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Nice Carnaval 2012

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:00:54 +0000

There's always a mix of homage, caricature, and mockery in Nice Carnaval's figures, and this year was no exception.

Le Capitaine Pognon
(Bernard Tapie)

Bernard Tapie (owner of Olympique de Marseille who was accused of fixing a match as well as financial irregularities), Zinedine Zidane (the bump on this French soccer player's head was supposedly caused by his infamous coup de tête during the 2006 World Cup), an overzealous Tour de France cyclist (note the bags filled with nastiness attached to his back), and even French presidential candidates featured in 2012's sports-themed floats.

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Nice Carnaval 2012 originally appeared on About.com French Language on Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012 at 21:00:54.

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Easy access: French toolbar

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:00:24 +0000

Install the free French toolbar in your internet browser for easy access to useful tools like a French dictionary, verb conjugator, codes for typing accents, and daily French features.
More: French tools

French quiz: Tout, toute, tous, toutes

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:00:09 +0000

Do you know how to use tout in all of its forms? Test yourself on this essential French word with this quiz or take a look at the lesson to review.

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French quiz: Tout, toute, tous, toutes originally appeared on About.com French Language on Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012 at 12:00:09.

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Mot du jour: ordi

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:00:22 +0000

Learn a new French word today: ordi.

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Mot du jour: ordi originally appeared on About.com French Language on Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012 at 09:00:22.

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Carnaval de Nice 2012

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:00:41 +0000

Even though I was unenthusiastic about this year's theme - Roi du sport - I was sure my third Carnaval in Nice would still be a lot of fun, and I was right. As always, the carnavaliers went all out on the chars, populating the floats with enormous, moving bodies with recognizable faces. And of course the floats were surrounded by assorted grosses têtes and performers from all over the world.


Roi et Reine du Sport	Issa Nissa (Allez Nice)	Danseuses de flamme

Click the photos for larger versions. All photos © Laura K. Lawless

More photos of Carnaval de Nice

Fêtes et festivals

French small talk: The weather

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:00:35 +0000

Ready to make some serious small talk? Learn how to chat about the weather in French.
More small talk: Food - News - French vocabulary

Mot du jour: sein

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:00:29 +0000

Learn a new French word today: sein

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Mot du jour: sein originally appeared on About.com French Language on Tuesday, February 21st, 2012 at 09:00:29.

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French expression: Ce n'est pas mardi gras aujourd'hui

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:00:44 +0000

What does the idiomatic French expression ce n'est pas mardi gras aujourd'hui mean? Click the link above to learn all about it, and then come back here to share your thoughts.
More: French expressions | Common French phrases

Celebrate: Learn some French Mardi gras vocabulary, make a Mardi gras mask, and check out my pictures: Carnavale de Nice

Mot du jour: occuper

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 09:00:11 +0000

Learn a new French word every weekday! Today's word is occuper.

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Mot du jour: occuper originally appeared on About.com French Language on Monday, February 20th, 2012 at 09:00:11.

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Poll: Are you celebrating Mardi gras this year?

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 12:00:30 +0000

Are you celebrating Mardi gras this year? Vote in our poll, and leave a comment below - I'd love to hear about your plans. Laissez les bons temps rouler !

Links:
French Mardi gras vocabulary
Mardi gras masks
Carnaval de Nice 2011
Carnaval de Nice 2009
Fête du Citron de Menton
Holidays in France

C'est la fête ! Make a Mardi gras mask

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Mardi Gras, which means "fat Tuesday" in French, is celebrated in many francophone regions. Mardi gras masks are a traditional part of this annual celebration, and making them is a fun and very creative project.< br /> More: Mardi gras vocabulary | Francophone celebrations | French projects

Franglais Friday: supporter

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:00:48 +0000

Le mot du jour is a valid French verb, but moonlights as franglais: supporter.

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Franglais Friday: supporter originally appeared on About.com French Language on Friday, February 17th, 2012 at 15:00:48.

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French expression: Avoir le cafard

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 09:00:20 +0000

What does the idiomatic French expression avoir le cafard mean? Click to learn all about it, and then come back here to share your thoughts.

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French expression: Avoir le cafard originally appeared on About.com French Language on Friday, February 17th, 2012 at 09:00:20.

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French grammar: Invariable adjectives

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:00:11 +0000

In French, adjectives normally have to agree with the nouns they modify in gender and number. However, there are numerous adjectives which don't agree - they have a single form that does not change to reflect the gender or number of the noun. Many colors and most adjectives borrowed from other languages are invariable adjectives.
More: French adjectives | French agreement

French verb of the week: rendre

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:00:21 +0000

Learn simple verb conjugations, see similarly conjugated verbs, and learn more with links to related lessons for the French verb rendre.

Cool tool: French verb conjugator

Mot du jour: magnétoscope

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:00:53 +0000

Learn a new French word every weekday! Today's word is magnétoscope.

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Mot du jour: magnétoscope originally appeared on About.com French Language on Thursday, February 16th, 2012 at 09:00:53.

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Faisons la fête ! French vocabulary for Mardi gras

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:00:39 +0000

It's Mardi gras! This annual celebration is called le mardi gras (literally, "fat Tuesday") or le carnaval in French. Check out this page for some French Mardi gras vocabulary as well as info about the date, colors, slogan - everything you need to celebrate Mardi gras à la française. More: French holidays

French quiz: Stem-changing verbs

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:00:34 +0000

Do you know how to conjugate stem-changing verbs? Test yourself with this quiz or take a look at the lesson to review.
More: French tests

Mot du jour: loti

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0000

Learn a French word a day: loti.

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Mot du jour: loti originally appeared on About.com French Language on Wednesday, February 15th, 2012 at 09:00:00.

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French expression: Il m'aime un peu, beaucoup, passionnément, à la folie, pas du tout

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:00:31 +0000

What does the French expression il m'aime un peu, beaucoup, passionnément, à la folie, pas du tout mean? Click to learn all about it, and then come back here to share your thoughts.

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French expression: Il m'aime un peu, beaucoup, passionnément, à la folie, pas du tout originally appeared on About.com French Language on Tuesday, February 14th, 2012 at 11:00:31.

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Mot du jour: truc

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0000

Learn a French word today: truc.

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Mot du jour: truc originally appeared on About.com French Language on Tuesday, February 14th, 2012 at 09:00:00.

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Mon petit chou : French terms of endearment

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:00:29 +0000

French has all kinds of interesting terms of endearment, including a rather odd assortment of barnyard animals. Check out this list of French terms of endearment to use with your loved ones (both romantic and familial).

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French expression: Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:00:15 +0000

What does the French expression voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir mean, and do the French actually say it? Click to learn all about it, and then come back here to let us know if you've ever used this risqué expression.

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French expression: Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir originally appeared on About.com French Language on Monday, February 13th, 2012 at 12:00:15.

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Mot du jour: muer

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:00:28 +0000

Increase your French vocabulary, one day at a time. Le mot d'aujourd'hui est muer.

Tips: Improve your French vocabulary

More: Daily French

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Mot du jour: muer originally appeared on About.com French Language on Monday, February 13th, 2012 at 09:00:28.

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Bonne fête de St-Valentin ! French love language

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Valentine's Day is only a few days away, and since French is the language of love, there's no better language in which to express your love. Here are some key French words and phrases related to love, friendship, and special occasions, including a variety of terms of endearment as well as step-by-step instructions for saying "I love you" in French.
More: French vocabulary | Holidays