terroir
n.m.[tɛ.ʁwaʁ]tair-RWAHR
the soil-and-soul of a place that flavours its food and wine
Ce fromage a un vrai goût de terroir.This cheese really tastes of its region.
Learn this word →French Word of the Day
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[sə de.bʁu.je]suh day-broo-YAY
to manage, to get by, to figure it out yourself
Ne t’inquiète pas, je me débrouille.Don’t worry, I’ll manage.
Learn this word →[bu.ki.ne]boo-kee-NAY
to read for pure pleasure; to browse through books
Je vais bouquiner au parc cet aprèm, tu viens ?I'm going to read in the park this afternoon, coming?
Learn this word →grasse matinée
expr.[ɡʁɑs ma.ti.ne]grass mah-tee-NAY
a lazy lie-in; literally 'a fat morning' spent in bed
Demain c'est samedi, grasse matinée obligatoire !Tomorrow's Saturday, a lie-in is non-negotiable!
Learn this word →frileux
adj.[fʁi.lø]free-LEUH
always feeling the cold; by extension, cautious or risk-shy
Prends un pull, je sais que tu es frileuse !Grab a jumper, I know you always feel the cold!
Learn this word →[sə blɔ.tiʁ]suh bloh-TEER
to snuggle or curl up cosily against someone or something
Viens te blottir sous le plaid, il fait froid !Come snuggle under the blanket, it's freezing!
Learn this word →esprit d'escalier
expr.[ɛs.pʁi dɛs.ka.lje]ess-PREE dess-kah-LYAY
the perfect retort you think of once it's too late
L'esprit d'escalier a encore frappé dans le métro !Staircase wit strikes again, this time on the métro!
Learn this word →rentrée
n.f.[ʁɑ̃.tʁe]rahn-TRAY
the September return to school, work and real life
La rentrée, déjà ? Je veux encore être en vacances !Back to school already? I still want to be on holiday!
Learn this word →chiner
v.[ʃi.ne]shee-NAY
to hunt for second-hand treasures at flea markets
On va chiner aux puces dimanche ?Fancy a rummage at the flea market on Sunday?
Learn this word →apéro
n.m.[a.pe.ʁo]ah-pay-ROH
pre-dinner drinks and nibbles with friends; a cherished ritual
Tu passes prendre l'apéro ce soir ?Are you coming over for drinks tonight?
Learn this word →genre
expr.[ʒɑ̃ʁ]ZHAHNR
'like' — filler, approximator and sceptical retort in one
Il est arrivé genre une heure en retard.He turned up like an hour late.
Learn this word →chouette
adj.[ʃwɛt]SHWET
great, lovely — also, delightfully, the word for an owl
C'est chouette que tu sois venu !It's great that you came!
Learn this word →vachement
adv.[vaʃmɑ̃]vahsh-MAHN
really, hugely — the everyday intensifier (literally 'cow-ly')
Ton gâteau est vachement bon !Your cake is seriously good!
Learn this word →bref
adv.[bʁɛf]BREF
anyway, in short — the word that rescues a rambling story
Bref, on a raté le train et on est rentrés.Anyway, we missed the train and went home.
Learn this word →kiffer
v.[kife]kee-FAY
to love, to get a real kick out of something
Je kiffe trop cette chanson !I'm totally loving this song!
Learn this word →bosser
v.[bɔse]boh-SAY
to work — what the French actually say instead of 'travailler'
Je peux pas, je bosse samedi matin.Can't make it, I'm working Saturday morning.
Learn this word →flemme
n.f.[flɛm]FLEM
can't-be-bothered laziness, as in 'j'ai la flemme'
J'ai trop la flemme de cuisiner ce soir.I really can't be bothered to cook tonight.
Learn this word →truc
n.m.[tʁyk]TREWK
thing, whatsit — the word for anything you can't quite name
C'est quoi, ce truc sur la table ?What's that thing on the table?
Learn this word →bof
expr.[bɔf]BOF
meh — a verbal shrug for anything underwhelming
— Tu as aimé le film ? — Bof, pas vraiment.Did you like the film? Meh, not really.
