French Word-A-Day

pagayer

In place of a picture of Ardèche (I didn't have a camera with me in the canoe--see today's story...) here's a picture taken at Giens, near Hyérès, in the South of France.

Book: Le Ton Beau De Marot: In Praise Of The Music Of Language

Pulitzer Prize-winning author and pioneering cognitive scientist Douglas Hofstadter hints at what led him to pen a deep personal homage to the witty sixteenth-century French poet Clément Marot."Le ton beau de Marot" literally means "The sweet tone of Marot", but to a French ear it suggests "Le tombeau de Marot"-that is, "The tomb of Marot".
;
pagayer (pa-gay-yay)
   : to paddle

:: Audio File :: Listen to today's word: Download pagayer.mp3 . Download pagayer.wav

Example sentence and sound file by Jean-Marc:
     Il faut pagayer pour faire avancer et diriger le canoé.
     You must paddle in order to advance and steer the canoe.

~

There are landscapes in France: rugged, chalky and sharp-edged, yet with tender flowers pushing up through the cracked stone, that stir the soul, and there are words in the French language that make my heart go padam padam padam.* "Pagayer"* is one of them....

"Pagaye!" Jackie shouts, from the middle of our canoe, as we glide down a slippery limestone canyon via the river Ardèche. The canyon walls are dotted with bright yellow wildflowers and, like that, I have lost track of my row-boat duties while admiring Mother Nature.

"Paddle! Paddle! Paddle!" Jackie reminds me as we approach a frothing and gurgling giant disguised as a stretch of river rapids.

"No! DADDY is supposed to paddle!" I shout, remembering the two minute mini-course in river rafting that we took before snapping shut our safety vests. When crossing over the rapids, the instructor told us, we were to leave the paddling to the person at the BACK of the boat, so as to prevent the boat from
flipping, something which could lead to noyade*....

"Pagaye! Pagaye! Pagaye!" As my daughter shouts commands, I notice the troubled water ahead of us and my eyes are now bigger than Terror on seeing the white-tipped rapids that threaten to do cartwheels with our pencil-thin boat. Suddenly, I think about all those caves we'd just cruised past and about how the word grotte* is (conveniently???) related to crypt. Panicked, I turn to our wine-fueled navigator, seated in the back of the canoe.

"STEER!" I shout.

"Oh-mon-dieu-oh-mon-dieu-oh-mon-dieu!" I babble. Who knew rivers had gurgling POT HOLES and aren't we about to end up in one?

In supplication, I look up to the sky, beyond the limestone canyon that engulfs us, and say my last mea culpas:  I am sorry for feeding cat food to our dog (but we were out of canine kibbles). I am sorry for writing that story about Jean-Marc in which I called him "Miss France" (chalk it off to post-partum
depression in which he always looked so pretty and I, plumpy). I am sorry for feeding my perfect half-sister heaping tablespoons full of calorie-rich peanut butter, while babysitting her, but I was so insecure and jealous about Dad's shiney new family. (Twenty-some years later and I'm over it. Little Sister is still beautiful and now I suspect the peanut butter was good for her complexion. She never did get fat). Finally, God, forgive me for not flossing... I hope my teeth don't fall out... but what good are teeth to us now?...

NOW that we are about to bite into river rock! Oh-mon-dieu-oh-mon-Dieu!

The sound of giggling brings me out of my repenting stupor. When I open my eyes, I notice that the boat-eating "pot holes," and all that gurgling water surrounding them, are now behind us. I reach up and feel a mouthful of teeth, every last quenotte* in place.

"Dieu," I say, "while I can't change the past... or the peanut butter... je promets de passer le fil dentaire ce soir.* Amen."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~References~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
padam padam... = lyrics from a 1951 song by Edith Piaf; pagayer = to paddle; la noyade (f) = drowning; la grotte (f) = cave, grotto; une quenotte (f) = tooth (in child's language); je promets de passer le fil dentaire ce soir = I promise to floss tonight

Ardèche-related book: "A Place in France: an Indian Summer" Meet Nigel and Nippy, who attempt to open an Indian restaurant in France. 

Book: Exercises in French Phonics

Painless French: grammar, pronunciation, idioms, idiocies (culture) and more!

Provence Waffleweave Dishcloth Set

Words in a French Life: Lessons in Love and Language from the South of France

engueulade

A couple of French turkeys, each pouting in his/her own corner après l'engueulade. Photo taken at Château Miraval.

"Arguing is to the modern Frenchman what thinking was to Descartes, a proof of existence....Vitupero ergo sum: I bicker, therefore I am." --from the book "Culture Shock! France" by Sally Adamson Taylor

engueulade (ongh-lahd) noun, feminine
  1. argument, shouting match
  2. scolding

Also: a telling-off, bawling out, blowing up, chewing out or "a giving to another of one hell of a bad time". Get the picture?

