Little Women — Page 13

English → Fr CHAPTER ONE Level 6/10

Or a nurse, so I could be near him and help him," exclaimed Jo, with a groan.

Ou infirmière, pour être près de lui et l'aider," s'écria Jo avec un gémissement.

"It must be very disagreeable to sleep in a tent, and eat all sorts of bad-tasting things, and drink out of a tin mug," sighed Amy.

« Ça doit être très désagréable de dormir sous une tente, de manger toutes sortes de choses au mauvais goût, et de boire dans une timbale en fer-blanc, » soupira Amy.

"When will he come home, Marmee?" asked Beth, with a little quiver in her voice.

« Quand rentrera-t-il à la maison, Marmee ? » demanda Beth, avec un léger tremblement dans la voix.

"Not for many months, dear, unless he is sick.

« Pas avant de nombreux mois, ma chérie, à moins qu'il ne soit malade.

He will stay and do his work faithfully as long as he can, and we won't ask for him back a minute sooner than he can be spared.

Il restera et accomplira fidèlement sa tâche aussi longtemps qu'il le pourra, et nous ne demanderons pas son retour une minute avant qu'il puisse être libéré.

Now come and hear the letter."

Venez maintenant écouter la lettre. »

They all drew to the fire, Mother in the big chair with Beth at her feet, Meg and Amy perched on either arm of the chair, and Jo leaning on the back, where no one would see any sign of emotion if the letter should happen to be touching.

Elles se rapprochèrent toutes du feu, la Mère dans le grand fauteuil avec Beth à ses pieds, Meg et Amy perchées sur chacun des bras du fauteuil, et Jo appuyée sur le dossier, là où personne ne verrait aucun signe d'émotion si la lettre venait à être touchante.

Very few letters were written in those hard times that were not touching, especially those which fathers sent home.

Très peu de lettres furent écrites en ces temps difficiles qui ne fussent pas touchantes, surtout celles que les pères envoyaient chez eux.

In this one little was said of the hardships endured, the dangers faced, or the homesickness conquered.

Dans celle-ci, il était peu question des épreuves endurées, des dangers affrontés, ou du mal du pays surmonté.

It was a cheerful, hopeful letter, full of lively descriptions of camp life, marches, and military news, and only at the end did the writer's heart over-flow with fatherly love and longing for the little girls at home.

C'était une lettre gaie et pleine d'espoir, remplie de descriptions animées de la vie au camp, des marches et des nouvelles militaires, et ce n'est qu'à la fin que le cœur de l'auteur débordait d'amour paternel et de nostalgie pour ses petites filles restées à la maison.

"Give them all of my dear love and a kiss.

« Donnez-leur à toutes tout mon tendre amour et un baiser.

