Contents

Cover

Title Page

Introduction

Using the dictionary

French – English

Language plus

Animals

The body

Clothes

Colours

Family

Days and dates

The weather

Places

Food

Fruit and vegetables

Drinks

Furniture

Instruments

Jobs

Sports

At school

Numbers and time

French verbs

Illustrations

English – French

Copyright

About the Publisher

William Collins’ dream of knowledge for all began with the publication of his first book in 1819. A self-educated mill worker, he not only enriched millions of lives, but also founded a flourishing publishing house. Today, staying true to this spirit, Collins books are packed with inspiration, innovation, and practical expertise. They place you at the centre of a world of possibility and give you exactly what you need to explore it.

Language is the key to this exploration, and at the heart of Collins Dictionaries is language as it is really used. New words, phrases, and meanings spring up every day, and all of them are captured and analysed by the Collins Word Web. Constantly updated, and with over 2.5 billion entries, this living language resource is unique to our dictionaries.

Words are tools for life. And a Collins Dictionary makes them work for you.

Collins. Do more.

Introduction

The Collins Primary Illustrated French Dictionary is a bilingual dictionary aimed at primary school children who are starting to learn French.

Access to a dictionary which is pitched at an appropriate level is a vital part of the language-learning process. The content of this dictionary has been carefully selected to reflect current trends in primary education and help children with acquiring basic language-learning skills.

The key aims of the Collins Primary Illustrated French Dictionary are:

• to develop both language skills in French and language learning skills in general

• to cover the four key areas of language attainment: listening, speaking, reading and writing

• to reinforce key aspects of the language by the use of notes and feature boxes throughout the entries

• to extend cultural awareness by providing information about France, especially where traditions differ from those in Britain

The Collins Primary Illustrated French Dictionary supports language learning in a number of specific ways:

• it develops children’s knowledge of how language works by encouraging them to understand, analyse and use simple aspects of grammar

• it develops children’s individual learning skills by using a wide range of notes that explain things in a simple but interesting way

• it enables children to make comparisons between French and English by encouraging them to explore the similarities and differences between the two languages and cultures

• it introduces young learners to all the basic elements of a bilingual dictionary and provides detailed instructions on how to get the most out of using the dictionary

The Collins Primary Illustrated French Dictionary is presented in an easy-to-use format which is intended to appeal to children of primary school age. It provides lots of simple, relevant examples and tips on how to remember words, and how to avoid some of the pitfalls of translation. It also features key phrases, illustrations and information about life in France, making it an invaluable and exciting resource.

Using the dictionary

Step one:

Pick the right side

Remember there are two halves to the dictionary. If you want to know what a French word means, look in the French-English half. It comes first.

If you want to translate an English word into French, look in the second half, which is English-French. It comes after the supplement in the middle of the dictionary.

1 Which of these words would you look up in the French-English half? demain brother horse bonbon

2 Look at page 51 of the dictionary. Is this the French side or the English side? How can you tell?

3 Look at page 411 of the dictionary. What is shown at the top of the page, above the row of dots?

4 Is fish the first or the last word on page 411?

Remember that you do not read across the whole page in a dictionary – you have to read down the columns.

5 Which word comes immediately after fireworks on page 411?

Step two:

Find the right word

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Words are in alphabetical order in the dictionary – like names in the phone book, and in a school register. The alphabet is shown down the edge of each page of the dictionary. You can sort words into alphabetical order by looking at the first letter of each word.

6 Can you put these names in alphabetical order? Chantal, Luc, Sophie, Pierre, Jean-Marie, Hélène When two words start with the same letter, look at their second letters.

7 In alphabetical order which comes first – Hermione or Harry? This is the order of the days of the week on a calendar: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

8 Which day comes first in a dictionary? Which comes last?

9 Thursday comes before Tuesday in a dictionary. Why?

10 Put the seven days of the week into alphabetical order. If the first letters are the same, and the second letters are the same, look at the third letters.

11 June, July, August: which comes last in the dictionary?

Step three:

Pick the right translation

The translations are easy to spot in this dictionary because they are in red on the French-English side and blue on the English-French side.

Some French words can be masculine or feminine, or even plural. In the dictionary MASC, FEM, and PL are the abbreviations used for these. The dictionary also shows you the French word for ‘the’ (this can be le, la, l’ or les).

doll NOUN

la poupée fem

When you look up doll you can see that the word for doll in French is poupée.

You can tell that the French word for doll is feminine because it is given with la and the dictionary says that it is fem (feminine).

So the doll is la poupée and a doll would be une poupée.

penfriend NOUN

le correspondant masc

la correspondante fem

I’m Emma, your English penfriend. Je suis Emma, ta correspondante anglaise.

Here there are two translations, one masculine, one feminine. If your penfriend is a boy, you need the French word which is masculine (masc) – le correspondant. If your penfriend is a girl, you need the French word which is feminine (fem) – la correspondante.

12 If you were talking about your penfriend, which would go in the gap, correspondant or correspondante?

J’ai un __________. Il s’appelle Hugo.

animal NOUN

l’ animal masc (pl les animaux)

Here there are two translations. The second one is plural (PL).

13 If you want to say that you love animals, which translation would go in the gap?

J’adore les __________.

Sometimes there is more than one translation, and each one has a number. If there is more than one translation, don’t just pick the first one! Check to see which is the right one.

ball NOUN

1 la balle fem (for tennis, golf, cricket) Hit the ball! Frappe la balle!

2 le ballon masc (for football, rugby) Pass the ball! Passe le ballon!

14 Which is the French word for a ball that you kick – une balle or un ballon? Look for the clue.

Step four:

Parts of speech

Sometimes, to pick the right translation, you need to know the part of speech of a word, for example whether a word is a noun, an adjective, an adverb or a verb. Other parts of speech are conjunction, exclamation, number, preposition and pronoun.

NOUNS

Nouns are naming words for things or people. You often use the words ‘a’ or ‘the’ with a noun – eg a girl, a boy, the school, the windows.

Nouns can be singular, eg an accident, the canteen, my dad, football – or plural, eg sweets, the children, my friends.

15 How many nouns are there in the sentence below? What are they? The car has got a flat tyre and a big dent in the door.

ADJECTIVES

An adjective is a describing word which tells you what things are like: flat shoes are shoes that don’t have high heels. A flat tyre is a tyre with no air in it.

16 How many adjectives are there in the sentence below? What are they? She’s got brown hair and blue eyes.

Some words have a noun meaning and an adjective meaning. In the dictionary there is a box to tell you about this. The different meanings usually have different translations in French.

sweet

sweet can be a noun or an adjective.

A NOUN

1 le bonbon masc (candy) a bag of sweets un paquet de bonbons

2 le dessert masc (pudding) Sweets: ice cream or chocolate mousse Desserts: glace ou mousse au chocolat

B ADJECTIVE

1 sucré masc sucrée fem (sugary) It’s too sweet. C’est trop sucré.

2 gentil masc gentille fem (kind) She’s a sweet person. Elle est gentille.

3 mignon masc mignonne fem (cute) Isn’t she sweet? Comme elle est mignonne!

17 You want to ask someone if they would like a sweet. Fill in the gap. How can you be sure this is the right translation?

Tu veux un __________?

ADVERBS

An adverb is a word which describes a verb or an adjective:

She writes neatly. The film was very good.

18 How many adverbs are there in the sentence below? What are they? What do they have in common? The children sat quietly and played happily.

