Easy Learning French Vocabulary

copyright

Published by Collins

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Second edition 2016

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank those authors and publishers who kindly gave permission for copyright material to be used in the Collins Corpus. We would also like to thank Times Newspapers Ltd for providing valuable data.

MANAGING EDITOR

Maree Airlee

CONTRIBUTORS

Laurence Larroche

Maggie Seaton

FOR THE PUBLISHER

Gerry Breslin

Rachel Grocott

eBook Edition © May 2016

ISBN 9780008142056

Version: 2016-04-01

contents

Title Page

Copyright

how to use this book

air travel

animals

bikes

birds

body

calendar

camping

careers

cars

clothes

colours

computing and IT

countries and nationalities

countryside

describing people

education

environment

family

farm

fish and insects

food and drink

free time

fruit

furniture and appliances

geographical names

greetings and everyday phrases

health

hotel

house – general

house – particular

information and services

law

materials

music

numbers and quantities

personal items

plants and gardens

seaside and boats

shopping

sports

theatre and cinema

time

tools

town

trains

trees

vegetables

vehicles

the weather

youth hostelling

supplementary vocabulary

conjunctions

adjectives

adverbs and prepositions

nouns

verbs

About the Publisher

how to use this book

The Easy Learning French Vocabulary is designed for both young and adult learners. Whether you are starting to learn French for the very first time, revising for school exams or simply want to brush up on your French, the Easy Learning French Vocabulary offers you the information you require in a clear and accessible format.

This book is divided into 50 topics, arranged in alphabetical order. This thematic approach enables you to learn related words and phrases together, so that you can become confident in using particular vocabulary in context.

Vocabulary within each topic is divided into nouns and useful phrases which are aimed at helping you to express yourself in idiomatic French. Vocabulary within each topic is graded to help you prioritize your learning. Essential words include the basic words you will need to be able to communicate effectively, important words help expand your knowledge, and useful words provide additional vocabulary which will enable you to express yourself more fully.

Nouns are grouped by gender: masculine (“le”) nouns are given together, as are feminine (“la”) nouns, enabling you to memorize words according to their gender. In addition, all feminine forms of adjectives are shown, as are irregular plurals and plurals of compound nouns.

At the end of the book you will find a list of supplementary vocabulary, grouped according to part of speech – adjective, verb, noun and so on. This is vocabulary which you will come across in many everyday situations.

abbreviations

ABBREVIATIONS

adjadjectiveadvadverbconjconjunctionffeminineinvinvariablemmasculinem+fmasculine and feminine formnnounplpluralprepprepositionqchquelque choseqnquelqu’unsbsomebodysthsomethingsubjsubjunctive

The swung dash ~ is used to indicate the basic elements of the compound and appropriate endings are then added.

air travel

ESSENTIAL WORDS (masculine)

unaéroportairportunaller-retourreturn ticketunaller simplesingle ticketunavionplanelesbagagesluggagelesbagages à mainhand luggagelebillet (d’avion)(plane) ticketledépartdepartureledouaniercustoms officerleduty-freeduty-free (shop)l’horairetimetablelenuméronumberlepassagerpassengerlepasseportpassportleprix du billetfarelesrenseignementsinformationleretarddelaylesacbagletaxitaxiletouristetouristlevolflightlevoyagetriplevoyageurtraveller

USEFUL PHRASES

voyager par avion to travel by plane

retenir une place d’avion to book a plane ticket

enregistrer ses bagages to check in one’s luggage

l’enregistrement en ligne online check-in

j’ai manqué la correspondance I missed my connection

l’avion a décollé/a atterri the plane has taken off/has landed

le tableau des arrivées/des départs the arrivals/departures board

le vol numéro 776 en provenance de Nice/à destination de Nice flight number 776 from Nice/to Nice

ESSENTIAL WORDS (feminine)

uneagence de voyagestravel agent’suneannulationcancellationunearrivéearrivallacarte d’identitéID cardlacarte d’embarquementboarding cardlacorrespondanceconnectionladouanecustomsuneentréeentranceunehôtesse de l’airflight attendantlalocation de voiturescar hirelapassagèrepassengerlaporte d’embarquementdeparture gatelaréductionreductionlaréservationreservationlasortieexitlasortie de secoursemergency exitlestoilettestoiletslatouristetouristlavalisesuitcase

