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Typical Food

The cuisine of France comprises a wide variety of foods and of great prestige in the world, mainly in the West. The wide range of cheeses, wines, meats and sweets is the brand image of France in terms of cuisine.

The food of the day consists of a light breakfast (slices of baguette, with jelly and butter, or croissant or pain au chocolat, tea, coffee, milk with cereals or yogurt or hot chocolate, fruit or juice); lunch, between noon and 2pm; dinner in the evening. A normal full meal consists of starter (raw vegetables or salad), main course (meat or fish, with accompanying vegetables, pasta, rice or chips), dessert (fruit, pies, cakes, cream or compote) and cheese.

Each French region has its own cuisine: the northwest cuisine uses butter, crème fraîche and apples; Provençal cuisine (from the southeast) prefers olive oil, greens and tomatoes; Southwest uses duck fat, liver (foie gras), mushrooms (cèpes) and gizzards; Northeastern cuisine uses lard, sausages and sauerkraut.

France has the culture of everyday wine consumption. However, this characteristic has been decreasing, and today only about 28.67% of the French consume wine daily. Especially, the consumption of cheaper wines during meals has greatly decreased. Beer is popular, especially among young people. Other popular alcoholic drinks include: in the southeast, pastis, flavored with anise seeds and diluted with water, very popular in summer; and the cider in the northeast.

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Curiosity

Did you know that in english some french words are used normally?

Here are some of them:

cliché The term used to refer to a printer’s block used to reproduce type (now stereotype.

crème de la crème  A sophisticated, classy synonym in French is the latin expression ‘le nec plus ultra’. Also see ‘par excellence’.

déjà vu In French, generally used with ‘une impression de’ (a feeling of).

Et voilà ! in French, it is used to announce something is completed or done with success, with a feeling of satisfaction or pride, in front of others.

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Just in time for Bastille Day, our French e-Tutor Sev shares some French words you probably already know if you speak English!
Every language accepts in its vocabulary a number foreign words and expressions, often using them in their original meaning. It is always fascinating to contemplate the 'limits' of a language to signify things but especially thoughts, and why these foreign words were kept in their original form, as if surrendering willingly to the fact that they are a better expression than an equivalent.

At some point, if those words force themselves into everyday use because of the strong influence of a culture, some of these words become fully integrated after undergoing some degree of transformation; that is the case today in French with a number of English terms, especially pertaining to internet technology.

Here is a collection of French words commonly used today in both French and English language, with the same meaning:

avant-garde (ah-vah(n)-gahr-d(uh)
Originally a military term for 'vanguard', the first guard on the frontline. In French used especially in the Arts.

carte blanche (kahr-tuh blahn-sh(uh))
lit. 'white card', as in a blank check), usually meaning granting unlimited authority. In French, generally used with the verb 'donner'(to give).

cliché (m.) (klee-sheh)
The term used to refer to a printer's block used to reproduce type (now stereotype.

crème (f.) de la crème (kraym duh lah kraym)
lit. 'cream of the cream'. A sophisticated, classy synonym in French is the latin expression 'le nec plus ultra'. Also see 'par excellence'.

cul (m.)-de-sac (kew-duh-sahk)
Dating from 14th century French, lit. 'bottom of sack', meaning a dead end (street). French synonyms include 'impasse' (f.) and 'voie (f.) sans issue' (lit. way without exit).

déjà vu (deh-zhah vew)
lit. "already seen". In French, generally used with 'une impression de' (a feeling of).

faux pas (m.) (foh pah)
lit. "false step", an expression describing not following the etiquette. In French it is used with the verb 'faire' (un faux-pas).

je ne sais quoi (zhuh nuh say kwah)
lit. "I-don't-know-what". Used to convey the indescribable or indefinable character of something in an object or a person. In French, it is typically preceded by 'un certain' (a certain).

liaison (f.) (lyay-soh(n)
In French it means a 'bond', which can describe several things, like a relationship, an affair, a link, a connection, or a chemical bond.

par excellence (pahr ayk-seh-lah(n)-s(uh))
lit. 'by excellence', meaning the ultimate or quintessential.

quel dommage (kehl doh-mah-zh(uh))
Meaning 'What a pity', the expression can be used as a sarcasm. In French, it could also be found as 'C'est dommage' (It's too bad). In an other context, 'Dommage' means 'damage' or 'compensation'.

