The audio sample and transcription is from RFI’s Revue de Presse Hebdomaires Français 13 Apr 2025 Episode. We do not own this content, nor do we pretend to.
The above audio sample and transcription is from RFI’s Revue de Presse Hebdomaires Français 13 Apr 2025 Episode. We do not own this content, nor do we pretend to. The above is for educational purposes only. Find the full text and audio here or on Google Podcasts or Apple Podcasts.
Bon Appetit
Starting a new series, looking at this podcast and listening only to the “lighter side of things” news that ends the final minute of this weekly podcast.
Please share your thoughts below. What’s opening up? Was this challenging? What was a new word for you? Comment below.
The snippet in English
Find a translation of this snippet here, how much of this did you hear?
Enfin, tout autre chose, si c’est encore l’heure du petit déjeuner chez vous, voici une idée de menu… Et attention, il faut avoir l’estomac bien accroché. Car le Point nous parle de « l’assiette de Neandertal ». C’est une géochimiste française de 40 ans, Klervia Jaouen, qui a réussi « à reconstituer l’alimentation de Neandertal » en étudiant l’émail de ses dents.
Finally, if it’s still breakfast time at your place, here’s a menu idea… And beware, you’ll need a strong stomach. Le Point tells us about the “Neanderthal plate”. It was a 40-year-old French geochemist, Klervia Jaouen, who succeeded in “reconstructing the Neanderthal diet” by studying his tooth enamel.
Translated with Deepl.
What does “enfin” mean?
Enfin is a flexible word that can mean finally, in short, well, or at last, depending on the context and tone.
Il est enfin arrivé. (He finally arrived.)
Used to mark relief or the end of a wait.
Elle a crié, il est parti, enfin c’était le chaos. (She yelled, he left—in short, it was chaos.)
Summarizes or wraps up a situation.
Enfin, je sais pas trop. (Well, I’m not really sure.)
Spoken filler that softens or hesitates before a thought.
In spoken French, enfin is common for expressing hesitation, correction, or mild frustration. It’s subtle and tone-sensitive—used as much for rhythm and attitude as for literal meaning.
What does “tout autre chose” mean?
Tout autre chose in formal media means something entirely different or a completely different matter. It’s often used to shift topics or signal a sharp contrast with what came before.
Passons à tout autre chose. (Let’s move on to something completely different.)
Used by news anchors, commentators, or writers to pivot cleanly to a new subject.
C’est tout autre chose que ce qu’on attendait. (It’s something entirely different from what we expected.)
Highlights surprise or contrast between reality and expectation.
In formal contexts like journalism, speeches, or essays, tout autre chose has a smooth, professional tone. It creates clear transitions while maintaining stylistic polish—more elegant than simply saying autre chose.
What does “encore” mean?
Encore is a versatile word in French that generally means still, again, or yet, depending on context. In expressions like encore l’heure, it means “still”—as in, it’s still the time for… or it’s still early/late/etc.
Il est encore l’heure de partir ? (Is it still time to leave?)
→ Asking if it’s not too late.
Ce n’est plus l’heure, ou c’est encore l’heure ? (Is it too late, or is it still time?)
→ A common kind of contrast in spoken French.
Il est encore l’heure de changer les choses. (There’s still time to change things.)
→ Expresses that an opportunity or window of time remains open.
Culturally, encore is one of those small words that carries a lot of temporal nuance—it can suggest persistence, repetition, or a lingering condition. In phrases like encore l’heure, it has a somewhat rhetorical or emotional tone, often used to create urgency, hope, or insistence.
What does “voici” mean?
Voici means here is or this is, and it’s used to present, point to, or introduce something or someone. It’s the contraction of vois (see) + ci (here), literally meaning see here.
Voici mon frère. (Here is my brother.)
→ Used to introduce someone.
Voici la solution que j’ai trouvée. (Here’s the solution I found.)
→ Introduces an explanation or item just mentioned.
Voici comment ça fonctionne. (This is how it works.)
→ Often used to lead into a demonstration or clarification.
In tone, voici is slightly more formal than tiens or voilà, and more precise than voilà when something is close by or just arriving.
Compare:
Voici ton café. (Here’s your coffee – being handed to you.)
Voilà ton café. (There’s your coffee – possibly just set down or pointed to.)
In writing and media, voici is commonly used to introduce a list, example, or visual, especially in headlines or instructions:
Voici les résultats du sondage. (Here are the results of the poll.)
What does “avoir l’estomac bien accroché” mean?
Avoir l’estomac bien accroché means to have a strong stomach, and it’s used when someone can withstand disturbing, disgusting, or intense situations without getting nauseous or overwhelmed.
Il faut avoir l’estomac bien accroché pour voir ça.
(You need a strong stomach to watch that.)
Elle a l’estomac bien accroché, rien ne la dégoûte.
(She has a strong stomach—nothing grosses her out.)
It applies to both physical reactions (like to blood or bad smells) and emotional resilience. Culturally, it’s a vivid, everyday expression—commonly used for films, jobs, or experiences that are visually or emotionally tough
What does “car” mean?
Car is a formal coordinating conjunction in French meaning because or for—used to introduce a reason or explanation.
Il ne viendra pas, car il est malade.
(He won’t come, because he’s sick.)
Je l’ai choisi, car il était le meilleur candidat.
(I chose him, for he was the best candidate.)
It’s a bit more literary or formal than parce que, which is more common in everyday speech. You’re more likely to see car in writing, presentations, or formal speech—where it keeps things concise and smooth.
Culturally, using car can give your French a clear, elegant tone—but in casual conversation, most people would default to parce que.
What does “réussir” mean?
A réussi is the past tense (passé composé) form of the verb réussir, meaning succeeded or passed (depending on the context).
It’s built from:
- a → the auxiliary verb avoir in the present
- réussi → the past participle of réussir
Elle a réussi son examen.
(She passed her exam.)
Il a réussi à convaincre tout le monde.
(He succeeded in convincing everyone.)
In construction like réussir à + infinitive, it means to manage to or to succeed in doing something. It’s a common verb in both academic and everyday contexts, often tied to achievement, effort, or overcoming difficulty.
What does “reconstituer” mean?
Reconstituer means to reconstitute, to rebuild, to reconstruct, or to piece back together, depending on context. It’s used when something that was lost, broken, or scattered is restored, recreated, or mentally reconstructed.
La police essaie de reconstituer la scène du crime.
(The police are trying to reconstruct the crime scene.)
Ils ont réussi à reconstituer l’histoire à partir de fragments.
(They managed to piece the story back together from fragments.)
Reconstituer un stock de nourriture après une tempête.
(To restock food supplies after a storm.)
It’s used in history, law, science, and daily life to describe both physical restoration and intellectual reconstruction (like imagining a past event). Culturally, it often suggests care, method, or investigation—especially when dealing with memory, research, or damage.
What does “l’émail” mean?
L’émail means enamel in French, and it can refer to two main things depending on context:
- Tooth enamel – the hard outer layer of teeth
L’émail des dents est essentiel pour les protéger des caries.
(Tooth enamel is essential for protecting against cavities.) - Glazed or enameled coating – on pottery, jewelry, or appliances
Une tasse en émail bleu.
(A blue enamel mug.)
Un bijou recouvert d’émail coloré.
(A piece of jewelry coated with colored enamel.)
Culturally, émail is used in health, crafts, and design. It suggests durability, shine, and protection—but it’s also delicate: once enamel is chipped (on teeth or ceramics), it’s hard to repair.
Not to be confused with email (which in French is courriel or sometimes mail)—they’re pronounced similarly but have different spellings and meanings.
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