THEMATIC VOCABULARY

During your on-site orientation in France, you will begin your vocabulary study. From the beginning we
encourage you to carry a small notebook to keep track of new words and expressions. We also have found
that 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) words
to talk about family relations and health issues, (4) words to talk about emotions and sentimental
relationships 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 to
learn vocabulary not by memorizing the French word and its definition in English, but rather by learning
groups of French words that are associated with each other. An excellent way to compile vocabulary items
learned in this way is to keep a file of index cards with headings such as La vie nocturne, Mon cours
dhistoire, La nourriture en France, etc. You should pick themes that are likely to come up in your everyday
life in France. Each card should contain no more than 9 words: 3 nouns, 3 verbs, and 3 adjectives. These
should be words you DO NOT already know.

La vie nocturne
nouns

laube
(early morning)

le billet
(admission ticket)

le/la trouble-fte
(party-pooper)

verbs

draguer
(to try to pick up)

se donner rendez-vous
(to plan to meet)

samuser
(to have a good time)

adjectives

sol/e
(tipsy)

gnial/e
(wonderful)

anim/e
(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 also express likes and dislikes, opinions,
react and recommend and hypothesize about people and events. To reinforce the new vocabulary you
are acquiring, it may be helpful to use the reverse side of the index card with the nine vocabulary items to
write 4 sentences (a past tense, a reaction or recommendation, an expression of likes or dislikes and a
hypothesis.) Each fiche would contain the 9 associated words on the front and 4 four practice sentences
on the back, which combine some of the new vocabulary words and the advanced grammar structures you
want to master.

Past

Il ny avait pas de billets parce que nous sommes arrivs trop tard.

Likes /dislikes

Mon petit-ami aime beaucoup les ftes finissent laube.

Reaction/
Recommendation

Cest gnial que nous nous amusions toutes les nuits, sans excption.

Hypothesis

Si un garon sol voulait danser avec moi, je ne le ferais pas.

VOCABULARY TO TALK ABOUT EATING & DRINKING

Les adjectifs pour dcrire la nourriture

dgotant/eexquis/esucr/epourri/e brl/edlicieux/sepiquant/esal/esain/efadetendre-

disgusting
exquisite
sweet
rotten, spoiled
burned
delicious
spicy
salty
healthy
bland
tender

La prparation des plats

fum/eassaisonn/erti/ela bchamel ltuve/ltouffecru/e lescabche
frit/eau fourbouilli/egrill/e la broche
farci/e
mijot/e

smoked
with dressing
roasted
cream sauce
steamed
raw
in brine
fried
baked
boiled
grilled/broiled
barbecued
stuffed
stewed/simmered

Les adjectifs pour dcrire comment tu te

sens avant ou aprs avoir bu et mang
sol/e
gris/e
ivreaffam/erassasi/emort/e de soifsatisfait/e-

tipsy
drunk
starving
full
very thirsty
satisfied

Les adjectifs pour dcrire les personnes

glouton/nedlicat/een formegourmand/evgtarien/ne-

a big eater
picky
in shape
sweet toothed
vegetarian

Les verbes pour parler de la nourriture

essayergoterdigrertre au rgimemastiquersentirdonner faimavoir le got de-

to try
to sample
to digest
to be on a diet
to chew
to smell/like
to make hungry
to taste like

VOCABULARY TO TALK ABOUT FAMILY RELATIONS & HEALTH

Les adjectifs pour dcrire les parents et les enfants
affectueux/secomprhensif/veconservateur/trice
du/egosteindiscret/tejaloux/sestrict/eexigeant/eimpliqu/e-

loving
understanding
conservative
disappointed
selfish
meddlesome
jealous
strict
demanding
involved

naf/vecharmant/eautoritairegt/efier/reproccup/erebellesoumis/ecoquin/esympa(thique)-

naive
charming
bossy
spoiled
proud
worried, concerned
rebellious
submissive
mischievous
nice

Les verbes pour parler de liens familiaux

remercierlouerse conformer soutenirpunirpartagercompter avec-

to thank
leverto praise
manquerto adjust
regretterto support emotionally faire attention to punish
obir to share
gronderto count on
se plaindre de-

Les problmes de sant

une allergieune crampela chirurgiemal la gorgeles frissonsla constipationla fivrele rhumela grippeune insolationles nausesune ruptionla toux-

allergy
cramp
surgery
sore throat
chills
constipation
fever
cold
flu
heat stroke
nausea
rash
cough

to bring up/raise
to miss someone
to regret
to pay attention to
to obey
to scold
to complain about

