speculation
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B2 noun ˌspɛk.jʊˈleɪ.ʃən

speculation

spéculation
Meaning
Investment in stocks, property, or other ventures in the hope of gain but with the risk of loss.
Example
Stock market speculation can lead to high volatility.
La spéculation sur le marché boursier peut conduire à une forte volatilité.
B2 noun/verb /skɔːrn/

scorn

mépris
Meaning
the feeling or expression of contempt or disdain; to treat with contempt
Example
She looked at him with open scorn.
Elle le regarda avec mépris.
B2 noun /ˈsiː.mən/

Seaman

marin
Meaning
a person who works on a ship; sailor
Example
The experienced seaman navigated the ship through the storm.
Le marin expérimenté a navigué le bateau à travers la tempête.
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 adverb /ˈsmuːð.li/

Smoothly

doucement; sans problèmes
Meaning
without problems or difficulties; in an even and regular way
Example
The car runs smoothly on the new highway.
La voiture roule doucement sur la nouvelle autoroute.
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 noun /ˈspɛk.tə.kəl/

spectacle

spectacle
Meaning
An impressive display or performance for viewers.
Example
The fireworks created a breathtaking spectacle in the night sky.
Les feux d'artifice ont créé un spectacle époustouflant dans le ciel nocturne.
B2 noun/verb /swɑːmp/

swamp

marais
Meaning
An area of low-lying, uncultivated ground where water collects; a bog or marsh.
Example
The village was built near a swamp.
Le village a été construit près d'un marais.
B2 noun /stɑːˈveɪ.ʃən/

Starvation

famine
Meaning
suffering or death caused by lack of food; extreme hunger
Example
Many people died of starvation during the famine.
Beaucoup de gens sont morts de famine pendant la famine.
B2 adjective /ˈsiː.z ə n.əl/

Seasonal

saisonnière
Meaning
relating to or occurring in a particular season; changing according to the seasons
Example
Many businesses hire seasonal workers during the holidays.
De nombreuses entreprises embauchent des travailleurs saisonniers pendant les vacances.
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 noun /ˌsɪm.ɪˈlær.ə.ti/

Similarity

similitude; ressemblance
Meaning
the quality or state of being similar; resemblance
Example
There is a striking similarity between the two paintings.
Il y a une similitude frappante entre les deux peintures.
B2 verb, noun, adjective /streɪ/

stray

égarer
Meaning
to move away from the correct path or go off course; a person or animal that has wandered off; something that is not where it belongs
Example
The dog strayed from the yard and got lost.
Le chien s'est égaré du jardin et s'est perdu.
B2 noun ˌsensɪˈtɪvɪti

sensitivity

sensibilité
Meaning
The quality or condition of being sensitive; responsiveness to stimuli.
Example
Bose proved plant sensitivity through experiments.
Bose a prouvé la sensibilité des plantes par des expériences.
B2 noun /ˈsɛnət/

senate

sénat
Meaning
a legislative or governing body, typically the upper chamber in a bicameral legislature
Example
The senate voted in favor of the new healthcare bill.
Le sénat a voté en faveur du nouveau projet de loi sur la santé.
B2 adjective /slɪm/

slim

mince
Meaning
thin in an attractive or healthy way; small in amount or chance
Example
She looked slim in her new dress.
Elle avait l'air mince dans sa nouvelle robe.
B2 noun, verb /steɪk/

stake

part, risque
Meaning
A share or interest in a business or venture; to risk or support something of value.
Example
He has a major stake in the new company.
Il a une grande part dans la nouvelle entreprise.
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 noun /ˈspɒnsəʃɪp/

sponsorship

parrainage
Meaning
the act of supporting an event, activity, person, or organization financially or through other resources
Example
The event was made possible due to the sponsorship of several big companies.
L'événement a été rendu possible grâce au parrainage de plusieurs grandes entreprises.
B2 noun /səkˈses.ər/

Successor

successeur
Meaning
a person who succeeds another in office; someone who takes over a position or role
Example
The CEO announced his retirement and named his successor for the company.
Le PDG a annoncé sa retraite et a nommé son successeur pour l'entreprise.
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 /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 noun steɪks

stakes

mise
Meaning
A strong wooden or metal post with a point at one end, driven into the ground.
Example
The stakes were high for the success of the project.
Les mises étaient élevées pour le succès du projet.
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 noun /ˈseɪf.ɡɑːrd/

Safeguard

sauvegarde
Meaning
measure or action designed to protect someone or something
Example
New safeguards were implemented to prevent data breaches.
De nouvelles sauvegardes ont été mises en place pour prévenir les violations de données.
B2 adjective /ˌsuː.pəˈnætʃ.ər.əl/

Supernatural

surnaturel
Meaning
relating to things that cannot be explained by natural or scientific laws; beyond the normal or physical world
Example
The old house was said to have supernatural powers.
On disait que la vieille maison avait des pouvoirs surnaturels.
B2 noun /sɪˈver.ə.ti/

Severity

sévérité; gravité; dureté
Meaning
the quality of being extremely serious or harsh; intensity of something bad
Example
The severity of the storm caused widespread damage across the city.
La sévérité de la tempête a causé des dommages généralisés dans toute la ville.
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 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.
B2 verb /skæn/

scan

bonheur
Meaning
To look at something carefully or quickly; to digitally copy or capture an image or document.
Example
She scanned the document before sending it by email.
Elle n'a pas pu cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
B2 adjective /ˈʃæl.oʊ/

