In this unit you will become familiar with the names of common animals in a variety of habitats. Some of them share people’s lives, while others live in the wild or on farms. You will also learn to identify small and large elements of the world,such as flowers and trees, as well as geographical and physical aspects of the universe.
Les différents types d’animaux (Various types of animals)
The French are well-known dog and cat lovers. But other animals, too, are commonly kept as pets in homes or on farms.
Les bêtes domestiques ( Pets)
A great number of French families have dogs. They are usually well trained, and it is not unusual to see them accompany their owner without a leash throughout the streets and even to the café.
le chat, la chatte cat
le chaton kitten
le chien, la chienne dog
le chinchilla chinchilla
le cochon d’Inde guinea pig
le hamster hamster
le lapin, la lapine rabbit
le perroquet parrot
le poisson rouge goldfish
Les Français aiment les chats et les chiens à la folie.
French people are madly in love with cats and dogs.
Dans Les 101 dalmatiens, les chiotssont si mignons.
In 101 Dalmatians, the puppies are so cute.
Notre lapine a eu six petits.
Our rabbit had six babies.
Les perroquets vivent de très longues vies.
Parrots live very long lives.
Les animaux de la ferme (Farm animals)
Farm animals are truly considered a patrimony by the French. Each region has its special breed of cows, horses, lambs, and chickens. Farm animals are the subject of many French folk songs,stories, and fables.
l’agneau (m.) lamb
l’âne, l’ânesse donkey
le bélier ram
le boeuf ox
le bouc goat (male)
la brebis ewe
le cheval horse
le cochon pig
le coq rooster
la dinde turkey (female)
le dindon turkey (male)
l’étalon (m.) stallion
la jument mare
le lapin rabbit
le mouton sheep
la mule mule
l’oie (f.) goose
le poney pony
la poule hen
le poussin chick
la truie sow
la vache cow
la volaille poultry
«La chèvre de M. Seguin» est une histoire provençale.
“Mr. Seguin’s Goat” is a story from Provence.
«Le vilain petit canard» est une histoire d’enfant.
“The Ugly Duckling” is a children’s story.
On se sert des cochons pour trouver les truffes.
They use pigs to find truffles.
La poule couvre ses oeufs. Il y aur abientôt des poussins.
The chicken sits on her eggs. Soon there will be chicks.
People are often compared to animals in idiomatic phrases.
Il mange comme un cochon.
He eats like a pig.
Il est têtu comme une mule.
He is stubborn like a mule.
Elle chante comme un pinson.
She sings like a finch.
Quelle mère-poule!
What a mother hen!
Quelle dinde! Elle est si sotte!
What a turkey! She is so silly!
Il est fier comme un coq.
He is proud like a rooster.
Les animaux libres ou sauvages (Free or wild animals)
Many animals live freely in nature, whether in deserts, jungles,forests, plains, mountains, lakes,rivers, or oceans.
l’antilope (f.) antelope
le dauphin dolphin
le lion, la lionne lion
le/la léopard(e) leopard
le loup, la louve wolf
l’ours (m.) bear
le pingouin penguin
le requin shark
le rhinocéros rhinoceros
le serpent snake
le singe monkey
le tigre, la tigresse tiger, tigress
le vautour vulture
le zèbre zebra
Les dauphins sont des mammifères.
Dolphins are mammals.
Les requins attaquent les nageurs.
Sharks attack swimmers.
Les pingouins ont l’esprit de famille.
Penguins are family oriented.
Les vautours sont une espèce en danger.
Vultures are an endangered species.
Le serpent peut être un symbole de mystère.
The snake can be a symbol for mystery.
Le tigre montre ses dents.
The tiger shows his teeth.