Some words have an adjective meaning and an adverb meaning. The different meanings have different translations in French.

hard

hard can be an adjective or an adverb.

A ADJECTIVE

1 difficile (difficult) This question’s too hard for me. Cette question est trop difficile pour moi.

2 dur masc dure fem (not soft) This cheese is very hard. Ce fromage est très dur.

B ADVERB dur Colette works hard. Colette travaille dur.

19 You want to say you work hard. Fill in the gap in the sentence below:

Je travaille __________.

VERBS

Verbs are sometimes called ‘doing words’. They often go with words like ‘I’ and ‘you’, and with names, eg I play football, What do you want?, Hugo likes mashed potato.

Verbs tell you about the present: eg I’m listening; the past: I scored a goal; and the future: eg I’m going to get an ice cream.

20 How many verbs are there in the sentence below? What are they? School starts at 9.00 and finishes at 3.30.

Some words have an adjective meaning and a verb meaning. The different meanings have different translations in French.

clean

clean can be an adjective or a verb.

A ADJECTIVE

propre a clean shirt une chemise propre

B VERB

nettoyer Clean the board please! Nettoie le tableau s’il te plaît!

21 If you want to ask for ‘a clean glass’, how do you know that propre is the translation, not nettoyer?

Some words have a noun meaning and a verb meaning.

rain

rain can be a noun or a verb.

A NOUN

la pluie fem in the rain sous la pluie

B VERB

pleuvoir It’s going to rain. Il va pleuvoir. It rains a lot here. Il pleut beaucoup par ici.

It’s raining. Il pleut.

22 Is la pluie a noun or a verb?

23 Why is It rains a lot here. in part B?

Learn useful phrases

In the dictionary you’ll see phrases that are especially important in orange boxes. Try to learn these when you come across them, and you’ll soon know lots of useful things to say in French.

What time is it? Quelle heure est-il? It’s lunch time. C’est l’heure du déjeuner. How many times? Combien de fois?

Find out interesting things about life in France

There are also boxes which tell you about French customs, and about differences between life in France and Britain.

Did you know…?

In France, Easter eggs are said to be brought by the Easter bells or cloches de Pâques which fly from Rome and drop them in people’s gardens.

Even more words

At school you will learn to talk about subjects such as the time and the weather, your family, your pets, and your clothes. The most important words for talking about these subjects are shown in the dictionary itself, and even more words are given in Language Plus, the supplement in the middle part of the dictionary. Have a look!

Answer key

1 demain and bonbon

2 the French side; French words on it; French-English written at the side of the page.

3 fire → fish

4 It’s the last word on page 411.

5 first

6 Chantal, Hélène, Jean-Marie, Luc, Pierre, Sophie

7 Harry – because ‘a’ comes before ‘e’

8 Friday comes first and Wednesday comes last.

9 because the second letter of Thursday is ‘h’, which comes before ‘u’, the second letter of Tuesday

10 Friday, Monday, Thursday, Tuesday, Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday

11 June

12 correspondant

13 animaux

14 un ballon – the clue is in the example: un ballon de football

15 4 – car, tyre, dent, door

16 2 – brown, blue

17 bonbon – a sweet is a noun, it means candy; the example helps too

18 2 – quietly, happily; they both end in -ly

19 dur

20 2 – starts, finishes

21 because clean has an adjective meaning in this sentence; the example helps too

22 a noun

23 because it’s a verb

French – English

A a

a VERB see avoir

Language tip

Don’t confuse a with the preposition à.

1 has

Elle a beaucoup d’amis.

She has lots of friends.

Language tip

Sometimes a is used to show that something has happened in the past.

Il a joué au football. He played football.

2 is

Il a neuf ans.

He is nine years old.

il y a there is/there are

Language tip

il y a has two translations. Look at the examples.

Il y a un bon film à la télé. There’s a good film on TV. Il y a beaucoup de monde. There are lots of people.

Language tip

il y a can also mean ago.

Elle est partie il y a dix minutes. She left ten minutes ago.

Qu’est-ce qu’il y a? What’s the matter?

à PREPOSITION

Language tip

Don’t confuse à with the verb form a. See also au (= à + le) and aux (= à + les).

1 at

Je suis à la maison.

I am at home.

Je finis à quatre heures.

I finish at 4 o’clock.

2 in

Il est à Paris.

He is in Paris.

Elle habite au Portugal.

She lives in Portugal.

Mes grands-parents habitent à la campagne.

My grandparents live in the country.

au printemps

in the spring

au mois de juin

in June

3 to

Je vais à Paris.

I’m going to Paris.

Elle va au Portugal.

She’s going to Portugal.

Cet été je vais à la campagne.

I’m going to the country this summer.

Il l’a donné à son frère. He gave it to his brother. Je n’ai rien à faire. I’ve got nothing to do. Ce livre est à Paul. This book is Paul’s.

4 by

Il est arrivé à bicyclette. He arrived by bicycle. à pied on foot Je vais à l’école à pied. I walk to school. à … d’ici … from here C’est à dix kilomètres d’ici. It’s 10 kilometres from here. … à l’heure … an hour cent kilomètres à l’heure 100 kilometres an hour À samedi! See you on Saturday! À tout à l’heure! See you later!

À bientôt! See you soon! À demain! See you tomorrow!

abandonner VERB

1 to abandon

2 to give up

Je veux abandonner la natation.

I want to give up swimming.

l’ abeille FEM NOUN

bee

abominable ADJECTIVE

awful

l’ abord MASC NOUN

d’abord first Je vais rentrer chez moi d’abord. I’ll go home first.

l’ abricot MASC NOUN

apricot

absent MASC ADJECTIVE

(FEM absente)

absent

absolument ADVERB

absolutely

l’ accent MASC NOUN

accent

un accent aigu an acute accent un accent grave a grave accent un accent circonflexe a circumflex

Language tip

French vowels sometimes have an accent to change their sound. There are three kinds of accents: the acute (école), the grave (mère) and the circumflex (hôtel). See also aigu, grave, circonflexe.

accepter VERB

to accept

l’ accident MASC NOUN

accident

accompagner VERB

to accompany

Language tip

There is the word accompany in English, but it is quite a formal word and we will often use something different, such as take.

Elle m’accompagne à l’école. She takes me to school.

l’ accord MASC NOUN

être d’accord to agree Tu es d’accord avec moi? Do you agree with me?

D’accord! OK!

l’ accordéon MASC NOUN

accordion

Ray joue de l’accordéon. Ray plays the accordion.

l’ accueil MASC NOUN

reception

acheter VERB

to buy

l’ acné FEM NOUN

acne

l’ acteur MASC NOUN

actor

un acteur de cinéma a film actor

actif MASC ADJECTIVE

(FEM active) active

l’ activité FEM NOUN

activity

l’ actrice FEM NOUN

actress

une actrice de cinéma a film actress

les actualités FEM PL NOUN

news

Je regarde les actualités tous les soirs. I watch the news every night.

l’ addition FEM NOUN

1 sum

2 bill

L’addition, s’il vous plaît! Can we have the bill, please?

adhésif MASC ADJECTIVE

(FEM adhésive) le ruban adhésif sticky tape

l’ adjectif MASC NOUN

adjective

‘grand’ est un adjectif. ‘grand’ is an adjective.

admettre VERB

1 to admit

J’admets que j’ai eu tort. I admit I was wrong.

