patronizing
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C1 adjective /ˈpeɪtrənaɪzɪŋ/

patronizing

condescendant
Meaning
showing kindness that is perceived as condescending or superior
Example
His patronizing tone offended the audience.
Son ton condescendant a offensé le public.
B2 noun /siːdʒ/

siege

siège
Meaning
A military operation in which a place is surrounded to force its surrender.
Example
The castle fell after a long siege.
Le château est tombé après un long siège.
C2 noun /ˌæbnɪˈɡeɪʃən/

abnegation

abnégation
Meaning
the act of renouncing or rejecting something, especially self-denial
Example
The monk’s life was one of complete abnegation of worldly pleasures.
La vie du moine était une complète abnégation des plaisirs mondains.
B2 adverb /ʌnˈfɛərli/

unfairly

injustement
Meaning
In a manner that is not just, reasonable, or impartial
Example
He was treated unfairly by the committee.
Il a été traité injustement par le comité.
C2 noun ˌæɡ.roʊ.iˈkɒl.ə.dʒi

agroecology

agroécologie
Meaning
A scientific discipline that studies agricultural systems by applying ecological concepts and principles.
Example
Agroecology promotes eco-friendly farming.
L'agroécologie favorise l'agriculture écologique.
C2 adjective /ˌrɒŋˈhɛd.ɪd/

wrongheaded

à l'esprit tordu
Meaning
Having or showing bad judgment or stubbornly holding to wrong ideas.
Example
The policy was considered wrongheaded and harmful.
La politique a été considérée comme ayant l'esprit tordu et nuisible.
C2 noun /ˌɪmpjuˈteɪʃən/

imputation

imputation
Meaning
an accusation or attribution of blame
Example
The politician denied the imputation of corruption.
Le politicien a nié l'imputation de corruption.
C2 adjective /ˈfluːtɪd/

fluted

strié
Meaning
having grooves or ridges, often for decoration
Example
The vase had a beautiful fluted design around the rim.
Le vase avait un beau design strié autour du bord.
C2 verb /əˈvaʊtʃ/

avouch

affirmer
Meaning
to affirm or assert something as true
Example
He avouched his innocence before the judge.
Il a affirmé son innocence devant le juge.
C2 adjective /ˈmɪn.ɪ.skjuːl/

miniscule

minuscule
Meaning
Extremely small or tiny.
Example
The error was so miniscule that nobody noticed it.
L'erreur était si minuscule que personne ne l'a remarquée.
B2 noun /ˈtruːθ.fəl.nəs/

Truthfulness

vérité
Meaning
the quality of being truthful; honesty and accuracy in what one says or does
Example
Her truthfulness in the investigation helped solve the case quickly.
Sa vérité dans l'enquête a permis de résoudre rapidement l'affaire.
C1 adjective /ˈkrɪm.zən/

Crimson

rouge intense
Meaning
a deep purplish-red color
Example
The crimson sunset painted the sky with beautiful shades.
Le coucher du soleil rouge intense a peint le ciel de belles nuances.
B2 adjective /ˈkrɒnɪk/

chronic

chronique
Meaning
Lasting for a long time or constantly recurring, often describing illness.
Example
She suffers from chronic back pain.
Elle souffre de douleurs chroniques au dos.
B2 noun /jel/

Yell

cri; hurlement; éclat
Meaning
a loud, sharp cry of pain, surprise, or delight; to shout loudly
Example
He let out a yell when he saw the spider.
Il a poussé un cri lorsqu'il a vu l'araignée.
C1 noun /ˈhɪntərlænd/

hinterland

arrière-pays
Meaning
The remote or less developed areas away from the coast or a city.
Example
The farmers came from the rural hinterland to sell their produce in the city.
Les agriculteurs venaient de l'arrière-pays rural pour vendre leurs produits en ville.
B2 adjective /ˈprɛsɪŋ/

