shambles
All a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
All CEFR A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2
Content locale
EN Anglais BN Bengali HI Hindi ES Espagnol FR Français DE Allemand RU Russe ZH Chinois JA Japonais
All Vocabulary Cards All Vocabularies
C1 noun /ˈʃæmbəlz/

shambles

désordre total
Meaning
a state of complete disorder or ruin
Example
After the storm, the whole town was in shambles.
Après la tempête, toute la ville était en désordre total.
C1 adjective ˌsʌbˈlɪm.ɪ.nəl

subliminal

existant ou opérant sous le seuil de la conscience, perçu ou affectant l'esprit de quelqu'un sans qu'il en soit conscient
Meaning
Existing or operating below the threshold of consciousness; perceived by or affecting someone's mind without their being aware of it.
Example
Advertisements often have subliminal messages.
Les publicités contiennent souvent des messages subliminaux.
C1 verb /səbˈsɪst/

subsist

subsister
Meaning
To maintain or support oneself, especially at a minimal level.
Example
Many villagers still subsist on fishing and farming.
Beaucoup de villageois subsistent encore grâce à la pêche et à l'agriculture.
C1 verb /sɪndʒ/

singe

brûler légèrement
Meaning
To burn something superficially or lightly, especially at the edges.
Example
The fire singed his eyebrows.
Le feu a brûlé ses sourcils.
C1 verb /struː/

strew

répandre
Meaning
to scatter or spread things untidily over a surface or area
Example
Clothes were strewn across the floor.
Les vêtements étaient éparpillés sur le sol.
C1 noun /ˌsɛrənˈdɪpɪti/

serendipity

sérendipité
Meaning
The occurrence of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.
Example
Finding that old photo album was pure serendipity.
Trouver cet ancien album photo a été de la pure sérendipité.
C1 noun/verb /smʌdʒ/

smudge

tache, marque sale
Meaning
a dirty mark or smear; to make something dirty or unclear by rubbing or touching
Example
She accidentally smudged her lipstick on the napkin.
Elle a accidentellement étalé son rouge à lèvres sur la serviette.
C1 noun /səˈprɑːnoʊ/

soprano

la voix féminine ou enfantine la plus haute
Meaning
the highest female or boy’s singing voice
Example
She sang beautifully in the soprano range during the concert.
Elle a chanté magnifiquement dans la gamme soprano pendant le concert.
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.
C1 noun /stɪˈlɛtoʊ/

stiletto

chaussure à talon aigu / poignard
Meaning
A small, thin, high-heeled shoe or a dagger with a slender blade.
Example
She wore elegant stiletto heels to the party.
Elle portait des talons stiletto élégants à la fête.
C1 noun /sɛkt/

sect

secte
Meaning
a subgroup of a larger religious or political group, often with differing beliefs
Example
The group split into different sects due to doctrinal differences.
Le groupe s'est divisé en différentes sectes en raison des différences doctrinales.
C1 adjective /ˈsiːzənəbəl/

Seasonable

saisonnière
Meaning
occurring at the right time; appropriate for the season; timely
Example
The seasonable rain helped the farmers with their crops.
La pluie saisonnière a aidé les agriculteurs avec leurs récoltes.
C1 noun, adjective, verb /ʃæm/

sham

supercherie
Meaning
something that is not what it appears to be; a false or fake thing; to pretend
Example
The deal turned out to be a sham.
L'accord s'est avéré être une supercherie.
C1 noun ˌsʌb.sɪ.dɪˈzeɪ.ʃən

subsidization

subvention
Meaning
Financial assistance provided by government to make certain goods or services more affordable.
Example
Subsidization of agriculture helps farmers maintain crop production.
La subvention à l'agriculture aide les agriculteurs à maintenir la production des récoltes.
C1 noun /ˈstəʊ.ɪ.sɪ.zəm/

stoicism

stoïcisme
Meaning
The endurance of pain or hardship without the display of feelings and without complaint.
Example
His stoicism during hardship was admirable.
Son stoïcisme pendant les épreuves était admirable.
C1 noun /spɛk/

