B2 adverb /ˈsɪmɪlərli/

similarly

de manière similaire

Meaning

in a similar way

Example

Similarly, we can achieve success with dedication and hard work.

De la même manière, nous pouvons réussir avec de la détermination et du travail acharné.

B2 noun /ˈsɪnθɪsɪs/

synthesis

synthèse, combinaison

Meaning

The combination of ideas to form a theory or system.

Example

The synthesis of ideas from multiple perspectives led to innovation.

La synthèse des idées provenant de différentes perspectives a conduit à l'innovation.

B2 adverb /ˈsɒftli/

softly

doucement ou calmement

Meaning

in a gentle or quiet way.

Example

She spoke softly so as not to wake the baby.

Elle parla doucement pour ne pas réveiller le bébé.

B2 adjective /ˈstʌnɪŋ/

stunning

éblouissant

Meaning

extremely impressive or attractive

Example

The view from the top of the mountain was absolutely stunning.

La vue du sommet de la montagne était absolument éblouissante.

B2 noun /spaʊs/

spouse

conjoint

Meaning

a person's husband or wife

Example

Each employee may include their spouse in the health insurance plan.

Chaque employé peut inclure son conjoint dans le plan d'assurance santé.

B2 verb, noun /stæb/

stab

poignarder

Meaning

to pierce or wound with a pointed weapon or object

Example

He was stabbed in the back during the altercation.

Il a été poignardé dans le dos pendant l'altercation.

B2 adjective /stɜːrn/

Stern

strict; sévère

Meaning

serious and demanding exact conformity to rules; strict and severe

Example

The teacher gave the students a stern warning about cheating.

L'enseignant a donné aux élèves un avertissement strict concernant la tricherie.

B2 noun /ˈsɛm.ɪ.nɑːr/

seminar

séminaire

Meaning

A meeting for discussion or training, especially in an academic setting.

Example

The professor invited all students to attend the seminar on climate change.

Le professeur a invité tous les étudiants à assister au séminaire sur le changement climatique.

B2 noun /səˈraʊn.dɪŋz/

surroundings

environnement

Meaning

The area around a person, place, or thing.

Example

She quickly adapted to her new surroundings.

Elle s'est rapidement adaptée à son nouvel environnement.

B2 noun /ˈsɑːrˌkæzəm/

sarcasm

sarcasme

Meaning

The use of irony to mock or convey contempt.

Example

His sarcasm often made people laugh but sometimes offended them.

Son sarcasme faisait souvent rire les gens, mais parfois les offusquait.

B2 adverb /ˈʃɑːrpli/

sharply

brusquement

Meaning

suddenly and strongly; in a cutting or intense way

Example

Prices rose sharply after the announcement.

Les prix ont augmenté brusquement après l'annonce.

B2 noun/verb /stʌmp/

stump

souche d'arbre, déconcerté

Meaning

the base of a tree left after the trunk is cut down; to puzzle or confuse

Example

The question completely stumped the students.

La question a complètement déconcerté les étudiants.

B2 verb /səˈluːt/

salute

saluer

Meaning

to greet with respect; to honor

Example

The soldiers saluted their commanding officer.

Les soldats saluèrent leur officier commandant.

B2 adverb /ˈsɛkʃuəli/

sexually

sexuellement

Meaning

in a way that relates to or involves sexual activity or feelings

Example

The film was considered too sexually explicit for young audiences.

Le film a été jugé trop sexuellement explicite pour un jeune public.

B2 noun ˌsænɪˈteɪʃən

sanitation

assainissement

Meaning

Conditions relating to public health, especially the provision of clean drinking water and adequate sewage disposal.

Example

Good sanitation practices are key to preventing infestations.

Les bonnes pratiques d'assainissement sont essentielles pour prévenir les infestations.

B2 verb /ˈspɛʃəˌlaɪz/

specialize

se spécialiser

Meaning

to focus on a particular subject or activity and become an expert in it

Example

He decided to specialize in cardiology.

Il a décidé de se spécialiser en cardiologie.

B2 verb /stɪŋ/

sting

piquer

Meaning

to pierce with a sharp point; to cause sharp pain

Example

The bee stung him on his arm while he was gardening.

L'abeille l'a piqué au bras pendant qu'il jardinait.

