Kenya French Speakers

FRENCH KIDS EXPRESSIONS THAT COME IN HANDY

2015-05-13T02:08:00.001-07:00

1. Tien / Donne (Tenez / Donnez): Here
In English, putting your hand out and saying “here” works both ways: when you’re handing someone something and when you’re offering to take something from them. In French, you’d use donne / donnez (give) and tiens / tenez (take), respectively.

2.Bien fait pour toi: Told you so / Good job

Translating more or less to “well done (by) you” it’s not hard to complete the end of this snarky thought: “I told you what would happen and you did it well. Way to go.”

3. Minute papillon: Hold your horses / Not so fast / Just a minute

Literally “(one) minute, butterfly,” the sarcastic implication here is to quit impatiently fluttering around and wait. Though you might assume papillon to be a sweet nickname, the idiom can range in tone from neutral to sticky with sarcasm and irritation.
Variations: Like pouêt-pouêt Camembert, the phrase can be shortened, where either of the two words is used independently to mean the same thing.

4. Avoir envie d’aller aux toilettes: To need to go to the bathroom
As far as literal translations go, in French you don’t “need” (devoir) to use a restroom. You “want” (avoir envie) to.

5. Un bout: A piece
“Piece” is one of those words that has a number of translations in French (un bout, un morceau, une tranche, une part) depending on the specific meaning you’re trying to get across. Un bout has it’s own more specific translations back to English, but in this case it refers to bits of something: accepting just un bout of the apple or the croissant someone offered to share with you, for example.
Or for a teeny tiny piece of that boudin noir (blood sausage) on your French friend’s plate that you’re hesitant to try,* tell them you’ll take un tout petit mini bout.

6. Dodo: Bedtime
Of course you can say je vais au lit or je vais me coucher, much the same way you can say “I’m going to bed” or “I’m going to go to sleep” in English, but when you’re good and tired, yawning out the child’s derivative of dormir as you heave yourself out of the couch cushions to go turn in is a handy thing to know how to do.

Acronymes et sigles français

2015-04-27T06:07:00.003-07:00

AB	agriculture biologique	organic farming
ADN	acide désoxyribonucléique	DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
AEF	Afrique équatoriale française	French Equatorial Africa
AF	allocations familiales	~ welfare, family allowance
ALENA	Accord de libre-échange nord-américain	NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement)
ANAEM	Agence Nationale d'Accueil des Étrangers et des Migrations	"National Agency for the Reception of Foreigners and Migration"
ANPE	Agence nationale pour l'emploi	unemployment and job search agency
AOC	Appelation d'origine contrôlée	guarantee of origin
AOF	Afrique occidentale française	French West Africa

BD	bande dessinée	comic strip
BN	Bibliothèque nationale	national library
BNP	Banque nationale de Paris	large French bank
BP	boîte postale	post office box
BTP	bâtiments et travaux publics	public buildings and works sector
BTS	brevet de technicien supérieur	vocational training certificate

CAI	Contrat d'Accueil et d'Intégration	agreement required of long-term visitors and residents of France
CAP	Certificat d'aptitude professionnelle	required for employees who do not have a college degree
CB	carte bleue, carte bancaire	debit card
CCI	Chambre de commerce et d'industrie	Chamber of Commerce
CCP	compte chèque postal	postal checking account
CDD	contrat à durée déterminée	job contract for a set duration
CDI	contrat à durée indéterminée	job contract for an indefinite duration
CEDEX	courrier d'entreprise à distribution exceptionnelle	~ FedEx (early morning delivery service)
CFA	Communauté financière africaine	Community of French colonies in Africa which use a single monetary unit called the CFA franc
CFP	centre de formation professionnelle	professional training center
CGT	Confédération Générale de Travail	~ AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations)
Cie	compagnie	Co. (company)
CIO	Centre d'information et d'orientation	career advisory center
CNED	Centre national d'enseignement à distance	Number one distance learning organization in Europe
CNR	Centre national de recherche	National research institute
COB	Commission des opérations de Bourse	stock exchange regulatory commission: ~ SEC (US), ~SIB (UK)