speck

tache
Meaning
A very small spot, mark, or particle.
Example
There was a tiny speck of dust on the glass table.
Il y avait une petite tache de poussière sur la table en verre.
C1 adjective /ˈsɛnʃuəl/

sensual

sensuel
Meaning
Relating to or involving gratification of the senses and physical pleasure.
Example
The painting had a sensual quality that captivated viewers.
La peinture avait une qualité sensuelle qui captivait les spectateurs.
C1 verb /snɪər/

sneer

sourire de façon moqueuse
Meaning
to smile or speak in a mocking or contemptuous way
Example
She sneered at his attempt to sing.
Elle se moquait de sa tentative de chanter.
C1 adjective /ˈsɪn.tɪ.leɪ.tɪŋ/

scintillating

scintillant
Meaning
brilliantly clever, exciting, or sparkling
Example
Her scintillating conversation kept everyone entertained.
Sa conversation scintillante a diverti tout le monde.
C1 adjective /ˈsɪnləs/

Sinless

sans péché; innocent; pur
Meaning
free from sin; pure and innocent; without moral fault
Example
The innocent child appeared sinless in her pure white dress.
L'enfant innocent est apparu sans péché dans sa robe blanche pure.
C1 verb /sɪft/

sift

tamis / examiner soigneusement
Meaning
to separate or sort through carefully, often using a sieve or by examining closely
Example
She sifted the flour before adding it to the cake mixture.
Elle tamisait la farine avant de l'ajouter au mélange de gâteau.
C1 adjective /səbˈsɪd.i.ər.i/

Subsidiary

filiale; secondaire; relatif à une entreprise filiale
Meaning
less important than the main thing; secondary; of or relating to a subsidiary company
Example
The subsidiary company handles all overseas operations.
L'entreprise filiale gère toutes les opérations à l'étranger.
C1 noun /skraɪb/

scribe

scribe
Meaning
a person who writes documents, especially in ancient times; a professional copyist
Example
In ancient Egypt, scribes recorded important events.
Dans l'Égypte ancienne, les scribes enregistraient les événements importants.
C1 adjective /səˈdɪs.tɪk/

sadistic

sadique
Meaning
Deriving pleasure from inflicting pain or suffering on others.
Example
The villain had a sadistic smile while hurting his enemies.
Le méchant avait un sourire sadique en infligeant de la douleur à ses ennemis.
C1 noun /ʃeɪl/

shale

schiste
Meaning
a fine-grained sedimentary rock that can be split into thin layers
Example
The region is rich in shale and natural gas deposits.
La région est riche en schiste et en dépôts de gaz naturel.
C1 adjective /suːˈpɜːrlətɪv/

superlative

superlatif
Meaning
Of the highest quality or degree; expressing the extreme form of an adjective or adverb.
Example
Her performance was superlative, earning her a standing ovation.
Sa performance était superlative, lui valant une ovation debout.
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.
C1 adjective /ˈspɑːrtn/

spartan

spartiate
Meaning
showing simplicity and lack of luxury; austere
Example
He lived in a spartan room with just a bed and a chair.
Il vivait dans une chambre spartiate avec seulement un lit et une chaise.
C1 verb /səbˈsaɪd/

subside

diminuer
Meaning
to become less intense, violent, or severe; to sink or fall to a lower level
Example
After the storm, the floodwaters began to subside.
Après la tempête, les eaux de l'inondation ont commencé à diminuer.
C1 verb sɪˈkwɛstər

sequester

isoler, cacher
Meaning
To isolate or hide away.
Example
The carbon captured by trees can be sequestered for years.
Le carbone capturé par les arbres peut être isolé pendant des années.
C1 adjective /ˌsækrɪˈfɪʃəl/

sacrificial

sacrificiel
Meaning
Relating to or involving sacrifice.
Example
The lamb was used as a sacrificial offering in the ritual.
L'agneau a été utilisé comme offrande sacrificielle dans le rituel.
C1 noun /səˈlaɪ.və/