B2 verb /səkˈsiːdɪŋ/

succeeding

suivant / ultérieur

Meaning

coming after or following in order; continuing to succeed

Example

In the succeeding years, the company expanded rapidly.

Dans les années suivantes, l'entreprise s'est rapidement développée.

B2 noun /ˈsɪɡ.nəlz/

signals

signaux

Meaning

A gesture, action, or sound conveying information or instructions.

Example

Signals from deep space were detected last week.

Des signaux de l'espace profond ont été détectés la semaine dernière.

B2 noun /ˈspəʊkswɪmən/

spokeswoman

porte-parole femme

Meaning

a woman who speaks on behalf of a group or organization

Example

The spokeswoman for the company announced the new product.

La porte-parole de l'entreprise a annoncé le nouveau produit.

B2 verb /ʃriːk/

shriek

crier

Meaning

to make a loud, high-pitched cry

Example

She shrieked when she saw the spider.

Elle a crié quand elle a vu l'araignée.

B2 adjective /ˈstʌdid/

studied

réfléchi

Meaning

carefully considered, deliberate, or planned

Example

Her response was calm and studied, not impulsive.

Sa réponse était calme et réfléchie, pas impulsive.

B2 adjective /ˈsoʊbər/

Sober

sobre; sérieux et réfléchi; modéré

Meaning

not affected by alcohol; serious and thoughtful; moderate

Example

He remained sober throughout the celebration.

Il est resté sobre tout au long de la célébration.

B2 verb /skɪm/

skim

lire rapidement

Meaning

to move quickly over a surface or to read something quickly

Example

She skimmed through the report before the meeting.

Elle a survolé le rapport avant la réunion.

B2 noun /ˌspɛsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

specification

spécification

Meaning

a detailed description or assessment of something

Example

The product specification includes all the necessary details.

La spécification du produit comprend tous les détails nécessaires.

B2 noun ˌsɛlf.kənˈtrəʊl

self-control

autocontrôle

Meaning

The ability to control one's emotions, behavior, and desires in order to obtain some reward, or avoid some punishment, typically in the longer term.

Example

Self-control is important for maintaining a balanced life.

Le contrôle de soi est important pour maintenir une vie équilibrée.

B2 noun /səbˈmɪʃən/

submission

soumission, présentation

Meaning

the act of yielding to authority or presenting something for consideration

Example

Her submission of the report was appreciated by the manager.

Sa soumission du rapport a été appréciée par le responsable.

B2 adverb /ˈstɛdɪli/

steadily

de manière régulière

Meaning

in a regular and continuous way; without stopping or changing

Example

The company's profits have been increasing steadily.

Les bénéfices de l'entreprise augmentent régulièrement.

B2 adjective /ˈsæv.ɪdʒ/

Savage

sauvage; féroce; incivilisé

Meaning

extremely cruel or violent; wild and fierce; uncivilized

Example

The savage attack shocked everyone.

L'attaque sauvage a choqué tout le monde.

B2 noun /skɑːr/

Scar

cicatrice

Meaning

a mark left on the skin after a wound has healed; lasting emotional damage

Example

The accident left a permanent scar on his forehead.

L'accident a laissé une cicatrice permanente sur son front.

B2 adjective, verb (past) /səˈspɛndɪd/

suspended

suspendu

Meaning

Temporarily not allowed, stopped, or hanging.

Example

He was suspended from school for a week.

Il a été suspendu de l'école pendant une semaine.

B2 noun /slæŋ/

Slang

argot; langage informel

Meaning

very informal language that is usually spoken rather than written

Example

The teenagers used slang that their parents couldn't understand.

Les adolescents ont utilisé du slang que leurs parents ne pouvaient pas comprendre.

B2 adjective /ˈskɑː.lət/

Scarlet

écarlate

Meaning

a bright red color with a slightly orange tinge

Example

The scarlet roses in the garden looked magnificent in the morning light.

Les roses écarlates dans le jardin étaient magnifiques sous la lumière du matin.

B2 verb /sʌk/

suck

sucer

Meaning

to draw something into the mouth by using the lips and tongue

Example

The baby began to suck her thumb.

Le bébé a commencé à sucer son pouce.

