French/Lessons/Food and drink

La nourriture Dialogue Grammar -ger verbs -ger verbs are regular -er verbs that are also stem changing. The most common -ger verb is manger. For manger and all other regular -ger verbs, the stem change is the addition of an e after the g. This only applies in the nous form. In this case, the change is made to preserve the soft g pronunciation rather than the hard g that would be present if the e were not included. Formation manger /mɑ̃ʒe/, [mɑ̃ː.ˈʒe](mah(n)zhay) Fr-manger.ogg to eatje mange /mɑ̃ʒ/ (mah(n)zh) I eattu manges /mɑ̃ʒ/ (mah(n)zh) you eatil mange /mɑ̃ʒ/ (mah(n)zh) he eatsnous mangeons /mɑ̃.ʒɔ̃/ (mah(n)zhoh(n)) we eatvous mangez /mɑ̃.ʒe/ (mah(n)zhay) you eatils mangent /mɑ̃ʒ/ (mah(n)zh) they eatmangé /mɑ̃.ʒe/ (mah(n)zhay) eaten Other -ger verbs changer Fr-changer.ogg shah(n)-zhay /ʃɑ̃.ʒe/ to change exiger Fr-exiger.ogg ehg-zee-zhay /ɛɡ.zi.ʒe/ to require nager Fr-nager.ogg nah-zhay /na.ʒe/ to swim soulager Fr-soulager.ogg soolahzhay /sulaʒe/ to relieve voyager Fr-voyager.ogg vwah-yuhah-zhay /vwa.ja.ʒe/ to travel Examples Nous mangeons dans une heure. We eat in an hour. C’est le soir qui soulage les esprits. It’s the evening which soothes the spirits. Vocabulary Common foods la banane Fr-banane.ogg /ba.nan/ banana la pomme Fr-pomme.ogg /pɔm/ apple Je vais m'étendre dans la prairie, sous un pommier aux pommes vertes et dures. I'll lie down in the meadow, under a tree with green apples. la viande Fr-viande.ogg /vjɑ̃d/ meat le poulet Fr-poulet.ogg /pu.lɛ/ chicken Je vais faire du poulet rôti. I'm going to make roasted chicken. le bœuf Fr-bœuf.ogg /bœf/ beef le poisson (frais, salé, mariné, sec, frit, grillé) Fr-poisson.ogg /pwa.sɔ̃/ (fresh, salted, pickled, dried, fried, grilled) fish le bonbon Fr-bonbon.ogg candy Je vous ai apporté des bonbons. I brought you some candy. Grammar To drink Boire The verb boire, meaning to drink, is irregularly conjugated (it is not a regular -re verb). Formation boire /bwaʁ/ (bwahr) Fr-boire-fr.ogg to drinkje bois /bwɑ/ (bwah) I drinktu bois /bwɑ/ (bwah) you drinkil boit /bwɑ/ (bwah) he drinksnous buvons /by.vɔ̃/ (bew-voh(n)) we drinkvous buvez /by.ve/ (bew-vay) you drinkils boivent /bwav/ (bwahv) they drinkbu /by/ (bu) (bew) drunk Vocabulary Drinks Les boissons la bière Fr-bière.ogg /bjɛr/ beer le café Fr-café.ogg /ka.fe/ coffee Je vais boire une tasse de café. I'll drink a cup of coffee. le chocolat (chaud) Fr-Le-chocolat.ogg /ʃɔ.kɔ.la/ hot chocolate Quand j’ai froid, je bois un chocolat chaud. When I'm cold, I drink a hot chocolate. le coca Fr-Paris--coca.ogg /kɔ.ka/ Coke, soda Nous avons bu un coca dans ce bar après le travail. We drank a Coke in the bar after work. la limonade /li.mɔ.nad/ lemonade, lemon soda La limonade est rafraîchissante en été. Lemonade is refreshing in the summer. l'eau (f) Fr-eau.ogg /o/ water Je vais boire un verre d’eau fraîche. I'm going to drink a cool glass of water. le jus (d'orange, de pomme, de raisin, de tomate) Fr-jus-ca-Montréal.ogg /ʒy/ (orange, apple, grape, tomato) juice Garçon, deux jus de pomme, s’il vous plaît ! Waiter, two apple juice, please! le thé (vert, noir, rouge) Fr-thé.ogg /te/ (green, black, red) tea Mon frère n'aime pas le thé noir. Il boit toujours du thé vert. My brother does not like black tea. He always drinks green tea. le