Saliva

salive
Meaning
the watery liquid secreted into the mouth by glands
Example
The dentist asked her to rinse the saliva from her mouth.
Le dentiste lui a demandé de rincer la salive de sa bouche.
C1 noun ˈsɛlf pəˈzɪʃən

self-possession

maîtrise de soi
Meaning
The quality of being calm and confident and in control of one's emotions; composure.
Example
His self-possession during the crisis was remarkable.
Son self-possession pendant la crise était remarquable.
C1 noun /ˈstænzə/

stanza

strophe
Meaning
a group of lines forming a unit in a poem or song
Example
The poem begins with a stanza describing nature.
Le poème commence par une strophe décrivant la nature.
C1 noun /ˈsæf.aɪər/

Saphire

saphir
Meaning
a precious stone that is typically blue in color
Example
The royal crown was adorned with a large sapphire.
La couronne royale était ornée d'un grand saphir.
C1 adjective /sər'pæs.ɪŋ/

Surpassing

exceptionnel; supérieur; extraordinaire
Meaning
exceeding; going beyond; outstanding
Example
Her surpassing beauty made everyone stop and stare.
Sa beauté exceptionnelle a fait que tout le monde s'arrête et la regarde.
C1 noun ˈsɒl.vən.si

solvency

la possession d'actifs supérieurs aux passifs; capacité à rembourser les dettes
Meaning
The possession of assets in excess of liabilities; ability to pay debts.
Example
The company's solvency improved after restructuring.
La solvabilité de l'entreprise s'est améliorée après la restructuration.
C1 adjective /ˈsaʊnd.pruːf/

Sound-proof

insonorisé; empêchant le son d'entrer ou de sortir
Meaning
impervious to sound; preventing sound from entering or leaving
Example
The recording studio has sound-proof walls.
Le studio d'enregistrement a des murs insonorisés.
C1 noun /saɪð/

scythe

faux
Meaning
A tool with a long curved blade used for cutting grass or grain.
Example
The farmer sharpened his scythe before harvesting the wheat.
Le fermier a aiguisé sa faux avant de récolter le blé.
C1 noun /ˈswiːt.miːt/

Sweetmeat

confiserie
Meaning
a small piece of confectionery or candy; a sweet delicacy
Example
The children enjoyed the traditional sweetmeats during the festival.
Les enfants ont apprécié les sucreries traditionnelles pendant le festival.
C1 noun /ˈsæf.rən/

Saffron

safran
Meaning
a deep yellow-orange color; an expensive spice derived from crocus flowers
Example
The saffron fabric looked beautiful in the sunlight.
Le tissu de safran avait l'air magnifique au soleil.
C1 adjective /ˌsuː.pəˈsɒn.ɪk/

Supersonic

plus rapide que la vitesse du son; lié aux vitesses supérieures à celle du son
Meaning
faster than the speed of sound; relating to speeds greater than the speed of sound
Example
The supersonic jet broke the sound barrier.
Le jet supersonique a franchi le mur du son.
C1 adjective /ˈsæŋɡwɪn/

sanguine

optimiste
Meaning
Optimistic or positive, especially in a difficult situation.
Example
Despite the challenges, she remained sanguine about the future.
Malgré les défis, elle est restée optimiste quant à l'avenir.
C1 noun /sɪˈdʌk.ʃən/

Seduction

séduction; tentation
Meaning
the action of seducing someone; temptation to do something wrong
Example
He fell victim to the seduction of easy money.
Il est tombé victime de la séduction de l'argent facile.
C1 verb /skwiːl/

squeal

crier
Meaning
to make a high-pitched cry; to inform on someone
Example
The children squealed with delight when they saw the surprise.
Les enfants ont crié de joie lorsqu'ils ont vu la surprise.
C1 noun /ˌsʌb.stɪˈtjuː.ʃən/

substitution

substitution
Meaning
the action of replacing someone or something with another
Example
The substitution of the old system with the new one was difficult.
La substitution de l'ancien système par le nouveau a été difficile.
C1 verb /ˈskruː.tɪ.naɪz/

scrutinize

examiner ou inspecter de près et en profondeur
Meaning
Examine or inspect closely and thoroughly.
Example
The scientist scrutinized the data before publishing his findings.
Le scientifique a scruté les données avant de publier ses conclusions.
C1 adjective /ˈsʌpl/

supple

souple
Meaning
Easily bending or moving without breaking; flexible and adaptable.
Example
The gymnast’s body was remarkably supple.
Le corps de la gymnaste était remarquablement souple.
C1 adjective /seɪdʒ/

