kowtow
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C2 verb /ˌkaʊˈtaʊ/

kowtow

agir de manière excessivement servile
Meaning
To act in an excessively subservient or obedient manner.
Example
He refused to kowtow to the unreasonable demands.
Il a refusé de se soumettre aux demandes déraisonnables.
B1 adverb; adjective /ˈkaɪndli/

kindly

gentiment
Meaning
in a kind or gentle manner; showing kindness or goodwill
Example
She kindly helped the old man cross the street.
Elle a gentiment aidé le vieil homme à traverser la rue.
B1 noun /ˈkɪŋdəm/

Kingdom

royaume
Meaning
a country or territory ruled by a king or queen
Example
The kingdom was known for its rich culture and traditions.
Le royaume était connu pour sa riche culture et ses traditions.
B2 noun

Kitchen garden

jardin potager; jardin près de la cuisine
B1 noun /kɪt/

kit

ensemble d'outils
Meaning
a set of tools, equipment, or materials used for a particular purpose
Example
He bought a first aid kit for emergencies.
Il a acheté une trousse de premiers secours pour les urgences.
C1 verb /ˈkɪndəl/

kindle

allumer
Meaning
to light a fire; to arouse or inspire
Example
She kindled the campfire with dry wood.
Elle a allumé le feu de camp avec du bois sec.
C1 noun

Kin

famille; parents;
B2 verb /nɪt/

knit

tricoter
Meaning
To make clothes or fabric by interlocking loops of yarn with needles.
Example
She loves to knit scarves for her friends during the winter.
Elle aime tricoter des écharpes pour ses amis pendant l'hiver.
A1 noun /kiːp/

Keep

subsistance; la partie la plus forte d'un château
Meaning
food and other things necessary for living; the strongest part of a castle
Example
He worked hard to earn his keep and support his family.
Il a travaillé dur pour gagner sa subsistance et soutenir sa famille.
C2 noun /ˈkɪŋʃɪp/

kingship

royauté
Meaning
The position, dignity, or authority of a king.
Example
The king’s advisors often reminded him of the responsibilities of kingship.
Les conseillers du roi lui rappelaient souvent les responsabilités de la royauté.
A2 adjective /kəˈriːən/

korean

coréen
Meaning
relating to Korea, its people, language, or culture
Example
We went to a Korean restaurant for dinner.
Nous sommes allés dans un restaurant coréen pour le dîner.
C1 adjective /ˈnæk.ərd/

Knackered

épuisé; fatigué
Meaning
extremely tired; exhausted
Example
I'm absolutely knackered after working all day.
Je suis complètement épuisé après avoir travaillé toute la journée.
C1 noun /ˈkɪləˌwɒt/

kilowatt

kilowatt
Meaning
a unit of power equal to 1,000 watts
Example
The generator produces ten kilowatts of electricity.
Le générateur produit dix kilowatts d'électricité.
C2 noun /kɪθ/

kith

amis
Meaning
Friends, acquaintances, and relations.
Example
He invited all his kith and kin to the wedding.
Il a invité tous ses amis et sa famille au mariage.
C1 noun /ˈkɪŋ.fɪʃ.ər/

King-Fisher

martin-pêcheur
Meaning
a small bird with bright blue and orange feathers that catches fish by diving into water
Example
The colorful kingfisher dove into the pond to catch a fish.
Le martinet coloré plongea dans l'étang pour attraper un poisson.
C2 noun /noʊl koʊl/

Knol khol

chou-rave
Meaning
round bulbous vegetable from cabbage family with pale green color and mild taste
Example
Knol khol can be eaten raw in salads or cooked in curries.
Le chou-rave peut être mangé cru dans des salades ou cuit dans des currys.
B2 noun /ˈkiː.pər/

Keeper

gardien; soigneur;
Meaning
a person whose job it is to guard or take care of something or someone; a goalkeeper
Example
The zoo keeper fed the animals every morning at eight o'clock.
Le gardien du zoo nourrissait les animaux chaque matin à huit heures.
A1 noun /kiː/