2 to allow

Les chiens ne sont pas admis dans le restaurant. Dogs are not allowed in the restaurant.

l’ adolescent MASC NOUN

l’ adolescente FEM NOUN

teenager

adorable ADJECTIVE

lovely

adorer VERB

to love

Elle adore le chocolat. She loves chocolate. J’adore jouer au tennis. I love playing tennis.

l’ adresse FEM NOUN

address

Language tip

The French word has only one d, and an extra e.

mon adresse électronique my email address

l’ adulte MASC/FEM NOUN

adult

une chambre pour deux adultes et un enfant a room for two adults and a child

l’ adverbe MASC NOUN

adverb

‘Beaucoup’ est un adverbe. ‘Beaucoup’ is an adverb.

l’ adversaire MASC/FEM NOUN

opponent

l’ aérobic MASC NOUN

aerobics

Je fais de l’aérobic. I do aerobics.

l’ aéroport MASC NOUN

airport

les affaires FEM PL NOUN

1 things

Va chercher tes affaires! Go and get your things! Rangez vos affaires! Put your things away!

2 business

un homme d’affaires a businessman

l’ affiche FEM NOUN

poster

affreux MASC ADJECTIVE

(FEM affreuse)

awful

africain MASC ADJECTIVE

(FEM africaine)

African

l’ Africain MASC NOUN

l’Africaine FEM NOUN

African

l’ Afrique FEM NOUN

Africa

agacer VERB

to get on somebody’s nerves

Tu m’agaces! You’re getting on my nerves!

l’ âge MASC NOUN

age

Écrivez votre nom et votre âge. Write down your name and age.

Tu as quel âge? How old are you? Quel âge a-t-elle? How old is she?

âgé MASC ADJECTIVE

(FEM âgée)

old

l’ agence FEM NOUN

agency

une agence de voyages a travel agency une agence immobilière an estate agent’s

l’ agenda MASC NOUN

diary

Elle note tous ses rendez-vous dans son agenda. She makes a note of all her appointments in her diary.

Language tip

Be careful! The French word agenda does not mean the same as the English word agenda.

l’ agent MASC NOUN

un agent de police a policeman

l’ agneau MASC NOUN

(PL les agneaux)

lamb

un gigot d’agneau a leg of lamb

l’ agrafeuse FEM NOUN

stapler

agréable MASC ADJECTIVE

(FEM agréable)

nice

l’ agriculteur MASC NOUN

farmer

ai VERB see avoir

J’ai deux chats. I have two cats.

Language tip

Sometimes ai is used to show that something has happened in the past.

J’ai oublié mon livre. I’ve forgotten my book.

l’ aide FEM NOUN

help

aider VERB

to help

Tu peux m’aider? Can you help me?

aïe EXCLAMATION

Ouch!

aigu MASC ADJECTIVE

un accent aigu an acute accent

l’ aiguille FEM NOUN

needle

l’ ail MASC NOUN

garlic

Je n’aime pas l’ail. I don’t like garlic.

l’ aile FEM NOUN

wing

une aile de poulet a chicken wing

aimable MASC ADJECTIVE

(FEM aimable)

nice

l’ aimant MASC NOUN

magnet

aimer VERB

1 to love

Elle aime ses enfants. She loves her children. Je t’aime. I love you.

2 to like

Tu aimes le chocolat? Do you like chocolate? J’aime bien ce garçon. I like this boy.

J’aime bien jouer au tennis. I like playing tennis.

aîné MASC ADJECTIVE (FEM aînée)

C’est mon frère aîné. He’s my big brother.

l’ aîné MASC NOUN

l’ aînée FEM NOUN

oldest child

C’est l’aîné. He’s the oldest child. C’est l’aînée. She’s the oldest child.

l’ air MASC NOUN

air

Tu as l’air fatiguée. You look tired.

l’ aire de jeux FEM NOUN

playground

ajouter VERB

to add

l’ alarme FEM NOUN

alarm

l’ alcool MASC NOUN

alcohol

Je ne bois pas d’alcool. I don’t drink alcohol.

l’ Algérie FEM NOUN

Algeria

algérien MASC ADJECTIVE

(FEM algérienne)

Algerian

l’ Algérien MASC NOUN

l’ Algérienne FEM NOUN

Algerian

l’ alimentation FEM NOUN

groceries

le rayon alimentation the grocery department

l’ allée FEM NOUN

1 path

les allées du parc the paths in the park

2 drive

5, allée Saint-Exupéry 5 Saint-Exupéry Drive

l’ Allemagne FEM NOUN

Germany

allemand MASC NOUN, MASC ADJECTIVE (FEM allemande)

German

l’ Allemand MASC NOUN

l’ Allemande FEM NOUN

German

aller

aller can be a verb or a noun.

A VERB

to go

Je vais à Londres. I’m going to London. Nous allons visiter un château. We’re going to visit a castle. Allez! Dépêche-toi! Come on! Hurry up! Comment vas-tu? — Je vais bien. How are you? — I’m fine. Je vais mieux. I’m feeling better.

Comment ça va? — Ça va bien. How are you? — I’m fine.

B MASC NOUN

single

Je voudrais un aller pour Angers. I’d like a single to Angers. un aller simple a single un aller retour a return ticket

allergique ADJECTIVE

allergique à allergic to Je suis allergique aux chats. I’m allergic to cats.

allez VERB see aller

Vous allez où? Where are you going?

allô EXCLAMATION

hello!

Allô! Je voudrais parler à Monsieur Simon. Hello! I’d like to speak to Mr Simon.

Language tip

allô is only used when talking to someone on the phone.

allons VERB see aller

Nous allons nous coucher. We’re going to bed.

allumer VERB

1 to put on

Tu peux allumer la lumière? Can you put the light on?

2 to switch on

Allume l’ordinateur. Switch on the computer.

3 to light

Tu peux allumer cette bougie? Can you light this candle?

l’ allumette FEM NOUN

match

une boîte d’allumettes a box of matches

alors ADVERB

1 then

Alors, tu viens? Are you coming, then?

2 so

Alors tu habites ici? So you live here? Et alors? So what?

les Alpes FEM PL NOUN

Alps

dans les Alpes in the Alps

l’ alphabet MASC NOUN

alphabet

alphabétique ADJECTIVE

alphabetical

par ordre alphabétique in alphabetical order

l’ amande FEM NOUN

almond

la pâte d’amandes marzipan

l’ ambulance FEM NOUN

ambulance

Appelez une ambulance! Call an ambulance!

l’ amende FEM NOUN

fine

une amende de trente euros a 30 euro fine

amener VERB

to bring

Je peux amener un ami? Can I bring a friend?

américain MASC ADJECTIVE

(FEM américaine)

American

l’ Américain MASC NOUN

l’ Américaine FEM NOUN

American

l’ Amérique FEM NOUN

America

l’ ami MASC NOUN

l’ amie FEM NOUN

friend

J’ai beaucoup d’amis. I have lots of friends. mon meilleur ami my best friend ma meilleure amie my best friend un petit ami a boyfriend une petite amie a girlfriend

amical MASC ADJECTIVE

(FEM amicale)

friendly

amicalement ADVERB

Amicalement, Pierre. Best wishes, Pierre.

l’ amitié FEM NOUN

friendship

Amitiés, Christelle. Best wishes, Christelle.

l’ amour MASC NOUN

love

une histoire d’amour a love story

amoureux MASC ADJECTIVE

(FEM amoureuse)

in love

Il est amoureux de Naïma. He’s in love with Naïma.

l’ ampoule FEM NOUN

1 light bulb

Tu peux changer l’ampoule? Can you change the light bulb?