pressing

urgent
Meaning
Requiring immediate attention or urgent action.
Example
The manager had to deal with several pressing issues at once.
Le gestionnaire a dû gérer plusieurs problèmes urgents en même temps.
C2 noun /dɪˈmeɪn/

demesne

terres attachées à un manoir
Meaning
Land attached to a manor and retained for the owner's use.
Example
The castle was surrounded by its vast demesne.
Le château était entouré par ses vastes terres attachées à un manoir.
C1 noun /ˈpʊlpɪt/

pulpit

chaire
Meaning
a raised platform in a church from which the preacher delivers a sermon
Example
The pastor stood at the pulpit to address the congregation.
Le pasteur s'est tenu à la chaire pour s'adresser à l'assemblée.
C2 verb /kəˈriːn/

careen

se déplacer de manière incontrôlée
Meaning
To move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way, especially in a specific direction.
Example
The car careened down the slippery road.
La voiture a dévalé la route glissante de manière incontrôlée.
C2 noun /məˈlɛvələns/

malevolence

malveillance
Meaning
The state or condition of being malevolent; having or showing a wish to do evil to others.
Example
His malevolence was clear in the cruel way he treated his rivals.
Sa malveillance était évidente dans la manière cruelle dont il traitait ses rivaux.
C2 verb /ˌfɔːrˈrʌn/

forerun

précéder
Meaning
To go before; to precede in time, place, or action.
Example
Dark clouds often forerun a storm.
Les nuages sombres annoncent souvent une tempête.
C2 noun ˌɛr.jʊˈdɪʃ.ən

erudition

érudition
Meaning
The quality of having or showing great knowledge or learning; scholarship.
Example
His erudition in history impressed the entire audience.
Son érudition en histoire a impressionné tout le public.
C1 noun /ˈɡrɪd.lɒk/

gridlock

embouteillage complet ou condition d'arrêt du trafic
Meaning
Complete traffic jam or standstill condition where vehicles cannot move.
Example
A major accident led to gridlock in the city center.
Un grand accident a causé un embouteillage dans le centre-ville.
C1 adjective /rɪˈkʌr.ənt/

Recurrent

récurrent
Meaning
happening repeatedly; occurring again and again; periodic;
Example
She has been suffering from recurrent headaches for months.
Elle souffre de maux de tête récurrents depuis des mois.
B2 noun/verb /preɪ/

prey

proie
Meaning
an animal hunted by another for food; to hunt and feed on
Example
Lions prey on zebras in the wild.
Les lions chassent les zèbres dans la nature.
A1 interjection /hɑː/

ha

Ha ! (Exclamation de surprise ou de joie)
Meaning
used to express amusement, surprise, or triumph
Example
Ha! I knew you couldn’t resist joining us.
Ha ! Je savais que tu ne pourrais pas résister à nous rejoindre.
C2 verb /skʌlk/

skulk

se faufiler
Meaning
to move or hide secretly, often because you are planning something bad or are feeling guilty
Example
He tried to skulk in the shadows to avoid being seen.
Il a essayé de se faufiler dans l'ombre pour éviter d'être vu.
B2 adjective /ˈreɪʃəl/

racial

racial
Meaning
relating to a race of people
Example
Racial equality is an important issue in many societies.
L'égalité raciale est un problème important dans de nombreuses sociétés.
A2 adjective /kjuːt/

cute

mignon
Meaning
attractive in a pretty or endearing way
Example
That puppy is so cute!
Ce chiot est tellement mignon !
C2 noun /kɒn.tɪˈɡjuː.ɪ.ti/

contiguity

contiguïté
Meaning
the state of being in direct contact or next to each other
Example
The contiguity of the two countries facilitates trade.
La contiguïté des deux pays facilite le commerce.
C2 noun /djuːˈɛnə/

duenna

gouvernante
Meaning
an older woman acting as a governess or chaperone, especially in Spanish families
Example
The young lady was accompanied by a duenna during the festival.
La jeune fille était accompagnée par une duéna pendant le festival.
A2 adjective /ˈpeɪ.ʃənt/