Idioms & Expressions:
recevoir une engueulade = to be hauled over the coals (to be told off)

"Ils se sont quittés sur une engueulade. They parted after a stinking row."
--quote and translation from the Dictionary of French Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Henry Strutz

Listen to my daughter, Jackie, pronounce today's words and example sentence:
Download engueulade.mp3 . Download engueulade.wav.
..

When Jean-Marc and I were in Paris last month, we stayed at Florence and Olivier's love nest in the onzième.* A "shopping list" posted on the fridge had me admiring the couple's 15-year-old recipe for amour.*  Scribbled on a piece of paper were these essential ingredients:

MA LISTE DES COURSES:

- 1 kg de câlins
- 300 g de caresses
- 2 kg de tendresse
- 1/2 T de bisous
- 0 kg d'engueulades


(MY SHOPPING LIST:)

- 1 kilo of cuddles
- 300 grams of caresses
- 2 kilos of tenderness
- 1/2 T of kisses
- 0 kilos of shouting

One thing that amused be about this list, was the ingredient "engueulades". But, of course! I thought, knowing all along that shouting and spouting somehow measured into real love. But just how much temper... tempered love? I wondered, rechecking the list of ingredients. That's when I noticed the zero allotment...

A little disheartened to realize that the Love Recipe was limited to only sweet ingredients (personally, our marriage "cake" has always included a good measure of salt), I had an inspiration....

Like that, I picked up a virtual crayon* and crossed out that "0" as well as that "kilo". Next, having looked both ways and when the coast was clear, I scribbled in, there--just before the word "engueulade"--this new measure:

"1 heaping, HOLLERING teaspoon!"

I may not be the best cook, but this is one recipe that I have been perfecting ever since cutting a frosty French cake (with the help of my Sometimes Huffy Husband) a decade and a half ago.

Signed,
A Sometimes Hissy Housewife
.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~References~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
le onzième (m) = the "eleventh" district or "arrondissement"; l'amour (m) = love; le crayon (m) = pencil

