French/Lessons/Communication

La communication Dialogue Grammar -aître verbs Verbs ending in -aître, such as connaître, meaning to know (personally), are conjugated irregularly. Formation connaître /kɔ.nɛtʁ/ (koh-nehtr) Fr-connaître.ogg to knowje connais /kɔ.nɛ/ (koh-neh) I knowtu connais /kɔ.nɛ/ (koh-neh) you knowil connaît /kɔ.nɛ/ (koh-neh) he knowsnous connaissons /kɔ.nɛ.sɔ̃/ (koh-neh-soh(n)) we knowvous connaissez /kɔ.nɛ.se/ (koh-neh-say) you knowils connaissent /kɔ.nɛs/ (koh-nehs) they knowconnu /kɔ.ny/ (koh-new) Fr-connu.ogg known Vocabulary Related words french-connaitre-related-words The noun la connaissance /kɔ̃.ne.sɑ̃s/ (koh(n)-nay-sah(n)s) Fr-connaissance.ogg means knowledge or acquaintance: Michel a une bonne connaissance des animaux. Michel has a good knowledge of animals. Faire la connaissance de quelqu'un. To become acquainted with someone/to get to know someone. The derived adjective connu /kɔ.ny/ (koh-new) Fr-connu.ogg means known or famous and the derived noun le connu means the known or a well-known person. Likewise, inconnu /ɛ̃.kɔ.ny/ (a(n)-koh-new) Fr-inconnu.ogg means unknown or strange and l'inconnu (m) means stranger: Pour procéder méthodiquement, il faut aller du connu à l’inconnu. To proceed methodically, we must go from the known to the unknown. Le hurling est un sport inconnu en dehors de l’Irlande. The sport of hurling is unknown outside Ireland. L’inconnu au bar m’a souri. The stranger at the bar smiled at me. Vocabulary Other -aître verbs french--aitre-verbs apparaître Fr-apparaître.ogg /a.pa.ʁɛtʁ/ to appear comparaître /kɔ̃.pa.ʁɛtʁ/ to appear before an official Il a comparu devant le maire. He appeared before the Mayor. disparaître Fr-disparaître.ogg /dis.pa.ʁɛtʁ/ to disappear La douleur a complètement disparu. The pain has completely disappeared. méconnaître Fr-méconnaître.ogg /me.kɔ.nɛtʁ/ to not recognize, to be unaware of Le médecin a méconnu la nature de cette maladie. The doctor did not recognize the nature of this sickness. disparaître Fr-disparaître.ogg to disappear naître Fr-naître.ogg to be born1 paraître Fr-paraître.ogg /pa.ʁɛtʁ/ to appear, to seem L'acteur a paru sur l'écran.Il paraît 40 ans. The actor appeared on screen.He seems forty. réapparaître /ʁe.a.pa.ʁɛtʁ/ to reappear Lorsque la terre est réapparue, ce a été à l’entrée du détroit de Magellan. When land reappeared, it was at the entrance of the Strait of Magellan. reconnaître Fr-reconnaître.ogg /ʁǝ.kɔ.nɛtʁ/ to recognize Je l’ai reconnu à sa démarche. I recognized his walk. repaître /ʁə.pɛtʁ/ to feed, to eat Il faut repaître ces animaux.Les cerfs sortent le soir des bois pour repaître. It is necessary to feed these animals.The deer come out of the woods in the evening to eat. reparaître Fr-reparaître.ogg /ʁǝ.pa.ʁɛtʁ/ to reappear, to come out again Le soleil reparaît sur l’horizon. The sun reappears on the horizon. 1Naître has an irregular past participle (né) and takes être as its auxiliary verb in perfect tenses. Grammar To know Savoir savoir /sa.vwaʁ/ (sah-vwahr) Fr-savoir.ogg to knowje sais /sɛ/ (seh) I knowtu sais /sɛ/ (seh) you knowil sait /sɛ/ (seh) he knowsnous savons /sa.vɔ̃/ (sah-voh(n)) we knowvous savez /sa.ve/ (sah-vay) you knowils savent /sav/ (sahv) they knowsu /sy/ (sew) known Usage notes Connaître and savoir Connaître is used to say that you know someone, or are acquainted with someone or something: Ce chien connaît bien son maître. This dog knows its master. Ce cheval connaît le chemin. This horse knows the way. Savoir is used to say that you know a fact or piece of information: Il est difficile de savoir si elle ment. It's difficult to