Patient

bonheur
Meaning
able to wait calmly; tolerant
Example
She was very patient with her young students.
Elle n'a pas pu cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C2 noun /ˈkɑr.mɪn/

Carmine

carmine
Meaning
a vivid crimson color; a red pigment obtained from cochineal
Example
The artist mixed carmine with white to create a beautiful pink shade.
L'artiste a mélangé le carmine avec du blanc pour créer une belle teinte rose.
C2 adjective /ˈfɜːr.vɪd/

Fervid

passionné; intensément enthousiaste; brûlant d'émotion
Meaning
passionate; intensely enthusiastic; burning with emotion
Example
She gave a fervid speech about environmental protection.
Elle a prononcé un discours fervide sur la protection de l'environnement.
C1 noun /ˈtruː.ənt/

Truant

élève qui manque l'école sans permission; personne qui fuit ses responsabilités
Meaning
a student who stays away from school without permission; a person who shirks duty
Example
The principal called the parents when their child was caught playing truant.
Le principal a appelé les parents lorsque leur enfant a été pris en train de faire l'école buissonnière.
C1 noun ˌɒk.sɪˈdeɪ.ʃən

oxidation

oxydation
Meaning
A chemical reaction that involves the combination of a substance with oxygen, often causing deterioration.
Example
Oxidation causes metal surfaces to weaken.
L'oxydation affaiblit les surfaces métalliques.
C1 noun ˌpraɪ.vɪ.taɪˈzeɪ.ʃən

privatization

privatisation
Meaning
The transfer of a business, industry, or service from public to private ownership and control.
Example
The privatization of state-owned companies increased efficiency.
La privatisation des entreprises publiques a augmenté l'efficacité.
C1 adjective /stiːpt/

steeped

imprégné
Meaning
Completely surrounded by or filled with a particular quality, influence, or experience.
Example
The town is steeped in history and tradition.
La ville est imprégnée d'histoire et de tradition.
B1 noun /bʊk ˈsel.ər/

Book seller

libraire
Meaning
a person who sells books, especially as a business
Example
The book seller recommended a great novel for my summer reading.
Le libraire a recommandé un excellent roman pour ma lecture d'été.
B2 adjective /ˌdɪsəˈɡriːəbl/

disagreeable

désagréable
Meaning
Unpleasant or offensive; causing discomfort or annoyance.
Example
The weather was cold and disagreeable.
Le temps était froid et désagréable.
C1 noun ˌriː.pɚˈkʌʃ.ənz

repercussions

répercussions
Meaning
The unintended consequences or effects of an action or event.
Example
The new policy had unintended repercussions on the economy.
La nouvelle politique a eu des répercussions imprévues sur l'économie.
B2 adjective /ˌmæθəˈmætɪkəl/

mathematical

mathématique
Meaning
relating to mathematics or the use of mathematics
Example
The mathematical equation was difficult to solve.
L'équation mathématique était difficile à résoudre.
C2 noun /krəˈnɒmɪtər/

chronometer

chronomètre
Meaning
An instrument for measuring time precisely, especially used in navigation.
Example
The sailor relied on the chronometer to determine his position at sea.
Le marin a compté sur le chronomètre pour déterminer sa position en mer.
A2 adjective /ˈpɑːt taɪm/

part-time

à temps partiel
Meaning
working for only part of the usual working day or week
Example
She works part-time as a waitress.
Elle travaille à temps partiel comme serveuse.
B2 noun /əˌrɪʒ.əˈnæl.ə.ti/

