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.
“L’arbre qui cache la forêt” – what does this French expression mean? Literally it translates as “the tree that hides the forest.” In English, you would refer to someone who “can’t see the forest for the trees” or who “can’t see the wood for the trees.” Someone who gets caught up in details that prevent…
The French word “après” can function either as a preposition or as an adverb. It means “after” or “afterwards.” It is used before a noun, such as “après la pluie” (after the rain), or “après la guerre” (after the war). When it is used before a phrase containing a verb, the word “que” is added…
The French verb “bouillir” means “to boil.” It is conjugated irregularly in the Present tense. So it must be memorised. Present tense It is only the Present tense of bouillir that is irregular. So this is the only part you need to memorise. Passé composé In the Passé composé, “bouillir” is conjugated with “avoir,” like…
Translating prepositions from one language to another can be a tricky task. One group of prepositions that often poses challenges in learning French is the one containing “under,” “underneath,” “below” and “beneath.” “Sous” The most common and straightforward translation for “under” in French is “sous.” This word is the primary equivalent of “under” and is…
The French verb “tirer” means “to draw” or “to pull,” but it has many additional meanings. It is a widely used verb, as well as being the basis of other related verbs such as attirer, étirer, retirer and soutirer. Multiple Meanings of “Tirer”: Etymology The verb “tirer” comes from the Latin verb “tirare,” which means…
Expressions of Quantity in French and the Use of “de” In French, most expressions of quantity are followed by “de” before the noun. This rule is consistent in many cases, but there are notable exceptions, such as words like “plusieurs” and some idiomatic expressions. When to Use “de” After Expressions of Quantity Many expressions of…