L’habitat animal (Animal habitats)
Animal habitats vary according to whether the animals live as pets, on the farm, or in the wild.For the latter, industrialization and residential expansion pose problems. Many animals are suffering from reduced or lost natural habitats.
les bois (m. pl.) woods
la cage cage
le champ field
le clapier hutch
le corral corral
la cour courtyard
l’étang (m.) pond
la forêt forest
la grange barn
l’herbe (f.) grass
la jungle jungle
le lac lake
la maison house
le marécage swamp
la mer sea
la niche doghouse
le nid nest
l’océan (m.) ocean
le poulailler henhouse
la prairie prairie
le pré meadow
le récif de corail coral reef
la rivière river
la savane bush
le zoo zoo
Notre lapin blanc est dans un clapier.
Our white rabbit is in a hutch.
La nuit les chouettes hululent dans la forêt.
At night the owls hoot in the forest.
L’étang du village est plein de grenouilles.
The village pond is full of frogs.
Les vaches broutent dans le pré.
The cows graze in the meadow.
Les abeilles butinent les fleurs des champs.
Bees gather nectar from flowers in the fields.
Les chevaux sont au corral.
The horses are in the corral.
L’espace, la terre, et l’eau (Space, land, and water)
Planet Earth, composed of land and water, is surrounded by space.
l’air (m.) air
l’astre (m.) celestial body
l’atmosphère (f.) atmosphere
le ciel sky
la comète comet
la constellation constellation
l’espace (m.) space
l’étoile filante (f.) shooting star
la galaxie galaxy
la (pleine) lune (full) moon
le météore meteor
l’orbite (f.) orbit
l’oxygène (f.) oxygen
la pesanteur gravity
le satellite satellite
le soleil sun
le système solaire solar system
la voie lactée Milky Way
La conquête de l’espace est bien en voie.
The conquest of space is well on the way.
Des ensembles d’astres forment des galaxies.
Groups of stars form galaxies.
Une étoile fi lante porte bonheur.
A shooting star brings luck.
La lune est un satellite de la terre.
The moon is a satellite of the earth.
Note that the noun la terre has the double meaning of Earth and land.
La terre est ronde.
Earth is round.
La terre volcanique est fertile.
Volcanic land is fertile.
La terre (Earth)
The geographical features of our planet are varied. They comprise mountains, oceans, glaciers,woods, rivers, continents, and so on.
le bois (m. pl.) woods
la campagne countryside
le col pass
la colline hill
le continent continent
la côte coast
le désert desert
le glacier glacier
la grotte cave
l’île island
la montagne mountain
le paysage landscape
la péninsule peninsula
la plage beach
la plaine plain
le plateau plateau
le quai bank
la région region
le rivage shore
la rive (river) bank, shore
le rocher rock
le sommet peak
le terrain terrain
la vallée valley
le volcan volcano
Le Sahara est un désert en Afrique.
The Sahara is a desert in Africa.
On pique-nique sur les quais de la Seine.
People picnicon the banks of the Seine.
Napoléon est né dans l’île de la Corse.
Napoleon was born on the island of Corsica.
Cannes est une ville sur la Côte d’Azur.
Cannes is a city on the Riviera.
Le Vésuve est un volcan éteint.
Mount Vesuvius is an extinct volcano.
Le mistral est un vent de la vallée du Rhône.
The mistral is a wind in the Rhone Valley.
Les étendues d’eau (Bodies of water)
Earth’s geography includes many water masses. For example,France borders the Atlantic Ocean (l’Océan Atlantique and the Mediterranean Sea (la Mer Méditerranée). France also has many rivers (la rivière), canals (le canal), and lakes (le lac) where people go to relax or exercise.
l’affluent (m.) tributary
le bras de mer channel
le canal canal
la cascade cascade
la chute d’eau waterfall
le courant current
l’eau (f.) water
l’embouchure (f.) mouth of the river
le fleuve major river
le golfe bay
l’isthme (m.) isthmus
la marée ocean tide
le ruisseau brook
la source source
le torrent torrent
la vague wave
À marée basse la plage est plus étendue.
At low tide the beach is wider.
Il y a une fontaine au milieu de la place.