vin (blanc, rosé, rouge) Fr-vin.ogg /vɛ̃/ (white, rosé, red) wine As-tu bu ?J'ai bu deux verres de vin. Have you been drinking?I have drunk two glasses of wine. Grammar The partitive article The partitive article de indicates, among other things, the word some. As learned earlier, de and le contract (combine) into du, as de and les contract into des. Also, instead of du or de la, de l''' is used in front of vowels. When speaking about food, the partitive article is used at some times while the definite article (le, la, les) is used at other times, and the indefinite article (un, une) in yet another set of situations. In general de refers to a part of food (a piece of pie) whereas the definite article (le) refers to a food in general (I like pie (in general)). The indefinite article refers to an entire unit of a food (I would like a (whole) pie). When speaking about preferences, use the definite article: J'aime la glace. I like ice cream. Nous préférons le steak. We prefer steak. Vous aimez les frites. You like French fries. When speaking about eating or drinking an item, there are specific situations for the use of each article. Definite article (specific/whole items) J'ai mangé la tarte. I ate the (whole) pie. Indefinite article (known quantity) J'ai mangé une tarte. I ate a pie. Partitive article (unknown quantity) J'ai mangé de la tarte. I ate some pie. In the negative construction, certain rules apply. Un or une changes to de in a negative construction, meaning, in this context, any. Similarly, du, de la, or des change to de in negative constructions. Nous avons mangé une tarte. We ate a pie. Nous n'avons pas mangé de tarte. We did not eat a pie.We did not eat any pie. Nous avons mangé de la tarte. We ate some pie. Nous n'avons pas mangé de tarte. We did not eat some pie.We did not eat any pie. Grammar Some of it En To say some of it without specifying the exact object, the pronoun en can be used. Additionally, en can mean of it when it is not specified. For instance, instead of saying J'ai besoin d'argent, if the idea of money has already been raised, it can be stated as J'en ai besoin. This is because en replaces du, de la or des when the noun is not specifically mentioned in the sentence. Like with me, te and other pronouns, en (meaning some'') comes before the verb. Tu joues du piano? Non, je n'en joue pas. Do you play piano? No, I don't play it. Vous prenez du poisson? Oui, j'en prends. Are you having fish? Yes, I'm having some. Vous avez commandé de l'eau? Oui, nous en avons commandé. Did you order some water? Yes, we ordered some. Vocabulary Cooking Grammar To put Mettre Formation mettre /mɛtʁ/ (mehtr) Fr-mettre.ogg to putje mets /mɛ/ (meh) Fr-mets-fr FR-Paris.ogg I puttu mets /mɛ/ (meh) Fr-mets-fr FR-Paris.ogg you putil met /mɛ/ (meh) Fr-met-fr FR-Paris.ogg he putsnous mettons /mɛ.tɔ̃/ (meh-toh(n)) we putvous mettez /mɛ.te/ (meh-tay) you putils mettent /mɛt/ (meht) they putmis /mi/ (mee) put Vocabulary Derived words french-mettre-words admettre Fr-admettre.ogg /admɛtʁ/ to admit, to accept On va admettre Georges dans la compagnie. We'll admit George in the company. commettre Fr-commettre.ogg /kɔ.mɛtʁ/ to commit, to entrust Il a commis un crime. He committed a crime. compromettre /kɔ̃.pʁɔ.mɛtʁ/ to compromise, to jeopardize Il n'a pas