B2 noun /ˌspeʃiˈælɪti/

Speciality

spécialité

Meaning

a particular area of activity or interest that someone focuses on; expertise in a specific field

Example

His speciality is Italian cuisine.

Sa spécialité est la cuisine italienne.

B2 noun /sɪv/

Seive

passoire

Meaning

a utensil consisting of a wire or plastic mesh held in a frame, used for straining solids from liquids

Example

She used a sieve to separate the flour from lumps.

Elle a utilisé une passoire pour séparer la farine des grumeaux.

B2 noun /ˈsʌm.ɪt/

summit

sommet

Meaning

A high-level meeting between leaders, especially of governments; a conference.

Example

The summit addressed pressing global issues.

Le sommet a abordé des questions mondiales pressantes.

B2 adjective /ˈsʌb.sɪ.kwənt/

subsequent

subséquent

Meaning

Coming after something in time; following in time or order.

Example

Subsequent events clarified the outcomes.

Les événements subséquents ont clarifié les résultats.

B2 noun /spæn/

span

portée

Meaning

the full extent or length of something from one end to another

Example

The bridge has a span of over 500 meters.

Le pont a une portée de plus de 500 mètres.

B2 verb /ʃʌv/

shove

pousser

Meaning

to push someone or something roughly

Example

He shoved the box into the corner.

Il a poussé la boîte dans le coin.

B2 noun səˈsteɪnəbl dɪˈvɛləpmənt

Sustainable Development

développement durable

Meaning

Development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Example

Eco-tourism contributes to sustainable development in local communities.

L'écotourisme contribue au développement durable des communautés locales.

B2 noun /ˈspɒt.laɪt/

spotlight

projecteur

Meaning

a strong beam of light directed onto a particular area; figuratively, public attention

Example

The singer stood proudly in the spotlight.

Le chanteur se tenait fièrement sous les projecteurs.

B2 noun /stɪŋk/

Stink

puant; mauvaise odeur

Meaning

a strong unpleasant smell; bad odor

Example

The garbage created a terrible stink in the kitchen.

La poubelle a créé une terrible puanteur dans la cuisine.

B2 noun /sɛnt/

scent

parfum

Meaning

a distinctive smell, especially a pleasant one

Example

The scent of roses filled the garden.

Le parfum des roses remplissait le jardin.

B2 adjective /səˈraʊndɪŋ/

surrounding

environnant

Meaning

located all around a particular place or thing; nearby

Example

The surrounding hills were covered in mist.

Les collines environnantes étaient couvertes de brume.

B2 verb /səbˈtrækt/

subtract

soustraire

Meaning

to take away a number or amount from another number or amount

Example

If you subtract 5 from 10, you get 5.

Si vous soustrayez 5 de 10, vous obtenez 5.

B2 adjective ˌsɪm.əlˈteɪ.ni.əs

simultaneous

simultané

Meaning

Occurring, operating, or done at the same time.

Example

Simultaneous crop failures affect global food supply.

Les échecs simultanés des récoltes affectent l'approvisionnement mondial en nourriture.

B2 adjective /ˈsɪk.li/

Sickly

fragile; malade; pâle

Meaning

weak and unhealthy; prone to illness; appearing weak or pale

Example

The sickly child needed extra care and attention.

L'enfant fragile avait besoin de soins et d'attention supplémentaires.

B2 noun ˈʃeɪdɪd ˈɛəriə

shaded area

zone ombragée

Meaning

An area that is protected from direct sunlight.

Example

We sat in a shaded area by the riverbank.

Nous nous sommes assis dans une zone ombragée près de la rive.

B2 noun /skrɪpt/

script

scénario

Meaning

The written text of a play, film, or broadcast; handwriting style.

Example

The actor memorized his lines from the script.

L'acteur a mémorisé ses répliques du scénario.

B2 noun /ˈstɑːrtər/

starter

personne ou chose qui commence quelque chose; le premier plat d'un repas

Meaning

a person or thing that starts something; the first course of a meal

Example

The starter of the meal was a fresh salad.

Le starter du repas était une salade fraîche.

B2 noun /ˈskaɪˌskreɪpər/

Skyscraper

gratte-ciel

Meaning

a very tall building of many stories

Example

The new skyscraper dominates the city's skyline.

Le nouveau gratte-ciel domine la ligne d'horizon de la ville.