There is a fountain in the middle of the plaza.
Les chutes de Niagara Falls sont spectaculaires.
The Niagara Falls are spectacular.
La Manche est un bras de mer entre la France et l’Angleterre.
The English Channel is a channel between Franceand England.
Regarde le surfeur en haut de la vague!
Look at the surfer on top of the wave!
L’écologie (Ecology)
In order to preserve life on Earth, people must respect and maintain the planet’s ecological balance. Here are some useful terms to talk about climate, ecology, and pollution.
l’automne (m.) fall, autumn
l’été (m.) summer
l’hiver (m.) winter
le printemps spring
la saison season
le climat continental continental climate
le climat méditerranéen Mediterranean climate
le climat polaire polar climate
le climat tempéré temperate climate
le climat tropical tropical climate
Tout fleurit au printemps.
Everything blooms in the spring.
En hiver il fait froid à Paris.
In the winter it is cold in Paris.
Les menaces et les dons de la nature(Nature’s threats and gifts)
Our planet is constantly facing and overcoming challenges and threats from nature. It also provides us with many natural resources to maintain and improve life on Earth.
Les menaces de la nature (Nature’s threats)
Europe and France have recently been victimized by natural disasters such as unusually high summer temperatures, forest fires, and huge windstorms.
l’avalanche (f.) avalanche
la canicule dog days, excessive heat
le cyclone cyclone
l’éclair (m.) lightning
l’effondrement de terrain (m.) landslide
l’éruption (f.) eruption
le feu de forêt forest fire
le glissement de terrain landslide
la grêle hail
l’iceberg (m.) iceberg
l’inondation (f.) flood
l’orage (m.) storm
l’ouragan (m.) hurricane
la rafale gust, squall
le raz-de-marée tidal wave
la sécheresse drought
la secousse tremor
la tempête storm (atsea)
la tempête de neige snowstorm
la tempête de vent windstorm
la tornade tornado
le tremblement de terre, le séisme earthquake
le verglas ice
Un skieur a été surpris par une avalanche.
A skier was surprised by an avalanche.
Un raz-de-marée peut être fatal.
A tidal wave can be fatal.
Il y a eu un séisme en Californie.
There was an earthquake in California.
Les ouragans ont causé des naufrages.
Hurricanes have caused shipwrecks.
Un iceberg a détruit le Titanic.
An iceberg destroyed the Titanic.
La canicule a causé des feux de forêt.
The excessive heat caused forest fires.
Les ressources naturelles (Natural resources)
The earth’s natural resources are great gift s from nature, and they are abundant throughout the planet. Here are some terms for discussing this topic.
l’acier (inoxydable) (m.) (stainless) steel
l’air (m.) air
l’argent (m.) silver
le charbon coal
le coton cotton
le cuir leather
le cuivre copper
le diamant diamond
l’eau (f.) water
l’énergie solaire (f.) solar energy
l’essence (f.) gasoline
le fer iron
le gaz naturel natural gas
le mercure mercury
l’or (m.) gold
l’oxygène (m.) oxygen
le pétrole crude oil
le plomb lead
le sodium sodium
L’énergie solaire est géniale.
Solar energy is great.
Il y a du fer dans les épinards.
There is iron in spinach.
Il y a des mines de diamants en Afrique.
There are diamond mines in Africa.
Les explorateurs cherchaient l’or.
Explorers were looking for gold.
Le sodium se trouve dans des aliments.
Sodium is found in some foods.
Produits de l’agriculture (Agricultural resources)
Our environment allows us to grow many types of fruits and vegetables to feed ourselves, and many trees, plants, and fl owers to beautify the surroundings.