Learn this word →du coup
expr.[dy ku]dew-KOO
so, as a result — spoken French's favourite way to link ideas
Il pleuvait, du coup on est restés à la maison.It was raining, so we stayed home.
Learn this word →épanoui
adj.[e.pa.nwi]ay-pah-NWEE
fulfilled / blossoming / thriving
Elle est épanouie dans son travail.She is fulfilled in her work.
Learn this word →souci
n.m.[su.si]soo-SEE
worry — famous in "pas de souci" = no worries
Pas de souci, je m’en occupe.No worries, I’ll take care of it.
Learn this word →doux
adj.[du]DOO
soft / gentle / mild (fem. douce)
Le temps est doux aujourd’hui.The weather is mild today.
Learn this word →malin
adj.[ma.lɛ̃]mah-LAN
clever / crafty (fem. maligne)
Elle est très maligne.She’s very clever.
Learn this word →ambiance
n.f.[ɑ̃.bjɑ̃s]ahm-BYAHNSS
atmosphere / vibe / mood
Il y a une super ambiance ce soir.There’s a great vibe tonight.
Learn this word →convivial
adj.[kɔ̃.vi.vjal]kohn-vee-VYAL
warm and friendly (of places / gatherings)
Ce petit restaurant est très convivial.This little restaurant is very warm and friendly.
Learn this word →hâte
n.f.[ɑt]AHT
eagerness — used in "avoir hâte" = to look forward to
J’ai hâte de te voir !I can’t wait to see you!
Learn this word →dommage
expr.[dɔ.maʒ]doh-MAHZH
(what a) shame / too bad
C’est dommage que tu partes déjà.It’s a shame you’re leaving already.
Learn this word →volontiers
adv.[vɔ.lɔ̃.tje]voh-lohn-TYAY
gladly / with pleasure
Un café ? — Volontiers !A coffee? — Gladly!
Learn this word →profiter
v.[pʁɔ.fi.te]proh-fee-TAY
to make the most of / enjoy
Profite bien de tes vacances !Really enjoy your holiday!
Learn this word →coup de foudre
expr.[ku də fudʁ]koo duh FOODR
love at first sight (lit. a lightning strike)
Ça a été le coup de foudre.It was love at first sight.
Learn this word →râler
v.[ʁɑ.le]rah-LAY
to grumble / moan (a national sport in France!)
Il râle tout le temps pour rien.He grumbles all the time about nothing.
Learn this word →carrément
adv.[ka.ʁe.mɑ̃]kah-ray-MAHN
completely / totally / straight-up
C’est carrément génial !That’s totally awesome!
Learn this word →franchement
adv.[fʁɑ̃ʃ.mɑ̃]frahnsh-MAHN
honestly / frankly
Franchement, je ne sais pas.Honestly, I don’t know.
Learn this word →quand même
expr.[kɑ̃ mɛm]kahn MEM
still / anyway / all the same
Il pleut, mais on y va quand même.It’s raining, but we’re going anyway.
Learn this word →gourmand
adj.[ɡuʁ.mɑ̃]goor-MAHN
someone who loves good food (fondly, not greedy)
Il est très gourmand, surtout pour les desserts.He really loves his food, especially desserts.
Learn this word →retrouvailles
n.f. pl.[ʁə.tʁu.vaj]ruh-troo-VYE
a joyful reunion
Les retrouvailles avec ma famille étaient émouvantes.The reunion with my family was moving.
Learn this word →dépayser
v.[de.pɛ.i.ze]day-pay-ee-ZAY
to give a refreshing change of scenery (untranslatable!)
Ce petit village m’a complètement dépaysé.This little village was a total change of scene for me.
Learn this word →flâner
v.[flɑ.ne]flah-NAY
to wander / stroll with no purpose
J’aime flâner dans les rues de Paris.I love wandering through the streets of Paris.
Learn this word →bonjour
interj.[bɔ̃.ʒuʁ]bohn-ZHOOR
hello / good day
Bonjour, comment allez-vous ?Hello, how are you?
Learn this word →20+ words and counting
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