2 blister

J’ai une ampoule au pied. I’ve got a blister on my foot.

amusant MASC ADJECTIVE

(FEM amusante)

amusing

s’ amuser VERB

1 to play

Les enfants s’amusent dehors. The children are playing outside.

2 to enjoy oneself

Amuse-toi bien! Enjoy yourself!

l’ an MASC NOUN

year

Elle a douze ans. She’s twelve years old. le premier de l’an New Year’s Day le nouvel an New Year

J’ai dix ans. I’m ten years old.

l’ ananas MASC NOUN

pineapple

l’ ancêtre MASC/FEM NOUN

ancestor

l’ anchois MASC NOUN

anchovy

ancien MASC ADJECTIVE

(FEM ancienne)

1 former

C’est une ancienne élève. She’s a former pupil.

2 old

notre ancienne voiture our old car

3 antique

un fauteuil ancien an antique chair

l’ âne MASC NOUN

donkey

l’ ange MASC NOUN

angel

l’ angine FEM NOUN

throat infection

J’ai une angine. I’ve got a throat infection.

anglais MASC NOUN, MASC ADJECTIVE (FEM anglaise)

English

Je suis anglais. I’m English.

l’ Anglais MASC NOUN

Englishman

les Anglais the English

l’ Anglaise FEM NOUN

Englishwoman

l’ Angleterre FEM NOUN

England

J’habite en Angleterre. I live in England.

l’ animal MASC NOUN (PL les animaux)

animal

un animal domestique a pet Tu as un animal domestique? Have you got a pet?

l’ animateur MASC NOUN

l’ animatrice FEM NOUN

host

Il est animateur à la télé. He’s a TV host.

animé MASC ADJECTIVE (FEM animée)

lively

Cette ville est très animée. This is a very lively town. un dessin animé a cartoon J’adore les dessins animés. I love cartoons.

l’ année FEM NOUN

year

Cette année, j’apprends le français. I’m learning French this year.

l’année dernière last year l’année prochaine next year Bonne année! Happy New Year!

l’ anniversaire MASC NOUN

1 birthday

Aujourd’hui, c’est mon anniversaire. It’s my birthday today.

Quelle est la date de ton anniversaire? When is your birthday? Mon anniversaire, c’est le douze février. My birthday is on the twelfth of February. Joyeux anniversaire! Happy birthday!

2 anniversary

leur anniversaire de mariage their wedding anniversary

l’ annonce FEM NOUN

advert

J’ai vu une annonce dans le journal. I saw an advert in the newspaper. les petites annonces the small ads

annuler VERB

to cancel

l’ anorak MASC NOUN

anorak

l’ antenne FEM NOUN

aerial

les Antilles FEM PL NOUN

West Indies

l’ antiquité FEM NOUN

antique

un magasin d’antiquités an antique shop

anxieux MASC ADJECTIVE (FEM anxieuse)

anxious

août MASC NOUN

August

en août in August le trois août the third of August

apercevoir VERB

to see

l’ apéritif MASC NOUN

En été, on prend l’apéritif dans le jardin. In the summer we have drinks in the garden.

Did you know…?

An apéritif is a drink that you have before dinner. You usually have a snack to go with it. Adults have something alcoholic and children have juice.

l’ appareil MASC NOUN

un appareil dentaire a brace Je dois porter un appareil dentaire. I have to wear a brace. un appareil photo a camera J’ai perdu mon appareil photo. I’ve lost my camera.

l’ appartement MASC NOUN

flat

appartenir VERB

Ça m’appartient. This belongs to me.

l’ appel MASC NOUN

1 phone call

un appel d’Italie a phone call from Italy

2 register

faire l’appel to call the register Silence! Je fais l’appel. Quiet! I’m calling the register.

appeler VERB

to call

Elle appelle le médecin. She’s calling the doctor.

s’appeler

to be called

Elle s’appelle Muriel. Her name’s Muriel. Comment ça s’appelle? What is it called?

Comment tu t’appelles? What’s your name? Je m’appelle Alice. My name’s Alice.

l’ appendicite FEM NOUN

appendicitis

l’ appétit MASC NOUN

Bon appétit! Enjoy your meal!

apporter VERB

to bring

Je vais apporter un gâteau. I’m going to bring a cake.

apprendre VERB

to learn

J’apprends le français. I’m learning French. J’apprends à faire la cuisine. I’m learning to cook.

appris VERB see apprendre

Qu’est-ce que tu as appris aujourd’hui? What have you learned today?

s’ approcher VERB

to come closer

Approchez-vous. Come closer.

appuyer VERB

to press

Il faut appuyer sur ce bouton. You have to press this button.

après PREPOSITION, ADVERB

1 after

après le déjeuner after lunch

2 afterwards

aussitôt après immediately afterwards

après-demain ADVERB

the day after tomorrow

l’ après-midi MASC/FEM NOUN

afternoon

L’après-midi, je vais à la piscine. In the afternoon, I go to the swimming pool.

cet après-midi this afternoon

arabe

arabe can be an adjective or a noun.

A ADJECTIVE

Arab les pays arabes the Arab countries

B MASC NOUN

Arabic Il parle arabe. He speaks Arabic.

l’ araignée FEM NOUN

spider

Il y a une araignée dans la baignoire! There’s a spider in the bath!

l’ arbitre MASC NOUN

referee

l’ arbre MASC NOUN

tree

un arbre généalogique a family tree

l’ arc MASC NOUN

bow

un arc et des flèches a bow and arrows

l’ arc-en-ciel MASC NOUN

rainbow

l’ argent MASC NOUN

1 money

Je n’ai pas d’argent. I haven’t got any money. l’argent de poche pocket money

2 silver

une médaille d’argent a silver medal

l’ arme FEM NOUN

weapon

l’ armée FEM NOUN

army

l’ armoire FEM NOUN

wardrobe

l’ arobase FEM NOUN

at symbol

mon adresse e-mail, c’est ‘lola arobase europost point fr’ my email address is ‘lola@europost.fr’

arranger VERB

1 to arrange

Elle arrange des fleurs dans un vase. She’s arranging flowers in a vase.

2 to suit

Ça m’arrange de partir plus tôt. It suits me to leave earlier.

l’ arrêt MASC NOUN

stop

un arrêt de bus a bus stop

arrêter VERB

1 to stop

Tu peux arrêter la cassette? Can you stop the tape? Arrête! Stop it! Arrête de copier! Stop copying!

2 to switch off

Il a arrêté le moteur. He switched the engine off.

arrière

arrière can be a noun or an adjective.

A MASC NOUN

back l’arrière de la maison the back of the house

B MASC, FEM, PL ADJECTIVE

back le siège arrière the back seat les roues arrière the rear wheels

l’ arrière-grand-mère FEM NOUN

great-grandmother

l’ arrière-grand-père MASC NOUN

great-grandfather

l’ arrivée FEM NOUN

arrival

arriver VERB

1 to arrive

J’arrive à l’école à huit heures. I arrive at school at 8 o’clock.

2 to come

J’arrive! I’m coming!

3 to happen

Qu’est-ce qui est arrivé à Christian? What happened to Christian?

l’ arrondissement MASC NOUN

district

Did you know…?

Paris, Lyons, and Marseilles are divided into numbered districts called arrondissements.

arroser VERB

to water

Daphne arrose ses tomates. Daphne is watering her tomatoes.

l’ arrosoir MASC NOUN

watering can

l’ artichaut MASC NOUN

artichoke

l’ article MASC NOUN

article

un article de journal a newspaper article

l’ artiste MASC/FEM NOUN

artist

Paul est un véritable artiste. Paul is a real artist.

les arts plastiques MASC PL NOUN

art

as

as can be part of the verb avoir or a noun.