B2 adjective /ˈstuː.di.əs/

Studious

studieux; dévoué à l'apprentissage

Meaning

characterized by diligent study; devoted to learning

Example

She is a studious student who spends hours in the library.

Elle est une étudiante studieuse qui passe des heures à la bibliothèque.

B2 verb /ˈskætər/

scatter

répandre

Meaning

to spread or throw around in different directions

Example

The wind scattered the leaves across the yard.

Le vent a éparpillé les feuilles dans le jardin.

B2 noun /sɪnˈserɪti/

Sincerity

sincérité

Meaning

the quality of being free from pretense or deceit; honesty

Example

His sincerity in apologizing was evident to everyone.

Sa sincérité en s'excusant était évidente pour tout le monde.

B2 adverb /ˈskeəs.li/

Scarcely

à peine; difficilement; juste un peu

Meaning

hardly; barely; only just

Example

I could scarcely believe my eyes.

Je pouvais à peine croire mes yeux.

B2 verb /səˈsteɪn/

sustain

soutenir

Meaning

To support, maintain, or keep something going over time.

Example

The team worked hard to sustain their success.

L'équipe a travaillé dur pour soutenir leur succès.

B2 adjective /ˈʃæb.i/

Shabby

usé; en mauvais état; montrant des signes d'usure; injuste ou cruel

Meaning

worn out; in poor condition; showing signs of wear; unfair or mean

Example

His shabby clothes showed that he had been traveling for days.

Ses vêtements usés montraient qu'il voyageait depuis des jours.

B2 adjective /stəˈtɪstɪkəl/

statistical

statistique

Meaning

relating to the use or analysis of numerical data

Example

The report provides statistical data about population growth.

Le rapport fournit des données statistiques sur la croissance de la population.

B2 verb /spɪn/

spin

tourner

Meaning

To turn around quickly or cause something to rotate

Example

The dancer began to spin gracefully on the stage.

La danseuse a commencé à tourner gracieusement sur scène.

B2 noun /strɪp/

Strip

une longue et étroite bande de tissu, papier, plastique ou autre matériau

Meaning

a long narrow piece of cloth, paper, plastic, or other material

Example

She tore a strip of paper from the notebook.

Elle a arraché une bande de papier du cahier.

B2 noun /ˈsʌb.sɪ.di/

subsidy

subside

Meaning

Financial assistance provided by government to reduce costs of goods or services.

Example

The government provides a fuel subsidy to control prices.

Le gouvernement fournit une subvention pour contrôler les prix.

B2 adjective /ˈʃeɪ.di/

Shady

ombragé; suspect; malhonnête;

Meaning

providing shade; dishonest; suspicious

Example

The shady businessman made a suspicious deal.

Le commerçant ombragé a conclu une affaire suspecte.

B2 verb /snæp/

snap

casser

Meaning

to break suddenly; to speak angrily; to take a photograph quickly

Example

The rope snapped under the weight.

La corde a cassé sous le poids.

B2 verb /ˈstreɪtən/

straighten

redresser

Meaning

to make something straight or tidy; to correct or organize

Example

She straightened her hair before the meeting.

Elle a redressé ses cheveux avant la réunion.

B2 adjective /ˈspaɪ.rəl/

Spiral

spirale

Meaning

winding in a continuous curve; helical

Example

The spiral staircase led to the top floor.

L'escalier en spirale menait à l'étage supérieur.

B2 verb /səʊ/

sew

bonheur

Meaning

to join pieces of fabric or material together using a needle and thread

Example

She learned to sew her own clothes at an early age.

Elle ne pouvait pas cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.

B2 verb /ˈʃʌfəl/

shuffle

marcher en traînant les pieds / mélanger

Meaning

to walk by dragging one's feet along or without lifting them fully; to mix or rearrange

Example

He shuffled the cards before dealing them.

Il a mélangé les cartes avant de les distribuer.

B2 noun /sliːv/

Sleeve

manche

Meaning

the part of a garment that covers the arm

Example

She rolled up her sleeves before starting to cook.

Elle a retroussé ses manches avant de commencer à cuisiner.

B2 verb /ˈskræmbəl/

scramble

grimper ou mélanger rapidement

Meaning

to move or climb quickly using hands and feet; to mix or arrange in a hurried way

Example

The kids scrambled up the hill to catch the kite.

