un voeu

Meilleurs Voeux pour 2005!

Our plane taxied into the Nice Côte-d'Azur airport at just past eight yesterday morning after a 20 hour voyage from the Arizona desert back to France. Somewhere between there and here, the all familiar Question was posed:

"What is your New Year's resolution?"

I was about to respond, when my husband pursed his lips... My ears lurched forward to hear the Frenchman-who-never-makes-New Year's-wishes declare his voeu:

"Recycler!" he said.

Apart from recycling, many people are resolving to give this year: their thoughts, time and money, to those in need: specifically to victims of the tsunami disaster. A special salute to humanitarians everywhere.


un voeu (veuh) noun, masculine
1. vow
2. wish

Also:
une carte de voeux = a greetings card

Expressions:
meilleurs voeux (pour 2005)= best wishes (for 2005)
faire un voeu = to make a wish
tous mes voeux = with all good wishes
faire le voeu de faire quelque chose = to vow to do something

Citation du Jour:
Borné dans sa nature, infini dans ses voeux,
L'homme est un dieu tombé qui se souvient des cieux.

Limited in his nature, with infinite wishes,
Man is a fallen god who remembers the heavens.
--Alphonse de Lamartine

Recommended by French Word-A-Day readers! Learn French with Fluenz French -- includes engaging, interactive workouts to improve your reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills -- including a recording engine to perfect your accent.  More info here.