Fruits (Fruit)
l’abricot (m.) apricot
l’amande (f.) almond
l’avocat (m.) avocado
la banane banana
la cerise cherry
le citron lemon
la figue fig
la fraise strawberry
la framboise raspberry
la mandarine mandarine
la mangue mango
le melon melon
l’olive (f.) olive
l’orange (f.) orange
le pamplemousse grapefruit
la pastèque watermelon
la pêche peach
la poire pear
la pomme apple
la prune plum
le raisin grape
la tomate tomato
Je voudrais des fraises avec de la crème fraîche.
I would like strawberries with crème fraîche.
Je préfère les pommes aux poires.
I prefer apples rather than pears.
Il nous faut de la pastèque pour le barbecue.
We need watermelon for the barbecue.
Cherche-moi des olives.
Get me some olives.
In the following sentences, note how easy it is to change the name of a fruit to the name of the tree that bears it. Simply change the -e ending of the fruit to -er or -ier. The gender of the tree is masculine.
J’ai des figuiers et des oliviers.
I have fig trees and olive trees.
Un cerisier en fleur est magnifique.
A cherry tree in blossom is magnificent.
Les légumes et les herbes fines (Vegetables and herbs)
Th e French, for whom cooking is always an art (even when it is home cooking), think it is important to know and use a variety of vegetables and herbs to enhance the nutritional value of a dish,as well as its taste and appearance.
l’ail (m.) garlic
l’artichaut (m.) artichoke
l’asperge (f.) asparagus
l’aubergine (f.) eggplant
le basilic basil
la betterave beet
le brocoli broccoli
la carotte carrot
le céleri celery
le chou cabbage
le chou-fleur caulifl ower
la citrouille pumpkin
le concombre cucumber
la courgette zucchini
l’endive (f.) endive
le haricot vert green bean
la laitue lettuce
le maïs corn
la menthe mint
l’oignon (m.) onion
le persil parsley
le petit pois pea
le poivron vert green pepper
la pomme de terre potato
le radis radish
le romarin rosemary
Hier j’ai mangé une salade de concombres.
Yesterday I ate a cucumber salad.
Ma purée de pommes de terre estdélicieuse.
My mashed potatoes are delicious.
La soupe de citrouille est bonne.
Pumpkin soup is good.
Mets un peu de romarin dans ceragoût!
Put a little rosemary into this stew!
Coupons encore quelques oignons!
Let’s cut a few more onions!
In the following sentences, note the use of the defi nite article (le, la, les) when referring to foods in general. However, when referring to undefi ned quantities of food, the partitive article (du, de la, de l’, des) is used.
L’ail est dans tous les plats provençaux.
All Provençal dishes have garlic.
Dans la salade niçoise, il y a de la laitue et du thon.
In a Niçoise salad, there is lettuce and tuna.
J’ai du persil frais de mon jardin.
I have fresh parsley from my garden.
Aujourd’hui j’ai envie de manger des asperges.
Today I feel like eating asparagus.
Les fleurs, les plantes et les arbres (Flowers, plants, and trees)
Flowers, plants, and trees are important parts of the environment, and French people love gardens where they can grow their favorite flowers, fruits, vegetables, and trees. Many people leave the city on weekends to tend to their jardin. Since France has four seasons, people are oft en quite preoccupied with seeding and planting at the right time of year.
le chêne oak
le coquelicot poppy
l’hêtre beech tree
le lierre ivy
le lilas lilac
le lys lily
la marguerite daisy
le muguet lily of the valley
l’oeillet (m.) carnation
l’orchidée (f.) orchid
l’orme (m.) elm
le palmier palm tree
la plante annuelle annual
la rose rose
le sapin fir tree
le tilleul linden tree
le tournesol sunflower
la tulipe tulip
la violette violet
la vivace perennial
Ces champs sont couverts de coquelicots.
These fields are covered with poppies.
Le lys était le symbole du pouvoir royal.
The lily was the symbol of royal power.
A Noël il y a des sapins partout.
At Christmas there are fir trees everywhere.
Van Gogh a peint beaucoup de tournesols.
Van Gogh painted many sunflowers.
Le premier mai, on cueille le muguet.