A VERB see avoir Tu as de beaux cheveux. You’ve got nice hair.

Language tip

Sometimes as is used to show that something has happened in the past.

Tu as aimé le film? Did you like the film?

B MASC NOUN

ace l’as de cœur the ace of hearts

l’ ascenseur MASC NOUN

lift

Il n’y a pas d’ascenseur dans mon immeuble. There’s no lift in my building.

asiatique ADJECTIVE

Asian

la cuisine asiatique Oriental cooking

l’ Asie FEM NOUN

Asia

l’ asperge FEM NOUN

asparagus

l’ aspirateur MASC NOUN

vacuum cleaner

passer l’aspirateur to vacuum Je déteste passer l’aspirateur! I hate vacuuming!

l’ aspirine FEM NOUN

aspirin

Prenez de l’aspirine. Take some aspirin.

l’ assassin MASC NOUN

murderer

assassiner VERB

to murder

s’ asseoir VERB

to sit down

Je peux m’asseoir ici? Can I sit here?

Asseyez-vous, tout le monde! Sit down everybody! Assieds-toi, Nicole! Sit down Nicole!

assez ADVERB

1 enough

Nous n’avons pas assez de temps. We don’t have enough time. Est-ce qu’il y a assez de pain? Is there enough bread? J’en ai assez! I’ve had enough!

2 quite

Il faisait assez beau. The weather was quite nice.

l’ assiette FEM NOUN

plate

une assiette creuse a soup plate une assiette à dessert a dessert plate

assis MASC ADJECTIVE (FEM assise)

sitting

Il est assis par terre. He’s sitting on the floor.

l’ assistant MASC NOUN

l’ assistante FEM NOUN

assistant

Il est assistant d’anglais à Tourcoing. He is an English assistant in Tourcoing. Elle est assistante de français à Oxford. She’s a French assistant in Oxford. une assistante sociale a social worker

l’ asthme MASC NOUN

asthma

une crise d’asthme an asthma attack

l’ atelier MASC NOUN

1 workshop

un atelier de poterie a pottery workshop

2 studio

L’artiste est dans son atelier. The artist is in his studio.

l’ athlète MASC/FEM NOUN

athlete

l’ athlétisme MASC NOUN

athletics

Je fais de l’athlétisme. I do athletics.

l’ Atlantique MASC NOUN

Atlantic

l’ atlas MASC NOUN

atlas

attacher VERB

to tie up

Elle attache ses cheveux avec un élastique. She ties her hair up with an elastic band.

attaquer VERB

to attack

attendre VERB

to wait

J’attends ma copine. I’m waiting for my friend. Attends-moi! Wait for me!

Language tip

Be careful! The French word attendre does not mean the same as the English word to attend.

l’ attente FEM NOUN

wait

deux heures d’attente two hours’ wait la salle d’attente the waiting room

l’ attention FEM NOUN

Attention! Watch out! faire attention to be careful Il ne fait pas attention. He’s not careful.

atterrir VERB

to land

l’ attraction FEM NOUN

un parc d’attractions an amusement park

attraper VERB

to catch

au PREPOSITION see à

Language tip

au is made up of à + le.

Je vais au cinéma. I am going to the cinema. au printemps in the spring

l’ aube FEM NOUN

dawn

Il se lève à l’aube. He gets up at dawn.

l’ auberge de jeunesse FEM NOUN

youth hostel

aucun

aucun can be an adjective or a pronoun.

A MASC ADJECTIVE (FEM aucune)

no Il n’a aucun ami. He’s got no friends.

B MASC PRONOUN (FEM aucune)

none Aucune d’elles n’aime le football. None of them like football.

au-dessous ADVERB

downstairs

Ils habitent au-dessous. They live downstairs. au-dessous de under au-dessous du pont under the bridge

au-dessus ADVERB

upstairs

J’habite au-dessus. I live upstairs. au-dessus de above au-dessus de la table above the table

aujourd’hui ADVERB

today

Aujourd’hui, c’est le onze juillet. Today is the eleventh of July.

aura, aurai, auras, aurez, aurons, auront

VERB see avoir

Demain, il y aura du soleil. It will be sunny tomorrow. J’aurai mon nouveau vélo mardi. I’m getting my new bike on Tuesday. Tu auras quel âge en juillet? How old will you be next July? Vous n’aurez pas le temps. You won’t have time. Nous aurons une semaine de vacances. We’ll have one week off. Ils n’auront pas le temps de venir nous voir. They won’t have time to visit us.

aussi ADVERB

1 too

Dors bien. — Toi aussi. Sleep well. — You too.

Moi aussi! Me too!

2 also

Je parle anglais et aussi français. I speak English and also French. aussi … que as … as Michael est aussi grand que moi. Michael is as tall as me.

aussitôt ADVERB

aussitôt après son retour straight after his return aussitôt que as soon as aussitôt que possible as soon as possible

l’ Australie FEM NOUN

Australia

australien MASC ADJECTIVE (FEM australienne)

Australian

autant ADVERB

Language tip

autant de can either mean so much or so many.

Je ne veux pas autant de gâteau. I don’t want so much cake. Je n’ai jamais vu autant de monde. I’ve never seen so many people.

Language tip

autant … que can either mean as much … as or as many … as.

J’ai autant d’argent que toi. I’ve got as much money as you have. J’ai autant d’amis que lui. I’ve got as many friends as he has.

l’ auteur MASC NOUN

author

l’ auto FEM NOUN

car

l’ autobus MASC NOUN

bus

Je vais à l’école en autobus. I go to school by bus.

l’ autocar MASC NOUN

coach

l’ autocollant MASC NOUN

sticker

l’ auto-école FEM NOUN

driving school

l’ automne MASC NOUN

autumn

en automne in autumn

automobile

automobile can be a noun or an adjective.

A FEM NOUN

car une vieille automobile an old car

B ADJECTIVE

une course automobile a motor race

l’ automobiliste MASC/FEM NOUN

motorist

l’ autoradio MASC NOUN

car radio

l’ autoroute FEM NOUN

motorway

l’ auto-stop MASC NOUN

C’est dangereux de faire de l’auto-stop. Hitchhiking is dangerous.

autour ADVERB

around

autour de la maison around the house

autre ADJECTIVE, PRONOUN

other

Je viendrai un autre jour. I’ll come some other day. J’ai d’autres projets. I’ve got other plans. autre chose something else Tu veux autre chose? Would you like something else? autre part somewhere else Je voudrais aller autre part. I’d like to go somewhere else. un autre another Tu veux un autre morceau de gâteau? Would you like another piece of cake?

l’autre the other Non, pas celui-ci, l’autre. No, not that one, the other one. d’autres others Je t’en apporterai d’autres. I’ll bring you some others. les autres the others Les autres sont arrivés plus tard. The others arrived later. ni l’un ni l’autre neither of them Je n’aime ni l’un ni l’autre. I like neither of them.

autrefois ADVERB

in the old days

autrement ADVERB

1 differently

Fais-le autrement. Do it differently.