raison (f.) d'être (ray-soh(n) day-tr(uh)
lit. 'reason for being'. Used to describe what gives meaning, justification or purpose of someone or something's existence.

sauté (soh-teh)
lit. 'jumped'. From the verb 'sauter' (to jump). It is used either as an adjective or a noun.

savoir-faire (m.) (sah-vwahr fayr)
lit. 'know do'; meaning 'know how', to describe the competence or the craft of a person or a group of persons.

trompe-l'œil (m.) (troh(m)p luh-y(uh))
lit. 'trick/deceive the eye'. A term used in art of architecture to point out photographic realism technique using an optical illusion of perspective. Can be used preceded by 'en' (in).

vis-à-vis (vee-zah-vee)
lit. 'face to face'. Meaning 'regarding' or 'concerning'. In French, it is then followed by 'de' It is also a real estate term (lack of privacy because of windows in neighbors' sight).

Et voilà ! (eh vwah-lah)
lit. 'see there'; in French, it is used to announce something is completed or done with success, with a feeling of satisfaction or pride, in front of others.

Ready to learn more French? Get started today with our French Online course.

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French Words and Expressions Used in English

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Just in time for Bastille Day, our French e-Tutor Sev shares some French words you probably already know if you speak English! Every language accepts in its vocabulary a number foreign words and expressions, often using them in their original ... Continue reading →

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Tourist spots
France has several touristic points, including some of great historical importance.

Like the Eiffel Tower, a construction made to commemorate the centenary of the French Revolution and which turned 130 last Wednesday (05/15/2019).
Museum of the Louvre, which comprises about 300,000 works prior to 1948, of which approximately 35,000 are exhibited and which was formed from the collections of the French monarchy and the spoliation carried out during the Napoleonic Empire.
Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris, is a building dedicated to the Virgin Mary, has a Gothic style that differs from the Romanesque style by having tall columns and arches that support the weight of the roofs.
Palace of Versailles, when Louis XIV moved from Paris until the royal family was forced to return to the capital in 1789, the Court of Versailles was the center of the power of the Old Regime in France.
Arc de Triomphe, is a monument located in the city of Paris, built in commemoration of the military victories of Napoleon Bonaparte, who ordered its construction in 1806.
Champs-Élysées, is one of the most famous avenues in the world, is the second most expensive avenue in real estate throughout Europe and its name refers to the haven of the dead in Greek mythology.

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Typical Food

The cuisine of France comprises a wide variety of foods and of great prestige in the world, mainly in the West. The wide range of cheeses, wines, meats and sweets is the brand image of France in terms of cuisine.

The food of the day consists of a light breakfast (slices of baguette, with jelly and butter, or croissant or pain au chocolat, tea, coffee, milk with cereals or yogurt or hot chocolate, fruit or juice); lunch, between noon and 2pm; dinner in the evening. A normal full meal consists of starter (raw vegetables or salad), main course (meat or fish, with accompanying vegetables, pasta, rice or chips), dessert (fruit, pies, cakes, cream or compote) and cheese.

Each French region has its own cuisine: the northwest cuisine uses butter, crème fraîche and apples; Provençal cuisine (from the southeast) prefers olive oil, greens and tomatoes; Southwest uses duck fat, liver (foie gras), mushrooms (cèpes) and gizzards; Northeastern cuisine uses lard, sausages and sauerkraut.

France has the culture of everyday wine consumption. However, this characteristic has been decreasing, and today only about 28.67% of the French consume wine daily. Especially, the consumption of cheaper wines during meals has greatly decreased. Beer is popular, especially among young people. Other popular alcoholic drinks include: in the southeast, pastis, flavored with anise seeds and diluted with water, very popular in summer; and the cider in the northeast.

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Culinária da França - Wikipédia, a enciclopédia livre

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Tradicionalmente, cada região francesa tem uma culinária própria: a culinária do noroeste usa manteiga, crème fraîche e maçãs; a culinária provençal (do sudeste) prefere azeite, verduras e tomates; a do sudoeste usa gordura de pato, fígado ( foie gras), cogumelos ( cèpes) e moelas; a culinária do nordeste relembra a culinária da Alemanha e usa banha de porco, salsichas e chucrute.