On the first of May, people pick lilies of the valley.
Il y a des chênes et des hêtres en Europe.
There are oak and beech trees in Europe.
Les différents types d’animaux (Various types of animals)
The French are well-known dog and cat lovers. But other animals, too, are commonly kept as pets in homes or on farms.
Les bêtes domestiques ( Pets)
A great number of French families have dogs. They are usually well trained, and it is not unusual to see them accompany their owner without a leash throughout the streets and even to the café.
le chat, la chatte cat
le chaton kitten
le chien, la chienne dog
le chinchilla chinchilla
le cochon d’Inde guinea pig
le hamster hamster
le lapin, la lapine rabbit
le perroquet parrot
le poisson rouge goldfish
Les Français aiment les chats et les chiens à la folie.
French people are madly in love with cats and dogs.
Dans Les 101 dalmatiens, les chiotssont si mignons.
In 101 Dalmatians, the puppies are so cute.
Notre lapine a eu six petits.
Our rabbit had six babies.
Les perroquets vivent de très longues vies.
Parrots live very long lives.
Les animaux de la ferme (Farm animals)
Farm animals are truly considered a patrimony by the French. Each region has its special breed of cows, horses, lambs, and chickens. Farm animals are the subject of many French folk songs,stories, and fables.
l’agneau (m.) lamb
l’âne, l’ânesse donkey
le bélier ram
le boeuf ox
le bouc goat (male)
la brebis ewe
le cheval horse
le cochon pig
le coq rooster
la dinde turkey (female)
le dindon turkey (male)
l’étalon (m.) stallion
la jument mare
le lapin rabbit
le mouton sheep
la mule mule
l’oie (f.) goose
le poney pony
la poule hen
le poussin chick
la truie sow
la vache cow
la volaille poultry
«La chèvre de M. Seguin» est une histoire provençale.
“Mr. Seguin’s Goat” is a story from Provence.
«Le vilain petit canard» est une histoire d’enfant.
“The Ugly Duckling” is a children’s story.
On se sert des cochons pour trouver les truffes.
They use pigs to find truffles.
La poule couvre ses oeufs. Il y aur abientôt des poussins.
The chicken sits on her eggs. Soon there will be chicks.
People are often compared to animals in idiomatic phrases.
Il mange comme un cochon.
He eats like a pig.
Il est têtu comme une mule.
He is stubborn like a mule.
Elle chante comme un pinson.
She sings like a finch.
Quelle mère-poule!
What a mother hen!
Quelle dinde! Elle est si sotte!
What a turkey! She is so silly!
Il est fier comme un coq.
He is proud like a rooster.
Les animaux libres ou sauvages (Free or wild animals)
Many animals live freely in nature, whether in deserts, jungles,forests, plains, mountains, lakes,rivers, or oceans.
l’antilope (f.) antelope
le dauphin dolphin
le lion, la lionne lion
le/la léopard(e) leopard
le loup, la louve wolf
l’ours (m.) bear
le pingouin penguin
le requin shark
le rhinocéros rhinoceros
le serpent snake
le singe monkey
le tigre, la tigresse tiger, tigress
le vautour vulture
le zèbre zebra
Les dauphins sont des mammifères.
Dolphins are mammals.
Les requins attaquent les nageurs.
Sharks attack swimmers.
Les pingouins ont l’esprit de famille.
Penguins are family oriented.
Les vautours sont une espèce en danger.
Vultures are an endangered species.
Le serpent peut être un symbole de mystère.
The snake can be a symbol for mystery.
Le tigre montre ses dents.
The tiger shows his teeth.
