The man spoke four languages so fluently he was mistaken for a native in each. But he was not a linguist. He was a polyglot. "One is an academic, one is a Swiss waiter," he remarked.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
une aisselle - an armpit
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
une ornière - a rut
Il a bronché dès le premier pas, à cause d'un petit caillou dans l'ornière du chemin.
He stumbled on the first step, on a pebble in the rut of the road.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
un caillou - a stone, pebble
Il ne faut qu'un petit caillou pour vous faire broncher.
It only takes a little pebble to make you stumble.
Monday, August 28, 2006
broncher - to stumble
Le cheval a bronché parce que le terrain était mou.
The horse stumbled because the ground was soft.
Elle bronchait à chaque pas, et enfin elle fut obligée de s'arrêter.
She stumbled at every step, and finally was obliged to stop.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Saturday, August 26, 2006
schnitzen - to carve
Jemand hat seinen Namen in die Rinde dieses Baums geschnitzt.
Someone carved their name into the bark of that tree.
Friday, August 25, 2006
unterhalten - to entertain
Ich unterhalte gerne Freunde bei mir zu Hause.
I like entertaining friends at home.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
unsicher - insecure
Wenn es schneit, bin ich ein sehr unsicherer Fahrer.
I am a very unsure driver when it snows.
Es ist unsicher, ob es regnen wird oder nicht.
It's doubtful whether it will rain or not.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
étaler - to spread out, lay out
J'ai utilisé un couteau pour étaler du beurre sur mon toast.
I used a knife to spread butter on my toast.
Puis elle étela les détails de son entreprise.
Then she laid out the details of her plan.
Monday, August 21, 2006
un sentier - a path, trail
En sortant de Porto-Vecchio et se dirigeant au nord-ouest, vers l'intérieur de l'île, on voit le terrain s'élever assez rapidement, et après trois heures de marche par des sentiers tortueux, obstinés par de gros quartiers de rocs, et quelquefois coupés par des ravins, on se trouve sur le bord d'un maquis très étendu.
Leaving Porto-Vecchio and heading northwest, toward the interior of the island, the terrain rises quickly, and after three hours' walk along twisting paths, blocked by large rocks and sometimes cut through by crevasses, you find yourself at the edge of a vast thicket.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
fainéantise - laziness
Dominique était un garçon qu'on accusait de fainéantise, mais que les femmes, à trois lieues à la ronde, regardaient avec des yeux luisants, tant il avait bon air.
Dominic was a lad who was known for his laziness but who was looked upon with a twinkling eye by the ladies for three leagues around, for he was good looking.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Friday, August 18, 2006
Thursday, August 17, 2006
die Ferien - the vacation
In Deutschland hat man länger Ferien als in Amerika.
Vacations in Germany are longer than in the US.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
verlassen - to leave
Der Morgen fängt schon an zu dämmern, da erst verläßt der brave Priester die Zelle des Gefangenen.
Morning is already beginning to dawn when the good priest leaves the prisoner's cell.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
die Kunst - art
Es gibt ein Museum für moderne Kunst in dieser Stadt.
This city has a museum of modern art.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Saturday, August 12, 2006
die Ausstellung - the exhibition, show
Die Ausstellung moderner Gemälde in der Kunsthalle beginnt nächste Woche.
The exhibition of modern paintings at the art gallery starts next week.
Friday, August 11, 2006
习惯 - a habit; to be used to
我 现在 习惯 吃 西餐 了。
Wǒ xiànzài xíguàn chī xīcān le
I am used to eating western food now.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
nichts - nothing
Aber in dem alten Koffer fand er nichts.
But he found nothing in the old treasure chest.
Wednesday, August 9, 2006
付款 - to pay the bill
我们 吃完 饭 爸爸 就 付款。
Wǒmén chīwán fàn bàba jiù fùkuǎn
Dad will pay the bill as soon as we finish eating.
Tuesday, August 8, 2006
die Konditorei - confectioner, pastry shop
Die Konditoreien in Deutschland sind voller leckerer Kuchen.
German pastry shops are full of tasty cakes.
Monday, August 7, 2006
Sunday, August 6, 2006
Saturday, August 5, 2006
Friday, August 4, 2006
Thursday, August 3, 2006
妹妹 - younger sister
我 妹妹 比 我 小 三岁。
Wǒ mèimei bǐ wǒ xiǎo sān suì
My younger sister is three years younger than me.
Wednesday, August 2, 2006
neugierig - curious
Sie ist ein sehr neugieriges Mädchen.
She is a very curious girl.
Bist du nicht sogar ein bisschen neugierig, was in dieser Tasche ist?
Aren't you even a little curious what is in this bag?Tuesday, August 1, 2006
crever - to burst, puncture; to die
My shame is so great that I just want to die.
Rouler avec un pneu crevé peut être très dangereux !
Driving with a punctured tire can be very dangerous!
faire gaffe - watch out, be careful
Faut faire gaffe quand on traverse, à ne pas se faire écraser par un vélo. Be careful crossing, or you'll be run over by a bike.
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Я хочу оплатить счёт . I want to pay the bill.
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Gamahouche or gamahuche . I came across this archaic term in, unlikely though it is, a modern urban murder mystery by highly lauded nove...
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他 要 计算 一下 他 的 收入。 tā yào jìsuàn yíxià tā de shǒurù He wants to calculate his income.