Originality

originalité
Meaning
the quality of being novel or unusual; the ability to think independently and creatively
Example
The artist's work showed great originality and creativity.
Le travail de l'artiste a montré une grande originalité et créativité.
A1 verb /sliːp/

sleep

dormir
Meaning
to rest with eyes closed and reduced consciousness; to be inactive
Example
I need to sleep for eight hours every night.
J'ai besoin de dormir huit heures chaque nuit.
B2 noun /ˈkrɪtɪk/

critic

critique
Meaning
A person who judges the merits of something, especially art or literature
Example
The film critic praised the director's latest movie.
Le critique de cinéma a loué le dernier film du réalisateur.
C1 noun /ˈduːmz.deɪ/

Doomsday

le jour du jugement dernier; le jour de la fin du monde
Meaning
the last day of the world's existence; a time of catastrophic destruction
Example
The preacher spoke about doomsday and the importance of preparing spiritually.
Le prédicateur a parlé du jour du jugement dernier et de l'importance de se préparer spirituellement.
C1 verb /səˈlɪsɪt/

solicit

solliciter
Meaning
to ask for or try to obtain something from someone
Example
The charity is soliciting donations for flood victims.
La charité sollicite des dons pour les victimes des inondations.
C2 noun /ˈəʊpəs/

opus

œuvre créative
Meaning
A creative work, especially a large and important piece of music or art.
Example
The composer considered the symphony his greatest opus.
Le compositeur considérait la symphonie comme sa plus grande œuvre créative.
C1 noun /ˌɔːkʃəˈnɪər/

auctioneer

commissaire-priseur
Meaning
a person who conducts auctions by calling out bids and selling items to the highest bidder
Example
The auctioneer quickly raised the price as bidders competed for the painting.
Le commissaire-priseur a rapidement augmenté le prix.
C2 noun /ˈɒbsɪkwiːz/

obsequies

rites funéraires
Meaning
Funeral rites or ceremonies.
Example
The obsequies for the late leader drew thousands of mourners.
Les rites funéraires du leader défunt ont attiré des milliers de personnes en deuil.
A1 noun /reɪn/

Rain

pluie
Meaning
water that falls from clouds in small drops
Example
The heavy rain forced us to stay indoors.
La pluie forte nous a obligés à rester à l'intérieur.
B1 noun /ɪnˈtɛnʃən/

intention

intention
Meaning
A plan, aim, or purpose behind an action.
Example
Her intention was to finish the project before the deadline.
Son intention était de terminer le projet avant la date limite.
C2 adjective /ˌprɒfɪˈlæktɪk/

prophylactic

prophylactique
Meaning
intended to prevent disease or an unwanted outcome; protective
Example
The doctor prescribed a prophylactic treatment to prevent infection.
Le médecin a prescrit un traitement prophylactique pour prévenir l'infection.
B1 noun, verb /spoʊk/

spoke

rayons / parlé
Meaning
As a noun, a bar connecting the center of a wheel to its rim; as the past tense of 'speak'.
Example
The bicycle's spoke was bent after the accident.
Le rayon de la bicyclette était tordu après l'accident.
A1 adjective /ˈpɒs.ə.bəl/

Possible

possible
Meaning
able to be done or achieved; likely to happen; feasible
Example
It is possible to learn a new language at any age.
Il est possible d'apprendre une nouvelle langue à tout âge.
C1 noun /ˌdɪstɪˈleɪʃən/

distillation

distillation
Meaning
The process of purifying a liquid by heating and cooling; the extraction of the essential meaning.
Example
Distillation is commonly used to produce alcoholic beverages.
La distillation est couramment utilisée pour produire des boissons alcoolisées.
C2 adjective ˈtɛnsaɪl

tensile

tensile
Meaning
Relating to tension; capable of being stretched.
Example
The tensile strength of the material is crucial for the construction project.
La résistance à la traction du matériau est cruciale pour le projet de construction.
A2 noun /ˈdɪfɪkəlti/

difficulty

Meaning
the state or condition of being hard to do, deal with, or understand
Example
He faced great difficulty in learning a new language.
C2 verb /ˌpriːɪˈstæblɪʃ/