Key

clé
Meaning
a small piece of shaped metal used to operate a lock; something that provides a means of access
Example
She lost her house key and couldn't get inside until the locksmith arrived.
Elle a perdu sa clé de maison et n'a pas pu entrer avant que le serrurier n'arrive.
C2 adjective /ˈnaɪt.li/

Knightly

chevaleresque; noble et courageux
Meaning
having the characteristics of a knight; chivalrous; noble and brave
Example
He showed knightly courage in defending the innocent.
Il a montré un courage chevaleresque en défendant les innocents.
B1 noun /ˈkɪlər/

killer

tueur
Meaning
A person or thing that kills.
Example
The police caught the killer last night.
La police a attrapé le tueur hier soir.
C2 noun /ˈnɪk.næk/

knickknack

bonheur
Meaning
A small decorative object, especially in a house.
Example
The shelf was full of little knickknacks collected from their travels.
Elle n'a pas pu cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C1 noun /næk/

knack

aptitude
Meaning
a natural skill or ability; a special talent for doing something easily
Example
She has a knack for making people feel comfortable.
Elle a une aptitude à rendre les gens à l'aise.
A2 noun /kɪŋ/

King

roi
Meaning
the male ruler of an independent state, especially one who inherits the position by right of birth
Example
The king ruled the country with wisdom and fairness.
Le roi gouvernait le pays avec sagesse et équité.
A2 noun /niː/

Knee

genou
Meaning
the joint connecting the thigh and the lower leg in humans
Example
He fell and scraped his knee on the pavement.
Il est tombé et s'est écorché le genou sur le trottoir.
C2 noun /kəˈbɑːdi/

kabadi

ferrailleur
Meaning
a person who collects and sells scrap or recyclable materials, especially in South Asia
Example
The kabadi came every week to collect old newspapers and bottles.
Le ferrailleur collecte des objets usagés.
A2 noun /kaɪt/

Kite

vautour
Meaning
a bird of prey with long wings and a forked tail; also a toy flown in the air
Example
The kite soared high above the fields looking for prey.
Le cerf-volant s'est élevé haut au-dessus des champs à la recherche de proies.
B1 noun /ˈkɪləɡræm/

kilogram

kilogramme
Meaning
the base unit of mass in the metric system equal to 1,000 grams
Example
The bag of rice weighs five kilograms.
Le sac de riz pèse cinq kilogrammes.
B2 adjective /ˈnɑː.lɪ.dʒə.bəl/

Knowledgeable

instruit; cultivé; avisé
Meaning
having extensive knowledge; well-informed; educated
Example
She is very knowledgeable about ancient history.
Elle est très instruite sur l'histoire ancienne.
B2 adjective /ˌkaɪnd ˈhɑːrtɪd/

kind-hearted

gentil
Meaning
Having a kind and generous nature; showing compassion and care for others.
Example
She is known as a kind-hearted teacher who always helps her students.
Elle est connue comme une enseignante gentille qui aide toujours ses élèves.
C2 noun /kəˈdʌm.bə/

Kadamba

arbre kadamba
Meaning
A tropical tree with round, fragrant orange flowers, sacred in Hindu culture and associated with Lord Krishna
Example
The kadamba tree is mentioned frequently in ancient Indian poetry.
L'arbre kadamba est fréquemment mentionné dans la poésie ancienne indienne.
C1 noun /ˈken.əl/

