Tag Archives: French language

A sly dig

Posted on 24 August 2011 by Tournesol

Dimanche  : La phrase de la semaine, comme souvent, est d’Angelo Rinaldi  : “Avec un roman fait-on autre chose que de passer de l’anonymat à l’oubli  ?”  Frédéric Beigbeder Sunday: The saying of the week, as is often the case, … Continue reading →

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Pas mal (de)

Posted on 23 August 2011 by Tournesol

Although ‘pas mal’ translates as ‘not bad’, ‘pas mal de…’ translates as ‘a lot of…’: Pas mal de chats  : a lot of cats/Pas mal de gens confus, personnes confuses  : many confused people. Yes, quite…

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Le chien et l’homme

Posted on 23 August 2011 by Tournesol

Bien entraîné, un homme peut devenir le meilleur ami du chien: Properly trained, a man can be dog’s best friend. Corey Ford

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Les yeux vv. 4 and 5

Posted on 22 August 2011 by Tournesol

Back by popular demand: “Les Yeux” par Sully-Prudhomme. verses 4 and 5 (end): Et comme les astres penchants/Nous quittent, mais au ciel demeurent,/Les prunelles ont leurs couchants,/Mais il n’est pas vrai qu’elles meurent: And as the shooting stars/Leave us, but … Continue reading →

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Potable

Posted on 22 August 2011 by Tournesol

A half-way decent hotel is described as ‘potable’ (drinkable). But beware of l’Hôtel de Ville: this is the Town Hall. Do not try to book in or stay there.

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