Vocabulary

Ou: Conjunction meaning 'or', connecting alternatives.
infirmière: Female nurse who cares for patients.
pour: Preposition meaning 'for' or 'in order to'.
être: Infinitive verb meaning 'to be'.
près: Preposition meaning 'near' or 'close to'.
de: Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'about'.
lui: Personal pronoun meaning 'him' or 'to him'.
et: Conjunction meaning 'and', linking words or clauses.
l': Contracted definite article 'le' or 'la' before vowels.
aider: Infinitive verb meaning 'to help' someone.
s': Reflexive pronoun 'se' contracted before a vowel.
écria: Past tense of 's'écrier', meaning 'exclaimed' or 'cried out'.
avec: Preposition meaning 'with', indicating accompaniment.
un: Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'.
gémissement: A groan or moan expressing pain or distress.
Ça: Informal pronoun meaning 'that' or 'it'.
doit: Third person singular of 'devoir', meaning 'must' or 'should'.
très: Adverb meaning 'very', intensifying adjectives or adverbs.
désagréable: Adjective meaning 'unpleasant' or 'disagreeable'.
dormir: Infinitive verb meaning 'to sleep'.
sous: Preposition meaning 'under' or 'beneath'.
une: Feminine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'.
tente: A tent used for shelter, especially when camping.
manger: Infinitive verb meaning 'to eat'.
toutes: Feminine plural of 'tout', meaning 'all' or 'every'.
sortes: Noun meaning 'sorts' or 'kinds', as in varieties.
choses: Noun meaning 'things', referring to various objects or matters.
au: Contracted form of 'à le', meaning 'at the' or 'to the'.
mauvais: Adjective meaning 'bad' or 'poor quality'.
goût: Noun meaning 'taste', referring to flavor or preference.
boire: Infinitive verb meaning 'to drink'.
dans: Preposition meaning 'in' or 'inside'.
timbale: A metal cup or goblet, often tin.
en: Preposition meaning 'in', 'by', or 'made of'.
fer-blanc: Noun meaning 'tin' or 'tinplate', a coated metal material.
soupira: Past tense of 'soupirer', meaning 'sighed'.
Quand: Conjunction or adverb meaning 'when'.
rentrera-t-il: Future tense question: 'will he return home?'
à: Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'in'.
la: Feminine definite article meaning 'the'.
maison: Noun meaning 'house' or 'home'.
demanda: Past tense of 'demander', meaning 'asked'.
léger: Adjective meaning 'light' or 'slight', not heavy.
tremblement: Noun meaning 'trembling' or 'shaking', expressing emotion or fear.
voix: Noun meaning 'voice', the sound produced when speaking.
Pas: Negative adverb meaning 'not', used in negation.
avant: Preposition or adverb meaning 'before' or 'ahead'.
nombreux: Adjective meaning 'numerous' or 'many'.
mois: Noun meaning 'month' or 'months'.
ma: Feminine possessive adjective meaning 'my'.
chérie: Term of endearment meaning 'darling' or 'dear'.
moins: Adverb meaning 'less', used in comparisons.
qu': Contracted conjunction 'que', meaning 'that' or 'than'.
il: Personal pronoun meaning 'he' or 'it'.
ne: Negative particle used with 'pas' to negate verbs.
soit: Subjunctive form of 'être', meaning 'be' or 'is'.
malade: Adjective meaning 'sick' or 'ill'.
Il: Personal pronoun meaning 'he' or 'it'.
restera: Future tense of 'rester', meaning 'will stay' or 'will remain'.
accomplira: Future tense of 'accomplir', meaning 'will accomplish' or 'fulfill'.
fidèlement: Adverb meaning 'faithfully' or 'loyally'.
sa: Feminine possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'.
tâche: Noun meaning 'task' or 'duty' to be performed.
aussi: Adverb meaning 'also', 'too', or 'as' in comparisons.
longtemps: Adverb meaning 'for a long time'.
le: Masculine definite article or pronoun meaning 'the' or 'him'.
pourra: Future tense of 'pouvoir', meaning 'will be able to'.
nous: Personal pronoun meaning 'we' or 'us'.
demanderons: Future tense of 'demander', meaning 'we will ask'.
pas: Negative adverb used with 'ne' to negate verbs.
son: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'.
retour: Noun meaning 'return' or 'coming back'.
minute: Noun meaning 'minute', a unit of time.
puisse: Subjunctive form of 'pouvoir', meaning 'can' or 'may be able'.
libéré: Past participle of 'libérer', meaning 'freed' or 'released'.
Venez: Imperative form of 'venir', meaning 'come' (plural/formal).
maintenant: Adverb meaning 'now', referring to the present moment.
écouter: Infinitive verb meaning 'to listen' or 'to hear'.
lettre: Noun meaning 'letter', a written message sent to someone.
Elles: Feminine plural pronoun meaning 'they', referring to women.
se: Reflexive pronoun meaning 'themselves' or 'each other'.
rapprochèrent: Past tense of 'se rapprocher', meaning 'drew closer together'.
du: Contracted form of 'de le', meaning 'of the' or 'from the'.
feu: Noun meaning 'fire', flames producing heat and light.
Mère: Noun meaning 'mother', a female parent.
grand: Adjective meaning 'big', 'large', or 'great'.
fauteuil: Noun meaning 'armchair', a comfortable upholstered seat.
ses: Plural possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'.
pieds: Noun meaning 'feet', the lower extremities of the body.