Les enfants ont grimpé rapidement la colline pour attraper le cerf-volant.

B2 verb /skoʊld/

scold

gronder

Meaning

to criticize angrily; to rebuke

Example

The teacher scolded the students for being late.

Le professeur a grondé les étudiants pour leur retard.

B2 adjective/noun /staʊt/

stout

épais / robuste

Meaning

Strong, thick, or heavily built; also a kind of dark beer

Example

The stout man lifted the heavy box with ease.

L'homme épais a soulevé la boîte lourde avec facilité.

B2 adjective /ˌsɪstəˈmætɪk/

systematic

systématique

Meaning

Done or acting according to a fixed plan or system; methodical.

Example

The company took a systematic approach to solving the issue.

L'entreprise a adopté une approche systématique pour résoudre le problème.

B2 verb /səˈrɛndər/

surrender

se rendre

Meaning

to give up or yield to an opponent or authority

Example

The army finally surrendered after weeks of fighting.

L'armée a enfin capitulé après des semaines de combats.

B2 adjective /ˈspiːtʃləs/

speechless

sans voix

Meaning

Unable to speak because of shock, surprise, or strong emotion.

Example

She was speechless when she received the award.

Elle est restée sans voix lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.

B2 adverb /ˈsɛp.ər.ət.li/

separately

séparément

Meaning

in a way that is apart or individually; not together

Example

They decided to travel separately to the conference.

Ils ont décidé de voyager séparément à la conférence.

B2 verb /siːz/

seize

saisir

Meaning

To take hold of suddenly and forcibly.

Example

The police managed to seize the stolen goods.

La police a réussi à saisir les biens volés.

B2 noun/verb /ˈsoʊ.ɪŋ/

sewing

couture

Meaning

The activity or skill of joining fabric using a needle and thread

Example

She enjoys sewing her own clothes on weekends.

Elle aime coudre ses propres vêtements le week-end.

B2 adjective /slæk/

slack

lâche

Meaning

not tight, firm, or busy; lacking tension or activity

Example

Business is slack during the rainy season.

Les affaires sont lentes pendant la saison des pluies.

B2 noun /ˈstɔːrɪdʒ/

storage

stockage

Meaning

the action or method of storing something for future use

Example

The warehouse offers plenty of storage space.

L'entrepôt offre beaucoup d'espace de stockage.

B2 adjective /sɔːr/

sore

douloureux

Meaning

painful or aching, usually in a specific part of the body

Example

After the long run, my legs were sore.

Après la longue course, mes jambes étaient douloureuses.

B2 noun /spaɪt/

spite

rancune

Meaning

a desire to hurt, annoy, or offend someone

Example

She refused the gift out of spite.

Elle a refusé le cadeau par rancune.

B2 adjective /ˈskeptɪkəl/

Sceptical

sceptique; méfiant; qui remet en question la vérité de quelque chose

Meaning

having doubts; not easily convinced; questioning the truth of something

Example

Many scientists remain sceptical about the new theory.

De nombreux scientifiques restent sceptiques concernant la nouvelle théorie.

B2 noun ˈsoʊʃəl rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪləti

social responsibility

responsabilité sociale

Meaning

The duty to act in ways that benefit society as a whole.

Example

Social responsibility should be part of the education curriculum.

La responsabilité sociale doit faire partie du programme éducatif.

B2 noun sɛlf rɪˈlaɪ.əns

self-reliance

autonomie

Meaning

Reliance on one's own powers and resources rather than those of others; independence.

Example

Self-reliance helps build confidence.

L'autonomie aide à construire la confiance.

B2 verb /sɑːb/

sob

sangloter bruyamment

Meaning

to cry noisily while taking short breaths

Example

She began to sob uncontrollably after hearing the news.

Elle a commencé à sangloter de manière incontrôlable après avoir entendu la nouvelle.

B2 verb /suː/

sue

poursuivre

Meaning

to bring a lawsuit against someone in a court of law

Example

She decided to sue the company for damages.

Elle a décidé de poursuivre l'entreprise en justice pour dommages.

B2 noun/verb /skræp/

scrap

morceau / jeter

Meaning

A small piece of something; to discard or get rid of something.