Vital & Essential Marketing Terms

2015-04-18T00:50:00.000-07:00

à la mode	fashionable / trendy
attirer	to attract
attractif	attractive
cher	expensive
choisir	to choose
compétitif	competitive
coûter	to cost
coûteux	costly
défectueux	defective
demi-tarif	half-price
démodé	outdated
disponible	available
écologique	eco-friendly
emballer	to package
en stock	in stock
fabriquer	to manufacture
fiable	reliable
fixer le prix	to price
fragile	fragile / breakable
gratuit	free
jetable	disposable
l’emballage	packaging
l’image de marque	the brand image
la gamme des prix	the price range
la promotion	promotion
le plein tarif	full price
le prix	the price
le prix de détail	the retail price
le prix du marché	the market price
le tarif	the price list
les biens de consommation	consumer goods
les biens de première nécessité	commodities
les produits manufacturés	manufactured goods
moyen	average
organiser des soldes	to have a sale
payer	to pay
peu cher	inexpensive
produire	to produce
proposer	to offer
raisonnable	sensible
recyclable	recyclable
solder	price down
un bon	a voucher
un code-barre	a bar code
un échantillon	a sample

Des Blagues 2

2015-04-17T06:19:00.003-07:00

Des blagues

2015-04-17T00:43:00.000-07:00

Brazaville, Congo - They Dress in Designers

2015-04-16T13:21:00.001-07:00

More than a decade ago, Brazzaville was considered the worst city in the world to live in. But beyond the war and suffering, there exists a different side to the Congo.

The film makers (Enric Bach and Adria ) chose the Republic of Congo, seduced by the phenomenon of the ‘Sape’ (Society for the Advancement of Elegant people), a movement of fashion lovers - known as the Sapeurs - who were born in Brazzaville and who were, until recently, practically unknown.

Check out in this French video with English Subtitles:`the style and good manners of Parisian dandies - men who placed particular importance upon their appearance.

The Video is courtesy of Aljazeera; To get the full Documentary, click here

How to Speak French Fluently: A 4-step Method to Keep You Back on Track

2015-04-16T05:05:00.004-07:00

Does beautifully spoken French make your heart melt?
Could you listen to rfi radio and understand the French news?
Could you watch French news (France 24 TV) and follow up?
Or perhaps you have already spent time learning French in School and do not remember a thing.

You are at the right platform at the right time. With the following strategies accompanied by attitude and determination then becoming fluent in French is absolutely within reach.

Being fluent in any language is a challenge, but the day you are able to express yourself effortlessly with a native speaker using correct grammar, good pronunciation, smooth articulation and a wide range of vocabulary, you have successfully become fluent.

How to Speak French Fluently: A 4-step Method to Keep You Back on Track

1. Delve into All Social Media Tools available around you

With the advent of technology, if you have a smartphone, you can download various Free French learning App on ‘Google Play Store’. On the other hand, if you do have a computer then you can Watch the French news or TV shows and download French music.

French Tv Shows Approach

Most of us cannot afford to subscribe on DSTV packages that do have French channels such as Canal + hence it is advisable to put your internet into great use. You can visit France24TV (http://www.france24.com/fr/) where you will have access to free online streaming of the station as well as initial reported news (Les émissions) and Debates (Les Débats) that will help you bolster your debating skills on current issues

Or “Les Guignols de l’info” for daily satirical news show that is hosted by a group of puppets, just like XYZ in Kenyan context. Their news is current, but the way it’s given is also for more advanced students with not only a strong grasp on language, but also on French culture and politics. Beware; it can sometimes be crude and insulting.

French Music Approach:

Personally, it is through Famous song ‘Aïcha’ by Cheb Khaled that made me to want to learn French so that I could understand that song which was being aired by Nation FM back then before it was changed to Easy FM and again currently branded back to Nation FM. You can listen to French musicians such Stromae, Ridsa and Slai among others.