2 otherwise

Je n’ai pas pu faire autrement. I couldn’t do otherwise.

l’ Autriche FEM NOUN

Austria

autrichien MASC ADJECTIVE (FEM autrichienne)

Austrian

l’ Autrichien MASC NOUN

l’ Autrichienne FEM NOUN

Austrian

l’ autruche FEM NOUN

ostrich

aux PREPOSITION see à

Language tip

aux is made up of à + les.

Il va aux États-Unis. He’s going to the United States.

avaler VERB

to swallow

l’ avance FEM NOUN

être en avance to be early Je suis en avance. I am early. à l’avance beforehand Il faut réserver longtemps à l’avance. You need to book well beforehand. d’avance in advance Elle a payé d’avance. She paid in advance.

avancer VERB

to go forward

Avance de trois cases. Go forward three squares.

avant

avant can be a preposition, an adjective or a noun.

A PREPOSITION

before avant de partir before leaving

B MASC, FEM, PL ADJECTIVE

front la roue avant the front wheel le siège avant the front seat

C MASC NOUN

front l’avant de la voiture the front of the car à l’avant in front J’aime m’asseoir à l’avant. I like to sit in the front. en avant forward Fais un pas en avant. Take a step forward.

l’ avantage MASC NOUN

advantage

avant-dernier MASC ADJECTIVE (FEM avant-dernière)

last but one

l’avant-dernière page the last page but one Ils sont arrivés avant-derniers. They arrived last but one.

avant-hier ADVERB

the day before yesterday

avec PREPOSITION

with

Je joue avec mes copains. I am playing with my friends.

Et avec ça? Anything else?

l’ avenir MASC NOUN

future

à l’avenir in future

l’ aventure FEM NOUN

adventure

l’ avenue FEM NOUN

avenue

J’habite au 3, avenue Pasteur. I live at 3 Pasteur Avenue.

l’ averse FEM NOUN

shower

Il y a des averses sur toute la France. There are showers all over France.

aveugle ADJECTIVE

blind

avez VERB see avoir

Vous avez des frères et sœurs? Have you got any brothers or sisters?

Language tip

Sometimes avez is used to show that something has happened in the past.

Vous avez aimé le film? Did you like the film?

l’ avion MASC NOUN

plane

Tu préfères y aller en avion ou en train? Would you rather go by plane or by train? Il va en Italie en avion. He is flying to Italy. par avion by airmail

l’ avis MASC NOUN

opinion

à mon avis in my opinion J’ai changé d’avis. I’ve changed my mind.

l’ avocat MASC NOUN

1 lawyer

Il est avocat. He’s a lawyer.

2 avocado

Tu aimes les avocats? Do you like avocados?

l’ avocate FEM NOUN

lawyer

Elle est avocate. She’s a lawyer.

l’ avoine FEM NOUN

oats

les flocons d’avoine porridge oats

avoir VERB

1 to have

Ils ont deux enfants. They have two children. Il a les yeux bleus. He’s got blue eyes.

Language tip

avoir is used to make the past tense of most verbs.

Qu’est-ce que tu as fait hier? What did you do yesterday?

2 to be

Il a trois ans. He’s three. J’ai faim. I’m hungry.

3 to get

J’ai des devoirs de maths deux fois par semaine. I get maths homework twice a week. Qu’est-ce que tu as eu pour Noël? What did you get for Christmas? il y a there is/there are

Language tip

il y a has two translations. Look at the examples.

Il y a quelqu’un à la porte. There’s somebody at the door. Il y a des chocolats sur la table. There are some chocolates on the table.

Language tip

il y a can also mean ago.

Je l’ai rencontré il y a deux ans. I met him two years ago.

Qu’est-ce qu’il y a? What’s the matter?

avons VERB see avoir

Nous avons une grande maison. We have a big house.

Language tip

Sometimes avons is used to show that something has happened in the past.

Nous avons regardé la télévision. We watched television.

avouer VERB

to admit

avril MASC NOUN

April

en avril in April le deux avril the second of April

B b

le babillard MASC NOUN (Canada)

bulletin board

le baby-foot MASC NOUN

table football

le baby-sitting MASC NOUN

Ma sœur fait du baby-sitting le week-end. My sister babysits at the weekend.

le bac MASC NOUN = baccalauréat

le baccalauréat MASC NOUN

A levels

Ma sœur passe son baccalauréat cette année. My sister is doing her A levels this year.

Did you know…?

The baccalauréat or bac is an exam taken at the end of lycée, when French students are 17 and 18 years old.

les bagages MASC PL NOUN

luggage

Les bagages sont dans la voiture. The luggage is in the car. Je déteste faire les bagages! I hate packing!

la bague FEM NOUN

ring

J’ai une belle bague. I have a beautiful ring.

la baguette FEM NOUN

stick of French bread

se baigner VERB

to swim

J’aime me baigner. I like swimming.

la baignoire FEM NOUN

bath

Il y a une araignée dans la baignoire! There’s a spider in the bath!

le bain MASC NOUN

bath

Je prends un bain. I’m having a bath.

le baiser MASC NOUN

kiss

donner un baiser to give a kiss Donne-moi un baiser! Give me a kiss!

la balade FEM NOUN

walk

Tu veux faire une balade? Do you want to go for a walk?

le baladeur MASC NOUN

Walkman® un baladeur numérique an MP3 player

le balai MASC NOUN

broom

la balançoire FEM NOUN

swing

le balcon MASC NOUN

balcony

la baleine FEM NOUN

whale

la balle FEM NOUN

ball

Le chien joue avec une balle. The dog is playing with a ball. une balle de ping-pong a ping-pong ball une balle de tennis a tennis ball

le ballon MASC NOUN

1 ball

un ballon de football a football

2 balloon

Je veux un ballon! I want a balloon!

la banane FEM NOUN

banana

le banc MASC NOUN

bench

la bande dessinée FEM NOUN

comic strip

J’adore les bandes dessinées! I love comic strips!

Did you know…?

Les bandes dessinées or comic strips are very popular with people of all ages in France.

la banlieue FEM NOUN

suburbs

J’habite en banlieue. I live in the suburbs.

la banque FEM NOUN

bank

le banquier MASC NOUN

la banquière FEM NOUN

banker

le baptême MASC NOUN

christening

le bar MASC NOUN

bar

barbant MASC ADJECTIVE (FEM barbante)

boring

Il est vraiment barbant! He’s so boring!

la barbe FEM NOUN

beard

Il porte la barbe. He’s got a beard. la barbe à papa candyfloss

le barbecue MASC NOUN

barbecue

la barque FEM NOUN

rowing boat

la barrière FEM NOUN

fence

le bar-tabac MASC NOUN

Did you know…?

A bar-tabac is a café which also sells cigarettes and stamps. It has a red diamond-shaped sign outside it.

le bas MASC NOUN

bottom

le bas de la page the bottom of the page en bas downstairs La salle de bains est en bas. The bathroom is downstairs.

le basilic MASC NOUN

basil

le basket MASC NOUN

basketball

Je joue au basket. I play basketball.

les baskets FEM PL NOUN

trainers

une paire de baskets a pair of trainers

le bassin MASC NOUN

pond

le bateau MASC NOUN (PL les bateaux)

boat

Je vais en France en bateau. I’m going to France by boat.

le bateau-mouche MASC NOUN

pleasure boat

le bâtiment MASC NOUN

building

la batterie FEM NOUN

drums

Je joue de la batterie. I play the drums.

battre VERB

to beat

bavard MASC ADJECTIVE (FEM bavarde)

talkative

bavarder VERB

to chat

le bazar MASC NOUN

mess

Quel bazar! What a mess! Va ranger ton bazar! Go and tidy up your mess!

la BD FEM NOUN

comic strip

Rose adore les BD. Rose loves comic strips.

beau MASC ADJECTIVE (MASC bel, FEM belle)

Language tip

beau changes to bel before a vowel sound.