know if she's lying. Savoir is also used to say that you know how to do something: Savez-vous nager? Do you know how to swim? Examples Cet enfant ne connaît pas encore ses lettres. This child does not know his letters. Je ne connais cette personne que de nom. I know this person only by name. Il connaît sa faiblesse. He knows his weakness. Vocabulary Phone calls le téléphone Fr-téléphone.ogg /te.le.fɔn/ (tay-lay-fohn) telephone le téléphone portablele téléphone mobilele mobile /te.le.fɔn pɔʁ.tabl/ (tay-lay-fohn pohr-tahbl)Fr-le téléphone mobile.oggFr-mobile.ogg /mɔ.bil/ (moh-beel) mobile phone Usage notes Téléphoner and appeler Téléphoner (à) is used to say that you are calling (to) someone. In French, you call to someone, so the verb is used with indirect, and not direct, objects: Je téléphone à Jacques. I'm calling Jacques. J'ai téléphoné à mon ami. I called my friend. Appeler is also used: J'ai appelé Marcel sur son mobile. I called Marcel on his mobile. Grammar To say Dire Dire, meaning to say or to tell, is conjugated irregularly. Formation dire /diʁ/ (deer) Fr-dire.ogg to sayje dis /di/ (dee) Fr-Paris--dis.ogg I saytu dis /di/ (dee) Fr-Paris--dis.ogg you sayil dit /di/ (dee) Fr-Paris--dit.ogg he saysnous disons /di.zɔ̃/ (dee-zoh(n)) we sayvous dites /dit/ (deet) Fr-Paris--dite.ogg you sayils disent /diz/ (deez) they saydit /di/ (dee) Fr-Paris--dit.ogg said The related verb redire /ʁə.diʁ/ (ruh-deer) Fr-redire.ogg means to repeat, to restate, or to retell. The related phrase vouloir dire /vu.lwaʁ diʁ/ (voo-lwahr deer) Fr-vouloir dire.ogg means to mean. Examples Il a dit son nom. He said his name. « Je m'appelle Paul, » dit-il. "My name is Paul," he said. Je vais dire un secret. I'm going to say a secret. Georges ne dit pas la vérité. Georges does not tell the truth. Il ne faut pas le redire. You don't have to say it again. Je t'ai déjà dit, mais je le redis à toi. I've already told you, but I'll tell you again. Il va redire tout ce qu’on lui dit. He's going to retell all that we say to him. Grammar Verbs conjugated similarly to dire french-verbs-like-dire The following verbs are conjugated like dire, except that the second person plural form is -dissez, not -dites. contredire /kɔ̃t.ʁə.diʁ/ to contradict Il a essayé de me contredire, il n’y a pas réussi. He tried to contradict me, he has not succeeded. interdire Fr-interdire.ogg /ɛ̃.tɛʁ.diʁ/ to forbid, to ban Il est interdit d’interdire.Une obligation imprévue m’interdit ce plaisir. It is forbidden to forbid.An unforeseen obligation prevents me that pleasure. médire /mediʁ/ to slander, to speak badly of Vous médisez de tout le monde.Il médit de son prochain. You speak badly of everyone.He speaks ill of his neighbor. prédire Fr-prédire.ogg /pʁediʁ/ to predict, to foretell Les chercheurs ont prédit l'éclipse.Les prophètes ont prédit la venue de Jésus-Christ. The scientists predicted the eclipse.The prophets foretold the coming of Jesus Christ. dédire /de.diʁ/ to go back on, to retract maudire to curse /mo.diʁ/ Fr-maudire.ogg is also conjugated in this way, except that the third person plural is maudissent. Vocabulary Mail Le courrier la poste Fr-poste.ogg /pɔst/ post office le courrier Fr-courrier.ogg /ku.ʁje/ mail Le courrier n’est pas encore arrivé.Répondez-moi par courrier.Les heures du courrier sont changées. The mail has not arrived yet.Answer me by mail.The mail hours are changed. la lettre (d’affaires, d’amour, de recommandation, d’avis, de condoléance) Fr-lettre.ogg /lɛtr(ə)/ (business, love, recomendation, notification, condolence) letter J'ai mis la lettre à la poste. I put the letter in the post. la boîte aux lettresla boite aux lettres /bwa.to.lɛtʁ/ mailbox J'ai mis ta missive dans la boite aux lettres. I put your letter in the mailbox. cacheter (une lettre, un paquet) /kaʃ.te/ /ka.