Words in a French Life: Lessons in Love and Language from the South of France


~~~~~~~~~~~~Shopping~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In Video: Visions Of France: See the breathtaking beauty of southeastern France from a spectacular vantage point.

Learn to Speak and Understand French with Pimsleur Language Programs

Cruise the side streets in style with this Euro-style electric scooter from Razor. Featuring a high-performance, chain-driven electric motor and a vintage-inspired body, the Pocket Mod can reach speeds of up to 15 miles per hour--plenty fast enough for a quick trip to the corner store or a fun ride in the country.

reche

Laboring the earth, the old-fashioned way, at Domaine du Trapadis. Photo by Jean-Marc.

rêche (resh) adjective
  harsh, rough, abrasive (fabric, wine)
  prickly, cross-grained (difficult-to-deal-with person: un homme rêche)

Additional French definition for rêche, from Le Petit Larousse:
: "qui est âpre au goût" = that which is tart to the taste

Terms:
  le drap rêche = crumpled sheet
  le vin rêche = a rough wine
  la voix rêche = raspy voice
  rendre rêche = to roughen

Synonyms in English (and French) include flirty and fun words like scabrous, râpeux (raspy), and cahoteux (bumpy)

Listen to today's word in the following sentence (taken from the French version of today's story): Download reche.mp3 . Download reche.wav

Pas d'essorage rapide et encore moins de sèche-linge pour des tissus pourtant épais et rèches. No quick drying and forget about tumble drying for the thick and coarse fabrics.

.

Here for you now, the "rêche" or rough translation of Aunt Marie-Françoise's "French Apron of Yesteryear" story. Enjoy!

                                    Grandmother's Apron

These days, now that it is customary--even easy--to do the washing in our modern machines, we have adopted new habits. We no longer need to protect our clothing, in order to get as many consecutive days use out of it as possible, and what a pleasure it is to change each morning, even if yesterday's clothes are still impeccably clean.

As for our grandmothers, they had to transport the all-imposing "lessiveuse métallique"* boiler before activating it over the fire! (Or, worse, they had to go to the outdoor community lavoir.* No quick drying and forget about tumble drying for the thick and rêche* fabrics. And so, back then, it was necessary to
superimpose protective wear over the clothing that one had prepared to wear... for the week!

For the women, still at home at the time, the protective tablier* was worn all day long. Only outings, church going, or social calling was done without the apron.

This apron of our elders had nothing in common with the cute little curvy and embroidered thing that decorates more than it protects some of today's moms when they cook.

The apron of yesteryear reached around grandmother's great hips, fastened with the help of a large ribbon, and ended level with the dress itself, just above grandma's heels.

And what a variety of uses grandma made with her apron! Folded onto itself, it became a glove for pulling from the oven dinner, or that beautiful apple tart, and carrying them over to the window for cooling. And, whipped before the fire, the apron served as a fan.

As woman, back then, constantly had their hands immersed in cold water, it was necessary to dry them quickly lest they be pained with a cruel chilblain*; just above the pockets, the apron's cloth served as a permanent towel.

When grandmother went to the garden, which, back then, was more a potager,* she returned with one hand tightened around the base of the cloth. Like that, the apron became a great basket permitting her to return time and again with vegetables, dry wood, apples (just fallen from the tree) or, with much
precaution, a collection of fragile (and still warm!) eggs.

When the littlest members of the maisonnée* became intimidated by the arrival of visitors, they ran to hide "dans les jupes" (in the skirts), that is to say: behind this vast drape of cloth. Grandmother took advantage of the occasion to wipe tears and to scrub the dirty (and pretty) little faces, or "frimousses".

When sun rays revealed fine dust on the waxed sideboard, a corner of the apron, in passing, quickly took care of the chore.

If she was going out and the air seemed a bit chilly, grandmother lifted up the apron's sides to muffle herself within this cotonnade.*

At suppertime, perched on the front step, she waved her apron like a flag, this being a signal for the field workers to head to the table.

And when all were seated 'round, it was, once again, grandmother's apron that bustled about behind the men in order to serve--all through the course of the meal!

This apron is more than a forgotten piece of clothing, it is temoin* of another time and place, of our traditions, for we all have paysanne* origins.

                                       *     *     *

Please share this story with a girlfriend, aunt, mom, godmother, grandmother, sister, daughter, best friend, co-worker, teacher, student, cook, or accidental housewife. Thanks!

Read "Grandmother's Apron" in French, written by Aunt Marie-Françoise*:
http://french-word-a-day.typepad.com/tablier.pdf

*Aunt Marie-Françoise (Marie-Françoise Vidal), when she is not harvesting her family's grapes, works  as a speech therapist (orthophoniste) and enjoys helping children who have special needs.
.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ References ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
une lessiveuse (f) métallique = copper boiler for washing; le lavoir (m) = outdoor laundry (consisting of a great, rectangular stone bassin filled with running water); rêche = coarse; le tablier (m) = apron; chilblain = type of skin disease http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilblain ; le potager (m) = vegetable
garden; la maisonnée (f) = household; la cotonnade (f) = cotton fabric; le témoin (m) = witness, proof, evidence; paysan (paysanne) = rural

In bilingual French/English children's books: Grandma Nana: Beloved by all children, Grandma Nana is known for telling wonderful stories and riddles that make everyone laugh. She also has a very special doll, unlike any the children have seen before, that is very close to her heart.

Check out the French Word-A-Day widget:
http://www.widgetbox.com/widget/french-word-a-day

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Shopping~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Michel Thomas Speak French For Beginners: 10-CD Beginner's Program

La Vie en Rose: A Very French Adventure Continues

Words in a French Life: Lessons in Love and Language...

Lego Make & Create Eiffel Tower kit lets builders re-create an impressive replica of this famous Parisian structure -- based on original blue prints!

marchand

Chez le marchand de sirop / At the syrupmongers...

marchand (mar-shan, mar-shand) noun, masculine/feminine