preestablish

préalablement établir
Meaning
To establish or set up beforehand.
Example
Certain rules were preestablished before the meeting.
Certaines règles ont été préétablies avant la réunion.
A1 preposition/adverb/adjective/noun /ˌɪnˈsaɪd/

inside

bonheur
Meaning
Situated within something; the inner part of something.
Example
She waited inside the house until the rain stopped.
Elle ne pouvait pas cacher son bonheur quand elle a reçu le prix.
B1 verb/noun /haɪk/

hike

randonner / augmentation
Meaning
To take a long walk in the countryside or mountains; also to increase suddenly (prices, rates, etc.).
Example
We decided to hike in the hills this weekend.
Nous avons décidé de faire une randonnée dans les collines ce week-end.
C1 noun/verb /skɜːrdʒ/

scourge

fléau / malédiction
Meaning
A source of great pain or punishment; to whip or inflict suffering on someone.
Example
Disease and poverty remain a scourge in many regions.
La maladie et la pauvreté restent un fléau dans de nombreuses régions.
B2 verb /blʌʃ/

blush

rougir
Meaning
to become red in the face due to embarrassment or shyness
Example
She blushed when he complimented her.
Elle rougit lorsqu'il lui fait un compliment.
C1 adjective /snaɪd/

snide

moqueur
Meaning
mocking or insulting in an indirect way
Example
He couldn’t resist making a snide comment about her dress.
Il ne pouvait s'empêcher de faire un commentaire moqueur sur sa robe.
C1 noun /dɪˈstɔːrʃən/

distortion

distorsion, déformation
Meaning
the action of twisting, changing, or misrepresenting the shape, sound, or truth of something
Example
There was a distortion in the radio signal.
Il y avait une distorsion dans le signal radio.
C1 noun /ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃən/

disposition

disposition
Meaning
A person's usual attitude or temperament; arrangement or tendency.
Example
She has a cheerful disposition despite the difficulties.
Elle a une disposition joyeuse malgré les difficultés.
C1 verb /ɪmˈpɪndʒ/

impinge

affecter
Meaning
to have an effect or impact on something; to encroach or infringe
Example
The noise from the construction site impinges on our daily activities.
Le bruit du chantier impacte nos activités quotidiennes.
B1 adjective /ˈfluː.ənt/

Fluent

fluent; éloquent
Meaning
able to speak a language easily and accurately; flowing smoothly and gracefully
Example
She is fluent in three languages including English and French.
Elle est fluide dans trois langues, y compris l'anglais et le français.
C2 adjective /ˈbiːstiəl/

bestial

bestial
Meaning
Relating to beasts; showing savagery, brutality, or lacking human sensibility.
Example
The prisoners were treated in a bestial manner.
Les prisonniers ont été traités de manière bestiale.
C2 adjective /ˈbreɪsɪŋ/

bracing

revigorant
Meaning
Invigorating, refreshing, or providing strength and energy.
Example
The hikers enjoyed the bracing mountain air.
Les randonneurs ont apprécié l'air vivifiant de la montagne.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈvɔɪst/

unvoiced

non exprimé
Meaning
not expressed in speech; in phonetics, a sound produced without vocal cord vibration
Example
The student kept her opinion unvoiced during the meeting.
L'étudiante a gardé son opinion non exprimée pendant la réunion.
C2 verb /djuːp/

dupe

tromper
Meaning
To deceive or trick someone into believing or doing something.
Example
He was duped into buying a fake watch.
Il a été dupé en achetant une montre contrefaite.
B2 noun ˈkɔːrəl ˈriːfs