Example

He used a scrap of paper to jot down the number.

Il a utilisé un morceau de papier pour écrire le numéro.

B2 adverb /ˈskɪl.fəl.i/

Skilfully/US: Skillfully

habilement

Meaning

in a way that shows ability and training; expertly

Example

She skilfully painted the portrait in just two hours.

Elle a peint le portrait habilement en seulement deux heures.

B2 noun /ˈʃɔːrt.kʌm.ɪŋ/

Shortcoming

lacune; défaut; carence

Meaning

a fault or failure to meet a certain standard; a deficiency

Example

Despite his many talents, he has some shortcomings.

Malgré ses nombreux talents, il a quelques lacunes.

B2 noun /ˈsɛktər/

sector

secteur

Meaning

a distinct part or area of an economy, society, or industry

Example

The technology sector is growing rapidly.

Le secteur technologique croît rapidement.

B2 noun /ˌsoʊsiˈɑːlədʒi/

sociology

sociologie

Meaning

the study of society, human relationships, and social institutions

Example

She is studying sociology at university.

Elle étudie la sociologie à l'université.

B2 noun /ˈsɒr.oʊ/

Sorrow

tristesse; douleur;

Meaning

a feeling of deep distress caused by loss or disappointment

Example

His heart was filled with sorrow after the tragedy.

Son cœur était rempli de chagrin après la tragédie.

B2 verb /ˈstɑːrtl/

startle

surprendre

Meaning

To surprise or frighten someone suddenly.

Example

The loud noise startled the children.

Le bruit fort a surpris les enfants.

B2 noun /ˈsɪnənɪm/

Synonym

synonyme

Meaning

a word or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word or phrase in the same language

Example

Happy and joyful are synonyms.

Heureux et joyeux sont des synonymes.

B2 noun /səkˈsɛʃ.ən/

succession

succession écologique

Meaning

The process of ecological change in which one community of organisms is gradually replaced by another.

Example

Forest succession occurs when old ecosystems are replaced by new ones.

La succession forestière se produit lorsque les anciens écosystèmes sont remplacés par de nouveaux.

B2 noun /swɪŋ/

Swing

balançoire

Meaning

move or cause to move back and forth or from side to side while suspended or on an axis

Example

The children love to swing in the park.

Les enfants adorent se balancer dans le parc.

B2 noun /spekˈteɪtər/

Spectator

spectateur

Meaning

a person who watches at a show, game, or other event; an observer

Example

The stadium was filled with excited spectators.

Le stade était rempli de spectateurs enthousiastes.

B2 noun /ˈsɛnətər/

senator

sénateur

Meaning

a member of a senate, especially in a legislative body

Example

The senator spoke passionately about environmental policies.

Le sénateur a parlé passionnément des politiques environnementales.

B2 noun /ˈsloʊɡən/

Meaning

An act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else.

Example

The country was freed due to the sacrifice of the warriors.

Le pays a été libéré grâce au sacrifice des guerriers.

B2 adjective /ˈsɒl.ɪ.ter.i/

Solitary

solitaire; isolé; seul

Meaning

alone; without companions; single; isolated

Example

He lived a solitary life in the mountains.

Il a vécu une vie solitaire dans les montagnes.

B2 noun /ˈsleɪvəri/

slavery

esclavage

Meaning

the system or state of being owned and forced to work for someone else

Example

Slavery was abolished in most countries in the 19th century.

L'esclavage a été aboli dans la plupart des pays au XIXe siècle.

B2 noun /ˈʃʌtəl/

shuttle

véhicule qui voyage régulièrement entre deux endroits

Meaning

a vehicle or craft that travels regularly between two places.

Example

The airport shuttle runs every 30 minutes.

La navette de l'aéroport circule toutes les 30 minutes.

B2 verb /sæk/

sack

renvoyer

Meaning

to dismiss from a job; to put something in a sack

Example

The company sacked him for poor performance.

L'entreprise l'a renvoyé pour mauvaise performance.

B2 adjective /ˌsuː.pəˈfɪʃ.əl/

superficial

superficiel

Meaning

Existing or occurring at or on the surface; not thorough or deep.

Example

His understanding of the subject was rather superficial.

Sa compréhension du sujet était plutôt superficielle.