USEFUL PHRASES

récupérer ses bagages to collect one’s luggage

“livraison des bagages” “baggage reclaim”

passer la douane to go through customs

j’ai quelque chose à déclarer I have something to declare

je n’ai rien à déclarer I have nothing to declare

fouiller les bagages to search the luggage

voyager en classe affaires/économique to travel business/economy class

IMPORTANT WORDS (masculine)

unaccident d’avionplane crashlebillet électroniquee-ticketlechariottrolleyunescalier roulantescalatorunhélicoptèrehelicopterlemal de l’airairsicknesslepilotepilotleplanmap

USEFUL WORDS (masculine)

unaiguilleur du cielair-traffic controllerunatterrissagelandingunavion à réactionjet planeunavion gros porteurjumbo jetlecontrôle de sécuritésecurity checkledécollagetake-offlesdroits de douanecustoms dutyl’embarquementboardingunéquipagecrewunespace bébésmother and baby roomle:hublotwindowlemur du sonsound barrierleparachuteparachuteleportique de détectionmetal detectorleréacteurjet enginelesiègeseatlestewardflight attendantletapis roulantmoving walkway; luggage carouselletrou d’airair pocket

USEFUL PHRASES

à bord on board

horaire prévu d’arrivée/de départ estimated time of arrival/departure

“attachez vos ceintures” “fasten your seat belts”

nous survolons Londres we are flying over London

j’ai le mal de l’air I am feeling airsick

détourner un avion to hijack a plane

IMPORTANT WORDS (feminine)

laceinture de sécuritéseat beltladestinationdestinationladuréelength, durationunehorlogeclocklasalle d’embarquementdeparture loungelavitessespeed

USEFUL WORDS (feminine)

uneaérogareterminaluneailewingl’altitudealtitudelaboîte noireblack boxlaboutique hors taxesduty-free shoplescommandescontrolsuneescalestop-overuneétiquettelabella:hauteurheightunehélicepropellerlacompagnie aérienneairlinelapisterunwaylasoutebaggage holdlatour de contrôlecontrol towerlaturbulenceturbulence

USEFUL PHRASES

“vol AB251 pour Paris: embarquement immédiat, porte 51” “flight AB251 to Paris now boarding at gate 51”

nous avons fait escale à New York we stopped over in New York

un atterrissage forcé an emergency landing

un atterrissage en catastrophe a crash landing

des cigarettes hors taxes duty-free cigarettes

animals

ESSENTIAL WORDS (masculine)

unagneaulambunanimal (pl animaux)animallebœuf (pl ~s)oxlechatcatlechatonkittenlecheval (pl chevaux)horselechiendoglechiotpuppylecochonpigunéléphantelephantle:hamsterhamsterlejardin zoologiquezoolelapinrabbitlelionlionlemoutonsheepunoiseau (pl -x)birdlepoissonfishlepoulainfoalletigretigerleveaucalflezoozoo

USEFUL PHRASES

j’aime les chats, je déteste les serpents, je préfère les souris I like cats, I hate snakes, I prefer mice

nous avons 12 animaux chez nous we have 12 pets (in our house)

nous n’avons pas d’animaux chez nous we have no pets (in our house)

les animaux sauvages wild animals

les animaux domestiques pets; livestock

mettre un animal en cage to put an animal in a cage

libérer un animal to set an animal free

ESSENTIAL WORDS (feminine)

lachattecat (female)lachiennedog (female)lasourismouselatortuetortoiselavachecow

IMPORTANT WORDS (feminine)

lacagecagelaqueuetail

USEFUL PHRASES

le chien aboie the dog barks; il grogne it growls

le chat miaule the cat miaows; il ronronne it purrs

j’aime faire du cheval or monter à cheval I like horse-riding

à cheval on horseback

“attention, chien méchant” “beware of the dog”

“chiens interdits” “no dogs allowed”

“couché!” (to dog) “down!”

les droits des animaux animal rights

USEFUL WORDS (masculine)

unânedonkeyleboucbilly goatlecerfstaglechameau (pl -x)camellecochon d’Indeguinea-piglecrapaudtoadlecrocodilecrocodileunécureuilsquirrelle:hérissonhedgehogunhippopotamehippopotamuslekangouroukangaroolelièvrehareleloupwolflemuletmulelemuseau (pl -x)snoutunoursbearunours blancpolar bearlephoqueseallepiègetraplepoilcoat, hairleponeyponyleporcpiglerenardfoxlerequinsharklerhinocérosrhinoceroslesabothoofleserpentsnakelesingemonkeyletaureau (pl -x)bulllezèbrezebra