Coral Reefs

récifs coralliens
Meaning
Underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals, forming diverse marine ecosystems.
Example
Saint Martin's Island is known for its coral reefs.
L'île de Saint-Martin est connue pour ses récifs coralliens.
B1 adjective /kriˈeɪtɪv/

creative

créatif
Meaning
Having the ability to produce new and original ideas or things.
Example
She is very creative in her writing.
Elle est très créative dans son écriture.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈɜːrθli/

unearthly

surnaturel
Meaning
Strange or unnatural in a way that seems not of this world
Example
The forest was filled with an unearthly glow.
La forêt était remplie d'une lueur surnaturelle.
C2 noun /ˈplɔːdɪt/

plaudit

éloge
Meaning
an expression of praise or approval
Example
The actor received plaudit for his outstanding performance.
L'acteur a reçu des éloges pour sa performance exceptionnelle.
C1 noun /dɪˈfaɪəns/

defiance

défiance
Meaning
Open resistance or bold disobedience.
Example
The protest was an act of defiance against injustice.
La protestation était un acte de défiance contre l'injustice.
B2 noun ˈrɛstɪŋ pleɪs

resting place

lieu de repos
Meaning
A place where someone or something rests, especially a burial site.
Example
The resting place of the martyrs is near the river.
Le lieu de repos des martyrs est près de la rivière.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈklɛmɛnt/

inclement

météo inclemente
Meaning
unpleasantly cold, wet, or stormy (usually weather)
Example
The match was canceled due to inclement weather.
Le match a été annulé à cause du mauvais temps.
C1 verb /ɪnˈfleɪt/

inflate

gonfler
Meaning
to fill with air or gas so it expands; to increase excessively or artificially
Example
The mechanic inflated the tire to the correct pressure.
Le mécanicien a gonflé le pneu à la bonne pression.
B2 verb /ˈɔːdɪt/

audit

auditer
Meaning
to examine and verify financial records or accounts officially
Example
The accountant will audit the company's books next month.
Le comptable effectuera l'audit des livres de l'entreprise le mois prochain.
C1 noun ɪˌræʃ.ənˈæl.ɪ.ti

irrationality

irrationalité, absence de logique, déraison
Meaning
The quality of being illogical or unreasonable; lack of rational thought.
Example
His decision was driven by complete irrationality.
Sa décision a été guidée par une irrationalité totale.
C2 adjective, noun /pləˈbiːən/

plebian

commun, du peuple
Meaning
alternate spelling of 'plebeian'; common or ordinary
Example
His tastes were rather plebian, favoring simple food and clothes.
Ses goûts étaient assez communs, il préférait la nourriture simple et des vêtements simples.
C2 noun /ˌtrænspəˈzɪʃən/

transposition

transposition
Meaning
the act of changing the order or position of something
Example
The transposition of digits caused an error in the calculation.
La transposition des chiffres a causé une erreur dans le calcul.
A1 adverb /əˈɡen/

Again

encore
Meaning
once more; another time; in addition
Example
I need to read this book again to understand it better.
Je dois relire ce livre encore une fois pour mieux le comprendre.
C1 verb prəˈpel

propel

propulser
Meaning
To drive, push, or cause to move in a particular direction, typically forward.
Example
Lack of proper guidance can propel adolescents toward delinquency.
Le manque d'orientation appropriée peut propulser les adolescents vers la délinquance.
B2 noun pəˈspek.tɪvz

perspectives

perspective
Meaning
A particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view.
Example
New perspectives enhance understanding.
De nouvelles perspectives améliorent la compréhension.
C1 noun /ˌtes.tɪˈmoʊ.ni.əl/

Testimonial

témoignage
Meaning
a formal statement testifying to someone's character and qualifications
Example
The professor wrote a glowing testimonial for her former student.
Le professeur a écrit un témoignage élogieux pour son ancienne élève.
C2 adjective /ɑːrˈbɔːr.i.əl/

arboreal

relatif aux arbres
Meaning
Relating to trees or living in trees; tree-dwelling.
Example
Monkeys are arboreal animals that spend most of their time in trees.
Les singes sont des animaux arboricoles qui passent la majeure partie de leur temps dans les arbres.
B2 noun ˈkæp.ɪ.təl.ɪ.zəm

capitalism

capitalisme
Meaning
An economic system where trade, industry and production are privately owned and operated for profit.
Example
Capitalism encourages innovation and competition.
Le capitalisme favorise l'innovation et la concurrence.
C2 verb /bɪˈfɪt/

befit

convenir à
Meaning
to be suitable for; to be appropriate to
Example
Formal attire befits the seriousness of the occasion.
Une tenue formelle convient au sérieux de l’occasion.
C2 noun /ˈkʌvən/

coven

un groupe de sorcières
Meaning
a group or gathering of witches
Example
The witches met secretly in a coven in the forest.
Les sorcières se sont réunies secrètement dans un coven dans la forêt.
B2 noun /ɡʌm/

