French: Podcast transcript 7
This is the transcript for Episode 7 of the SameSky Languages FRENCH podcast. It covers adjectives, the subjunctive and 'verlan' slang
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Andrew Wenger
- May 24
- 5 min
Collective nouns: Un meurtre de corbeaux? (Fr) / Un asesinato de cuervos (Sp) / Ein Mord von Krähen
The eccentric collective nouns in English are more fun than useful, but do they have the equivalent absurdities in other languages?
Andrew Wenger
- Apr 9
- 4 min
How to pronounce the French word: "plus"
The pronunciation of the French word "plus" can be problematic. Is the 's' silent or not? Or sounded like a 'z'? This should clarify...
Andrew Wenger
- Apr 9
- 6 min
Euphony: the art of smooth talking
Euphony is the convention of making changes to spelling and/or pronunciation in order to make a given set of words more pleasing on the ear
Andrew Wenger
- Apr 2
- 3 min
“As camp as a mushroom”
Which is the odd one out: mushrooms, Champagne, bell-ringing, effeminate behaviour? The Latin word 'campus' has fathered most of them...
Andrew Wenger
- Mar 23
- 2 min
Names of birds in foreign languages
The names of birds in foreign languages are fascinating. By turns enlightening, beautiful or just great fun. If you love birds and words...
Andrew Wenger
- Feb 17
- 2 min
Etymology meets entomology: French expressions with insects
Etymology meets entomology: French expressions with insects
Andrew Wenger
- Feb 11
- 3 min
« Merci à toutes et à tous ! »
When addressing a mixed group, whether it's to say Bonjour or Merci, you will need to know about "à toutes et à tous".
Andrew Wenger
- Feb 4
- 7 min
But why do they have to have masculine and feminine?
The question crops up quite regularly in our languages lessons: Why do they feel the need to have masculine and feminine words?
Andrew Wenger
- Jan 28
- 4 min
What are phrasal verbs (in English)?
Phrasal verbs: The 2nd in the series of hints about an aspect of English, and how this knowledge can be useful when learning Latin languages
Andrew Wenger
- Jan 13
- 3 min
Parts of speech (in any language)
Basics of grammar. A 1-pager to guide you through the different types of words that make up a language: English and the one you are studying
Andrew Wenger
- Nov 23, 2022
- 1 min
What is the "chicken phase" of the World Cup?
The "group stage" is "la phase de poules" in French. When we talk about 'pooling our resources' that's where the word comes from
Andrew Wenger
- Oct 20, 2022
- 4 min
An introduction to Swiss French
The French spoken in Switzerland is rather more accessible for anglophone learners of the language. And not just the numbers...
Andrew Wenger
- Oct 9, 2022
- 2 min
What links monks, coffee and crested tits?
The word 'cappuccino' crops up in several contexts, with almost as many spellings. Here's how several semantic tangents can all meet up...
Andrew Wenger
- Oct 1, 2022
- 2 min
Verlan: French slang
Verlan is French slang that is created by flipping the syllables of a given word. Verlan derives from 'back to front' which is 'l'envers'
Andrew Wenger
- Sep 22, 2022
- 3 min
The rendering of names into French
What links Tom Onks and André Blanc? Do wonder how much of a comedy accent you should put on when pronouncing your own name?
If so, read on.
Andrew Wenger
- Aug 22, 2022
- 2 min
Don't be chasing two leverets at once
A French proverb about chasing two hares at once, and a little insight into animal etymology. And an invitation to learn French with us
Andrew Wenger
- May 31, 2022
- 3 min
Question tags
Question tags are tricky in English, aren't they? Some great news: They are dead easy in other languages ¿no? Read on for reassurance
Andrew Wenger
- May 9, 2022
- 3 min
Ma ville, ma famille
La famille, la ville: two of the first 100 French words we learn. The meanings are easy, but find out how they are pronounced, and why...
Andrew Wenger
- Apr 28, 2022
- 2 min
Le Covid ou la Covid?
It was decreed: Covid is a feminine word, but there are plenty who disagree, ignore the ruling. Gender fluidity in French? Yay, boo or huh?
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