2. Join a French Conversation Group

The most preferable way to handle this is to have a Group (e.g. For Learning Students, they can create their Conversation Group where they can try to discuss the daily learnt lessons in French). If it is not possible to have a real Conversational Group where you can meet face to face (Face à face), then you can join outstanding French Facebook Page such as ‘Kenya French Speakers” or La Pléiade managed by Monsieur Eric Opon or French blog posts of Winnie Neddah ; However, it is better to also join French Facebook Groups for it will give you notification once new articles, expressions or grammar items have been posted.

3. Date a French Person

French is more like mathematics. If you want to speak fluently then you will have to do a lot of daily practice. Considering the facts that mobile service providers (Safaricom and Airtel ) have the option of massive texts and Internet bundles at affordable rates, you can put these offers into great use by texting or sending French lovely messages to your lover ensuring you call him or her using French sexy words [Mon chou: my cream puff (sweetie or sweetheart) - Ma puce(my flea) ; Mon cœur (my love);Mon trésor(my treasure); Mon cher / ma chère(my dear);Mon ange(my angel); Mon canard(my duck);Mon chouchou(my pet) ;Mon lapin(my rabbit);Mon bébé(my baby); Ma chérie(my dear );

4. Move or take a trip to a French Speaking Country

Remember, France is not the only option! There are plenty of other countries that speak French as a first language, so find out which ones are most accessible to you and immerse yourself. Being in Kenya, you can visit Burundi, Congo, Rwanda and Senegal among others.

Hope this Article was of great benefit towards sharpening your French speaking skill. Get more Articles on French-English Translation Techniques

Expression Du Jour

2014-04-18T22:26:00.003-07:00

A Rebours

Sens : Contraire, contrairement, de manière contraire, à contre-courant, a l’oppose

Quand même, cette expression s’utilise dans des manières différents, même figurativement comme on va voir dans les exemples ci-dessous

Exemples dans les phrases

Compter à rebours! (To Count backwards)

Comprendre à rebours (To get the wrong idea, misunderstand)

Il lit le livre à rebours (He is reading backwards)

Un compte à rebours (Count down)

C’est à rebours du bons sens(its against common sense)

Ayez Une Bonne Journée, ne fassiez pas vos choses à rebours :-)

Utiliser an ou année?

2014-02-28T01:54:00.003-08:00

French Video Mix

2013-09-15T12:48:00.002-07:00

Salut,
French is more an interesting Foreign Language, hence you have to make it part of you. Check out this latest FRENCH VIDEO Mix . Like us on facebook https://www.facebook.com/kenyafrench

French Tshirts

2013-02-26T06:29:00.000-08:00

Need French Swag. Get French T-Shirts branded with " "FRANÇAIS EST MA VIE" at Affordable Price.

To enquire contact us kenyafrenchspeakers@gmail.com/ +254 716 843 979

FRENCH WRIST BANDS

2013-02-25T12:03:00.000-08:00

FRENCH BANDS

Need French Swag. Get wrist bands branded with " "FRANÇAIS EST MA VIE" N "FRANÇAIS EST SUPERBE". GRAB WHILE OFFER STILL LASTS.

To enquire contact us kenyafrenchspeakers@gmail.com/ +254 716 843 979

France Djs "Think Twice" in Nairobi Kenya

2013-01-27T03:47:00.001-08:00

Blague2

2013-01-15T04:26:00.000-08:00

BLAGUE:

Un Prof surprend un elève en train de tricher et lui demande: Que signifie: TRICHEUR ?
Il répond: Tricheur signifie:
T: Travailleur
R: Regardant
I: Intelligemment une
C: Copie avec
H: Honneur afin d'
E: Enumérer
U: Uniquement les
R: Reponses

Blague1

2013-01-15T04:24:00.000-08:00

UNE BLAGUE:

Jean demande à son Père:
-Papa pourquoi les VACHES ne parlent pas ?
Son Père lui repond parce que sur leurs Maisons cè ecrit la FERME !