Gum

gencive; substance visqueuse
Meaning
the firm flesh that surrounds the roots of the teeth; a viscous secretion
Example
The dentist checked her gum for any signs of disease.
Le dentiste a vérifié ses gencives pour détecter des signes de maladie.
B2 adjective dʒəˈnet.ɪk

genetic

génétique
Meaning
Relating to genes or heredity; concerning the transmission of inherited characteristics.
Example
Genetic traits influence physical characteristics.
Les traits génétiques influencent les caractéristiques physiques.
B2 verb /rɪˈtriːv/

retrieve

récupérer
Meaning
to get something back that was lost or taken; to recover
Example
She managed to retrieve her lost phone from the taxi.
Elle a réussi à récupérer son téléphone perdu dans le taxi.
C2 noun /ˈpɜːrvjuː/

purview

domaine
Meaning
the scope or range of authority, responsibility, or knowledge
Example
The case does not fall within the purview of this court.
L'affaire ne relève pas de la compétence de ce tribunal.
C2 noun /ˌdɛprɪˈdeɪʃən/

depredation

pillage
Meaning
An act of attacking or plundering; damage caused by such acts.
Example
The villagers feared the depredation of wild animals at night.
Les villageois craignaient le pillage des animaux sauvages la nuit.
C1 adjective /ˈpjuː.nɪ.tɪv/

punitive

punitif
Meaning
Inflicting or intended as punishment.
Example
The company faced punitive measures for violating the law.
L'entreprise a dû faire face à des mesures punitives pour avoir violé la loi.
C2 verb /kɔːk/

calk

calfeutrer les fissures d'un bateau
Meaning
To make a boat or ship watertight by filling seams or cracks.
Example
The workers calked the seams of the old boat to prevent leaks.
Les ouvriers ont calfeutré les coutures du vieux bateau pour éviter les fuites.
B2 noun /ˈwɜːrk laɪf ˈbæl.əns/

work-life balance

équilibre travail-vie
Meaning
The equilibrium between personal and professional life, ensuring neither dominates at the expense of the other.
Example
Achieving work-life balance reduces stress and improves productivity.
Atteindre un équilibre travail-vie réduit le stress et améliore la productivité.
C2 noun /ˌɪn.strəˈmɛn.təl.ɪst/

instrumentalist

instrumentiste
Meaning
A person who plays a musical instrument.
Example
The instrumentalist played a beautiful solo on the violin.
L'instrumentiste a joué un beau solo au violon.
C1 adjective /ˈɡɑːrdɪd/

guarded

réservé
Meaning
Cautious and careful in speech or action, often to avoid giving too much away.
Example
He gave a guarded reply to the journalist.
Il a donné une réponse réservée au journaliste.
A1 noun, verb /baɪk/

bike

vélo
Meaning
a bicycle or motorcycle; to ride a bicycle
Example
He biked to school every day.
Il allait à l'école à vélo tous les jours.
B2 noun /ˈmɔːr.nɪŋ/