Sage

sage; prudent; ayant bon jugement
Meaning
wise; showing wisdom from experience; prudent; having good judgment
Example
The sage advice from the elder helped solve the problem.
Le sage conseil de l'aîné a aidé à résoudre le problème.
C1 noun /ˈstaɪpend/

Stipend

allocation
Meaning
a fixed regular sum paid as a salary or allowance
Example
The research student receives a monthly stipend for living expenses.
L'étudiant en recherche reçoit une allocation mensuelle pour ses frais de subsistance.
C1 adjective /ˌsɛlf əbˈzɔːrbd/

self-absorbed

égocentrique
Meaning
Excessively preoccupied with oneself and one’s own thoughts, feelings, or interests.
Example
He was too self-absorbed to notice his friend's distress.
Il était trop égocentrique pour remarquer la détresse de son ami.
C1 adjective /ˌsɛlf ɪˈfeɪsɪŋ/

self-effacing

modeste
Meaning
not drawing attention to oneself; modest
Example
Despite his success, he remained self-effacing and humble.
Malgré son succès, il est resté modeste et humble.
C1 verb /ˈsɪmjʊˌleɪt/

simulate

simuler
Meaning
to imitate the appearance, character, or behavior of something; to pretend or reproduce conditions artificially
Example
The pilot had to simulate an emergency landing during training.
Le pilote a dû simuler un atterrissage d'urgence pendant l'entraînement.
C1 noun /ˌsæl.jʊˈteɪ.ʃən/

Salutation

salutation; expression de bons vœux
Meaning
a greeting; an expression of goodwill
Example
The letter began with a formal salutation.
La lettre a commencé par une salutation formelle.
C1 noun /ˈsɪməli/

simile

comparaison
Meaning
A figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another using 'like' or 'as'.
Example
She used a simile to describe her eyes as bright as stars.
Elle a utilisé une comparaison pour décrire ses yeux aussi brillants que des étoiles.
C1 verb /swɜːrv/

swerve

changer brusquement de direction
Meaning
to change direction suddenly, especially to avoid hitting something
Example
The car swerved to avoid the dog.
La voiture a changé brusquement de direction pour éviter le chien.
C1 noun /siˈɛrə klʌb/

Sierra Club

Sierra Club
Meaning
An American environmental organization founded in 1892 by John Muir, focused on promoting conservation of the natural environment by influencing public policy decisions.
Example
John Muir founded the Sierra Club in 1892 to protect wild areas.
John Muir a fondé le Sierra Club en 1892 pour protéger les zones sauvages.
C1 adjective /swɑːv/

suave

charmant et raffiné
Meaning
charming, confident, and elegant, often in a smooth or polished way
Example
He was a suave gentleman who impressed everyone at the party.
Il était un homme raffiné qui a impressionné tout le monde à la fête.
C1 verb /spɜːrn/

spurn

rejeter avec dédain
Meaning
To reject something or someone with disdain or contempt.
Example
She spurned his offer of help.
Elle a rejeté son offre d'aide avec mépris.
C1 noun /ˈsɔː.dʌst/

sawdust

sciure
Meaning
The tiny particles of wood produced by sawing or sanding.
Example
The floor was covered with sawdust from the carpentry work.
Le sol était couvert de sciure provenant du travail de menuiserie.
C1 adjective /sɑːrˈdɒnɪk/