compromis sa dignité. He did not compromise his dignity. démettre /de.mɛtʁ/ to dismiss, to discharge Il a été démis de ses fonctions de préfet. He was dismissed from his position as prefect. se démettre to resign Il s’est démis de sa charge. He resigned from his office. émettre /e.mɛtʁ/ to emit, to express, to issue Le gouvernement émit du papier-monnaie. The government issued paper money. omettre Fr-omettre.ogg /ɔ.mɛtʁ/ to omit Il a omis une formalité nécessaire. He omitted a necessary formality. permettre Fr-permettre.ogg /pɛʁ.mɛtʁ/ to permit, to allow Vous me permettrez de le faire? Will you allow me to do that? promettre Fr-promettre.ogg /pʁɔ.mɛtʁ/ to promise, to be promising, to be hopeful réadmettre /ʁeadmɛtʁ/ to readmit remettre Fr-remettre.ogg /ʁə.mɛtʁ/ to put back, to replace soumettre Fr-soumettre.ogg /su.mɛtʁ/ to submit Je soumets cette proposition à votre agrément. I submit this proposal for your approval. transmettre Fr-transmettre.ogg /tʁɑ̃s.mɛtʁ/ to transmit Le télégraphe a transmis cette dépêche. The telegraph sent this dispatch. Vocabulary Related expressions french-mettre-expressions mettre à jour /mɛ.tʁ‿a ʒuʁ/ to update mettre au jour to bring to light, to uncover Les autorités policières ont mis au jour des opérations illégales.Les archéologues travaillent à mettre au jour les vestiges d'un oppidum. The police have uncovered illegal operations.Archaeologists work to uncover the remains of an oppidum. mettre au monde /mɛt.ʁ‿o mɔ̃d/ to give birth mettre à profit /mɛt.ʁ‿a pʁɔ.fi/ to benefit, to gain C’est un homme qui met tout à profit. This is a man who benefits from everything. mettre de côté /mɛtʁ də ko.te/ to put aside, to save (money, etc.) C'est un homme d'une grande économie et qui met tous les ans quelque chose de côté. This is a man of great economy who saves something every year. mettre en cause to suspect; to accuse, blame mettre en marche /mɛ.tʁ‿ɑ̃ maʁʃ/ to start mettre en œuvre /mɛ.tʁ‿ɑ̃.n‿œvʁ/ to implement, to carry out On mets du bois en œuvre. We put wood to work. mettre en place to put in place, to set up mettre en route /mɛ.tʁ‿ɑ̃ ʁut/ to start mettre fin (à) to put an end (to) Il a mis fin au contrat. He terminated the contract. mettre l'accent sur to highlight mettre la main à la pâte to pitch in mettre le couvert to set the table remettre en route /ʁǝ.mɛ.tʁ‿ɑ̃ rut/ to resume se mettre à to start (to do something), to take up Elles s'est mis à sortir les weekends. The girls started going out on weekends. se mettre à table /sə mɛ.tʁ‿a tabl/ to sit down to eat se mettre d'accord /sə mɛtʁ d‿a.kɔʁ/ to settle on, to agree Examples french-mettre-examples C’est un fait que je n’admets pas. It's a fact that I do not accept. Je vous en ai commis le soin. I entrusted the care of it to you. J’ai commis cela à vos soins. I committed that to your care. Cette compagnie de chemin de fer a émis un grand nombre d’obligations. This railway company has issued a large number of bonds. C’est un homme qui promet toujours et qui ne tient rien. This is a man who always promises and does nothing. Usage notes Mettre french-mettre Usage notes Remettre french-remettre Vocabulary Fruits and vegetables french-fruits-and-vegetables les fruits (fruits) la banane Fr-banane.ogg /ba.nan/ banana la cerise Fr-cerise.ogg /s(ə)ʁiz/ cherry le citron Fr-citron.ogg /sit.