The Kasbah. Agadir, formerly "Santa Cruz", is located on a seismic line. Agadir was rebuilt after the 1960 earthquake that killed 17000 people and destroyed 60 percent of this city. More about our visit to this former French colony, in today's post. NEW: The audio section has moved and is now a dual-recording. Jean-Marc pronounces the French and you'll hear my Arizona accent for the English! To access the French/English sound-file, scroll to the vocabulary section. Reading via email? You will need to click over to the website for the full edition. TODAY’S FRENCH WORD: se ressaisir  &nbs ..read more

Twilight in Agadir, Morocco, in Northwest Africa. Jean-Marc snaps a photo of le coucher du soleil. Do you want to continue receiving these emails? Each week my overzealous, automated listserver sweeps several subscribers into the "inactive" bin, eventually deleting them! Here are two ways to ensure you receive this journal in your inbox from here on out: 1. Regularly click on the links in my newsletter. This action identifies you as an "active" reader of French Word-A-Day. For example, you might click on the "Read The Whole Entry" link, which opens the full edition of this post 2. Add my emai ..read more

From our home to yours, Bonne Année! Meilleurs Voeux. That's Mom's re-domesticated cat, Lili, in her own mini "condo" (her zebra pillow on the old trunk), chez Jules. Today's Words: Amour, Paix : Love, Peace EXAMPLE SENTENCE & AUDIO FILE Listen to all the French words in today's story via the sound file below. Then scroll to the vocabulary section and check your language comprehension. Click here for the audio file A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse Amour et Paix In Paris, one million people descended upon Le Champs Elysées to bring in the New Year. The radio news went on to sha ..read more

A sunny view from the village of Auriol, where Jean-Marc and I had lunch Wednesday. In these southern French towns you'll hear a traditional Provençal end-of-the-year wish: Bon bout d'an! TODAY'S WORD: Bon bout d'an!     : Happy end of the year! EXAMPLE SENTENCE & AUDIO FILE Listen to all the French words in today's story via the sound file below. Then scroll to the vocabulary section and check your comprehension. Click here for the sound file A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse Our family had a cozy, casual get-together here at noon on December 25th. After delegating ..read more

Jean-Marc, right, and friends at one of the wine shop's events. Read on for some big news regarding my husband. TODAY'S PHRASE: "se lancer dans l'inconnu"     : to strike out into the unknown EXAMPLE SENTENCE & AUDIO FILE Listen to all the French words in today's story by clicking on the sound file below. Then scroll to the vocabulary section and check your comprehension. Click now to hear the audio Se lancer dans l'inconnu, c'est un heureux cocktail d'enthousiasme, d'inconfort, de peur, de fierté. On est déstabilisé, parce que nos repères changent. Il y a cette forte sensat ..read more

Our town's tourist bureau produces a delightful series of travel posters. Here’s one for Christmas, spotted while Jackie and I enjoyed an evening stroll by the port. Notice the traditional wooden boat, or “pointu.” TODAY’S WORD: la bouillotte     : hot water bottle EXAMPLE SENTENCE & AUDIO:Avec le froid, la hausse du coût de l’énergie et la menace de coupures d’électricité,les gens s’équipent. La bouillotte revient à la mode. With the cold weather, the rising cost of energy and the threat of power cuts, people are getting equipped. The hot water bottle is back in fashion. -Ouest ..read more

Wooden boats all dressed up for the holidays. More about le bois in today's story. Enjoy French delicacies? Don't miss the sweet column at the end of the edition. If today's word is too easy for you, find some more advanced terms in the story below.  TODAY'S WORD: le bois     : wood AUDIO: Listen to all the French words in today's story by clicking on the sound file below. Then scroll to the vocabulary section and check your comprehension. Sound file for the French words A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse If it's wintertime where you live and you have a wood-burning ..read more

In winter dogs are allowed on this sandy beach. Out strolling with Mom at sunset last night, we enjoyed seeing 5 cavorting canines--including Ruby the pit bull. She wanted to hop on that surfboard and glide up the coast with the help of a couple of giggling girls pulling the rope. Meet another local pooch in today’s story... TODAY’S WORD: “le prénom”     : first name SOUND FILE: Hear Jean-Marc pronounce the example sentence and all French words in this post. Then scroll to the vocabulary section to check your French comprehension. Choisir le prénom de son animal à quatre ..read more

Turkeys or dindes at Château Miraval, in 2005. "Glou-glou! Gobble-gobble!" turkeys say, in French and in English. More turkey talk, and some mischief, in today’s story. TODAY'S WORD: glouglou or glou-glou     : gobble-gobble     : glug-glug* (the sound of wine pouring out of a bottle) FRENCH SOUND FILE: Click below to hear Jean-Marc pronounce the French words in this post. Then scroll down to the vocabulary section to check your French comprehension. For the sound clip click here A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse Turkey, in our Franco-American family, is a ter ..read more

A random photo from Paris. You can never see enough hearts! Keep looking for them, and enjoy the following pick-me-up message. TODAY'S WORD:  "Vas-y!"     : go for it! FRENCH SOUND FILE: Click below to hear Jean-Marc pronounce all 12 French terms in this post. Then scroll down to the vocabulary section to check your French comprehension. Click here to listen to the French vocabulary A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse "The Vas-y Effect" Coucou and a warm bonjour to anyone reading. I am sitting here trying to calm my mind and figure out where to begin today. So far I h ..read more