sardonic

bonheur
Meaning
Grimly mocking or cynical.
Example
She gave him a sardonic smile after hearing his excuse.
Elle ne pouvait pas cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C1 noun /səˈprɛʃən/

suppression

suppression
Meaning
the act of forcibly stopping something or holding back feelings or actions
Example
The suppression of free speech led to protests.
La suppression de la liberté d'expression a conduit à des manifestations.
C1 adjective /ˈsɒnɪk/

sonic

sonique
Meaning
Relating to or involving sound waves or speed of sound.
Example
The jet created a loud boom when it broke the sonic barrier.
L'avion a créé un fort bruit lorsqu'il a franchi le mur du son.
C1 verb /ˈskævɪndʒ/

scavenge

fouiller dans les ordures
Meaning
to search through waste or discarded material to find useful items
Example
The children scavenged for food in the garbage dump.
Les enfants ont fouillé dans les ordures pour trouver de la nourriture.
C1 verb /slɪŋk/

slink

se faufiler
Meaning
to move quietly and secretly, often to avoid being noticed
Example
The cat slunk into the room without making a sound.
Le chat est entré dans la pièce sans faire de bruit.
C1 noun, adjective /ˈsɒlvənt/

solvent

solvant, capable de rembourser ses dettes
Meaning
a liquid that dissolves other substances; also means able to pay debts
Example
Acetone is a common solvent used in laboratories.
L'acétone est un solvant couramment utilisé dans les laboratoires.
C1 adjective ˌsɪn.əˈdʒɪs.tɪk

synergistic

synergique
Meaning
Relating to the interaction of elements that when combined produce a greater effect than the sum of their individual effects.
Example
A synergistic effect occurs when nutrients work together.
Un effet synergique se produit lorsque les nutriments agissent ensemble.
C1 adjective /ˈsʌlən/

sullen

maussade
Meaning
bad-tempered and gloomy; silently resentful
Example
She gave him a sullen look and walked away.
Elle lui lança un regard maussade et s'éloigna.
C1 noun/adjective /ˈstɜː.lɪŋ/

sterling

monnaie britannique / excellent
Meaning
British money, especially pounds; of excellent quality.
Example
She was praised for her sterling work on the project.
Elle a été félicitée pour son excellent travail sur le projet.
C1 verb /sərˈmaʊnt/

surmount

surmonter
Meaning
to overcome a difficulty or obstacle
Example
He surmounted all the challenges to achieve his dream.
Il a surmonté tous les défis pour atteindre son rêve.
C1 adjective /ˈspaɪn.ləs/

Spineless

sans courage; de volonté faible; lâche
Meaning
lacking courage or determination; weak-willed
Example
He was too spineless to stand up for his beliefs.
Il était trop sans colonne vertébrale pour défendre ses croyances.
C1 adjective /ˈsɜːrpənˌtiːn/

serpentine

serpentin
Meaning
Having the shape, movement, or qualities of a serpent; winding or twisting.
Example
The road took a serpentine path through the mountains.
La route suivait un chemin serpentin à travers les montagnes.
C1 adjective /səkˈsɪŋkt/

succinct

concis
Meaning
Briefly and clearly expressed; characterized by clear, precise expression in few words.
Example
His speech was succinct and impactful.
Son discours était concis et percutant.
C1 adverb /suːˈpɜːb.li/

Superbly

de manière excellente
Meaning
in an excellent or outstanding manner
Example
She performed superbly in the dance competition.
Elle a excellé dans la compétition de danse.
C1 noun /ˈsəʊdiəm/

sodium

sodium
Meaning
a soft, silver-white chemical element that is highly reactive and found in salt.
Example
Sodium is an essential element for maintaining fluid balance in the body.
Le sodium est un élément essentiel pour maintenir l'équilibre des fluides dans le corps.
C1 noun /ˈʃeɪvɪŋ/

shaving

rasage
Meaning
the act of removing hair with a razor; a thin strip or piece shaved from something
Example
He bought a new cream for shaving.
Il a acheté une nouvelle crème pour le rasage.
C1 adjective /ˈsɪnjuəs/

