The Great Gatsby — Page 15

English → Fr Full Text Level 7/10

"What'll we plan?" She turned to me helplessly: "What do people plan?"

« Qu'allons-nous projeter ? » Elle se tourna vers moi, désemparée : « Qu'est-ce que les gens projettent ? »

Before I could answer her eyes fastened with an awed expression on her little finger.

Avant que j'aie pu répondre, ses yeux se fixèrent avec une expression stupéfaite sur son petit doigt.

"Look!" she complained; "I hurt it."

« Regardez ! » se plaignit-elle ; « Je me suis fait mal. »

We all looked—the knuckle was black and blue.

Nous regardâmes tous — l'articulation était couverte de bleus.

"You did it, Tom," she said accusingly. "I know you didn't mean to, but you did do it. That's what I get for marrying a brute of a man, a great, big, hulking physical specimen of a—"

« C'est toi qui as fait ça, Tom », dit-elle d'un ton accusateur. « Je sais que tu ne le voulais pas, mais tu l'as quand même fait. Voilà ce que j'obtiens pour avoir épousé un brutal, un grand et gros spécimen physique de — »

"I hate that word 'hulking,' " objected Tom crossly, "even in kidding."

« Je déteste ce mot 'mastodonte', » objecta Tom avec humeur, « même pour plaisanter. »

"Hulking," insisted Daisy.

« Mastodonte », insista Daisy.

Sometimes she and Miss Baker talked at once, unobtrusively and with a bantering inconsequence that was never quite chatter, that was as cool as their white dresses and their impersonal eyes in the absence of all desire.

Parfois, elle et Miss Baker parlaient en même temps, discrètement et avec une inconséquence badine qui n'était jamais tout à fait du bavardage, aussi fraîche que leurs robes blanches et leurs yeux impersonnels en l'absence de tout désir.

They were here, and they accepted Tom and me, making only a polite pleasant effort to entertain or to be entertained.

Elles étaient là, et elles acceptaient Tom et moi, ne faisant qu'un effort courtois et agréable pour divertir ou être diverties.

They knew that presently dinner would be over and a little later the evening too would be over and casually put away.

Elles savaient que bientôt le dîner serait terminé et qu'un peu plus tard la soirée aussi prendrait fin et serait nonchalamment rangée.

It was sharply different from the West, where an evening was hurried from phase to phase towards its close, in a continually disappointed anticipation or else in sheer nervous dread of the moment itself.

C'était très différent de l'Ouest, où une soirée était précipitée de phase en phase vers sa conclusion, dans une anticipation continuellement déçue ou dans une pure et simple crainte nerveuse du moment lui-même.

"You make me feel uncivilized, Daisy," I confessed on my second glass of corky but rather impressive claret. "Can't you talk about crops or something?

« Vous me donnez l'impression d'être un sauvage, Daisy », confessai-je en sirotant mon deuxième verre d'un claret bouchonné mais plutôt impressionnant. « Ne pouvez-vous pas parler de récoltes ou de quelque chose du genre ?