1 lovely

un beau cadeau a lovely present une belle journée a lovely day

2 beautiful

une belle femme a beautiful woman

3 good-looking

un beau garçon a good-looking boy

4 handsome

un bel homme a handsome man

Il fait beau aujourd’hui. It’s a nice day today.

beaucoup ADVERB

1 a lot

Il mange beaucoup. He eats a lot. beaucoup de a lot of J’ai beaucoup de devoirs. I have a lot of homework. J’ai beaucoup de chance. I am very lucky.

2 much

Je n’ai pas beaucoup d’argent. I haven’t got much money.

le beau-fils MASC NOUN

1 son-in-law

2 stepson

le beau-frère MASC NOUN

brother-in-law

le beau-père MASC NOUN

1 father-in-law

2 stepfather

le bébé MASC NOUN

baby

beige ADJECTIVE, MASC NOUN

beige

le beignet MASC NOUN

fritter

des beignets aux pommes apple fritters

bel MASC ADJECTIVE see beau

un bel été a beautiful summer

belge ADJECTIVE

Belgian

le/la Belge MASC/FEM NOUN

Belgian

la Belgique FEM NOUN

Belgium

belle FEM ADJECTIVE see beau

une belle statue a beautiful statue

la belle-fille FEM NOUN

1 daughter-in-law

2 stepdaughter

la belle-mère FEM NOUN

1 mother-in-law

2 stepmother

la belle-sœur FEM NOUN

sister-in-law

le berceau MASC NOUN (PL les berceaux)

cradle

le berger MASC NOUN

shepherd

le besoin MASC NOUN

Je vais avoir besoin d’aide. I will need some help. J’ai besoin d’un stylo. I need a pen.

bête ADJECTIVE

stupid

les bêtises FEM PL NOUN

faire des bêtises to misbehave Ma sœur fait toujours des bêtises. My sister is always misbehaving. dire des bêtises to talk nonsense Tu dis des bêtises! You’re talking nonsense!

la betterave FEM NOUN

beetroot

le beurre MASC NOUN

butter

le biberon MASC NOUN

bottle

Ma maman donne le biberon à ma sœur. My mum is giving my baby sister her bottle.

la bibliothèque FEM NOUN

1 library

2 bookcase

le bic® MASC NOUN

Biro® J’ai deux bics dans ma trousse. I’ve got two Biros in my pencil case.

la biche FEM NOUN

doe

la bicyclette FEM NOUN

bicycle

J’ai une nouvelle bicyclette. I’ve got a new bicycle.

bien ADJECTIVE, ADVERB

1 well

Daphné travaille bien. Daphné works well.

2 good

Ce livre est vraiment bien. This book is really good.

J’aime bien les maths. I like maths. Comment ça va? — Ça va bien, merci. How are you? — Fine, thanks.

bien sûr ADVERB

of course

Tu aimes les frites? — Oui, bien sûr! Do you like chips? — Yes, of course!

bientôt ADVERB

soon

À bientôt! See you soon!

la bienvenue FEM NOUN

welcome

Bienvenue à Paris! Welcome to Paris!

la bière FEM NOUN

beer

le bijou MASC NOUN

jewel

le billard MASC NOUN

billiards

le bifteck MASC NOUN

steak

la bille FEM NOUN

marble

J’aime jouer aux billes. I like playing with marbles.

le billet MASC NOUN

1 ticket

un billet d’avion a plane ticket

2 banknote

un billet de 10€ a €10 note

bio ADJECTIVE

organic

Ma maman achète des produits bio. My mum buys organic produce.

la biologie FEM NOUN

biology

la biscotte FEM NOUN

toasted bread

le biscuit MASC NOUN

biscuit

la bise FEM NOUN

kiss

Grosses bises de Bretagne. Love and kisses from Brittany. Viens me faire la bise. Come and give me a kiss. Je fais la bise à mes copines tous les matins. Every morning I give my friends a kiss.

Did you know…?

Between girls and boys, and between girls, the normal French way of saying hello and goodbye is with kisses, usually one on each cheek. Boys shake hands with each other instead.

le bisou MASC NOUN

kiss

Viens faire un bisou à maman! Come and give Mummy a little kiss!

bizarre ADJECTIVE

strange

la blague FEM NOUN

joke

blanc

blanc can be an adjective or a noun.

A MASC ADJECTIVE (FEM blanche)

white un chemisier blanc a white blouse une chemise blanche a white shirt

B MASC NOUN

white Vous avez ce T-shirt en blanc? Do you have this T-shirt in white?

blanche FEM ADJECTIVE see blanc

de la peinture blanche white paint

le blé MASC NOUN

wheat

blessé MASC ADJECTIVE (FEM blessée)

injured

la blessure FEM NOUN

injury

bleu

bleu can be an adjective or a noun.

A MASC ADJECTIVE (FEM bleue)

blue une veste bleue a blue jacket Mon uniforme est bleu et blanc. My uniform is blue and white.

B MASC NOUN

blue La couleur préférée de ma sœur, c’est le bleu. Blue is my sister’s favourite colour.

le bleuet MASC NOUN (Canada)

blueberry

Did you know…?

The Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region of Quebec is famous for its blueberries. The people who live there are also known as les Bleuets.

blond MASC ADJECTIVE (FEM blonde)

blond

Andrew a les cheveux blonds. Andrew has blond hair.

le blouson MASC NOUN

jacket

un blouson en cuir a leather jacket

le bocal MASC NOUN (PL les bocaux)

jar

le bœuf MASC NOUN

beef

un rôti de bœuf a joint of beef

bof EXCLAMATION

Comment ça va? — Bof! Pas terrible. How is it going? — Oh … not too well actually.

boire VERB

to drink

Je bois du jus d’orange au petit déjeuner. I drink orange juice with my breakfast.

le bois MASC NOUN

wood

en bois wooden une table en bois a wooden table

la boisson FEM NOUN

drink

une boisson chaude a hot drink

la boîte FEM NOUN

box

une boîte d’allumettes a box of matches une boîte aux lettres a letter box une boîte de conserve a tin une boîte de nuit a night club

le bol MASC NOUN

bowl

un bol de céréales a bowl of cereal

bon MASC ADJECTIVE (FEM bonne)

1 good

un bon restaurant a good restaurant Je suis bon en maths. I’m good at maths.

Bonne journée! Have a nice day! Bonne nuit! Good night! Bon anniversaire! Happy birthday! Bon courage! Good luck! Bon voyage! Have a good trip! Bon week-end! Have a nice weekend! Bonne chance! Good luck! Bonne année! Happy New Year!

2 right

C’est la bonne réponse. That’s the right answer. Ah bon? Really? Bon, d’accord. OK then.

le bonbon MASC NOUN

sweet

Ma sœur aime les bonbons. My sister likes sweets.

le bonhomme de neige MASC NOUN

snowman

bonjour EXCLAMATION

1 hello!

Bonjour madame! Hello Miss!

2 Good morning!

Bonjour, tout le monde! Good morning everyone!