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PAULO HIERO           SPORTS

Football is the most popular sport in France with 18,000 registered clubs having a total of more than 1,800,000 players on their rosters. The French national football team called "Les Bleus" is one of the most successful teams in the world with a FIFA World Cup (1998), a second place in the FIFA World Cup (2006) and two European Championships (1984 and 2000). France have also produced many record holders, including Zinedine Zidane, who has received three-time FIFA World Player of the Year, Michel Paltini, three-time Golden Ball champion Raymond Kopa, the first football player to receive the trophy. Legion d'honneur, the all-time top scorer of national team Thierry Henry and Just Fontaine, who holds the record for most goals scored in a World Cup.

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Flag and official language

The French flag was officially adopted on February 15, 1794. ... Blue, white and red have come to represent liberty, equality and fraternity - the ideals of the French Revolution.

Language
According to the site WordAtlas, the offical language of France is French, but there are some  regional languages that are divided into 5 language family subgroups: Vasconic, Italo-Dalmatian, Gallo-Romance, Germanic, and Celtic.

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The flag of France.

Official Language of France

France is a country located in the western region of Europe and has a population size of approximately 64.86 million people. Additionally, France has a number of territories and regions around the world, with a total population of 2.13 million. French has been the official language of France since 1992, but has been the country's administrative language for legal documents and laws since 1539.

The French language evolved from the Vulgar Latin language, which was used during the Roman Empire. This language is believed to have originated in the northern region of present-day France and gradually evolved into Old French and Middle French, respectively. Today, Modern French is considered part of the Indo-European language family and belongs to the Romance language subgroup.

As the official language, French is the primary form of communication used by government and the education system. Additionally, the law dictates that all legal contracts and commercial advertising must be available in French, although other languages are also permitted with a French translation. This language is also one of the official languages of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the United Nations, and the European Union.

Regional Languages of France

Over 25 regional languages are spoken throughout Metropolitan France and some of these are spoken in neighboring countries such as Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Belgium. The regional languages of France are divided into 5 language family subgroups: Vasconic, Italo-Dalmatian, Gallo-Romance, Germanic, and Celtic. The Gallo-Romance language subgroup is further divided into the largest number of regional languages and has the largest number of speakers.

The most widely spoken regional language in France is Occitan, a Gallo-Romance language, which can be heard throughout the southern region of the country. Linguists believe this language originated in the 10th century, when it was used to write poetry. Nearly 1,000 years later, in the late 19th century, a poet attempted to revive the language by standardizing its written form.

Today, Occitan is spoken by approximately 610,000 individuals and consists of 7 dialects: Gascon, Limousin, Nissart, Languedocien, Provençal, Auvergnat, and Vivaroalpenc. Most speakers of these languages belong to older generations and speak French as a first language, which means the Occitan dialects are in danger of becoming extinct.

Immigrant Languages Spoken in France

In addition to the large number of regional languages spoken in France, a wide variety of immigrant languages have also become an important part of daily life in the country. The most widely spoken immigrant languages in France include English, German, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Turkish, Maghrebi Arabic, Berber, and Vietnamese.

According to the 1999 census, Maghrebi Arabic is the most widely spoken immigrant language in this country. Approximately 940,000 individuals, or 2.05% of the population of Metropolitan France, reported speaking the Maghrebi Arabic language as their native tongue. Additionally, it is considered the most commonly spoken second language in this country, and millions of individuals report speaking it at home. Most of these second-language speakers are likely children of first-generation immigrants. Maghrebi Arabic, sometimes known as Western Arabic, originates in and is primarily spoken in Algeria, Morocco, Libya, and Tunisia.

1. Home

2. Society

3. What Languages Are Spoken in France?

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French is the official language of France.

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Climate
-  Along the Atlantic seaboard, in the West of France, there is an oceanic climate. Temperature differences are moderate and the winters are mild but damp. It rains relatively frequently.
- In the East, the climate is continental. Summers are warm, with some thunderstorms, and winters are cold. Temperatures can drop below 0 degrees Celsius.
- In the South, the climate is Mediterranean. Summers are hot and winters mild and dry.
- In the overseas departments, the climate is tropical and temperatures rarely dip below 20 degrees Celsius

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France enjoys a temperate climate and fairly mild weather. But the rhythm of the seasons is well-marked, in both the North and South.