Les verbes pour parler de la sant

faire peur se coupergurirsvanouirfaire maltomber maladese refroidiravoir un rhume/
` tre enrhum/eternuergarder le litavoir la tte qui tournegrater rcuprersaigner attraper un coup de soleil -

to frighten
to cut oneself
to cure
to faint
to hurt
to get sick
to get chilled
to have a cold
to sneeze
to stay in bed
to get dizzy
to itch
to get better
to bleed
to get a sunburn

Adjectifs pour parler de la sant

aigu/effray/eterroris/enu-piedsdouloureux/se-

sharp
frightened
terrified
barefoot
painful

horribleenflamm/einsupportablepledangereux/se-

horrible
swollen
unbearable
pale
dangerous

VOCABULARY TO TALK ABOUT EMOTIONS & SENTIMENTAL RELATIONS

Les adjectifs pour dcrire les motions
tristehonteux/seprudent/ejaloux/seembrouill/eenthousiasteflatt/efatigu/e de-

sad
embarrassed
cautious
jealous
confused
excited
flattered
fed up with

Les adjectifs pour dcrire

les qualits positives
doux/douceamical/e anim/efarceur/secomique-drlepoli/ecultiv/echarmeur/seraisonnablesensible-

sweet, gentle
friendly
lively
full of fun
funny
courteous/polite
well-educated
charming
sensible
sensitive

Les adjectifs pour dcrire

les dfauts
stupide-btefou/folledistrait/eindiscret/tegrossier/reennuyeux/sesuffisant/etrange-bizarreavareentt/e-

Les verbes
prendre dans ses brasto hug
avertirto warn
profiter deto take advantage
embrasserto kiss
trouver sympathiqueto like a person
se marier avecto marry
partagerto share
se confier to confide in
quitterto leave someone
se disputer avecto argue with
tomber amoreux/euseto fall in love
raterto fail
draguerto try to pick up
har-dtesterto hate
rompre/casser avec - to break up with
rver deto dream about
tre dingue deto be crazy about
laisser froid/eto leave someone cold
ennuyerto bore
plaireto please
contrarierto annoy
aimerto like
sortir avecto date

Les adjectifs pour dcrire les

relations sentimentales

stupid
crazy
spacy
meddlesome
rude
annoying
conceited
strange, weird
stingy
stubborn

nocif/vedurablepassionnantrussi/egnial/einoubliablepassager/reemport/e-

harmful
lasting
exciting
successful
wonderful
unforgettable
fleeting
stormy

Des expressions utiles

au bout du compteimporterquant ...tre des mes soeurs

in the end
to matter to
as far as...is concerned
- to be kindred spirits

le coup de foudre - love at first sight

taquinerto tease
mettre les pieds dans - to put ones foot in
le plat
ones mouth

POUR MIEUX DISCUTER

The following expressions are provided early on so you can begin immediately to enjoy using and hearing
new language.
Cest gnial!

It's amazing.

Merci pour tout

Thanks for everything.

Vous tes trs aimable

You are very kind.

Quelle horreur!

How awful!

Cest incroyable!

That's incredible!

Cest passionnant!

That's fascinating!

Cest trs gnant!

How embarrassing!

Cest super! (familier)

How awesome!

Cest pas de chance!

What bad luck!

Quelle chance!

What (good) luck!

Quel bazar! Quelle histoire!

What a mess!

Cest nul! (familier)

What a bummer!

Vraiment?

Really?

Pas question!

No way!

Tu peux toujours rver! (familier)

In your dreams!

QUELQUES PLATS FRANAIS - Common foods you will see on menus

Menu prix fixe (menu du jour) Most restaurants offer a "menu of the day" that includes a selection of
a first course of soup, a second course (usually meat, poultry and/or fish), bread, dessert, and coffee.
Des crudits raw vegetables served with dressing, usually as an appetizer
Des moules marinires mussels in white wine and garlic sauce
Du pt de campagne country style pt (ground meat with seasonings)
Un pt de foie gras goose/duck liver pt
Une quiche lorraine pie made with eggs, cream, cheese, and bacon
Une salade nioise mixed salad with tuna, anchovies, olives, and vegetables
La bouillabaisse fish soup with different kinds of Mediterranean fish (main course)
Un consomm clear beef or chicken soup (broth)
Un potage de lgumes 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 Chteaubriand 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 crme 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

LA BOULANGERIE AT THE BAKERY

Une baguette long loaf, icon of France
Une boule round loaf, various sizes
Une ficelle thin version of baguette
Un pain de campagne rustic, hearty loaf with thick crust
Un pain complet bread made from whole wheat flour
Un pain de mie soft, white bread, used for toasts and stuffing
Un pain aux noix bread with walnuts
Un pain aux raisins sweet bread with raisins
Un pain viennois shape of baguette, but sweeter and softer