Do you know what “d’ailleurs”, “comme quand”, and “faire couler” mean? Hear them all in this clip from Passerelles. Listen along with this short clip, choose your level and fill in the blanks of the transcription quiz. This dictée is from French in real life. Give it a try!
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in fact
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The snippet in English
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D’ailleurs, c’est ça le sens littéral de ce mot. Anniversaire vient du latin « la » ou « verse l’année ». Verse, ça vient du verbe « verser », comme quand vous faites couler de l’eau dans un verre, par exemple.
In fact, that’s the literal meaning of the word. Anniversaire comes from the Latin “la” or “pour the year”. Verse comes from the verb “to pour”, as when you pour water into a glass, for example.
The above translation from Deepl. Source
What does “d’ailleurs” mean?
“D’ailleurs” is a French expression that translates to “moreover,” “besides,” “furthermore,” or “by the way” in English. It is used to introduce additional information or to transition to a related topic. This word is often employed to provide context or add extra details to a conversation or narrative.
Examples:
- Il est talentueux et travailleur. D’ailleurs, il a déjà remporté de nombreux prix. (He is talented and hardworking. Moreover, he has already won numerous awards.)
- J’aime les fruits, d’ailleurs, j’en ai acheté quelques-uns au marché. (I love fruits; besides, I bought some at the market.)
Linguistically, “d’ailleurs” is a combination of two words: “de” (of, from) and “ailleurs” (elsewhere, elsewhere in the context). Together, they convey the idea of something “from elsewhere” or “furthermore” when used in a sentence.
Fun fact: “D’ailleurs” is frequently used in spoken French as a conversational filler or softener when transitioning between topics or expressing a related thought. It adds a touch of informality and can make conversations flow more naturally. In these cases, it is commonly translated as “in fact.”
Here’s an example of “d’ailleurs” used as “in fact”: “J’ai passé la soirée avec Marie hier soir. D’ailleurs, elle m’a dit qu’elle va partir en vacances la semaine prochaine.” (“I spent the evening with Marie last night. In fact, she told me she’s going on vacation next week.”)
Overall, “d’ailleurs” is a useful and versatile word in the French language, allowing speakers to connect ideas, add context, and smoothly move between different aspects of a conversation or discussion.
What does “le sens littéral” mean?
“Le sens littéral” is a French phrase that translates to “the literal meaning” or “literal sense” in English. It refers to the direct and primary interpretation of words or phrases, devoid of any metaphorical or symbolic connotations. This distinction is essential in understanding language and is a concept present in many languages, including English.
Both languages use similar expressions to differentiate between literal and figurative senses. The French phrase “le sens littéral” predates the English translation “the literal meaning,” but the concept of discerning between direct and metaphorical interpretations is fundamental to effective communication in both languages.
What does “comme quand” mean?
“Comme quand” is a common expression in French. It can be translated to English as “as if” or “like when.” This expression is used to compare two situations, suggesting that one situation is similar to the other in some way.
For example:
- Il parle de son voyage comme quand il était en vacances. (He talks about his trip as if he were on vacation.)
- Elle rit comme quand elle était petite. (She laughs like when she was little.)
In these examples, “comme quand” is used to draw a comparison between the current situation and a past situation. It emphasizes the similarity between the two situations, creating a vivid image or a sense of nostalgia.
It’s important to note that “comme quand” is an informal expression used in spoken and written language. It is not considered as formal as other expressions and is commonly used in everyday conversations.
TL;DR, “comme quand” is a French expression used to compare two situations and highlight their similarity, and it adds a sense of familiarity and resemblance to the statement.
What does “faire couler” mean?
the phrase “faire couler” itself is used in various contexts and can have different meanings depending on the context.
In a literal sense, “faire couler” means “to make something flow” or “to cause something to flow.” For example, “faire couler de l’eau” means “to make water flow” or “to let the water flow.”
In a figurative sense, “faire couler” can be used to mean “to make someone cry” or “to move someone emotionally.” For instance, “Cette chanson me fait couler des larmes” means “This song makes me cry.”
In the context of this quiz, “faire couler” is used in its literal sense. It indicates the action of letting water flow from a container (e.g., a tap or a pitcher) into a glass. This phrase is commonly used when asking someone to pour a drink or when describing the action of pouring water into a glass.
You could say: “Peux-tu faire couler de l’eau dans la casserole, s’il te plaît ?” (“Can you fill up the pot with water, please?”)
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Do you know what “d’ailleurs”, “comme quand”, and “faire couler” mean? Hear them all in this clip from Passerelles. Listen along with this short clip, choose your level and fill in the blanks of the transcription quiz. This dictée is from French in real life. Give it a try!