L’habitat animal (Animal habitats)
Animal habitats vary according to whether the animals live as pets, on the farm, or in the wild.For the latter, industrialization and residential expansion pose problems. Many animals are suffering from reduced or lost natural habitats.
les bois (m. pl.) woods
la cage cage
le champ field
le clapier hutch
le corral corral
la cour courtyard
l’étang (m.) pond
la forêt forest
la grange barn
l’herbe (f.) grass
la jungle jungle
le lac lake
la maison house
le marécage swamp
la mer sea
la niche doghouse
le nid nest
l’océan (m.) ocean
le poulailler henhouse
la prairie prairie
le pré meadow
le récif de corail coral reef
la rivière river
la savane bush
le zoo zoo
Notre lapin blanc est dans un clapier.
Our white rabbit is in a hutch.
La nuit les chouettes hululent dans la forêt.
At night the owls hoot in the forest.
L’étang du village est plein de grenouilles.
The village pond is full of frogs.
Les vaches broutent dans le pré.
The cows graze in the meadow.
Les abeilles butinent les fleurs des champs.
Bees gather nectar from flowers in the fields.
Les chevaux sont au corral.
The horses are in the corral.
L’espace, la terre, et l’eau (Space, land, and water)
Planet Earth, composed of land and water, is surrounded by space.
l’air (m.) air
l’astre (m.) celestial body
l’atmosphère (f.) atmosphere
le ciel sky
la comète comet
la constellation constellation
l’espace (m.) space
l’étoile filante (f.) shooting star
la galaxie galaxy
la (pleine) lune (full) moon
le météore meteor
l’orbite (f.) orbit
l’oxygène (f.) oxygen
la pesanteur gravity
le satellite satellite
le soleil sun
le système solaire solar system
la voie lactée Milky Way
La conquête de l’espace est bien en voie.
The conquest of space is well on the way.
Des ensembles d’astres forment des galaxies.
Groups of stars form galaxies.
Une étoile fi lante porte bonheur.
A shooting star brings luck.
La lune est un satellite de la terre.
The moon is a satellite of the earth.
Note that the noun la terre has the double meaning of Earth and land.
La terre est ronde.
Earth is round.
La terre volcanique est fertile.
Volcanic land is fertile.
La terre (Earth)
The geographical features of our planet are varied. They comprise mountains, oceans, glaciers,woods, rivers, continents, and so on.
le bois (m. pl.) woods
la campagne countryside
le col pass
la colline hill
le continent continent
la côte coast
le désert desert
le glacier glacier
la grotte cave
l’île island
la montagne mountain
le paysage landscape
la péninsule peninsula
la plage beach
la plaine plain
le plateau plateau
le quai bank
la région region
le rivage shore
la rive (river) bank, shore
le rocher rock
le sommet peak
le terrain terrain
la vallée valley
le volcan volcano
Le Sahara est un désert en Afrique.
The Sahara is a desert in Africa.
On pique-nique sur les quais de la Seine.
People picnicon the banks of the Seine.
Napoléon est né dans l’île de la Corse.
Napoleon was born on the island of Corsica.
Cannes est une ville sur la Côte d’Azur.
Cannes is a city on the Riviera.
Le Vésuve est un volcan éteint.
Mount Vesuvius is an extinct volcano.
Le mistral est un vent de la vallée du Rhône.
The mistral is a wind in the Rhone Valley.
Les étendues d’eau (Bodies of water)
Earth’s geography includes many water masses. For example,France borders the Atlantic Ocean (l’Océan Atlantique and the Mediterranean Sea (la Mer Méditerranée). France also has many rivers (la rivière), canals (le canal), and lakes (le lac) where people go to relax or exercise.
l’affluent (m.) tributary
le bras de mer channel
le canal canal
la cascade cascade
la chute d’eau waterfall
le courant current
l’eau (f.) water
l’embouchure (f.) mouth of the river
le fleuve major river
le golfe bay
l’isthme (m.) isthmus
la marée ocean tide
le ruisseau brook
la source source
le torrent torrent
la vague wave
À marée basse la plage est plus étendue.
At low tide the beach is wider.
Il y a une fontaine au milieu de la place.
There is a fountain in the middle of the plaza.
Les chutes de Niagara Falls sont spectaculaires.