Forms of medicine

2012-10-05T21:17:00.000-07:00

cachets	kaʃe	tablets
gélules	ʒelyl	capsules
gouttes	gut	drops
patchs	patʃ	patches
timbres	tæ̃bʁ	patches
suppositoires	supozitwaʁ	suppositories
pommade	pɔmad	ointment
sirop	siʁo	mixture
un cachet d'aspirine	æ̃ kaʃe daspiʁin	an aspirin tablet

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BASIC MEDICINE

2012-10-05T21:13:00.001-07:00

Over-the-counter medicines

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du paracétamol	dy paʁasetamɔl	some paracetamol
de l'aspirine	də laspiʁin	some aspirine
de l'Ibuprofène	də libypʁofɛn	some ibuprofen
un analgésique	æ̃ nanalʒezik	a painkiller
des pastilles	de pastij	some lozenges
des pastilles pour la toux	de pastij puʁ la tu	some cough sweets
du sirop pour la toux	dy siʁo pouʁ la tu	some cough mixture
des Rennies	de ʁenis	some Rennies tablets
du SMECTA	dy smɛkta	some SMECTA (common medicine for diarrhoea and indigestion)
du Labello	dy labelo	some lip protector
des patchs de nicotine	de padʒ də nikotin	some nicotine patches
des timbres à la nicotine	de tæ̃bʁ a la nikotin	some nicotine patches
un laxatif	æ̃ laksatif	a laxative
un antiseptique	æ̃ nɑ̃tisɛptik	an antiseptic
un somnifère	æ̃ sɔmnifɛʁ	sleeping tablets, something to help one sleep
quelque chose contre...	kɛlk~ ʃoz kõtʁə	something for...
...les rhumes	le ʁym	...colds
...les maux de tête	le mod tɛt	...headaches
...l'indigestion	læ̃di(g)ʒɛstjõ	...indigestion
...la toux	la tu	...coughs
...les piqûres d'insectes	le pikyʁdæ̃sɛkt	...insect bites
...le mal des transports	lə mal de tʁɑ̃spɔʁ	...travel sickness

Instructions and warnings

2012-09-10T16:25:00.000-07:00

Suivez-moi !
Soyez bien prudents !
On doit porter un casque

Instructions and warnings are given by using the -ez ending of a verb without the vous. Grammatically, this is known as the imperative form.

Tenez ! Hold on!

Suivez-moi ! Follow me!

Faites attention ! Pay attention!

An exception to this general rule is soyez... ! (be... !) which is the imperative form of être.
Il faut also tells you that you have to do something. It never changes, no matter who is talking, and can be translated in English as "you/we must" or "it is necessary to". The following verb is in the infinitive form.

Il faut écouter.

You must listen.

Il faut porter un casque.

You must wear a helmet.

Another way of saying "have to" or "must" is with the verb devoir.

je dois tu dois il/ elle/ on doit,
nous devons vous devez ils/ elles doivent

As with il faut, the verb that follows is in the infinitive form.

On doit porter un casque. We must wear a helmet.

Allez ! Off you go!

Choisissez un niveau. Choose a level.

Payez 10 euros; il faut payer 10 euros. Pay 10 euros; you need to pay 10 euros.

Plans / Arrangements

2012-09-10T16:21:00.000-07:00

How to talk about your plans and make arrangements

Je ne peux pas aujourd'hui
J'ai une réunion importante
Tu es libre demain ?

To accept or turn down an invitation, say je peux (I can), or je ne peux pas (I can't). Peux is from the verb pouvoir

To say what you have to do, use je dois (I must). It's from the verb devoir and is followed by another verb in the infinitive:

Je dois aller à mon rendez-vous

I must go to my appointment.

With questions and negatives, English also uses "do" "don't" and "doesn't", which have no equivalent in French.

Tu travailles ici ?

Do you work here ?

Je ne travaille pas ici.

I don't work here.