Kennel

cabane pour chien; établissement pour l'élevage ou l'hébergement des chiens
Meaning
a small shelter for a dog; an establishment for the breeding or boarding of dogs
Example
The dog slept comfortably in his wooden kennel in the backyard.
Le chien a dormi confortablement dans son chenil en bois dans le jardin arrière.
C2 noun /ˌklɛptəˈmeɪniæk/

kleptomaniac

personne avec une envie irrépressible de voler
Meaning
A person with an irresistible urge to steal, typically without need or profit.
Example
The kleptomaniac was caught shoplifting again.
Le kleptomane a été pris en flagrant délit de vol dans un magasin à nouveau.
A1 verb /noʊ/

know

savoir
Meaning
to have information about something; to be familiar with
Example
I know the answer to this question.
Je sais la réponse à cette question.
C2 noun /ˈneɪvəri/

knavery

fourberie
Meaning
dishonest or deceitful behavior; trickery
Example
The politician’s knavery was exposed by the media.
La fourberie du politicien a été exposée par les médias.
A2 noun /nɒk/

Knock

coup; toc
Meaning
a sudden sharp blow; the sound of striking something
Example
There was a loud knock at the door late at night.
Il y a eu un grand coup à la porte tard dans la nuit.
B2 adjective /ˈnoʊ.ɪŋ/

Knowing

connaissance; perspicace; astucieux;
Meaning
showing awareness or understanding; perceptive; shrewd
Example
She gave him a knowing smile when he mentioned the secret.
Elle lui a donné un sourire complice quand il a mentionné le secret.
B1 adjective /kiːn/

Keen

vif; aigu; intense; avide
Meaning
sharp; acute; intense; eager
Example
She has a keen interest in science.
Elle a un vif intérêt pour la science.
C2 noun /ˈkɪzmɛt/

kismet

destin
Meaning
Destiny or fate.
Example
Meeting her on that day felt like pure kismet.
La rencontrer ce jour-là a ressemblé à un pur destin.
A2 noun /ˈkɪndərˌɡɑːrtn/

kindergarten

école maternelle
Meaning
a school or class for young children, typically between the ages of four and six
Example
She enrolled her child in kindergarten to prepare for elementary school.
Elle a inscrit son enfant à l'école maternelle pour se préparer à l'école primaire.
C1 noun /ˈkɜːrnəl/

kernel

le noyau de quelque chose; la partie comestible d'une noix ou d'une graine
Meaning
the central, most important part of something; the edible part of a nut or seed
Example
The kernel of the argument was about fairness.
Le noyau de l'argument concernait l'équité.
B2 noun /ˈker.ə.siːn/

Kerosene

kérosène
Meaning
a combustible hydrocarbon liquid widely used as a fuel in lamps and heating systems
Example
The old lamp burned kerosene to provide light during power outages.
L'ancienne lampe brûlait du kérosène pour fournir de la lumière pendant les coupures de courant.
C2 adjective /ˈnɒti/

knotty

compliqué
Meaning
Complicated, difficult to solve or full of knots.
Example
He faced a knotty legal issue.
Il a fait face à un problème juridique compliqué.
C2 noun /nɛl/

knell

glas
Meaning
The sound of a bell, especially when rung solemnly for a death or funeral; a signal of the end or failure of something.
Example
The knell of the church bell echoed through the valley at dusk.
Le glas de l'église résonnait à travers la vallée au crépuscule.
C2 adjective /ˈkɪŋ.ki/

Kinky

pratiques sexuelles non conventionnelles; cheveux frisés ou bouclés
Meaning
having or involving unconventional sexual practices; having tight curls or bends
Example
His kinky hair made him look unique.
Ses cheveux frisés le rendaient unique.
B1 noun /ˈkiː.wi/

Kiwi

kiwi
Meaning
a small brown fruit with green flesh and black seeds; a flightless bird from New Zealand
Example
I love eating fresh kiwi for breakfast.
J'adore manger des kiwis frais pour le petit déjeuner.
C2 noun /ˈkɪldʒɔɪ/

killjoy

rabat-joie
Meaning
a person who spoils the fun or enjoyment of others
Example
Don’t be a killjoy at the party.
Ne sois pas un rabat-joie à la fête.
C1 noun /kɪˈməʊnoʊ/

kimono

kimono
Meaning
a traditional Japanese robe with wide sleeves, tied with a sash
Example
She wore a beautiful silk kimono at the ceremony.
Elle portait un magnifique kimono en soie lors de la cérémonie.
C2 noun /ˈkɪləˌliːtər/

kiloliter

kilolitre
Meaning
a unit of capacity equal to 1,000 liters
Example
The tank can hold up to three kiloliters of water.
Le réservoir peut contenir jusqu'à trois kilolitres d'eau.
C1 noun /nɒb/

