Saturday, February 29, 2020

une année bissextile - leap year

All leap years are numbers that are multiples of four, or divisible by four; thus the years 1768, 1772, 1776, etc. are leap years. 

Toutes les années bissextiles tombent sur des nombres multiples de quatre, ou divisibles par quatre; ainsi les années 1768, 1772 , 1776, etc. , sont bissextiles.

--

[The etymology of this word, bissextile, is Latin. It comes from words meaning "twice" and "sixth," because the leap day was inserted six days before the first day of March.]

Friday, February 28, 2020

der Bauch - the belly

Diese Buddha-Figur heißt "Bu Dai Heshang"; er lacht immer und hat einen dicken Bauch. 

This carving of buddha is called "Bu Dai Heshang"; he is always laughing and has a big belly.

Thursday, February 27, 2020

apesanteur - weightlessness

No study has yet been devoted to the effect of alcohol in zero gravity.

À ce jour, aucune étude n'a été consacrée aux effets de l'alcool en apesanteur

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

抱歉 - sorry

抱歉,我 不 说 英语。 

Sorry, I don't speak English.

--

bàoqiàn

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

солнечно - sunny

Сегодня солнечно, но холодно.

Today is sunny, but cold.

Monday, February 24, 2020

Sunday, February 23, 2020

se charger - to fill with clouds

La tempête fut violente, le ciel se chargea, et les lames battirent le littoral avec un fracas assourdissant.  [Jules Verne, Le Pays des fourrures]

The storm was violent, the sky filled with clouds, and high waves beat against the shore with a deafening noise. 

Saturday, February 22, 2020

l'émail - enamel

These bacteria digest sugar and form an acid which attacks tooth enamel.

Ces bactéries digèrent le sucre en formant un acide qui attaque l'émail des dents. 


Friday, February 21, 2020

давать - let, provide

А у Вас?
Спасибо. Хорошо.  Давай на "ты".

And you?
Thank you, fine.  Let's be informal.

Thursday, February 20, 2020

погода - the weather

Добрый день! Как Ваши дела?  Хорошая погода сегодня.

Good day! How are you? The weather is nice today.

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

une crevette - a shrimp

To celebrate my birthday, I had a nice fried swordfish with shrimp on the side.

Pour fêter mon anniversaire, j'ai mangé un bon espadon poêlé avec des crevettes en accompagnement.

 

Les homards et les crevettes sont tous deux des crustacés.

Lobsters and shrimp are both crustaceans. 

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

tanguer - to pich, rock, sway

The woman's large breasts swayed as she walked, mesmerizing me.

Les gros nichons de la femme tanguaient alors qu'elle marchait, m'ensorcelaient.

Monday, February 17, 2020

Sunday, February 16, 2020

Saturday, February 15, 2020

un lutin - a goblin

There is frequent confusion between the goblin, the dwarf of Germanic countries and the elf of Scandinavia.

La confusion entre le lutin, le nain des pays germaniques, et l'elfe des pays scandinaves est fréquente.


Friday, February 14, 2020

souhaiter - to wish

People all over the world they're good.  People all over the world ain't bad.  If everybody be snobs like I've been, they won't get what they wished they had: affection.  [Jonathan Richman, "Affection"]

Les gens autour du monde, ils sont bons.  Les gens autour du monde, ils sont pas méchants.  Si tout le monde soit snob comme j'étais, ils ne recevront pas ce qu'ils souhaitaient avoir: l'affection.

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

das Kaninchen - a bunny

Die Kaninchen fressen gern Karotten und Äpfel.

Rabbits love to eat carrots and apples.

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

la bonne réponse - the correct answer

What is the answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything?

Quelle est la bonne réponse à la Question Suprême de la Vie, l'Univers, et Tout Ce Qu'il y a?

--

(the official take)

Monday, February 10, 2020

la fête foraine - the fair

If we go to the fair, I will eat a lot of cotton candy.

Si nous allons à la fête foraine, je mangerai beaucoup de barbe à papa.

Sunday, February 9, 2020

le méchant - the villain

But eventually, she tired of playing the villain.

Mais finalement, elle se lassait de jouer le rôle de la méchante.

--

[note that éventuellement means possibly, not eventually]

Saturday, February 8, 2020

Friday, February 7, 2020

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

die Verstopfung - constipation, blockage

Du musst viel Wasser trinken, wenn du Verstopfung hast.

You must drink a lot of water when you are constipated.

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Monday, February 3, 2020

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Saturday, February 1, 2020

anrufen - to call, telephone

Du kannst mich jederzeit anrufen.

You can call me anytime.

 

Ruf mich heute Abend an, und wir machen Pläne.

Call me tonight and we'll make plans.

 

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.