sinuous

sinueux
Meaning
Having many curves, bends, or turns; winding.
Example
The hikers followed a sinuous path through the forest.
Les randonneurs ont suivi un chemin sinueux à travers la forêt.
C1 adjective /spɑːrs/

sparse

rare
Meaning
thinly scattered or distributed; not dense or abundant
Example
Vegetation was sparse in the desert.
La végétation était rare dans le désert.
C1 noun /ˈsɜːrmən/

sermon

sermon
Meaning
A religious discourse delivered by a preacher, often offering moral instruction or spiritual guidance.
Example
The pastor gave a moving sermon about compassion and forgiveness.
Le pasteur a donné un sermon émouvant sur la compassion et le pardon.
C1 noun /ˈskaʊndrəl/

scoundrel

scélérat
Meaning
a dishonest or unscrupulous person; a villain
Example
That scoundrel cheated the old man out of his savings.
Ce scélérat a trompé le vieux monsieur et lui a volé ses économies.
C1 noun /suˈpriː.mə.si/

Supremacy

suprématie; autorité ou pouvoir suprême
Meaning
the state of being supreme; highest authority or power
Example
The country established naval supremacy in the region.
Le pays a établi la suprématie navale dans la région.
C1 noun /ˈstreɪnər/

Strainer

passoire
Meaning
a device having holes punched in it or made of crossed wires for separating solid matter from a liquid
Example
Use a strainer to drain the pasta water.
Utilisez une passoire pour égoutter l'eau des pâtes.
C1 noun /ˈsɛmbləns/

Semblance

apparence; semblance
Meaning
the outward appearance or apparent form of something, especially when the reality is different
Example
There was only a semblance of order in the chaotic office.
Il n'y avait qu'une semblance d'ordre dans le bureau chaotique
C1 verb /snʌb/

snub

mépriser
Meaning
to insult or ignore someone by treating them rudely
Example
He felt hurt when his invitation was snubbed.
Il s'est senti blessé lorsque son invitation a été méprisée.
C1 verb /skʌlpt/

sculpt

bonheur
Meaning
to create or shape something by carving or molding
Example
The artist sculpted a beautiful statue from marble.
Elle ne pouvait pas cacher sa joie lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C1 adjective /ˈsaɪt.ləs/

Sightless

aveugle; sans vision
Meaning
unable to see; blind; lacking vision
Example
The sightless man navigated the street with his guide dog.
L'homme aveugle a navigué dans la rue avec son chien-guide.
C1 verb /snɪp/

snip

couper
Meaning
to cut something quickly with scissors or a sharp tool
Example
She snipped the loose thread from her dress.
Elle a coupé le fil lâche de sa robe.
C1 verb /ʃʌn/

Shun

éviter
Meaning
to deliberately avoid or stay away from someone or something
Example
He shuns public attention and prefers privacy.
Il évite l'attention publique et préfère la confidentialité.
C1 noun /ˌsɛnsɪtaɪˈzeɪʃən/

sensitization

sensibilisation
Meaning
The process of becoming sensitive to a substance, situation, or influence.
Example
The doctor warned about the sensitization caused by repeated exposure to chemicals.
Le médecin a averti de la sensibilisation causée par une exposition répétée aux produits chimiques.
C1 adjective /ˈseɪlaɪn/

Saline

salé; lié à l'eau salée
Meaning
containing salt; salty; relating to salt water
Example
The saline solution is used for medical treatments.
La solution saline est utilisée pour les traitements médicaux.
C1 noun /ˌspɒn.təˈneɪ.ɪ.ti/

spontaneity

spontanéité
Meaning
The quality of being spontaneous; natural and unplanned behavior.
Example
His spontaneity makes him a great conversationalist.
Sa spontanéité fait de lui un excellent conversationnel.
C1 noun /sɪˈkriː.ʃən/