Proverbes sur la vie

2012-09-07T07:38:00.000-07:00

« Le miracle n'est pas de voler dans l'air, ou de marcher sur l'eau, mais de marcher sur la terre. »
Proverbe chinois

« La vie est une échelle, les uns montent, les autres descendent. »
Proverbe bulgare

« C'est priser sa vie justement ce qu'elle est, de l'abandonner pour un songe. »
Proverbe de Montaigne

« Le secret d'une bonne vie est d'avoir les droits de loyauté et de les tenir dans la bonne échelle de valeurs. »
Norman Thomas Norman Thomas

« La vie ressemble à un conte: Ce qui importe, ce n'est pas sa longueur, mais sa valeur. »
Proverbe latin

« La vie est quelque chose que tout le monde devrait essayer au moins une fois. »
Henry J. Tillman Henry J. Tillman

« La vie est une fleur dont l'amour est le miel. »
Victor Hugo

« La tragédie de la vie n'est pas tant ce que les hommes souffrent, mais plutôt ce qui leur manque. »
Thomas Carlyle

« La vie est une maladie incurable. »
Abraham Cowley Abraham Cowley

« Là où il ya amour, il ya la vie. »
Indira Gandhi

« La vie nous a appris que l'amour n'est pas se regarder l'un l'autre, mais regarder ensemble dans la même direction. »
Antoine de Saint-Exupery

« Le temps d'apprendre à vivre il est déjà trop tard, on ne peut connaître la vie, car il faut toute une vie pour se connaître sois même. »
Envoyé par : Louloute

« La vie est un mystère qu'il faut vivre, et non un problème à résoudre. »
Ghandi

How to say "never" in French

2012-09-05T02:11:00.001-07:00

<<Par Professeur Rolph Lemayan>>
This section explains how to say "never" in French. Before reading this section, it is recommended that you read the general section on forming negative sentences in French (in other words, making sentences with the equivalent of "not").
The equivalent of "never" in French is generally the construction ne...jamais. This construction works in a very similar way to the ne...pas construction: ne comes before the verb, with jamais after the verb:

Je travaille.
I work.
Je ne travaille jamais.
I never work.

Saying "never" with the perfect tense

(If you are unfamiliar with the perfect tense, then it is recommended that you take a look at the section on the perfect tense before reading this part.)
As with ne...pas, in the perfect tense, the two parts of ne...jamais go either side of the form of avoir (the so-called auxiliary verb). For example:

Il a travaille..
He has worked.
Il n'a jamais travaille.
He has never worked.

Using ne...jamais with pronouns before the verb

As you may be aware, what are sometimes called object pronouns (roughly speaking, the equivalents of me, him etc when they are the object of the verb) usually come before the verb in French. For example:

Il m'aide.
He helps me.

As with ne...pas, if you use ne...jamais alongside such object pronouns, the ne comes before any object pronoun (but still after the subject). For example:

Il ne m'aide jamais.
He never helps me.

Saying "never" is an isolated word

In English, the word never can be used on its own or with a phrase that isn't a "whole sentence" as such. For example, as a "single-word" response to a question:

- Do you work on Saturdays?
- No, never.

or:

- I work, but never on Sundays.

In French, jamais can be used in a similar way:
- Tu travailles le samedi?
- Non, jamais.

- Je travaille, mais jamais le dimanche.

Business Terms and Phrases

2012-06-01T15:26:00.000-07:00

French business terms ( letter A, part II)

accumulation nf (Commerce) stockpiling
accusé nm (Commerce) acknowledgement; ~ de réception (delivery) acknowledgement, delivery confirmation (also Internet)
accuser vt (Commerce) ~ la réception de qch to confirm receipt of sth, acknowledge receipt of sth
achat nm (gen, Commerce) purchase
acheminement nm (Commerce) forwarding, dispatching
acheminer vt (Commerce) to forward, dispatch goods, a parcel
acheter vt (Commerce) to buy, purchase
acheteur nm (Commerce) buyer, purchaser
acompte nm (Commerce) initial, one-off deposit
acquérir vt (Commerce, Finance) to acquire, purchase, buy
acquisition nf (Finance, Commerce) acquisition
acquit nm (Finance) receipt
acquittement nm (Finance) payment, settlement
acte nm (Administration) formal acknowledgement, printed, official deed, certificate
acte nm (Commerce) deed, certificate
acteur nm (fig, Commerce) player
actif nm (Finance) assets, credits
actif nm (Administration) person in work
action nf (Marketing, Commerce) campaign, drive
action nf (Finance) share
actionnaire nmf (Finance) shareholder
actionnariat nm (Finance) shareholders
actualiser vt