Vocabulary

Qu': Contraction of 'que'; means 'that' or 'what'.
allons: First person plural of 'aller'; we go, let's go.
nous: French pronoun meaning 'we' or 'us'.
projeter: To project, plan, or throw something forward.
Elle: French third person singular pronoun meaning 'she'.
se: Reflexive pronoun meaning 'herself', 'himself', or 'itself'.
tourna: Past tense of 'tourner'; she/he turned around.
vers: Preposition meaning 'toward' or 'towards'.
moi: Stressed French pronoun meaning 'me'.
désemparée: Feeling helpless, lost, or at a complete loss.
est: Third person singular of 'être'; means 'is'.
ce: Demonstrative pronoun or adjective meaning 'this' or 'it'.
que: Conjunction or relative pronoun meaning 'that' or 'which'.
les: Definite plural article meaning 'the'.
gens: Noun meaning 'people' in a general sense.
projettent: Third person plural present of 'projeter'; they project or plan.
Avant: Preposition or adverb meaning 'before' in time.
j': Contraction of 'je'; first person singular pronoun 'I'.
aie: Subjunctive form of 'avoir'; that I have.
pu: Past participle of 'pouvoir'; been able to do something.
répondre: Infinitive verb meaning 'to answer' or 'to respond'.
ses: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its' (plural).
yeux: Plural noun meaning 'eyes'.
fixèrent: Past tense of 'fixer'; they fixed or stared intently.
avec: Preposition meaning 'with'.
une: Indefinite feminine article meaning 'a' or 'an'.
expression: Noun meaning 'expression' on one's face or in speech.
stupéfaite: Adjective meaning astonished, stunned, or dumbfounded.
sur: Preposition meaning 'on' or 'upon'.
son: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'.
petit: Adjective meaning 'small' or 'little'.
doigt: Noun meaning 'finger'.
Regardez: Imperative form of 'regarder'; means 'look' or 'look at'.
plaignit: Past tense of 'se plaindre'; she complained or whimpered.
elle: Third person singular pronoun meaning 'she'.
Je: First person singular subject pronoun meaning 'I'.
me: Reflexive or object pronoun meaning 'me' or 'myself'.
suis: First person singular of 'être'; means 'I am'.
fait: Past participle of 'faire'; done or made something.
mal: Noun or adverb meaning 'harm', 'pain', or 'badly'.
Nous: French subject pronoun meaning 'we'.
regardâmes: Simple past of 'regarder'; we looked at something.
tous: Pronoun or adjective meaning 'all' or 'everyone'.
l': Contracted definite article meaning 'the' before a vowel.
articulation: Noun meaning 'joint' of the body or articulation of speech.
était: Imperfect tense of 'être'; was or used to be.
couverte: Feminine past participle of 'couvrir'; covered with something.
de: Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'with'.
bleus: Noun meaning 'bruises'; also adjective meaning 'blue'.
C': Contraction of 'ce'; means 'it is' when followed by 'est'.
toi: Stressed second person singular pronoun meaning 'you'.
qui: Relative or interrogative pronoun meaning 'who' or 'which'.
as: Second person singular of 'avoir'; you have.
ça: Informal demonstrative pronoun meaning 'that' or 'it'.
dit: Past tense of 'dire'; said or told someone something.
d': Contraction of 'de'; means 'of' or 'from'.
un: Indefinite masculine article meaning 'a' or 'one'.
ton: Noun meaning 'tone' of voice; also possessive 'your'.
accusateur: Adjective meaning 'accusatory' or making an accusation.
sais: First or second person singular of 'savoir'; I/you know.
tu: Informal second person singular subject pronoun meaning 'you'.
ne: Negation particle used with 'pas' to negate a verb.
le: Masculine definite article or pronoun meaning 'the' or 'it'.
voulais: Imperfect of 'vouloir'; you wanted or intended something.
pas: Negation word used with 'ne' meaning 'not'.
mais: Conjunction meaning 'but', introducing a contrast.
quand: Conjunction or adverb meaning 'when'.
même: Adverb or adjective meaning 'even', 'same', or 'itself'.
Voilà: Exclamation meaning 'there it is' or 'that's what you get'.
obtiens: Second person singular of 'obtenir'; you get or obtain.
pour: Preposition meaning 'for' or 'in order to'.
avoir: Infinitive meaning 'to have'; also auxiliary verb.
épousé: Past participle of 'épouser'; married someone.
brutal: Adjective meaning 'brutal', 'rough', or 'violent'.
grand: Adjective meaning 'tall', 'large', or 'great'.
et: Conjunction meaning 'and'.
gros: Adjective meaning 'big', 'fat', or 'large in size'.
spécimen: Noun meaning 'specimen' or example of a type.
physique: Adjective or noun meaning 'physical' or one's physique.
déteste: First person singular of 'détester'; I hate or detest.
mot: Noun meaning 'word'.
mastodonte: Noun meaning 'mastodon'; used figuratively for huge person.
objecta: Past tense of 'objecter'; she/he objected to something said.
humeur: Noun meaning 'mood' or 'humor'; one's emotional state.
plaisanter: Infinitive meaning 'to joke' or 'to jest'.
Mastodonte: Noun used as nickname; means 'mastodon' or huge creature.
insista: Past tense of 'insister'; she/he insisted on something.
Parfois: Adverb meaning 'sometimes' or 'at times'.
parlaient: Imperfect of 'parler'; they were talking or used to talk.
en: Preposition or pronoun meaning 'in', 'on', or 'of it'.
temps: Noun meaning 'time' or 'weather'.