Knob

une poignée ronde sur une porte ou un tiroir; un petit interrupteur rond sur une machine
Meaning
a rounded handle on a door or drawer; a small rounded switch on a machine
Example
He turned the brass knob to open the old wooden door.
Il a tourné le bouton en laiton pour ouvrir la vieille porte en bois.
B2 noun /nɒt/

Knot

nœud
Meaning
a fastening made by tying a piece of string, rope, or something similar; a hard mass in wood
Example
The sailor tied a secure knot to anchor the boat safely.
Le marin a fait un nœud sécurisé pour ancrer le bateau en toute sécurité.
A2 adjective /noʊn/

known

connu
Meaning
recognized or familiar; something that is identified or acknowledged
Example
He is a well-known actor in the country.
Il est un acteur bien connu dans le pays.
C1 noun /ˈnaɪt.hʊd/

knighthood

chevalerie
Meaning
The rank or dignity of a knight, or the ceremony of conferring knighthood.
Example
He was honored with knighthood for his contributions to science.
Il a été honoré avec la chevalerie pour ses contributions à la science.
C1 noun /ˈkærət/

karat

carat
Meaning
A unit for measuring the purity of gold, with 24 karats being pure gold.
Example
The ring was made of 18-karat gold.
L'anneau était fait en or 18 carats.
B1 noun /kɪk/

Kick

coup de pied; frappe avec le pied
Meaning
a blow or forceful thrust with the foot; a sudden strong feeling of excitement
Example
The soccer player scored a goal with a powerful kick from outside the penalty area.
Le joueur de football a marqué un but avec un puissant coup de pied depuis l'extérieur de la surface de réparation.
A1 noun /ˈkɪtʃən/

Kitchen

cuisine
Meaning
a room or area where food is prepared and cooked
Example
The kitchen was filled with the smell of fresh bread.
La cuisine était remplie de l'odeur du pain frais.
C2 noun /ˈkɪŋɡlɪŋ/

kingling

petit roi
Meaning
A minor or petty king; a ruler of small importance.
Example
The kingling demanded respect from his people despite his small realm.
Le petit roi exigeait le respect de son peuple malgré son petit royaume.
B2 verb /niːl/

kneel

s'agenouiller
Meaning
to go down on one's knees; to rest on the knees
Example
The knight knelt before the king.
Le chevalier s'est agenouillé devant le roi.
A2 noun /ˈkiːbɔːrd/

keyboard

clavier
Meaning
a set of keys used to operate a computer, typewriter, or similar device for inputting text and commands
Example
She typed the report quickly on her keyboard.
Elle a tapé le rapport rapidement sur le clavier.
C1 adjective /kɪˈnɛtɪk/

kinetic

cinétique
Meaning
Relating to or resulting from motion.
Example
Kinetic energy increases as the object moves faster.
L'énergie cinétique augmente à mesure que l'objet se déplace plus vite.
B2 noun /ˈkiːɒsk/

kiosk

kiosque
Meaning
A small, open-fronted hut or cubicle from which newspapers, refreshments, tickets, etc., are sold.
Example
She bought a bottle of water from the kiosk near the station.
Elle a acheté une bouteille d'eau au kiosque près de la gare.
C1 noun /ˈkiːpˌseɪk/

keepsake

souvenir
Meaning
An object kept as a reminder of a person, place, or event.
Example
She gave me a small locket as a keepsake of our friendship.
Elle m'a donné un petit pendentif comme souvenir de notre amitié.
A1 adjective /kaɪnd/

