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.
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The snippet in English
Find a translation of this snippet here, how much of this did you hear?
« La chercheuse » « La chercheuse » nous dit le Point, « dotée de tout son attirail d’instruments de dentiste, tente de déterminer précisément les proportions d’aliments d’origine animale, végétale ou marine de propriétaires des dents qu’elle passe au crible ». Résultat : « En Europe, Neandertal mangeait de grands mammifères, surtout du mammouth, mais aussi du cerf ou du renne. Et (détail croustillant) de la viande putride avec des asticots ». Végétariens s’abstenir…
“The researcher” ‘The researcher’, says Le Point, ‘equipped with all her dentist’s instruments, is trying to determine precisely the proportions of food of animal, vegetable or marine origin of the owners of the teeth she is sifting through’. The result: “In Europe, Neanderthals ate large mammals, especially mammoths, but also deer and reindeer. And (crunchy detail) putrid meat with maggots”. Vegetarians abstain…
Translated with Deepl.
What does “La chercheuse” mean?
La chercheuse = the (female) researcher. “The researcher,” says Le Point → Le Point is reporting or quoting what the researcher said.
This is a common journalistic structure in French, where the subject (in quotes) is introduced first, followed by the reporting source. It reflects the style of news headlines or subheadings, often for rhythm or emphasis.
It’s the person being referenced or quoted, with Le Point being the one doing the quoting.
What does “dotée de” mean?
Dotée de means equipped with, endowed with, or provided with, and it’s the feminine past participle of the verb doter de, agreeing with a feminine noun.
Une société dotée de solides ressources.
(A company equipped with strong resources.)
Une femme dotée d’un grand courage.
(A woman endowed with great courage.)
Dotée de capteurs intelligents, la machine ajuste sa vitesse.
(Equipped with smart sensors, the machine adjusts its speed.)
It’s often used in formal or descriptive language, especially when talking about abilities, qualities, tools, or infrastructure. Culturally, it adds a sense of purposeful, inherent, or gifted possession, whether natural (like talent) or assigned (like funding or equipment).
What does “attirail” mean?
Attirail means gear, equipment, or paraphernalia, and refers to a set of objects or tools, often seen as excessive, elaborate, or over-prepared.
Tout cet attirail pour une simple randonnée ? (All that gear for a simple hike?)
Il est arrivé avec tout un attirail électronique. (He showed up with a whole bunch of electronic equipment.)
L’attirail du parfait cuisinier est impressionnant. (The perfect cook’s full setup is impressive.)
It can describe anything from camping gear to makeup kits, often with a slightly amused or critical tone. In French, attirail suggests someone is fully loaded with accessories—maybe more than necessary.
What does “tente de” mean?
Tente de + infinitive means tries to [do something] and uses the verb tenter, which is slightly more formal than essayer.
Il tente de comprendre la situation. (He tries to understand the situation.)
Elle tente de réparer l’erreur. (She tries to fix the mistake.)
While essayer de is more common in everyday speech, tenter de often appears in writing, news, or serious contexts. It suggests a deliberate or even difficult effort, rather than a casual attempt.
What does “passer au crible” mean?
Passe au crible means goes over with a fine-tooth comb or is closely examined. It comes from the noun crible, meaning sieve, so the phrase literally means passes through the sieve—i.e., nothing escapes scrutiny.
Le rapport passe au crible les dépenses de l’année.
(The report closely examines the year’s expenses.)
Son passé a été passé au crible par les journalistes.
(His past was thoroughly examined by journalists.)
It’s often used in journalism, analysis, and investigations, where facts, behaviors, or systems are being picked apart in detail. Culturally, the phrase signals serious scrutiny, often with an implied search for flaws or inconsistencies.
What does “grands mammifères” mean?
Grands mammifères means large mammals and refers to big-bodied warm-blooded animals like elephants, bears, whales, lions, etc.
Les grands mammifères sont souvent en haut de la chaîne alimentaire.
(Large mammals are often at the top of the food chain.)
C’est une réserve naturelle où vivent encore plusieurs grands mammifères.
(It’s a nature reserve where several large mammals still live.)
This term is often used in biology, ecology, or environmental discussions to highlight species that are ecologically important, vulnerable, or symbolic of conservation efforts. In scientific and media contexts, it can evoke both majestic presence and fragility, as many grands mammifères face habitat loss or extinction.
What does “détail croustillant” mean?
Détail croustillant means juicy detail or salacious detail—literally, crunchy detail. It’s a playful and vivid expression used when referring to a spicy, surprising, or entertaining piece of information, especially in gossip, celebrity news, or scandal.
Le journaliste a révélé quelques détails croustillants sur l’affaire.
(The journalist revealed some juicy details about the case.)
Elle a raconté tous les détails croustillants de son rendez-vous.
*(She shared all the juicy details of her date.)
Culturally, croustillant shifts from its literal meaning (crispy) to metaphorical when applied to stories—it suggests amusement, intrigue, or shock value. It’s informal and often used with a wink, not in serious or academic contexts.
What does “” mean?
What does “” mean?
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