It’s important to know the days of the week in French. Each day has an English translation. Each day also has an original meaning, which may sometimes help you to remember it.
| French | English | Original French meaning |
| lundi | Monday | Day of the Moon |
| mardi | Tuesday | Day of Mars |
| mercredi | Wednesday | Day of Mercury |
| jeudi | Thursday | Day of Jove (Jupiter) |
| vendredi | Friday | Day of Venus |
| samedi | Saturday | Day of the Sabbath |
| dimanche | Sunday | Day of the Lord |
Two French verbs that often cause confusion among learners are “prévoir” and “prévenir.” Despite their similar spellings, these verbs carry distinct meanings and are used in different contexts. “Prévoir” is a verb that translates to “to foresee” or “to predict” in English. It is used when someone anticipates or plans for something in the future….
The French idiom “faire long feu” literally translates as “to make long fire.” What it really means is “to drag on,” “to not have the desired effect,” “to last longer than expected” or “to miss your goal.” It comes from the era of of muzzle-loading rifles, before the invention of waterproof cartridges that enclosed the…
In French, every noun (naming word) has a grammatical gender: it is either masculine or feminine. This gender does not necessarily relate to biological gender. One of the most reliable ways to predict the gender of a noun is by looking at its ending. While there are exceptions, many nouns follow predictable patterns based on…
The French verb “devoir” means “to have to” or “must.” An earlier post looked at “devoir” in a general sense. Let’s examine a few specific aspects of “devoir” that are indispensable for reading and talking in French. Past participle The past participle of “devoir” is “dû.” Unlike the past participles of “avoir, savoir, vouloir, pouvoir,…
The French idiom “passer au caviar” means literally “to pass to the caviar” or “to switch to the caviar.” This expression comes from Russia. Under the rule of Tsar Nicholas I (1825-1855), censorship was common. In books and journals, areas that had been censored were covered in black ink. This black ink was the same…
Meanings Differences between “Ranger” and “Se Ranger” The primary distinction between “ranger” and “se ranger” is that “ranger” concerns organizing or tidying objects, while “se ranger” relates to individuals or entities taking up a particular position, figuratively or literally. Conjugation in Present Tense and Passé Composé Let’s examine how “ranger” and “se ranger” are conjugated…