1. To Have To – Expressing Necessity and Obligation: The primary meaning of “devoir” is to express necessity and obligation, akin to “to have to” or “must” in English. It emphasizes the requirement to perform an action or fulfill a duty. Examples: Conjugations: 2. Ought To – Expressing Moral or Social Expectations: “Devoir” also conveys…
Exploring the French Verb “s’occuper de”: Usage, Etymology, and Examples 1. Understanding “s’occuper de” “S’occuper de” is a reflexive verb in French, which means it always requires a reflexive pronoun. The reflexive pronoun “se” changes according to the subject of the sentence: 2. Usages of “s’occuper de” a) Taking Care of Something or Someone One…
The French saying “avoir le coeur sur la main” literally translates as “to have the heart on the hand.” It means “to be inclined to great generosity,” or “to be generous.” This saying dates back to the end of the 18th century. It comes from the idea that your heart is your most precious possession, because…
The French saying “être mal barré” means “to get off to a bad start,” “to be heading for failure,” or “to get into big trouble.” Literally it translates as “to be badly steered” or “to be badly guided,” in the nautical sense of steering or guiding. “La barre” is the tiller or the helm of…
The French saying “trempé comme une soupe” means literally “soaked like a soup.” It means “soaked,” “wet” or “completely wet.” This is a very old idiom whose exact origins are unknown. It sounds like it is stating the obvious, since a soup is, by definition, wet. But “soupe” originally meant the slice of bread that…
These three French words are pronounced the same, despite their slightly different spellings. “La cour” (Feminine Noun) Meaning: “la cour” as a feminine noun translates to “courtyard” in English. It represents an open space, typically enclosed by buildings or walls, found within a home, castle, or other architectural structures. Courtyards often serve as central gathering…
Homonyms are words that sound the same. Vert, vers and ver are three French homonyms with completely different meanings. 1. Vert: Meaning:“Vert” is an adjective in French that translates to “green” in English. It is used to describe the color that is often associated with nature, foliage, and growth. “Vert” is a versatile term and…
Unraveling the Distinction: “Le Tour” vs. “La Tour” in French There are a few words (homonyms) in French where the same word with the same spelling exists, but there is one meaning for the masculine version and a completely different meaning for the feminine version. So when speaking or listening, it is important to distinguish…
Some words in French have almost identical spellings, but are actually different words with different meanings. Remember that accents are an important part of correct spelling in French. Accents are not optional extras. They are an integral part of the spelling of each word. A homonym is a word that sounds identical to another word,…
The French saying “faites chauffer la colle !” means literally “have the glue heated up!” or “heat up the glue!” It is used in an often joking way when something has just been broken, or you see or hear something being broken. Unless modern glue, which usually comes prepackaged in a tube, old fashioned glue…