heureuse année à vous. La saison voulant que le gui abonde, on en cueillit dès le Moyen Âge pour l’offrir avec ce souhait : « Au...
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Valentine’s Day – When Cupid’s bow is fired…
Valentine’s Day – When Cupid’s bow is fired… As far back as the early fourth century B.C., the Romans had celebrated an annual rite of passage for young men in honor of the god Lupercus. The names of...
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Gigantic numbers – just try to count that high!
1000 billion or one trillion? It’s the same thing, but it depends who you ask. In any case they are gigantic numbers. While reading an article recently in the French press where the budgets are flying...
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Christmas Poem
A Christmas poem, how about two ! To wish our readers a “Merry Christmas to all et Bonne Année à tous!” One is two centuries old and the second a contemporary piece that shares the same rhythm. The...
View ArticleLa Dictée and the Spelling Bee, Two traditions
Two spelling traditions: the Spelling Bee versus La Dictée It is quite ironic that the most often misspelled word in English is: « misspell »! Spelling is important in English and part of learning it....
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French postage stamps including the baguette
French Postage Stamps are a view of the history of the country, they also tell you what is going on currently as various events are commemorated. In 2024 obviously there are several sets of Olympic and...
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Myths and Misconceptions about the French
Myths and Misconceptions about the French (and France) and Where (at least) Some of Them Come From Paris! France! Ooh-là-là! The most visited country in the world must have done something right to...
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Speak Easy: Siamese Twin Words
Speak Easy: Siamese Twin Words All the English words in this Speak Easy puzzle are «Siamese Twin Words» or «Irreversible Binomials», in other words a pair or grouping of words used together and joined...
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