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Cost Of Living and Currency

In France, is used Euro as currency,  but in some colonies its used Franco.

To Give an idea to its readers
about cost of living in France, the site International Living made a simulation by keeping an apartment for two people;

In total, it will cost around €235.76 euros or $267.82 dollars. That means around 1045,61 reais at 4.44 euro value.

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Cost of Living in France

How much you spend on living costs in France each month will depend on your own lifestyle and where you plan to take up residence. Opting for the highlife in Paris is likely to make larger holes in any budget than modest tranquility in a quiet corner of France, such as the Charentes or the Auvergne.

Your weekly food costs will depend on whether you shop at an out-of-town supermarket chain such as Carrefour or at a local grocer, which will be more expensive. Stores in most towns are small, quirky, and individual-not dedicated to one-stop shopping. If you want a baguette, you go to the boulangerie. You buy cigarettes from the tabac, meat from the boucherie, chocolate from the confisserie.

Although there's nothing wrong with doing some of your bulk buying at a supermarket, one of the great pleasures of France is its markets. Outdoor markets provide fresher pickings and bargains can be had if you head over towards closing time, at around 1 p.m. The Marché d'Aligre, in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, is one of the cheapest-and busiest-markets and is complemented with a covered market for meat, poultry, and cheeses.

If you're renting an apartment, you will have to pay for the maintenance of the building and other facilities. The charge covers such things as staircase cleaning, concierge charges, elevator repair, water, etc. The more luxurious the residence, the more you'll pay. These charges are often included in the rental price as " charges compris." If it's not, it'll appear as a separate item as " charges." The average cost in Paris for monthly maintenance charges is €25 ($29.75) per square meter per year (€2.32 [$2.76] per square foot).

Utility costs will also depend on the size of your property, as well as the climate. For most couples living in a typical village house outside of the coldest alpine regions, gas and electricity costs are likely to be in the region of $50 per month in spring and summer, and around $100 monthly in winter. With respect to phone, internet and basic cable TV, you can usually get a "package deal" that drives the cost even lower-sometimes as low as €60 ($68) a month (or less) for all three...including calls to the U.S. and UK.

Cost of Living in France: Sample Monthly Budget

To give you an idea of how much you might spend in a month, here are the costs for running an apartment for two people:

Euro

U.S. Dollar

Monthly Total €235.76 $267.82

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Cost of Living in France 2019: Example Table of Expenses Included

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The military history of France during World War II covers three periods. From 1939 until 1940, which witnessed a war against Germany by the French Third Republic. The period from 1940 until 1945, which saw competition between Vichy France and the Free French Forces under General Charles de Gaulle for control of the overseas empire. And 1944, witnessing the landings of the Allies in France (Normandy, Provence), expelling the German Army and putting an end to the Vichy Regime.

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Curiosity > History > Bastille in FRENCH REVOLUTION 1789

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Curiosity > History > Bastille in FRENCH REVOLUTION 1789

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Based on the concept of being a respresentation of control and power by the king, the Bastille is viewed as the trigger that began the French Revolution of 1789.

Bastille started by being a fortress serving to protect Paris while the Hundred Years War was happening, after that, it was mostly used as a prison by King Louis XVI.

As the crowd, or there called the Third Estate, demanded more say in the government, they were worried that the king was preparing the French army for an attack. In order to arm themselves,
they first took over the Hotel des Invalides in Paris where they were able to get muskets. However, they didn't have gun powder. Powder that they would get inside the Bastille.

In July 14th of 1789, everyone headed to the place, demanded for the leader to surrender the prison and hand over the gunpowder.

After pointless negotiations, the crowd get so agitated that started to invade the Bastille dependencies. As the invasion and battles continued, even guards of the fortress
joined the revolutionaries to take down the leader, Governor de Launay.
When he realized the situation, surrendered himself. And so, he and more faithfull guards were killed, as victory sign.

July 14 is celebrated as the French National Day, very similiar to the Fourth of July in USA.

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French Revolution for Kids: Storming of the Bastille

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Kids learn about the Storming of the Bastille during the French Revolution including what was the Bastille, who stormed it, why they stormed it, the aftermath, and interesting facts. Educational article for students, schools, and teachers.