(Finance) cash-flow actualisé discounted cash flow

For Further consultations: Contact us ; kenyafrenchspeakers@gmail.com or
+254 716843979 (24 HR FRENCH CONSULTATION SERVICE)
****Chief Kenya French Consultant: Rolph Lemayan**

various French business terms and phrases

2012-06-01T15:17:00.001-07:00

List of essential French business terms (beginning with letter A)

AA nf (Finance) (notation) ~ AA (rating), double-A (rating)
AAA nf (Finance) (notation) ~ AAA (rating), triple-A (rating)
abandon nm (Finance, Jur etc) relinquishment, yielding (of rights);
{(Finance) ~ d'actif yielding of assets; (Finance) ~ d'actions renunciation of shares; (Finance) ~ de l'option relinquishment of the option }
abandonner vt (Business, Politics) to shelve, axe a project
abandonner vt (Finance) ~ l'option to relinquish the option; (Finance) ~ des actions to renounce shares
abattement nm (Finance) reduction, abatement
abondement nm (Finance) employer's contribution (to company saving scheme)
abonné nm (Internet) subscriber
abonnement nm (Internet) account, subscription (auprès de, with)
abonner vr (Internet) to subscribe, sign up (à, to, auprès de, with)
abri nm (Finance) ~ fiscal tax shelter
absorber vt (Commerce, Finance) to take over a company
absorption nf (Commerce, Finance) takeover
absorption-fusion nf (Commerce, Finance) merger
accaparer vt (Commerce) to corner, capture a market
accès nm (Internet) access
accident nm (Business) ~ du travail industrial accident, industrial injury
accidenté nm (Administration) industrial injury victim
accommodement nm (Finance) adjustment, reimbursement
accord nm (Business, Politics) agreement
accord nm (Finance) settlement, arrangement
accrédité a (Business etc) accredited
accréditer vt (Business) to accredit someone (auprès de, to)
accréditif a (Business) accreditive
For Further consultations: Contact us ; kenyafrenchspeakers@gmail.com or
+254 716843979 (24 HR FRENCH CONSULTATION SERVICE)
****Chief Kenya French Consultant: Rolph Lemayan**

Leçon 1 : Se présenter - Lesson 1: Introducing Yourself

2012-03-20T12:30:00.000-07:00

Dialogue 1
Two good friends—Marie and Jean—are meeting:
• Marie: Salut Jean. Ça va ?
• Jean: Ça va bien, merci. Et toi, ça va ?
• Marie: Pas mal.
• Jean: Quoi de neuf ?
• Marie: Pas grand-chose.
• Marie: Au revoir Jean.
• Jean: Au revoir, à demain.
bonjour, salut                               hello (formal), hi (informal)
Comment allez-vous?                 (formal),comment ça va?/ça va ? (informal) how are you?
ça va bien                                    I'm doing well (lit. I'm going well)
merci                                         thank you
et toi ? et vous ?                       and you? (informal) and you? (formal)
pas mal                                     not bad
bien                                           good

Museum Info

2011-06-29T08:22:00.000-07:00

ouvert, ouverte
open
un musée
a museum
la peinture
painting
la porcelaine
porcelain
les meubles
furniture
les renseignements
information
à partir de ... jusqu'à
from ... until
Je voudrais visiter...
I'd like to visit...
Est-ce qu'il y a des musées intéressants ?
Are there any interesting museums?
Vous connaissez les horaires d'ouverture ?
Do you know the opening times?
Je vous le rends en partant
I'll give it back to you when I leave