ʁɔ̃/ lemon la fraise Fr-fraise.ogg /fʁɛz/ strawberry l'orange (f) Fr-orange.ogg /ɔ.ʁɑ̃ʒ/ orange Il a pressé l’orange afin d’en extraire du jus. He squeezed the orange to extract juice from it. la pomme Fr-pomme.ogg /pɔm/ apple le raisin Fr-raisin.ogg /ʁɛ.zɛ̃/ grape Quentin cueille des raisins. Quentin's picking the grapes. le pamplemousse Fr-pamplemousse-ca-Montréal.ogg /pɑ̃pləmus/ grapefruit les légumes (vegetables) la carotte Fr-carotte.ogg /ka.ʁɔt/ carrot les épinards (m) Fr-épinards.ogg /epinaʁ/ spinach l'oignon (m) Fr-oignon.ogg /ɔɲɔ̃/ /waɲɔ̃/ onion les petits pois (m) Fr-un_petit_pois.ogg /pə.ti pwa/ peas la pomme de terre Fr-la pomme de terre.ogg /pɔm də tɛʁ/ potato Faites cuire des pommes de terre à l'eau salée. Cook potatoes in salted water. la tomate Fr-tomate.ogg /tɔ.mat/ tomato les asperges (f) /as.pɛʁʒ/ asparagus Je vais semer des asperges. I'm going to plant asparagus. les haricots (m) Fr-haricot.ogg /a.ʁi.ko/ beans Vocabulary Meat and seafood french-meat-and-seafood la viande (meat) l'agneau (m) Fr-agneau.ogg /a.ɲo/ lamb la dinde Fr-dinde.ogg /dɛ̃d/ turkey le jambon Fr-jambon.ogg /ʒɑ̃.bɔ̃/ ham le porc Fr-porc.ogg /pɔʁ/ pork le poulet Fr-poulet.ogg /pu.lɛ/ chicken le bœuf Fr-bœuf.ogg /bœf/ beef la saucisse Fr-saucisse.ogg /so.sis/ sausage les fruits de mer (m) (shellfish, seafood) la coquille Saint-Jacques Fr-une coquille Saint-Jacques.ogg /kɔ.kij sɛ̃ jak/ scallop le crabe Fr-crabe.ogg /kʁab/ crab le poisson (fish) les anchois (m) Fr-anchois.ogg /ɑ̃.ʃwa/ anchovies le saumon Fr-saumon.ogg /somõ/ salmon l'anguille (f) Fr-anguille.ogg /ɑ̃.ɡij/ eel Vocabulary Dessert Le dessert french-dessert le bonbon Fr-bonbon.ogg /bɔ̃.bɔ̃/ candy Je vous ai apporté des bonbons. I brought you some candy. le chocolat Fr-Le-chocolat.ogg /ʃɔ.kɔ.la/ chocolate le gâteau (au chocolat, au fromage, de pommes de terre) Fr-gâteau.ogg /ɡa.tɔ/ cake la glace (à la vanille, au citron, au chocolat) Fr-glace.ogg /ɡlas/ (vanilla, orange, chocolate) ice cream La glace est un met très apprécié en été. Ice cream is a dish popular in summer. la mousse Fr-mousse.ogg /mus/ mousse J’adore les mousses au chocolat avec des biscuits. I love chocolate mousse with crackers. la tarte (aux cerises, aux abricots, aux pommes, aux fraises) Fr-tarte.ogg /taʁt/ (cherry, apricot, apple, strawberry) pie Noémie apprécie la tarte aux myrtilles et la tarte aux pommes. Noémie likes blueberry pie and apple pie. Vocabulary Other foods french-other-foods le croissant Fr-croissant2.ogg /kʁwasɑ̃/ crescent roll les frites (f) /fʁit/ French fries la crêpe Fr-crêpe.ogg /kʁɛp/ pancake la mayonnaise /ma.jɔ.nɛz/ mayonnaise la moutarde Fr-moutarde.ogg /mu.taʁd/ mustard le pain Fr-Pain-fr-Paris.ogg /pɛ̃/ bread la pâtisserie Fr-pâtisserie.ogg /pɑ.ti.sʁi/ pastry Regardez les belles pâtisseries dans la vitrine. Look at the beautiful pastries in the window. le poivre Fr-poivre.ogg /pwavʁ/ pepper le riz Fr-riz.ogg /ʁi/ rice Adèle cultive du riz. Adele grows rice. le sel Fr-sel.ogg /sɛl/ salt le sucre Fr-Sucre-fr-Paris.ogg /sykʁ/ sugar la confiture Fr-confiture.ogg /kɔ̃.fi.tyʁ/ jam les produits laitiers (dairy products) le beurre Fr-beurre.ogg /bœʁ/ butter le fromage Fr-fromage.ogg /fʁɔ.maʒ/ cheese le lait Fr-lait.ogg /lɛ/ milk le yaourt Fr-yaourt.ogg /ja.uʁt/ yogurt Text Exercises Rural life Dining