Hard-difficulty flashcards focusing on advanced French vocabulary, nuanced translation, and stylistic usage for A-Level French Language and Literature preparation.
20 cards
Front
Avaler des couleuvres
Back
Translation: To swallow grass snakes. Meaning: To put up with insults or injustices without complaining; to endure humiliations. Context: Often used in discursive essays when discussing political resignation or social submission. Pronunciation: [a-va-le de ku-lœvʁ]
Front
L'anglicisme
Back
Definition: The usage of a word or phrase borrowed from English into French. Context: A key topic in cultural identity debates; purists view it as a threat to the language (e.g., 'le parking'), while others see it as linguistic evolution. Example: 'Le spam' versus 'le pourriel'.
Front
Néanmoins
Back
Translation: Nevertheless / Nonetheless. Nuance: Slightly more formal than 'pourtant' or 'cependant'; indicates a strong, logical contradiction. Usage: Essential for structuring high-level arguments (AO3) in Paper 2 essays. Pronunciation: [ne-nɑ̃-mwɛ̃]
Front
L'hexagone
Back
Translation: The hexagon. Meaning: The standard metonym for Metropolitan France (due to its geometric shape). Context: Frequently used in political journalism and geography to distinguish mainland France from overseas territories (DOM-TOM).
Front
La frilosité
Back
Literal translation: Chilliness / The state of being sensitive to the cold. Figurative meaning: Excessive prudence, timidity, or fear of taking risks. Context: Commonly used in political discourse to criticize governments or leaders who hesitate to implement necessary reforms.
Sign up to access the full deck with spaced repetition review.
Sign Up — Free