ʃə.te/ to seal (a letter, a parcel) Elle cachète toutes ses lettres avec de la cire. She seals all her letters with wax. fermer (une lettre) Fr-fermer.ogg /fɛʁ.me/ to close (a letter) envoyer (une lettre) Fr-envoyer.ogg /ɑ̃.vwa.je/ to send (a letter) Je vais envoyer le paquet par le chemin de fer. I will send the package by railroad. recevoir (une lettre) Fr-recevoir.ogg /ʁəs.vwaʁ/ to receive (a letter) ouvrir (une lettre) Fr-ouvrir.ogg /u.vʁiʁ/ to open (a letter) décacheter (une lettre) /de.kaʃ.te/ to unseal (a letter) répondre (à une lettre) Fr-répondre.ogg /re.pɔ̃dʁ/ to answer, to respond (to a letter) Je lui ai écrit deux fois, il ne m’a pas répondu. I wrote to him twice, he did not answer. Grammar To send Envoyer french-envoyer Formation envoyer /ɑ̃.vwa.je/ (ah(n)-vwah-yuhay) Fr-envoyer.ogg to sendj'envoie /ɑ̃.vwa/ (ah(n)-vwah) I sendtu envoies /ɑ̃.vwa/ (ah(n)-vwah) you sendil envoie /ɑ̃.vwa/ (ah(n)-vwah) he sendsnous envoyons /ɑ̃.vwa.jɔ̃/ (ah(n)-vwah-yuhoh(n)) we sendvous envoyez /ɑ̃.vwa.je/ (ah(n)-vwah-yuhay) you sendils envoient /ɑ̃.vwa/ (ah(n)-vwah) they sendenvoyé /ɑ̃.vwa.je/ (ah(n)-vwah-yuhay) sent The verb renvoyer /ʁɑ̃.vwa.je/ (rah(n)-vwah-yuhay) Fr-renvoyer.ogg, meaning to resend or to send back, is conjugated in the same way as envoyer. Examples Je vais envoyer le paquet par le chemin de fer. I will send the package by railroad. Usage notes Renvoyer Grammar -cevoir verbs french--cevoir-verbs Verbs ending in -cevoir, such as recevoir, meaning to receive, are conjugated irregularly. Formation recevoir /ʁə.sv.waʁ/ (ruh-sev-wahr) Fr-recevoir.ogg to receiveje reçois /ʁə.swa/ (ruh-swah) I receivetu reçois /ʁə.swa/ (ruh-swah) you receiveil reçoit /ʁə.swa/ (ruh-swah) he receivesnous recevons /ʁə.sv.ɔ̃/ (ruh-sev-oh(n)) we receivevous recevez /ʁə.sv.e/ (ruh-sev-ay) you receiveils reçoivent /ʁə.swav/ (ruh-swahv) they receivereçu /ʁǝ.sy/ (ruh-sew) Fr-reçu.ogg received Other -cevoir verbs apercevoir Fr-apercevoir.ogg /a.pɛʁ.sǝ.vwaʁ/ to see, to glimpse, to catch sight of concevoir Fr-concevoir.ogg /kɔ̃səvwaʀ/ to conceive, to understand C'est un ouvrage bien conçu.Cette femme a passé l’âge de concevoir. It is a well-designed book.This woman was too old to conceive. décevoir /de.sǝ.vwaʁ/ to disappoint, to deceive Il m’a déçu par sa manière d’agir. He disappointed me by his actions. percevoir Fr-percevoir.ogg /pɛʁ.sǝ.vwaʁ/ to perceive repercevoir /ʁə.pɛʁ.sə.vwaʁ/ to reperceive Examples Odette répond à toutes les lettres qu’elle reçoit. Odette answers all the letters that she receives. Je conçois bien ce que vous me dites. I understand what you say. C’est une chose difficile à concevoir. It is hard to conceive. Tous ses espoirs ont été déçus. All his hopes were dashed. Vocabulary Computers and the Internet french-computers Computer hardware l'ordinateur (portable) (m) Fr-ordinateur.ogg /ɔʁ.di.na.tœʁ/ (laptop) computer Elle est sur l’ordinateur. She is on the computer. l'écran (d'ordinateur) (m) Fr-écran.ogg /e.kʁɑ̃/ (computer) screen, monitor le clavier Fr-clavier.ogg /klavje/ keyboard la souris Fr-Paris--souris.ogg /su.ʁi/ mouse l'imprimante (f) /ɛ̃.pʁi.mãt/ printer Cette imprimante est dotée de cartouches couleur ; elle peut imprimer en couleur. This printer has color cartridges and can print in color. le CD-ROM /se.de.ʁɔm/ CD-ROM Ce CD-ROM contient un dictionnaire très complet. This CD-ROM contains a comprehensive dictionary. la disquette Fr-disquette.ogg /dis.kɛt/ floppy disk Computer software le software software l’information (f) Fr-information.ogg /ɛ̃.fɔʁ.ma.sjɔ̃/ information le logiciel /lɔ.