perchées: Past participle of 'percher', meaning 'perched' on something.
sur: Preposition meaning 'on' or 'upon'.
chacun: Pronoun meaning 'each one' or 'each person'.
des: Plural indefinite article or contraction of 'de les'.
bras: Noun meaning 'arm' or 'arms' of a body or chair.
appuyée: Past participle of 'appuyer', meaning 'leaning' against something.
dossier: Noun meaning 'backrest' of a chair, or a file/folder.
là: Adverb meaning 'there', indicating a specific location.
où: Relative adverb meaning 'where' or 'in which'.
personne: Noun or pronoun meaning 'person' or 'no one'.
verrait: Conditional tense of 'voir', meaning 'would see'.
aucun: Adjective or pronoun meaning 'no' or 'not any'.
signe: Noun meaning 'sign' or 'indication' of something.
d': Contracted preposition 'de' before a vowel sound.
émotion: Noun meaning 'emotion', a strong feeling or sentiment.
si: Conjunction meaning 'if', introducing a conditional clause.
venait: Imperfect tense of 'venir', meaning 'came' or 'was coming'.
touchante: Adjective meaning 'touching' or 'moving', emotionally affecting.
Très: Adverb meaning 'very', intensifying the following adjective.
peu: Adverb meaning 'few' or 'little', indicating small quantity.
lettres: Plural noun meaning 'letters', written messages or correspondence.
furent: Simple past of 'être', meaning 'were' (third person plural).
écrites: Past participle of 'écrire', meaning 'written'.
ces: Demonstrative adjective meaning 'these' or 'those'.
temps: Noun meaning 'time' or 'times', also 'weather'.
difficiles: Adjective meaning 'difficult' or 'hard', challenging times.
qui: Relative pronoun meaning 'who', 'which', or 'that'.
fussent: Imperfect subjunctive of 'être', meaning 'were' (formal).
touchantes: Plural feminine adjective meaning 'touching' or 'moving'.
surtout: Adverb meaning 'especially' or 'above all'.
celles: Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'those' (feminine plural).
que: Conjunction or relative pronoun meaning 'that' or 'which'.
les: Plural definite article meaning 'the'.
pères: Plural noun meaning 'fathers', male parents.
envoyaient: Imperfect tense of 'envoyer', meaning 'were sending'.
chez: Preposition meaning 'at home' or 'to the home of'.
eux: Stressed pronoun meaning 'them' or 'they' (masculine).
Dans: Preposition meaning 'in', 'inside', or 'within'.
celle-ci: Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this one' (feminine singular).
était: Imperfect tense of 'être', meaning 'was' or 'there was'.
question: Noun meaning 'question' or 'matter being discussed'.
épreuves: Noun meaning 'trials', 'hardships', or 'ordeals'.
endurées: Past participle of 'endurer', meaning 'endured' or 'suffered'.
dangers: Plural noun meaning 'dangers' or 'risks' faced.
affrontés: Past participle of 'affronter', meaning 'confronted' or 'faced'.
ou: Conjunction meaning 'or', presenting an alternative.
mal: Noun or adverb meaning 'evil', 'pain', or 'badly'.
pays: Noun meaning 'country' or 'homeland', one's native land.
surmonté: Past participle of 'surmonter', meaning 'overcome' or 'surmounted'.
C': Contracted form of 'ce', meaning 'it' or 'this'.
gaie: Feminine adjective meaning 'cheerful', 'lively', or 'gay'.
pleine: Feminine adjective meaning 'full' of something.
espoir: Noun meaning 'hope', a feeling of optimism about future.
remplie: Past participle of 'remplir', meaning 'filled' with something.
descriptions: Noun meaning 'descriptions', detailed accounts of something.
animées: Adjective meaning 'lively' or 'vivid', full of energy.
vie: Noun meaning 'life', the state of being alive.
camp: Noun meaning 'camp', a military or temporary settlement.
marches: Noun meaning 'marches', military movements on foot.
nouvelles: Noun meaning 'news' or short stories; adjective 'new' (feminine plural).
militaires: Adjective meaning 'military', relating to the armed forces.
ce: Demonstrative adjective or pronoun meaning 'this' or 'it'.
n': Contracted negative particle 'ne' before a vowel.
est: Third person singular of 'être', meaning 'is'.
fin: Noun meaning 'end' or adjective meaning 'fine' or 'thin'.
cœur: Noun meaning 'heart', the organ or center of emotions.
auteur: Noun meaning 'author' or 'writer' of a text.
débordait: Imperfect of 'déborder', meaning 'overflowed' or 'brimmed over'.
amour: Noun meaning 'love', a deep affection or emotional attachment.
paternel: Adjective meaning 'paternal' or 'fatherly'.
nostalgie: Noun meaning 'nostalgia', a longing for home or the past.
petites: Feminine plural adjective meaning 'small' or 'little'.
filles: Noun meaning 'girls' or 'daughters'.
restées: Past participle of 'rester', meaning 'stayed' or 'remained' (feminine plural).
Donnez-leur: Imperative phrase meaning 'give them', addressing multiple people.
tout: Adjective or pronoun meaning 'all', 'every', or 'whole'.
mon: Masculine possessive adjective meaning 'my'.
tendre: Adjective meaning 'tender' or 'affectionate'.
baiser: Noun meaning 'kiss', a touch with the lips as affection.

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