discrètement: Adverb meaning 'discreetly' or 'quietly without drawing attention'.
inconséquence: Noun meaning 'inconsistency', 'thoughtlessness', or frivolity.
badine: Adjective meaning 'playful', 'light', or 'teasing in tone'.
n': Contracted negation particle 'ne' used before a vowel.
jamais: Adverb meaning 'never' or 'ever' depending on context.
tout: Adjective or adverb meaning 'all', 'whole', or 'completely'.
à: Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'in'.
du: Contracted article meaning 'of the' or partitive 'some'.
bavardage: Noun meaning 'chatter', 'gossip', or idle talk.
aussi: Adverb meaning 'also', 'too', or 'as well'.
fraîche: Feminine adjective meaning 'fresh', 'cool', or 'crisp'.
leurs: Possessive adjective meaning 'their' (plural noun follows).
robes: Noun meaning 'dresses' or 'gowns'.
blanches: Feminine plural adjective meaning 'white'.
impersonnels: Adjective meaning 'impersonal', lacking personal warmth or feeling.
absence: Noun meaning 'absence' or lack of something present.
désir: Noun meaning 'desire' or strong wish for something.
Elles: Third person feminine plural pronoun meaning 'they'.
étaient: Imperfect of 'être'; they were at a given time.
là: Adverb meaning 'there' indicating a place or situation.
elles: Third person feminine plural pronoun meaning 'they'.
acceptaient: Imperfect of 'accepter'; they accepted or went along with.
faisant: Present participle of 'faire'; doing or making something.
qu': Contracted conjunction meaning 'that' before a vowel.
effort: Noun meaning 'effort' or exertion toward a goal.
courtois: Adjective meaning 'courteous', 'polite', or 'well-mannered'.
agréable: Adjective meaning 'pleasant', 'agreeable', or 'enjoyable'.
divertir: Infinitive meaning 'to entertain' or 'to amuse' someone.
ou: Conjunction meaning 'or', presenting an alternative choice.
être: Infinitive meaning 'to be'; fundamental French auxiliary verb.
diverties: Feminine past participle of 'divertir'; entertained or amused.
savaient: Imperfect of 'savoir'; they knew something as a fact.
bientôt: Adverb meaning 'soon' or 'before long'.
dîner: Noun or infinitive meaning 'dinner' or 'to have dinner'.
serait: Conditional of 'être'; would be under certain conditions.
terminé: Past participle of 'terminer'; finished, ended, or completed.
peu: Adverb meaning 'little', 'few', or 'not much'.
plus: Adverb meaning 'more' or used in negation meaning 'no more'.
tard: Adverb meaning 'late' or 'later' in time.
la: Feminine definite article or pronoun meaning 'the' or 'her'.
soirée: Noun meaning 'evening' or an evening social gathering.
prendrait: Conditional of 'prendre'; would take or would come to an end.
fin: Noun meaning 'end' or conclusion of something.
nonchalamment: Adverb meaning 'nonchalantly' or casually without concern.
rangée: Noun meaning 'row' or past participle 'put away', 'tidied'.
très: Adverb meaning 'very', intensifying an adjective or adverb.
différent: Adjective meaning 'different' or distinct from something else.
Ouest: Noun meaning 'West'; a cardinal direction.
précipitée: Adjective meaning 'hurried', 'rushed', or 'hasty' in manner.
phase: Noun meaning 'phase' or stage of a process.
sa: Feminine possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'.
conclusion: Noun meaning 'conclusion' or final outcome of something.
dans: Preposition meaning 'in', 'inside', or 'within'.
anticipation: Noun meaning 'anticipation' or looking forward to something.
continuellement: Adverb meaning 'continually' or without stopping.
déçue: Feminine past participle of 'décevoir'; disappointed or let down.
pure: Feminine adjective meaning 'pure', 'sheer', or 'utter'.
simple: Adjective meaning 'simple', 'plain', or 'mere'.
crainte: Noun meaning 'fear', 'apprehension', or 'dread'.
nerveuse: Feminine adjective meaning 'nervous', 'anxious', or 'tense'.
moment: Noun meaning 'moment' or a brief period of time.
lui: Pronoun meaning 'him', 'her', or 'to him/her'.
Vous: Second person plural or formal singular pronoun meaning 'you'.
donnez: Second person plural of 'donner'; you give something.
impression: Noun meaning 'impression' or feeling given to others.
sauvage: Adjective meaning 'wild', 'savage', or 'untamed'.
confessai: Simple past of 'confesser'; I confessed or admitted something.
je: First person singular subject pronoun meaning 'I'.
sirotant: Present participle of 'siroter'; sipping a drink slowly.
mon: Masculine possessive adjective meaning 'my'.
deuxième: Ordinal adjective meaning 'second' in a sequence.
verre: Noun meaning 'glass' for drinking or made of glass.
claret: Noun referring to red Bordeaux wine; claret.
bouchonné: Adjective meaning 'corked'; wine tainted by a bad cork.
plutôt: Adverb meaning 'rather', 'quite', or 'instead'.
impressionnant: Adjective meaning 'impressive' or striking in appearance.
Ne: Negation particle used with 'pas' to negate verbs.
pouvez: Second person plural of 'pouvoir'; you can or are able.
parler: Infinitive meaning 'to speak' or 'to talk'.
récoltes: Noun meaning 'harvests' or crops gathered from the land.
quelque: Adjective meaning 'some' or 'a few' before a noun.
chose: Noun meaning 'thing' or 'something'.
genre: Noun meaning 'kind', 'type', 'sort', or gender.

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