thematic vocabulary

THEMATIC VOCABULARY
During your on-site orientation in France, you will begin your vocabulary study. From the beginning we
encourage you to carry a small notebook to keep track of new words and expressions. We also have found
that making index cards or “fiches”: is a very effective way to learn groups of words. Below you will find (1)
an explanation of how “fiches” work, (2) words and expressions to talk about eating and drinking, (3) words
to talk about family relations and health issues, (4) words to talk about emotions and sentimental
relationships and (5) a list of fun and very useful expressions “Pour mieux discuter”.
“Les fiches”: An important technique for helping you acquire new vocabulary, and retain it as well, is to
learn vocabulary not by memorizing the French word and its definition in English, but rather by learning
groups of French words that are associated with each other. An excellent way to compile vocabulary items
learned in this way is to keep a file of index cards with headings such as La vie nocturne, Mon cours
d’histoire, La nourriture en France, etc. You should pick themes that are likely to come up in your everyday
life in France. Each card should contain no more than 9 words: 3 nouns, 3 verbs, and 3 adjectives. These
should be words you DO NOT already know.
La vie nocturne
nouns
l’aube
(early morning)
le billet
(admission ticket)
le/la trouble-fête
(party-pooper)
verbs
draguer
(to try to pick up)
se donner rendez-vous
(to plan to meet)
s’amuser
(to have a good time)
adjectives
soûl/e
(tipsy)
génial/e
(wonderful)
animé/e
(lively)
An important characteristic of the advanced speaker of French is the ability to handle situations that require
present, past and future tenses. The advanced speaker can also express likes and dislikes, opinions,
react and recommend and hypothesize about people and events. To reinforce the new vocabulary you
are acquiring, it may be helpful to use the reverse side of the index card with the nine vocabulary items to
write 4 sentences (a past tense, a reaction or recommendation, an expression of likes or dislikes and a
hypothesis.) Each “fiche” would contain the 9 associated words on the front and 4 four practice sentences
on the back, which combine some of the new vocabulary words and the advanced grammar structures you
want to master.
Past
Il n’y avait pas de billets parce que nous sommes arrivés trop tard.
Likes /dislikes
Mon petit-ami aime beaucoup les fêtes finissent à l’aube.
Reaction/
Recommendation
C’est génial que nous nous amusions toutes les nuits, sans excéption.
Hypothesis
Si un garçon soûl voulait danser avec moi, je ne le ferais pas.
VOCABULARY TO TALK ABOUT EATING & DRINKING
Les adjectifs pour décrire la nourriture
dégoûtant/eexquis/esucré/epourri/e brûlé/edélicieux/sepiquant/esalé/esain/efadetendre-
disgusting
exquisite
sweet
rotten, spoiled
burned
delicious
spicy
salty
healthy
bland
tender
La préparation des plats
fumé/eassaisonné/erôti/ela béchamelà l’étuvée/l’étoufféecru/eà l’escabèche
frit/eau fourbouilli/egrillé/eà la broche
farci/e
mijoté/e
smoked
with dressing
roasted
cream sauce
steamed
raw
in brine
fried
baked
boiled
grilled/broiled
barbecued
stuffed
stewed/simmered
Les adjectifs pour décrire comment tu te
sens avant ou après avoir bu et mangé
soûl/e
gris/e
ivreaffamé/erassasié/emort/e de soifsatisfait/e-
tipsy
drunk
starving
full
very thirsty
satisfied
Les adjectifs pour décrire les personnes
glouton/nedélicat/een formegourmand/evégétarien/ne-
a big eater
picky
in shape
sweet toothed
vegetarian
Les verbes pour parler de la nourriture
essayergoûterdigérerêtre au régimemastiquersentirdonner faimavoir le goût de-
to try
to sample
to digest
to be on a diet
to chew
to smell/like
to make hungry
to taste like
VOCABULARY TO TALK ABOUT FAMILY RELATIONS & HEALTH
Les adjectifs pour décrire les parents et les enfants
affectueux/secompréhensif/veconservateur/trice
déçu/eégoïsteindiscret/ètejaloux/sestrict/eexigeant/eimpliqué/e-
loving
understanding
conservative
disappointed
selfish
meddlesome
jealous
strict
demanding
involved
naïf/vecharmant/eautoritairegâté/efier/èrepréoccupé/erebellesoumis/ecoquin/esympa(thique)-
naive
charming
bossy
spoiled
proud
worried, concerned
rebellious
submissive
mischievous
nice
Les verbes pour parler de liens familiaux
remercierlouerse conformer àsoutenirpunirpartagercompter avec-
to thank
éleverto praise
manquerto adjust
regretterto support emotionally faire attention àto punish
obéir àto share
gronderto count on
se plaindre de-
Les problèmes de santé
une allergieune crampela chirurgiemal à la gorgeles frissonsla constipationla fièvrele rhumela grippeune insolationles nauséesune éruptionla toux-
allergy
cramp
surgery
sore throat
chills
constipation
fever
cold
flu
heat stroke
nausea
rash
cough
to bring up/raise
to miss someone
to regret
to pay attention to
to obey
to scold
to complain about
Les verbes pour parler de la santé