The Niagara Falls are spectacular.
La Manche est un bras de mer entre la France et l’Angleterre.
The English Channel is a channel between Franceand England.
Regarde le surfeur en haut de la vague!
Look at the surfer on top of the wave!
L’écologie (Ecology)
In order to preserve life on Earth, people must respect and maintain the planet’s ecological balance. Here are some useful terms to talk about climate, ecology, and pollution.
l’automne (m.) fall, autumn
l’été (m.) summer
l’hiver (m.) winter
le printemps spring
la saison season
le climat continental continental climate
le climat méditerranéen Mediterranean climate
le climat polaire polar climate
le climat tempéré temperate climate
le climat tropical tropical climate
Tout fleurit au printemps.
Everything blooms in the spring.
En hiver il fait froid à Paris.
In the winter it is cold in Paris.
Les menaces et les dons de la nature(Nature’s threats and gifts)
Our planet is constantly facing and overcoming challenges and threats from nature. It also provides us with many natural resources to maintain and improve life on Earth.
Les menaces de la nature (Nature’s threats)
Europe and France have recently been victimized by natural disasters such as unusually high summer temperatures, forest fires, and huge windstorms.
l’avalanche (f.) avalanche
la canicule dog days, excessive heat
le cyclone cyclone
l’éclair (m.) lightning
l’effondrement de terrain (m.) landslide
l’éruption (f.) eruption
le feu de forêt forest fire
le glissement de terrain landslide
la grêle hail
l’iceberg (m.) iceberg
l’inondation (f.) flood
l’orage (m.) storm
l’ouragan (m.) hurricane
la rafale gust, squall
le raz-de-marée tidal wave
la sécheresse drought
la secousse tremor
la tempête storm (atsea)
la tempête de neige snowstorm
la tempête de vent windstorm
la tornade tornado
le tremblement de terre, le séisme earthquake
le verglas ice
Un skieur a été surpris par une avalanche.
A skier was surprised by an avalanche.
Un raz-de-marée peut être fatal.
A tidal wave can be fatal.
Il y a eu un séisme en Californie.
There was an earthquake in California.
Les ouragans ont causé des naufrages.
Hurricanes have caused shipwrecks.
Un iceberg a détruit le Titanic.
An iceberg destroyed the Titanic.
La canicule a causé des feux de forêt.
The excessive heat caused forest fires.
Les ressources naturelles (Natural resources)
The earth’s natural resources are great gift s from nature, and they are abundant throughout the planet. Here are some terms for discussing this topic.
l’acier (inoxydable) (m.) (stainless) steel
l’air (m.) air
l’argent (m.) silver
le charbon coal
le coton cotton
le cuir leather
le cuivre copper
le diamant diamond
l’eau (f.) water
l’énergie solaire (f.) solar energy
l’essence (f.) gasoline
le fer iron
le gaz naturel natural gas
le mercure mercury
l’or (m.) gold
l’oxygène (m.) oxygen
le pétrole crude oil
le plomb lead
le sodium sodium
L’énergie solaire est géniale.
Solar energy is great.
Il y a du fer dans les épinards.
There is iron in spinach.
Il y a des mines de diamants en Afrique.
There are diamond mines in Africa.
Les explorateurs cherchaient l’or.
Explorers were looking for gold.
Le sodium se trouve dans des aliments.
Sodium is found in some foods.
Produits de l’agriculture (Agricultural resources)
Our environment allows us to grow many types of fruits and vegetables to feed ourselves, and many trees, plants, and fl owers to beautify the surroundings.
Fruits (Fruit)
l’abricot (m.) apricot
l’amande (f.) almond
l’avocat (m.) avocado
la banane banana
la cerise cherry
le citron lemon
la figue fig
la fraise strawberry
la framboise raspberry
la mandarine mandarine
la mangue mango
le melon melon
l’olive (f.) olive
l’orange (f.) orange
le pamplemousse grapefruit
la pastèque watermelon
la pêche peach
la poire pear
la pomme apple
la prune plum
le raisin grape
la tomate tomato
Je voudrais des fraises avec de la crème fraîche.