USEFUL WORDS (feminine)

uneanimaleriepet shoplabaleinewhalelabossehump (of camel)lacarapaceshell (of tortoise)lachauve-souris (pl ~s~)batlachèvregoatlacornehornlacouleuvregrass snakelacrinièremaneladéfensetuskladindeturkeylafourrurefurlagirafegiraffelagrenouillefroglagriffeclawlagueulemouth (of dog, cat, lion etc)lajumentmarelalionnelionesslamulemulelapattepawlapochepouch (of kangaroo)lesrayuresstripes (of zebra)lataupemolelatigressetigresslatrompetrunk (of elephant)

bikes

ESSENTIAL WORDS (masculine)

lecasquehelmetlecyclismecyclinglecyclistecyclistlefreinbrakelepneutyreleTour de FranceTour de France cycle racelevélobikelevélo tout terrainmountain bikeleVTTmountain bike

USEFUL WORDS (masculine)

unantivolpadlocklecatadioptrereflectorledérailleurderailleurlegarde-boue (pl inv)mudguardleguidonhandlebarslemoyeu (pl -x)hublepare-boue (pl inv)mudguardlepharefront lightleporte-bagages (pl inv)carrierlerayonspokeleréflecteurreflectorlesommettop (of hill)

USEFUL PHRASES

aller à bicyclette, aller en vélo to go by bike

je suis venu(e) en vélo I came by bike

faire du cyclisme, faire du vélo to cycle

rouler to travel

à toute vitesse at full speed

changer de vitesse to change gears

s’arrêter to stop

freiner brusquement to brake sharply

ESSENTIAL WORDS (feminine)

labicyclettebicyclelalampelamp

IMPORTANT WORDS (feminine)

lacrevaisonpuncturelarouewheellavitessespeed; gear

USEFUL WORDS (feminine)

labarrecrossbarlachaînechainlacôteslopeladescentedescentladynamodynamolamontéeclimblapédalepedallapenteslopelapiste cyclablecycle pathlapompepumplasacochesaddlebaglasellesaddlelasonnettebelllatrousse pour crevaisonspuncture repair kitlavalvevalve

USEFUL PHRASES

faire une promenade à or en vélo to go for a bike ride

avoir un pneu crevé to have a flat tyre

réparer un pneu crevé to mend a puncture

la roue avant/arrière the front/back wheel

gonfler les pneus to blow up the tyres

brillant(e), reluisant(e) shiny

rouillé(e) rusty

fluorescent(e) fluorescent

birds

ESSENTIAL WORDS (masculine)

lecanardducklecielskylecoqcockledindonturkeyunoiseau (pl -x)birdleperroquetparrot

USEFUL WORDS (masculine)

unaigleeaglelebecbeaklechoucasjackdawlecoq de bruyèregrouselecorbeau (pl -x)ravenlecoucoucuckoolecygneswanunétourneau (pl -x)starlinglefaisanpheasantlefauconfalconle:hibou (pl -x)owllemartin-pêcheur (pl ~s~s)kingfisherlemerleblackbirdlemoineau (pl -x)sparrowlenidnestunœufegglepaonpeacocklepicwoodpeckerlepigeonpigeonlepingouinpenguinlerapacebird of preyleroiteletwrenlerossignolnightingalelerouge-gorge (pl ~s~s)robinleserincanarylevautourvulture

ESSENTIAL WORDS (feminine)

uneoiegooselaperruchebudgielapoulehen

USEFUL WORDS (feminine)

uneailewingunealouettelarkuneautrucheostrichlacagecagelacaillequaillacigognestorklacolombedovelacorneillecrowlagrivethrushunehirondelleswallowlamésange bleuebluetitlamouetteseagulllaperdrixpartridgelapiemagpielaplumefeather

USEFUL PHRASES

voler to fly

s’envoler to fly away

faire son nid to build a nest

siffler to whistle

chanter to sing

mettre un oiseau en cage to put a bird in a cage

pondre un œuf to lay an egg

un oiseau migrateur a migratory bird

body

ESSENTIAL WORDS (masculine)

lebrasarmlescheveuxhairlecœurheartlecorpsbodyledoigtfingerledosbackl’estomacstomachlegenou (pl -x)kneeleneznoseunœil (pl yeux)eyelepiedfootleventrestomachlevisagefacelesyeuxeyes

IMPORTANT WORDS (masculine)

lecounecklefrontforeheadlementonchinlepoucethumblesangbloodlesourcileyebrow

USEFUL PHRASES

debout standing

assis(e) sitting

couché(e) lying

je vais me faire couper les cheveux I am going to have my hair cut

ESSENTIAL WORDS (feminine)

labouchemouthladenttoothlagorgethroatlajambeleglamainhanduneoreilleearlatêtehead

IMPORTANT WORDS (feminine)