Kind

gentil; compatissant
Meaning
gentle; caring; compassionate; showing sympathy
Example
He is a kind person who always helps others.
C'est une personne gentille qui aide toujours les autres.
A2 verb /kɪl/

kill

tuer
Meaning
to cause the death of; to end life
Example
The hunter killed the deer.
Le chasseur a tué le cerf.
B2 verb /ˈkɪdnæp/

kidnap

kidnapper
Meaning
to take someone away illegally by force
Example
The criminals kidnapped the wealthy businessman.
Les criminels ont kidnappé le riche homme d'affaires.
C1 noun, adjective /ˈkɪndrəd/

kindred

bonheur
Meaning
A person's relatives or family; similar in nature or character.
Example
They discovered kindred spirits in each other.
Elle ne pouvait pas cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
A2 noun /naɪf/

Knife

couteau
Meaning
a cutting instrument with a sharp blade
Example
She used a sharp knife to cut the vegetables for dinner.
Elle a utilisé un couteau tranchant pour couper les légumes pour le dîner.
C1 noun ˈkiː.stəʊn ˈspiː.ʃiːz

keystone species

espèce clé
Meaning
A species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend, such that if it were removed the ecosystem would change drastically.
Example
Wolves are a keystone species that regulate prey populations.
Les loups sont une espèce clé qui régule les populations de proies.
C1 noun /kəˈlaɪdəˌskoʊp/

kaleidoscope

kaléidoscope
Meaning
A toy or instrument with mirrors and colored pieces that create changing patterns when rotated; also used metaphorically for a constantly changing sequence of patterns or elements.
Example
The city lights turned into a kaleidoscope of colors as the festival began.
Les lumières de la ville se sont transformées en un kaléidoscope de couleurs lorsque le festival a commencé.
B1 noun /kɪˈlɒmɪtər/ or /ˈkɪləˌmiːtər/

kilometer

kilomètre
Meaning
a unit of length equal to 1,000 meters
Example
The village is about five kilometers away from the town.
Le village est à environ cinq kilomètres de la ville.
B1 noun; gerund /ˈnɪtɪŋ/

knitting

tricot
Meaning
the craft or activity of making fabric by interlocking loops of yarn with needles; the act of forming something closely or firmly together
Example
She spends her evenings knitting scarves for her family.
Elle passe ses soirées à faire du tricot pour sa famille.
A2 noun /ˈket.əl/

Kettle

bouilloire
Meaning
a container used for boiling water, typically with a lid, spout, and handle
Example
The electric kettle whistled when the water reached boiling point.
La bouilloire électrique a sifflé lorsque l'eau a atteint le point d'ébullition.
C2 noun /kəˈrɒn.də/

Karonda

karonda
Meaning
a small dark purple berry-like fruit that is sour and used in pickles
Example
Karonda is often used to make pickles and preserves.
Le karonda est souvent utilisé pour préparer des cornichons et des confitures.
B2 noun /ˈkɪdni/

Kidney

rein
Meaning
either of a pair of organs that filter waste products from the blood and produce urine
Example
Drinking plenty of water helps keep your kidneys healthy.
Boire suffisamment d'eau aide à garder vos reins en bonne santé.
A2 noun /ˌkæŋ.ɡəˈruː/

Kangaroo

kangourou
Meaning
a large marsupial from Australia that moves by hopping on its strong hind legs
Example
The kangaroo jumped high with its joey in its pouch.
Le kangourou a sauté haut avec son petit dans sa poche.
C1 noun /ˈkuːdɒs/

kudos

éloges
Meaning
Praise and honor received for an achievement.
Example
She received kudos for her excellent performance.
Elle a reçu des éloges pour sa performance exceptionnelle.
C1 adverb /ˈnoʊɪŋli/

knowingly

consciemment
Meaning
in a way that shows you are aware of something; intentionally
Example
She knowingly kept the secret from her friends.
Elle a consciemment gardé le secret de ses amis.
B2 noun /ˈkɪlɪŋ/

killing

meurtre
Meaning
the act of causing death, especially deliberately
Example
The movie depicts the brutal killing of the villagers.
Le film montre le meurtre brutal des villageois.
A2 noun /ˈketʃ.ʌp/