ʒi.sjɛl/ software (program) C’est un logiciel très facile d’utilisation. The software is easy to use. le programmela programmation Fr-programme.ogg /pʁɔ.ɡʁam//pʁɔ.ɡʁa.ma.sjɔ̃/ programprogramming L’ordinateur refuse d'ouvrir ce programme.Ce programme résoud tous mes problèmes ! The computer refuses to open this program.This program solves all my problems! le document Fr-document.ogg /dɔkymɑ̃/ document le fichier Fr-fichier.ogg /fi.ʃje/ file Computer use utiliser Fr-utiliser.ogg /y.ti.li.ze/ to use taper (un texte) Fr-taper.ogg /ta.pe/ to type (a text) sauvegarder (un fichier) /sɔv.ɡaʁ.de/ to save (a file) exécuter Fr-exécuter.ogg /ɛɡ.ze.ky.te/ to run, to carry out cliquer /klike/ to click Tu dois cliquer sur le bouton rouge. You must click (on) the red button. allumer Fr-allumer.ogg /a.ly.me/ to turn on éteindre Fr-éteindre.ogg /e.tɛ̃dʁ/ to turn off (to extinguish) The Internet aller sur Internet to go on the Internet Il est allé sur Internet pour lire le journal. He went on the Internet to read the newspaper. le modem /modˈɛm/ modem la connexion /kɔ.nɛk.sjɔ̃/ connection connecter Fr-connecter.ogg /ko.nɛk.te/ to connect Je vais connecter l'ordinateur au réseau informatique. I will connect the computer to the computer network. le site (Web) /sit//sit wɛb/ (web) site Je suis en train d’étudier le langage HTML pour concevoir mon site Web perso. I am studying HTML to design my personal website. l'e-mail (m) /i.mɛl/ e-mail télécharger Fr-Télécharger-fr-Paris.ogg /te.le.ʃaʁ.ʒe/ to download, to upload Elle a téléchargé le ficher. She downloaded the file. transmettre Fr-transmettre.ogg /tʁɑ̃s.mɛtʁ/ to transmit Grammar To call Appeler french-appeler Appeler means to call or to call out. Appeler is also used to say what your name is. Je m'appelle... literally means I call myself…, but in English you would say My name is…. Appeler is a regular -er verb, but is also stem changing. Formation appeler /ap(.ə).le/ (ahp(uh)-lay) Fr-appeler.ogg to callj'appelle /a.pɛl/ (ah-pehl) I calltu appelles /a.pɛl/ (ah-pehl) you callil appelle /a.pɛl/ (ah-pehl) he callsnous appelons /ap(.ə).lɔ̃/ (ah-puh-loh(n)) we callvous appelez /ap(.ə).le/ (ah-puh-lay) you callils appellent /a.pɛl/ (ah-pehl) they callappelé /ap(.ə).le/ (ah-play) called Rappeler /ʀa.ple/ (rah-play) Fr-rappeler.ogg, meaning to call back, recall, or remind, is conjugated in the same way as appeler. The reflexive form se rappeler means to remember. Related words The related masculine noun l'appel /a.pɛl/ Fr-appel.ogg means call or appeal: J'ai entendu votre appel. I heard your call. Les femelles blattes produisent des phéromones lors de l'appel du mâle. The female cockroach produce pheromones during the call of the male. The noun le rappel /ʀa.pɛl/ Fr-rappel.ogg means reminder or recall: Cet ambassadeur a obtenu son rappel. The ambassador has received his recall. Il a obéi par la crainte du rappel. He obeyed by the fear of the recall. J’ai été obligé de lui faire un discret rappel pour l’amener à me rembourser. I was obliged to make a discreet reminder to him to reimburse me. Examples J'ai appelé son nom. I called out her name. Appelle-moi ce soir. Call me this evening. Nous devrons appeler un médecin. We should call a doctor. Elle a appelé à l'aide. She called out for help. Ton père t’a téléphoné. Peux-tu le rappeler ? Your father telephoned. Can you call him back? Rappelle-moi à mon rôle. Remind me of my role. Je ne me le rappelle pas. I don't remember that/it/him. Text Exercises Dining