  merchant, trader; shopkeeper

While my book, Words in a French Life, has yet to be translated into French, there is a growing number of français who are reading the vignettes on life, chez eux. Receiving feedback from Francophone readers...from as far away as Toowoomba... is about as refreshing as a tall glass of lemonade--garnished with crushed ice and a sprig of purple lavender--on a lazy summer day. Here's a recent mèl from a French woman living in Australia:

Je m'appelle Sylvie, je suis française, originaire des Alpes de Haute-Provence, d'un petit village à 14 km de Saint-André-les-Alpes, donc pas très loin de chez vous. Je suis dans une situation similaire à la vôtre, marié à un australien, vivant en Australie, dans le Queensland et élevant trois enfants (10, 8 et 2 ans). J'admire la façon dont vous avez embrassé la France et y avez fait votre place. J'ai découvert votre livre "Words in a French Life" par hasard, chez un marchand de livres à Toowoomba,le titre m'a de suite attirée et je suis sortie avec le livre en poche. En le lisant, j'y ai retrouvé les couleurs et les odeurs de la Provence, c'est formidable. Merci.

Bonne continuation,

Sylvie

My name is Sylvie, I am French, from the Alps of Haute-Provence, from a little village 14 km from Saint-André-les-Alpes, therefore not too far from you. I am in a similar situation to you, married to an Australian, living in Australia, in Queensland, and rearing three children (10, 8 and 2-years-old). I admire the way in which you have embraced France and made your place there. I discovered your book "Words in a French Life" by chance, at a book store in Toowoomba, the title got my attention right away and I left with the book in my pocket. In reading it, I rediscovered the colors and odors of Provence; it's wonderful. Thanks.
Keep up the good work,
Sylvie

~
Back to today's word... and to several terms and expressions:
marchand en gros = wholesaler
marchand au détail = retailer
marchand d'art = art dealer
marchand de glace = ice cream vendor
marchand de fromage = cheesemonger, cheese vendor
marchand de poisson = fishmonger
marchand de légumes = greengrocer, produce dealer
marchand de canons = arms dealer
marchand de biens = property agent
marchand ambulant = hawker, traveling salesman

And a few unusual terms:
marchande d'amour = "seller of love" (prostitute)
marchand de couleurs = ironmonger
marchand des quatre saisons = street vendor
marchand de sable = sandman
marchand de soupe = greasy spoon (restaurant)

And last but not least... un marchand de vin! = wine merchant, vintner

tablier

Betcha a tablier-wearer lives here... quaint and charming as it is.

tablier (tah-blee-yay) noun, masculine
  : apron, pinafore; smock

[from the word "table"]

Here's the French definition from the "Dictionnaire de l'Académie française" :

"Pièce de toile, de serge, de cuir, etc. que les femmes et les artisans mettent devant eux pour conserver leurs habits en travaillant." (Piece of cloth, woolen fabric, leather, etc. that women and craftsmen put in front of them in order to spare their clothes while working.)

Audio File:
Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce the French word tablier and read the definition:
Download tablier.mp3 . Download tablier.wav

More Words & Expressions:
  le tablier de sapeur ("fireman's apron") = breaded, fried tripe
  rendre son tablier = to give one's notice; to resign, step down

.

While every other French person was out collecting bouquets of muguet* yesterday, Aunt Marie-Françoise had thyme on her hands, or rather, *in* them....

As it happened, we were on another fragrant stroll, breathing in the acrid, buttery scent of rosemary, the licoricey sweetness of genêt,* and plenty of pungent, musky earth after rainfall.
"Thyme... rosemary... only thing missing is sarriette!"* Marie-Françoise lamented, referring to the batch of herbes de Provence* that she could've whipped up for us had we some wild sarriette to choose from... and a coffee grinder. Tant pis!*

We continued to gather the thyme for tea, or "tea time" if you like, given that the wild garriguian* herb doubles as a cough reliever. Though I didn't have a cold, I did have plenty of fever, standing there before a hill of herbs, eager to refill that empty jar of homemade spice mix that Marie-Françoise keeps stocked for us.

Determined, I put one foot at either side of a budding shrub, fixed my hands around its base (as one would a rope), and attempted to "lift off"... and so take the plant with me using some form of anti-gravity, I know not which.

But nothing budged and the plant, literally, held its ground. Having a second go, I wrestled with the stubborn shrub, this time using the weight of my body to hoist the hell-bent herb out of the ground. My body now at a sharp incline and partly suspended at one end (but for the root holding me down at the other), the only thing I managed to uproot were the curious eyes of Jean-Marc's aunt.

Marie-Françoise paused from her own herb gathering, looked up casually, and offered a suggestion. "You need only bend the little branches, she said, snapping off another delicate tige*, adding it to a growing bouquet. That way the plant is left to flourish year after year....

(This far into the essay, and I still haven't managed to introduce the word of the day: tablier. So let's end things here, with only one tiny regret: had we one of those frilly, flowery, oh-so-feminine tablier-frocks, we might've carried back with us, in our gathered aprons, a bit more medicinal thyme. Speaking of frilly,
flowery, and frou-frou, Aunt Marie Francoise tells me that *those* kinds of aprons are a phenomenon of style. Read her story, in French, and learn about the authentic aprons of yesteryear and their not-so-ordinary uses. Click here: http://french-word-a-day.typepad.com/tablier.pdf .

Note: I'll post the English version on Monday.

~~~~~~~~~~~~References~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
le muguet (m) = lily of the valley, a.k.a. "Our Lady's Tears," (traditionally offered to friends, neighbors, family... on May 1st http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convallaria); le genêt (m) = broom (plant); la
sarriette (f) = winter savory (herb); les herbes (f) de Provence = Provencale herb mixture including thyme, rosemary and sarriette.. and sometimes marjoram, basil, lavender...; tant pis = too bad; garriguian (made up word for "of the garrigue" [la garrigue
= wild Mediterranean scrubland]); une tige (f) = stem, stalk

The Apron Book: Making, Wearing, and Sharing a Bit of Cloth and Comfort
A Is for Apron: 25 Fresh & Flirty Designs

~~~~~~~~~Shopping~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Download and listen to the children's song "Le muguet du premier-mai"

Urban Crayon Paris: The City Guide for Parents with Children

Paris Metro *Subway Map* Novelty Apron

Decorative set of 3 blue nested vintage look French Toile Planters