Une bête de somme means a workhorse or a beast of burden. Back in the 12th century, “une somme” meant the load that a horse or a mule could carry. Then, in the 16th century, the term “bête de somme” arrived. These days, the more common word for burden is “un fardeau,” but the term “bête de somme” survives in its original form.
The French verb “provenir” means “to come from.” So don’t be tempted to say “venir de” which means “to have just (done something).” Instead, you should use “provenir.” Etymology of provenir Latin Origin: Meaning: Evolution into French: Present Tense (Présent) Passé Composé In the passé composé, “provenir” is conjugated with the auxiliary verb “être” and…
In French, the noun “un soulagement” and the verb “soulager” are important words that convey the concept of relief. These words are used in everyday language to express the alleviation of pain, stress, or discomfort. Un Soulagement “Un soulagement” is a masculine noun that means “a relief” or “an alleviation.” It is used to describe…
“Recevoir une avoinée” is a French saying that means “to receive a correction, to get beaten or to get hit.” English equivalents would include “to get a licking” or “to take a thrashing.” It comes from the word “‘l’avoine,” meaning “oat.” Oats were used as feed for horses. The expression “l’avoine de cocher” from 1866 meant…
The French expression “en rester comme deux ronds de flan” is an idiomatic expression that means “to be left speechless,” “to be perplexed,” or “to be stunned.” It is used to describe someone who is so surprised or shocked by something that they are unable to respond or react. Some believe that the origin of…
What are the differences between the three French homonyms (words that sound the same, in this case) la fois, la foi and le foie? These three words are pronounced identically, but have quite different meanings. La fois La fois means “the time.” It always ends in the letter “s,” even when it is singular. Despite…
“mettre les écureuils à pied” means “to cut down trees.” Literally it translates as “to put squirrels on foot,” meaning that if you cut down the trees that the squirrels live in, they will then be obliged to move around on foot, on the ground This saying is rarely used these days but dates back…