Secretion

sécrétion
Meaning
a process by which substances are produced and discharged from a cell or gland
Example
Insulin secretion is crucial for blood sugar regulation.
La sécrétion d'insuline est cruciale pour la régulation de la glycémie.
C1 noun /ˈsʌnˌdaʊn/

sundown

coucher du soleil
Meaning
the time in the evening when the sun goes below the horizon
Example
We planned to reach the village before sundown.
Nous avions prévu d'arriver au village avant le coucher du soleil.
C1 verb/noun /snɑːrl/

snarl

grognement, embouteillage
Meaning
to growl aggressively with bared teeth; a tangle or mess
Example
The dog snarled at the stranger near the gate.
Le chien a grogné au passant près de la porte.
C1 noun /stɛlθ/

stealth

discrétion, furtivité
Meaning
The act of moving, doing, or achieving something quietly and secretly.
Example
The cat moved with stealth towards its prey.
Le chat s'est déplacé furtivement vers sa proie.
C1 noun /səˈlɪləkwi/

soliloquy

soliloque
Meaning
a speech in which a character talks to themselves, often used in drama to reveal inner thoughts
Example
Hamlet's soliloquy is one of the most famous passages in Shakespearean drama.
Le soliloque d'Hamlet est l'un des passages les plus célèbres du drame shakespearien.
C1 noun /ˈsɪləbəl/

syllable

syllabe
Meaning
A unit of pronunciation having one vowel sound, with or without surrounding consonants, forming the whole or part of a word.
Example
The word 'computer' has three syllables.
Le mot 'ordinateur' a trois syllabes.
C1 adjective /ˈsɛreɪtɪd/

serrated

dentelé
Meaning
Having a notched or saw-toothed edge.
Example
The bread knife had a serrated blade.
Le couteau à pain avait une lame dentelée.
C1 noun səˌsɛp.təˈbɪl.ə.ti

susceptibility

sensibilité
Meaning
The quality of being likely to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing; vulnerability.
Example
High susceptibility to infections requires extra care.
Une susceptibilité élevée aux infections nécessite des soins supplémentaires.
C1 noun /ˈskep.tɪ.sɪ.zəm/

skepticism

scepticisme, doute
Meaning
A skeptical attitude; doubt as to the truth of something.
Example
His skepticism about new technology often makes him resistant to change.
Son scepticisme à propos de la nouvelle technologie le rend souvent résistant au changement.
C1 verb, adjective, noun /spruːs/

spruce

ranger / un type d'arbre
Meaning
to make neat or tidy in appearance; also refers to an evergreen tree
Example
He spruced up his room before the guests arrived.
Il a arrangé sa chambre avant l'arrivée des invités.
C1 adjective /ˈsɔːrdɪd/

sordid

sordide
Meaning
involving immoral or dishonorable actions; dirty or unpleasant
Example
The newspaper exposed the politician's sordid past.
Le journal a exposé le passé sordide du politicien.
C1 adjective /ˈspraɪtli/

sprightly

vif
Meaning
full of energy and life; lively
Example
The sprightly old man danced with joy at the wedding.
L'homme vif a dansé avec joie au mariage.
C1 adjective /ˌsuːɪˈsaɪdəl/

Suicidal

suicidaire
Meaning
relating to or having thoughts of killing oneself; extremely dangerous or harmful
Example
The reckless driving was suicidal behavior.
La conduite imprudente était un comportement suicidaire.
C1 adjective /səˈsɛp.tə.bəl/

susceptible

susceptible ou vulnérable à être influencé ou endommagé par quelque chose de particulier
Meaning
Likely or liable to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing.
Example
Children are more susceptible to infections.
Les enfants sont plus susceptibles aux infections.
C1 noun /ˌsɑːrdʒənt ˈmeɪdʒər/

sergeant-major

sergent-major
Meaning
A senior non-commissioned officer in the army responsible for discipline and administration within a unit.
Example
The sergeant-major inspected the troops before the parade.
Le sergent-major a inspecté les troupes avant le défilé.
C1 noun /ˈsteɪtəs kwoʊ/