3 Good afternoon!

Language tip

bonjour is used in the morning and in the afternoon; in the evening bonsoir is used instead.

bonne FEM ADJECTIVE see bon

Elle est bonne en français. She’s good at French.

le bonnet MASC NOUN

hat

un bonnet de laine a woolly hat

bonsoir EXCLAMATION

good evening!

le bord MASC NOUN

j’habite au bord de la mer. I live at the seaside. Cet été, je vais au bord de la mer. This summer, I’m going to the seaside.

bordeaux

bordeaux can be a noun or an adjective.

A MASC NOUN

Bordeaux wine

B MASC, FEM, PL ADJECTIVE

maroon une jupe bordeaux a maroon skirt

la bosse FEM NOUN

bump

le bossu MASC NOUN

la bossue FEM NOUN

hunchback

la botte FEM NOUN

boot

une paire de bottes a pair of boots des bottes en caoutchouc wellington boots

la bouche FEM NOUN

mouth

le boucher MASC NOUN

la bouchère FEM NOUN

butcher

la boucherie FEM NOUN

butcher’s

Où est la boucherie? Where is the butcher’s?

le bouchon MASC NOUN

1 top

un bouchon en plastique a plastic top

2 cork

un bouchon de champagne a champagne cork

3 hold-up

Il y a beaucoup de bouchons sur l’autoroute. There are a lot of hold-ups on the motorway.

la boucle d’oreille FEM NOUN

earring

des boucles d’oreille en or gold earrings

bouclé MASC ADJECTIVE (FEM bouclée)

curly

J’ai les cheveux bouclés. I’ve got curly hair.

bouder VERB

to sulk

le boudin MASC NOUN

le boudin noir black pudding le boudin blanc white pudding

la boue FEM NOUN

mud

la bouée FEM NOUN

buoy

une bouée de sauvetage a life buoy

bouger VERB

to move

la bougie FEM NOUN

candle

la bouillabaisse FEM NOUN

fish soup

bouillant MASC ADJECTIVE (FEM bouillante)

boiling

de l’eau bouillante boiling water

bouillir VERB

to boil

la bouilloire FEM NOUN

kettle

la bouillotte FEM NOUN

hot-water bottle

le boulanger MASC NOUN

la boulangère FEM NOUN

baker

la boulangerie FEM NOUN

baker’s

Je vais à la boulangerie. I’m going to the baker’s.

la boule FEM NOUN

ball

une boule de neige a snowball jouer aux boules to play bowls Mon grand-père aime jouer aux boules. My grandad likes playing bowls.

Did you know…?

boules is played on rough ground, not smooth grass. The balls are slightly smaller than tennis balls, and are made of metal.

le boulevard MASC NOUN

boulevard

la boum FEM NOUN

party

Je vais à une boum ce week-end. I’m going to a party this weekend.

le bouquet MASC NOUN

bunch of flowers

un bouquet de roses a bunch of roses

la Bourgogne FEM NOUN

Burgundy

la boussole FEM NOUN

compass

le bout MASC NOUN

1 end

Elle habite au bout de la rue. She lives at the end of the street.

2 tip

le bout du nez the tip of the nose

la bouteille FEM NOUN

bottle

une bouteille de limonade a bottle of lemonade

la boutique FEM NOUN

shop

le bouton MASC NOUN

1 button

Appuie sur le bouton. Press the button.

2 spot

Elle a des boutons. She’s got spots.

le bowling MASC NOUN

1 tenpin bowling

J’aime aller au bowling. I like going bowling.

2 bowling alley

Il y a un bowling près de chez moi. There’s a bowling alley near my house.

le bracelet MASC NOUN

bracelet

la branche FEM NOUN

branch

branché MASC ADJECTIVE (FEM branchée)

trendy

le bras MASC NOUN

arm

J’ai mal au bras. My arm hurts.

la brasserie FEM NOUN

café-restaurant

bravo EXCLAMATION

well done!

le Brésil MASC NOUN

Brazil

la Bretagne FEM NOUN

Brittany

les bretelles FEM PL NOUN

braces

Il porte des bretelles. He’s wearing braces.

breton MASC ADJECTIVE (FEM bretonne)

Breton

le brevet des collèges MASC NOUN

Mon frère passe son brevet des collèges. My brother is taking his GCSEs.

Did you know…?

The brevet des collèges is an exam you take at the end of collège, at the age of 15.

le bricolage MASC NOUN

DIY

Elle aime le bricolage. She likes doing DIY.

bricoler VERB

to do DIY

Pascal aime bricoler. Pascal loves doing DIY.

brillant MASC ADJECTIVE (FEM brillante)

1 brilliant

une idée brillante a brilliant idea

2 shiny

des cheveux brillants shiny hair

briller VERB

to shine

la brioche FEM NOUN

brioche

Je mange une brioche au petit déjeuner. I have a brioche for breakfast.

Did you know…?

brioche is a kind of sweet bread.

la brique FEM NOUN

brick

le briquet MASC NOUN

cigarette lighter

britannique ADJECTIVE

British

Je suis britannique. I am British.

la brochette FEM NOUN

skewer

la brochure FEM NOUN

brochure

la bronchite FEM NOUN

bronchitis

le bronze MASC NOUN

bronze

la médaille de bronze the bronze medal

bronzer VERB

to get a tan

la brosse FEM NOUN

brush

une brosse à cheveux a hairbrush une brosse à dents a toothbrush

brosser VERB

to brush

se brosser les dents to brush one’s teeth Je me brosse les dents tous les soirs. I brush my teeth every night.

le brouillard MASC NOUN

fog

Demain il y aura du brouillard. It will be foggy tomorrow.

Il y a du brouillard. It’s foggy.

la brouette FEM NOUN

wheelbarrow

le bruit MASC NOUN

noise

Il y a trop de bruit! There’s too much noise! faire du bruit to make a noise Cette voiture fait beaucoup de bruit. This car makes a lot of noise. sans bruit without a sound

brûlant MASC ADJECTIVE (FEM brûlante)

1 blazing

un soleil brûlant a blazing sun

2 boiling

La soupe est brûlante. The soup is boiling.

brûler VERB

to burn

Ne te brûle pas! Don’t burn yourself!

la brûlure FEM NOUN

burn

des brûlures d’estomac heartburn

la brume FEM NOUN

mist

brun MASC ADJECTIVE (FEM brune)

brown

J’ai les cheveux bruns. I’ve got brown hair.

Bruxelles NOUN

Brussels

bruyant MASC ADJECTIVE (FEM bruyante)

noisy

la bruyère FEM NOUN

heather

bu VERB see boire

J’ai bu du jus d’orange. I drank some orange juice.

la bûche FEM NOUN

la bûche de Noël the Yule log Le vingt-cinq décembre, on mange de la bûche de Noël. On the twenty-fifth of December we eat Yule log.

Did you know…?

la bûche de Noël is what is usually eaten in France as a Christmas pudding.

le buffet MASC NOUN

1 sideboard

un buffet en chêne an oak sideboard

2 buffet

un buffet de gare a station buffet

le buisson MASC NOUN

bush

la bulle FEM NOUN

bubble

le bulletin MASC NOUN

report

un bulletin scolaire a school report

le bureau MASC NOUN (PL les bureaux)

1 desk

Il y a un bureau dans ma chambre. There’s a desk in my room.

2 office

Ma mère travaille dans un bureau. My mum works in an office. un bureau de change a bureau de change le bureau de poste the post office le bureau de tabac the tobacconist’s

le bus MASC NOUN

bus

en bus by bus Je vais à l’école en bus. I go to school by bus.

le but MASC NOUN

goal

marquer un but to score a goal J’ai marqué un but. I scored a goal.

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

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