The Importance of Being Earnest: A Trivial Comedy for Serious People — Page 13

Vocabulary

Bonsoir

Good evening, a common French greeting

cher

Dear or expensive; term of affection or cost

j'

Contraction of 'je', meaning I

espère

Hope; first person singular of espérer

que

That, which, or than; common conjunction

vous

You; formal or plural second person pronoun

conduisez

You drive or conduct yourself; from conduire

très

Very; intensifying adverb used frequently

bien

Well or good; common adverb of manner

Je

I; first person singular subject pronoun

me

Me or myself; first person reflexive pronoun

sens

Feel or sense; from sentir or sens noun

tante

Aunt; female relative, parent's sister

Ce

This or it; demonstrative pronoun or adjective

n'

Contraction of 'ne', part of negation

est

Is; third person singular of être

pas

Not; used with ne to form negation

tout

All, everything, or completely; versatile word

à

To, at, or in; very common preposition

fait

Fact or done; from faire, to do

la

The; feminine definite article

même

Same or even; used for emphasis or comparison

chose

Thing; general noun for an object or matter

En

In or as; preposition indicating location or state

ces

These or those; plural demonstrative adjective

deux

Two; the number two

choses

Things; plural of chose

vont

Go; third person plural of aller

rarement

Rarely; happening seldom or infrequently

ensemble

Together; at the same time or place

Aperçoit

Notices or catches sight of; from apercevoir

et

And; basic coordinating conjunction

le

Him or the; masculine definite article or pronoun

salue

Greets or salutes; from saluer

avec

With; preposition indicating accompaniment

une

A or an; feminine indefinite article

froideur

Coldness or indifference in manner toward someone

glaciale

Icy or glacial; extremely cold in tone

À

To or at; preposition, here indicating address

Mon

My; masculine possessive adjective

Dieu

God; used in exclamations like Mon Dieu

comme

How or like; used in comparisons or exclamations

êtes

Are; second person plural of être

élégante

Elegant; graceful and stylish in appearance

suis

Am; first person singular of être

toujours

Always or still; adverb of time or continuity

N'

Contraction of ne; part of negation

est-

Is; inversion form of être for questions

ce

This or it; demonstrative pronoun

monsieur

Mister or sir; polite title for a man

Vous

You; formal second person pronoun

parfaite

Perfect; without flaw, feminine adjective

mademoiselle

Miss; title for an unmarried woman

J'

Contraction of je; I

je

I; first person singular subject pronoun

ne

Not; first part of French negation

Cela

That; demonstrative pronoun referring to something

laisserait

Would leave; conditional of laisser

aucune

No or none; negative adjective, feminine form

place

Place, room, or space; location or available space

au

To the or at the; contraction of à + le

développement

Development; process of growth or expansion

ai

Have; first person singular of avoir

l'

The or him/her; elided definite article or pronoun

intention

Intention; plan or aim to do something

de

Of or from; very common French preposition

développer

To develop; to grow or expand in various ways

dans

In or into; preposition indicating location or time

nombreuses

Numerous or many; feminine plural adjective

directions

Directions; various ways or courses of movement

s'

Reflexive contraction of se; oneself

assoient

Sit down; third person plural reflexive of asseoir

coin

Corner; an angle or secluded spot

désolée

Sorry; expressing regret, feminine form

si

If or so; conjunction or intensifying adverb

nous

We or us; first person plural pronoun

sommes

Are; first person plural of être

un

A or one; masculine indefinite article or number

peu

A little or few; indicating small quantity

en

In or of it; preposition or pronoun

retard

Delay; being late or behind schedule

mais

But; coordinating conjunction showing contrast

été

Been; past participle of être; also summer

obligée

Obliged or forced; feminine past participle

rendre

To render, give back, or pay a visit

visite

Visit; a trip to see someone

chère

Dear or expensive; feminine form of cher

y

There; pronoun replacing a place already mentioned

étais

Was; first person singular imperfect of être

allée

Gone; feminine past participle of aller

depuis

Since or for; indicating time elapsed

mort

Death or dead; noun or adjective

son

His, her, or its; third person possessive adjective

pauvre

Poor; lacking money or evoking pity

mari

Husband; a woman's male spouse

jamais

Never or ever; adverb of time and negation

vu

Seen; past participle of voir

femme

Woman or wife; adult female person

aussi

Also, too, or as; adverb of addition or comparison

transformée

Transformed; changed greatly, feminine past participle

elle

She or her; third person feminine pronoun

paraît

Appears or seems; third person singular of paraître

vingt

Twenty; the number twenty

ans

Years; used to express age or duration

moins

Less or fewer; used in comparisons

Et

And; basic coordinating conjunction

maintenant

Now; at the present moment

vais

Am going; first person singular of aller

prendre

To take or have; very common French verb

tasse

Cup; a small vessel for drinking

thé

Tea; hot beverage made from leaves

délicieux

Delicious; extremely pleasant to taste

sandwichs

Sandwiches; food between two slices of bread

concombre

Cucumber; green elongated vegetable

m'

Me; elided form of me, reflexive pronoun

aviez

Had; second person plural imperfect of avoir

promis

Promised; past participle of promettre

Certainement

Certainly; expressing agreement or affirmation

Se

Oneself; reflexive pronoun, third person

dirige

Heads toward or directs; from diriger

vers

Toward; preposition indicating direction

table

Table; a flat surface for eating or working

Ne

Not; first element of French negation

voulez-

Want; inverted second person plural of vouloir

venir

To come; movement toward the speaker

asseoir

To sit down; reflexive verb for sitting

ici

Here; indicating a nearby location

Merci

Thank you; expression of gratitude

maman

Mom or mummy; informal word for mother

aise

Ease or comfort; feeling at ease

là

There; indicating a location nearby or distant

où

Where; relative or interrogative adverb of place

Prenant

Taking; present participle of prendre

assiette

Plate; flat dish used for serving food

vide

Empty; containing nothing

horreur

Horror; intense fear or disgust

Grands

Great or big; plural masculine adjective

dieux

Gods; plural of dieu, used in exclamations

Pourquoi

Why; interrogative adverb asking for reason

a-

Has; third person singular inverted form of avoir

il

He or it; third person masculine pronoun

les

The; plural definite article

avais

Had; first person singular imperfect of avoir

commandés

Ordered; past participle of commander

exprès

Specifically or on purpose; intentionally

Gravement

Gravely or seriously; in a solemn manner

Il

He or it; third person masculine pronoun

avait

Had; third person singular imperfect of avoir

concombres

Cucumbers; plural of concombre

marché

Market or walked; noun or past participle

matin

Morning; the early part of the day

rendu

Returned or rendered; past participle of rendre

fois

Time or times; indicating occurrence or frequency

Pas

Not or step; negation or noun for footstep

Non

No; expressing negation or refusal

contre

Against; preposition indicating opposition

argent

Money or silver; currency or precious metal

comptant

Cash; paying immediately with ready money

C'

It is; elided form of ce before est

merci

Thank you; expression of gratitude