status quo

statu quo
Meaning
The existing state of affairs, especially regarding social or political issues.
Example
The government decided to maintain the status quo until further review.
Le gouvernement a décidé de maintenir le statu quo jusqu'à un examen ultérieur.
C1 adjective/noun /ˈsʌkjələnt/

succulent

juteux
Meaning
Juicy or full of juice; also refers to a plant with thick, fleshy leaves adapted to storing water.
Example
The steak was so succulent that everyone enjoyed it.
Le steak était tellement juteux que tout le monde l'a apprécié.
C1 noun /ˈspɛkjʊˌleɪtər/

speculator

spéculateur
Meaning
A person who forms theories without evidence, or invests in assets hoping for profit.
Example
The real estate speculator bought land hoping its value would rise.
Le spéculateur immobilier a acheté des terres en espérant que leur valeur augmenterait.
C1 noun /ˌsɛlfsəˈfɪʃənsi/

Self-sufficiency

autosuffisance
Meaning
the ability to supply one's own needs without external assistance; independence
Example
The farm achieved complete self-sufficiency in food production.
La ferme a atteint l'autosuffisance totale en production alimentaire.
C1 noun /ˈseɪɑːns/

seance

séance
Meaning
A meeting where people attempt to communicate with the spirits of the dead.
Example
They held a seance to contact their late grandmother.
Ils ont organisé une séance pour contacter leur grand-mère décédée.
C1 noun /ˈsɪlk.wɜːrm/

Silk-worm

ver à soie
Meaning
the caterpillar of a moth that produces silk fibers used to make silk fabric
Example
Silkworms feed on mulberry leaves to produce silk.
Les vers à soie se nourrissent de feuilles de mûrier pour produire de la soie.
C1 noun /sleɪ/

sleigh

traîneau
Meaning
A vehicle pulled by horses or reindeer over snow or ice.
Example
Children were excited to ride in the sleigh through the snowy village.
Les enfants étaient excités de monter dans le traîneau à travers le village enneigé.
C1 noun /səˈbraɪəti/

sobriety

sobriété
Meaning
the state of being sober; self-restraint and seriousness
Example
He has maintained his sobriety for five years.
Il a maintenu sa sobriété pendant cinq ans.
C1 verb /ˈstriːm.laɪn/

streamline

rationaliser ou augmenter l'efficacité
Meaning
To make a process simpler and more efficient.
Example
The company aims to streamline production to reduce costs.
L'entreprise vise à simplifier la production pour réduire les coûts.
C1 noun /ˈstjuːpər/

stupor

stupéfaction
Meaning
a state of near-unconsciousness or insensibility
Example
He remained in a stupor after hearing the shocking news.
Il est resté dans un état de stupéfaction après avoir entendu la nouvelle choquante.
C1 noun /ˈskaɪ.lɑːrk/

Sky-Lark

alouette
Meaning
a small brown bird known for singing while flying high in the sky
Example
The skylark sang beautifully as it soared above the meadow.
L'alouette chanta magnifiquement pendant qu'elle s'élevait au-dessus du pré.
C1 adjective /ˌsɛrənˈdɪpɪtəs/

serendipitous

chanceux et inattendu
Meaning
Occurring or discovered by chance in a happy or beneficial way.
Example
Their meeting at the café was purely serendipitous.
Leur rencontre au café était totalement chanceuse.
C1 verb /ˈsmʌðər/

smother

étouffer / asphyxier
Meaning
to kill someone by covering their nose and mouth to prevent breathing; to cover something completely; to overwhelm with excessive attention or affection
Example
She smothered the fire with a blanket.
Elle a étouffé le feu avec une couverture.
C1 adjective /ˈswɛltərɪŋ/

sweltering

accablant
Meaning
uncomfortably hot
Example
The sweltering heat made it hard to work.
La chaleur accablante rendait le travail difficile.
C1 adjective /ˈskrʌfi/

Scruffy

démodé ou en désordre dans son apparence; sale et usé
Meaning
untidy or unkempt in appearance; shabby and worn
Example
The scruffy old dog wandered through the streets looking for food.
Le chien sale se promenait dans les rues à la recherche de nourriture.