Mourning

deuil
Meaning
the expression of deep sorrow for someone who has died
Example
The family is in mourning for their grandmother.
La famille est en deuil pour leur grand-mère.
C2 noun /ˌviːələnsɛloʊ/

violoncello

violoncelle
Meaning
The full name of the cello, a large string instrument played with a bow and held between the knees.
Example
He practiced the violoncello for hours each day.
Il a pratiqué le violoncelle pendant des heures chaque jour.
B2 noun /ˌdɪstrɪˈbjuːʃən/

distribution

distribution
Meaning
the act of sharing or delivering something to multiple people or places
Example
The company manages the distribution of food supplies to rural areas.
L'entreprise gère la distribution des fournitures alimentaires dans les zones rurales.
B2 noun /ˌɪntərˈsɛkʃən/

intersection

intersection
Meaning
a point where two or more things intersect, especially a road or path
Example
The intersection of Main Street and 5th Avenue is always busy.
L'intersection de la rue principale et de la 5e avenue est toujours occupée.
C2 adjective /ˈslɪpʃɒd/

slipshod

négligé, bâclé
Meaning
done in a careless, sloppy, or untidy way
Example
The project failed due to slipshod planning.
Le projet a échoué en raison d'une planification négligée.
C1 noun /ˈpærəˌlɛlɪzəm/

parallelism

parallélisme
Meaning
The state of being parallel or similar; in literature, the use of components in a sentence that are grammatically the same or similar in construction.
Example
The writer used parallelism to give rhythm to his prose.
L'écrivain a utilisé le parallélisme pour donner du rythme à sa prose.
C1 verb /pərˈteɪn/

pertain

concerner
Meaning
to relate or have reference to something
Example
The rules pertain to all students in the school.
Les règles concernent tous les élèves de l'école.
C2 noun /kərˈmʌdʒən/

curmudgeon

râleur
Meaning
a bad-tempered, cranky, or irritable person, usually old
Example
The old curmudgeon complained about everything in the neighborhood.
Le vieux râleur se plaignait de tout dans le quartier.
B2 adjective /ɪkˈsten.sɪv/

Extensive

étendu; vaste; large
Meaning
covering or affecting a large area; comprehensive; wide-ranging
Example
The company conducted extensive research before launching the new product.
L'entreprise a mené des recherches approfondies avant de lancer le nouveau produit.
C2 adjective /ˈfiːbəlˌmaɪndɪd/

feebleminded

stupide ou à l'esprit faible
Meaning
lacking intelligence or mental capacity; foolish or weak-minded
Example
The feebleminded man struggled to understand basic instructions.
L'homme à l'esprit faible avait du mal à comprendre les instructions de base.
C2 verb /pɔːrˈtɛnd/

portend

présager
Meaning
To be a sign or warning that something, especially something bad, is going to happen.
Example
Dark clouds portend a storm.
Les nuages sombres présagent une tempête.
C1 noun ˌmɪtɪˈɡeɪʃən ˈstrætədʒiz

mitigation strategies

stratégies d'atténuation
Meaning
Plans and actions designed to reduce the severity or impact of problems or risks.
Example
Governments must adopt mitigation strategies for climate change.
Les gouvernements doivent adopter des stratégies de mitigation pour le changement climatique.
B1 noun /bɔɪl/

Boil

furoncle
Meaning
a painful, pus-filled bump under the skin caused by infected hair follicles
Example
The painful boil on his neck required medical treatment.
Le furoncle douloureux sur son cou a nécessité un traitement médical.
B2 noun /ˈkæp.tɪv/

Captive

captif
Meaning
a person who has been taken prisoner or an animal that has been confined
Example
The captive was held in a small cell for several months.
Le captif a été retenu dans une petite cellule pendant plusieurs mois.
B2 adjective /ˈfræʤaɪl/

fragile

fragile
Meaning
Easily broken or damaged; delicate.
Example
Be careful with that vase, it's very fragile.
Faites attention avec ce vase, il est très fragile.
C1 noun /ˈɛpɪθɛt/

epithet

épithète
Meaning
A descriptive phrase or word used to characterize someone or something, often as a nickname.
Example
He earned the epithet ‘The Great’ for his remarkable achievements.
Il a gagné l'épithète ‘Le Grand’ pour ses réalisations remarquables.