Views from a Paris window   +  Yellow

French Lesson No. 8 - Les Couleurs Jaune et Orange & Beau vs. Belle

une rue = street
(image via Menton Daily Photo)

un village = a village
(via Fede0253 on Flickr)
Bonjour, mes étudiants! Pack your valises for a journey to the French and Italian Rivieras. We are going to be bathing in the beautiful yellows and oranges of the Mediterranean coastlines! I have to admit that when I started planning this yellow and orange French lesson that I was a bit, well uninterested, because I am not usually drawn to these colors. However, I got to thinking about my previous travels to Provence, Nice, Monaco, Sorrento, and Pompei, and I remembered that there is an entire world full of beautiful yellows and oranges. I hope that you not only learn something new about the French language, but you are also transported to these beautiful places!

un tissu = fabric

(photo via Erinpk on Flickr)

Today's objectives:

  • Vocabulaire - French words for things that are commonly yellow or orange
  • Adjectives - Beau and Belle - Correct usage and placement of these adjectives
  • Intermediate/Advanced -Making adjectives agree with plural nouns
  • Advanced -French Cartoon - A Lemon Holdup!

The color for yellow in French is jaune.

The color for orange in French is orange.

une épice = spice; les épices = spices
(via Arnaumax on Flickr)

un citron = lemon; les citrons = lemons
une orange = orange; les oranges = oranges
(via Jeff Biglan on Flickr)

Different variations of yellow and orange:
butter yellow = jaune beurre
canary yellow = jaune canari
gold-yellow =jaune doré
lemon-yellow = jaune citron
burnt orange = orange-brulée
yellow-orange= orangé-jaune

Examples
a canary yellow house = une maison jaune canari
a burnt orange spice = une épice orange brulé

la glace = ice-cream
(via Martha Stewart.com)

Beau vs Belle
Beau = beautiful (masucline object)
Belle = beautiful (feminine object)
Examples
un beau village = a beautiful village
une belle rue = a beautiful street

NOTE- when using beau or belle, you place them BEFORE the noun. However, the majority of French adjectives go AFTER the noun as in colors or our easy adjectives that we learned about several weeks ago.
Examples
un beau village jaune vif = A beautiful, bright yellow village
une belle robe unique = a beautiful, unique dress

un beau gâteau = a beautiful cake

(via Martha Stewart.com)


Intermediate/Advanced

So, this lesson will now get a little more complicated. If you studied French in highschool or college and are familiar with some of the rules in the French language, you will be fine. If not, you may get a little confused!

Making beau, belle, jaune, and orange agree with plural nouns:
Belle becomes belles
Beau becomes beaux
Jaune becomes jaunes
Orange (the color) NEVER changes. Do not add an "s" when it modifies a plural noun.
Examples
Les beaux tissus jaunes = Beautiful yellow fabrics
Les belles coquelicots orange = Beautiful orange poppies

une coquelicot = poppy; les coquelicots = poppies
(via Moonjazz on Flickr)

une fleur = flower; les fleurs = flowers
une botte des fleurs = a bunch (ie. a bundle) of flowers
(via Londontraveller on Flickr)

un beau ruban orange = a beautiful orange ribbon

(via Martha Stewart.com)

une belle invitation= a beautiful invitation

(via Martha Stewart.com)

un citron pressé = lemonade

(via ::Fanny:: on Flickr)

Advanced
I accidentally stumbled upon the dessin français and thought it was hilarious!

un citron faché et fauché! = An angry, broke lemon!
(via Ideoblc Flickr)
Translation - for those interested or in need!
Top bubble- "More zest, I am pressed (literally pressed as in citron pressé) but pressé also means "in a hurry"
Bottom bubble - "Stay calm and there won't be any difficulties/problems" Here is the play on words "pépins can mean difficulties or SEEDS!

Please let me know that I am not the only person who thinks this is very funny!

une voiture = car
(via Dustoh on Flickr)

les vacances = vacation! (Note the word vacation is plural! The vacations:)

(via Mario Bertocchi on Flickr)

Roll call- Send me a comment that you attended this lesson

Homework - Make a caption for either of the two last photos!

Student feedback - If you have any comments or suggestions concerning the French lessons, please share. I realize that this lesson is long and a bit more difficult than usual!!

Bonne journée et à la prochaine!