faire peur àse couperguérirs’évanouirfaire maltomber maladese refroidiravoir un rhume/
` être enrhumé/eéternuergarder le litavoir la tête qui tournegrater récupérersaigner attraper un coup de soleil -
to frighten
to cut oneself
to cure
to faint
to hurt
to get sick
to get chilled
to have a cold
to sneeze
to stay in bed
to get dizzy
to itch
to get better
to bleed
to get a sunburn
Adjectifs pour parler de la santé
aigu/ëeffrayé/eterrorisé/enu-piedsdouloureux/se-
sharp
frightened
terrified
barefoot
painful
horribleenflammé/einsupportablepâledangereux/se-
horrible
swollen
unbearable
pale
dangerous
VOCABULARY TO TALK ABOUT EMOTIONS & SENTIMENTAL RELATIONS
Les adjectifs pour décrire les émotions
tristehonteux/seprudent/ejaloux/seembrouillé/eenthousiasteflatté/efatigué/e de-
sad
embarrassed
cautious
jealous
confused
excited
flattered
fed up with
Les adjectifs pour décrire
les qualités positives
doux/douceamical/e animé/efarceur/secomique-drôlepoli/ecultivé/echarmeur/seraisonnablesensible-
sweet, gentle
friendly
lively
full of fun
funny
courteous/polite
well-educated
charming
sensible
sensitive
Les adjectifs pour décrire
les défauts
stupide-bêtefou/folledistrait/eindiscret/ètegrossier/èreennuyeux/sesuffisant/eétrange-bizarreavareentêté/e-
Les verbes
prendre dans ses brasto hug
avertirto warn
profiter deto take advantage
embrasserto kiss
trouver sympathiqueto like a person
se marier avecto marry
partagerto share
se confier àto confide in
quitterto leave someone
se disputer avecto argue with
tomber amoreux/euseto fall in love
raterto fail
draguerto try to pick up
haïr-détesterto hate
rompre/casser avec - to break up with
rêver deto dream about
être dingue deto be crazy about
laisser froid/eto leave someone cold
ennuyerto bore
plaireto please
contrarierto annoy
aimerto like
sortir avecto date
Les adjectifs pour décrire les
relations sentimentales
stupid
crazy
spacy
meddlesome
rude
annoying
conceited
strange, weird
stingy
stubborn
nocif/vedurablepassionnantréussi/egénial/einoubliablepassager/èreemporté/e-
harmful
lasting
exciting
successful
wonderful
unforgettable
fleeting
stormy
Des expressions utiles
au bout du compteimporterquant à...être des âmes soeurs
in the end
to matter to
as far as...is concerned
- to be kindred spirits
le coup de foudre - love at first sight
taquinerto tease
mettre les pieds dans - to put one’s foot in
le plat
one’s mouth
POUR MIEUX DISCUTER
The following expressions are provided early on so you can begin immediately to enjoy using and hearing
new language.
C’est génial!
It's amazing.
Merci pour tout
Thanks for everything.
Vous êtes très aimable
You are very kind.
Quelle horreur!
How awful!
C’est incroyable!
That's incredible!
C’est passionnant!
That's fascinating!
C’est très génant!
How embarrassing!
C’est super! (familier)
How awesome!
C’est pas de chance!
What bad luck!
Quelle chance!
What (good) luck!
Quel bazar! Quelle histoire!
What a mess!
C’est nul! (familier)
What a bummer!
Vraiment?
Really?
Pas question!
No way!
Tu peux toujours rêver! (familier)
In your dreams!
QUELQUES PLATS FRANÇAIS - Common foods you will see on menus
Menu à prix fixe (menu du jour) – Most restaurants offer a "menu of the day" that includes a selection of
a first course of soup, a second course (usually meat, poultry and/or fish), bread, dessert, and coffee.
Des crudités – raw vegetables served with dressing, usually as an appetizer
Des moules marinières – mussels in white wine and garlic sauce
Du pâté de campagne – country style pâté (ground meat with seasonings)
Un pâté de foie gras – goose/duck liver pâté
Une quiche lorraine – pie made with eggs, cream, cheese, and bacon
Une salade niçoise – mixed salad with tuna, anchovies, olives, and vegetables
La bouillabaisse – fish soup with different kinds of Mediterranean fish (main course)
Un consommé – clear beef or chicken soup (broth)
Un potage de légumes – vegetable soup
Un croque monsieur – grilled ham and cheese sandwich
Un pot-au-feu – beef stewed with vegetables
Un boeuf bourgignon – beef cooked in red burgundy wine and onions
Un Châteaubriand – beef from very tender filet
Du coq au vin – rooster cooked in red Burgundy wine with bacon
De la ratatouille – vegetable casserole with onions, eggplant, tomatoes, zucchini, and peppers
Les coquilles Saint-Jacques – scallops
Une crème caramel – flan, caramel custard
Une brioche – sweet roll
Des profiteroles – puff pastries filled with whipped cream or ice cream and covered in hot chocolate sauce
À LA BOULANGERIE – AT THE BAKERY
Une baguette – long loaf, icon of France
Une boule – round loaf, various sizes
Une ficelle – thin version of baguette
Un pain de campagne – rustic, hearty loaf with thick crust
Un pain complet – bread made from whole wheat flour
Un pain de mie – soft, white bread, used for toasts and stuffing
Un pain aux noix – bread with walnuts
Un pain aux raisins – sweet bread with raisins
Un pain viennois – shape of baguette, but sweeter and softer