Ketch-up

sauce tomate
Meaning
a thick sauce made chiefly from tomatoes, vinegar, and spices
Example
She squeezed some ketchup on her french fries before eating them.
Elle a mis un peu de ketchup sur ses frites avant de les manger.
C2 noun /noʊl/

Knoll

petite colline; monticule
Meaning
a small rounded hill or mound
Example
The old oak tree stood majestically on top of the grassy knoll.
Le vieux chêne se dressait majestueusement au sommet de la petite colline herbeuse.
A2 verb /kɪs/

Kiss

embrasser
Meaning
to touch with the lips as a sign of affection
Example
The mother kissed her baby goodnight.
La mère embrassa son bébé bonne nuit.
C2 noun /ˌkiː.təʊˈdʒen.ɪ.sɪs/

ketogenesis

processus de production de cétones
Meaning
The metabolic process by which the liver produces ketones from fatty acids, providing an alternative energy source during low carbohydrate availability.
Example
Ketogenesis occurs during fasting or low-carb diets.
La cétogenèse se produit lors du jeûne ou des régimes pauvres en glucides.
C1 verb /niːd/

knead

pétrir
Meaning
to work dough or clay into a uniform mixture by pressing, folding, and stretching
Example
She kneads the dough until it becomes smooth.
Elle pétrit la pâte jusqu'à ce qu'elle devienne lisse.
C2 noun /ˈkɜːrtʃɪf/

kerchief

foulard
Meaning
a piece of cloth worn around the head or neck
Example
She wore a red kerchief on her head.
Elle portait un foulard rouge sur la tête.
C2 noun /kɛn/

ken

compréhension
Meaning
one's range of knowledge or understanding
Example
Quantum physics is beyond my ken.
La physique quantique est au-delà de ma compréhension.
A2 verb /kɪd/

kid

plaisanter
Meaning
to joke or tease; to speak in a playful manner
Example
I'm just kidding with you.
Je rigole juste avec toi.
C2 noun /ˈkedʒ.ə.riː/

Kedgeree

kedgeree
Meaning
a European dish of cooked rice, fish, and hard-boiled eggs, originally from India
Example
The breakfast menu featured traditional kedgeree with smoked haddock and eggs.
Le menu du petit-déjeuner proposait un kedgeree traditionnel avec du haddock fumé et des œufs.
C2 noun /kɪln/

kiln

four de potier
Meaning
a furnace or oven for burning, baking, or drying, especially one for firing pottery or bricks
Example
The potter placed the clay pots into the kiln for firing.
Le potier a placé les pots en argile dans le four de potier pour les cuire.
A2 noun /ˈnɒl.ɪdʒ/

knowledge

connaissance
Meaning
Facts, information, and skills acquired through experience or education.
Example
Knowledge of the universe is expanding through research.
La connaissance de l'univers s'étend grâce à la recherche.
C2 noun /neɪv/

Knave

personne malhonnête; valet sur une carte de jeu
Meaning
a dishonest person, especially a man; a playing card with a picture of a male servant
Example
The knave tried to cheat the old woman out of her savings.
Le fourbe a essayé de tromper la vieille femme pour lui voler ses économies.
B1 noun /naɪt/

Knight

chevalier; chevalier médiéval
Meaning
a man given a rank of honor by a British king or queen; a medieval warrior on horseback
Example
The brave knight rescued the princess from the dragon's castle.
Le chevalier courageux a sauvé la princesse du château du dragon.
B1 noun

Kindness

bonté; gentillesse; bienveillance
A2 noun /ˈkɪt.ən/

Kitten

chaton
Meaning
a young cat
Example
The little kitten loves to play with yarn balls.
Le petit chaton adore jouer avec des boules de laine.
C2 noun

Kinsfolk

famille, proches