I would like strawberries with crème fraîche.
Je préfère les pommes aux poires.
I prefer apples rather than pears.
Il nous faut de la pastèque pour le barbecue.
We need watermelon for the barbecue.
Cherche-moi des olives.
Get me some olives.
In the following sentences, note how easy it is to change the name of a fruit to the name of the tree that bears it. Simply change the -e ending of the fruit to -er or -ier. The gender of the tree is masculine.
J’ai des figuiers et des oliviers.
I have fig trees and olive trees.
Un cerisier en fleur est magnifique.
A cherry tree in blossom is magnificent.
Les légumes et les herbes fines (Vegetables and herbs)
Th e French, for whom cooking is always an art (even when it is home cooking), think it is important to know and use a variety of vegetables and herbs to enhance the nutritional value of a dish,as well as its taste and appearance.
l’ail (m.) garlic
l’artichaut (m.) artichoke
l’asperge (f.) asparagus
l’aubergine (f.) eggplant
le basilic basil
la betterave beet
le brocoli broccoli
la carotte carrot
le céleri celery
le chou cabbage
le chou-fleur caulifl ower
la citrouille pumpkin
le concombre cucumber
la courgette zucchini
l’endive (f.) endive
le haricot vert green bean
la laitue lettuce
le maïs corn
la menthe mint
l’oignon (m.) onion
le persil parsley
le petit pois pea
le poivron vert green pepper
la pomme de terre potato
le radis radish
le romarin rosemary
Hier j’ai mangé une salade de concombres.
Yesterday I ate a cucumber salad.
Ma purée de pommes de terre estdélicieuse.
My mashed potatoes are delicious.
La soupe de citrouille est bonne.
Pumpkin soup is good.
Mets un peu de romarin dans ceragoût!
Put a little rosemary into this stew!
Coupons encore quelques oignons!
Let’s cut a few more onions!
In the following sentences, note the use of the defi nite article (le, la, les) when referring to foods in general. However, when referring to undefi ned quantities of food, the partitive article (du, de la, de l’, des) is used.
L’ail est dans tous les plats provençaux.
All Provençal dishes have garlic.
Dans la salade niçoise, il y a de la laitue et du thon.
In a Niçoise salad, there is lettuce and tuna.
J’ai du persil frais de mon jardin.
I have fresh parsley from my garden.
Aujourd’hui j’ai envie de manger des asperges.
Today I feel like eating asparagus.
Les fleurs, les plantes et les arbres (Flowers, plants, and trees)
Flowers, plants, and trees are important parts of the environment, and French people love gardens where they can grow their favorite flowers, fruits, vegetables, and trees. Many people leave the city on weekends to tend to their jardin. Since France has four seasons, people are oft en quite preoccupied with seeding and planting at the right time of year.
le chêne oak
le coquelicot poppy
l’hêtre beech tree
le lierre ivy
le lilas lilac
le lys lily
la marguerite daisy
le muguet lily of the valley
l’oeillet (m.) carnation
l’orchidée (f.) orchid
l’orme (m.) elm
le palmier palm tree
la plante annuelle annual
la rose rose
le sapin fir tree
le tilleul linden tree
le tournesol sunflower
la tulipe tulip
la violette violet
la vivace perennial
Ces champs sont couverts de coquelicots.
These fields are covered with poppies.
Le lys était le symbole du pouvoir royal.
The lily was the symbol of royal power.
A Noël il y a des sapins partout.
At Christmas there are fir trees everywhere.
Van Gogh a peint beaucoup de tournesols.
Van Gogh painted many sunflowers.
Le premier mai, on cueille le muguet.
On the first of May, people pick lilies of the valley.
Il y a des chênes et des hêtres en Europe.
There are oak and beech trees in Europe.