Shallow

superficiel; peu profond; manquant de profondeur de connaissance
Meaning
not deep; superficial; lacking depth of knowledge
Example
The shallow water is perfect for children to play.
L'eau peu profonde est parfaite pour que les enfants jouent.
B2 noun /ˈspaɪs bɒks/

Spice box

boîte à épices
Meaning
a container used to store various spices and seasonings
Example
She opened the spice box to find cumin for her curry.
Elle a ouvert la boîte à épices pour trouver du cumin pour son curry.
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 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.
B2 noun/verb /ˈsæd.əl/

saddle

siège de cheval; accabler quelqu'un de responsabilités
Meaning
A seat fastened on the back of a horse for riding; to burden someone with a responsibility.
Example
He saddled the horse before going for a ride.
Il a sellé le cheval avant d'aller faire une promenade.
B2 noun /ˈsnoʊ.fɔːl/

Snowfall

chute de neige
Meaning
the process of snow falling from the sky; the amount of snow that falls
Example
The heavy snowfall blocked all the roads yesterday.
La forte chute de neige a bloqué toutes les routes hier.
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 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 verb /skwɒʃ/

squash

écraser
Meaning
to crush or squeeze something with force so that it becomes flat or broken
Example
She accidentally squashed the bug with her shoe.
Elle a accidentellement écrasé le insecte avec sa chaussure.
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 noun /ˈsɪmp.təmz/

symptoms

symptômes
Meaning
signs or indications of a disease or condition
Example
Fever and cough are common symptoms of the flu.
La fièvre et la toux sont des symptômes courants de la grippe.
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 /ˈʃʌv.əl/

Shovel

pelle
Meaning
a tool with a broad flat blade and long handle used for digging and moving earth, snow, or other materials
Example
He grabbed a shovel to clear the snow from the driveway.
Il a pris une pelle pour nettoyer la neige de l'allée.
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 adjective səˈfɪs.tɪ.keɪ.tɪd

sophisticated

sophistiqué
Meaning
Having great knowledge or experience of the world and knowing about fashion, culture, and other things that people think are socially important; highly developed or complex.
Example
Sophisticated designs enhance aesthetics.
Les designs sophistiqués améliorent l'esthétique.
B2 noun/verb /ˈslɔː.tər/

slaughter

abattage / massacre
Meaning
the killing of animals for food; killing in large numbers violently
Example
The army slaughtered hundreds of enemy soldiers.
L'armée a tué des centaines de soldats ennemis.
B2 noun /ˈsɑːrdʒənt/

sergeant

sergent
Meaning
A rank of non-commissioned officer in the armed forces or police.
Example
The sergeant gave orders to the soldiers before the mission.
Le sergent a donné des ordres aux soldats avant la mission.
B2 verb /straɪv/

strive

s'efforcer
Meaning
To make great efforts to achieve or obtain something.
Example
She strives to be the best student in her class.
Elle s'efforce d'être la meilleure élève de sa classe.
B2 noun ˈsʌbstɪˌtut

substitute

substitut
Meaning
A person or thing acting or serving in place of another.
Example
Money cannot be a substitute for genuine happiness.
L'argent ne peut pas être un substitut du bonheur véritable.
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 /ˈstaɪ.lɪʃ/

Stylish

élégant et attrayant; ayant de l'élégance ou du goût dans l'apparence
Meaning
fashionable and attractive; having elegance or taste in appearance
Example
She wore a stylish dress to the party.
Elle portait une robe élégante à la fête.
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 noun /ˈspəʊksmən/

spokesman

porte-parole
Meaning
a person who speaks on behalf of others, especially for a group or organization
Example
The spokesman addressed the crowd during the rally.
Le porte-parole a pris la parole devant la foule lors du rassemblement.
B2 adjective /ˈsteɪʃəˌneri/

stationary

immobile
Meaning
Not moving or not intended to be moved.
Example
The car remained stationary at the red light.
La voiture est restée immobile au feu rouge.
B2 noun /ˈspəʊkspɜːrsən/

spokesperson

porte-parole
Meaning
a person who speaks on behalf of others or an organization
Example
The spokesperson addressed the press conference on behalf of the company.
Le porte-parole a pris la parole lors de la conférence de presse au nom de l'entreprise.
B2 noun /slɛdʒ/

sledge

traîneau
Meaning
a vehicle for traveling over snow, often pulled by animals
Example
The children rode a sledge down the snowy hill.
Les enfants ont monté un traîneau sur la colline enneigée.
B2 noun /ˈsæŋk.tʃuˌɛr.i/

sanctuary

sanctuaire
Meaning
A place of safety, refuge, or protection; a sacred place.
Example
The forest is a sanctuary for endangered animals.
La forêt est un sanctuaire pour les animaux en danger.
B2 adjective /ˌsen.tɪˈmen.təl/

Sentimental

sentimental
Meaning
having tender feelings; being emotional about memories or experiences
Example
She became sentimental when looking at old family photographs.
Elle est devenue sentimentale en regardant de vieilles photos de famille.
B2 noun /suː.pɪər.iˈɔːr.ə.ti/

Superiority

supériorité
Meaning
the quality or state of being superior; higher rank or quality
Example
His superiority in mathematics was evident from his test scores.
Sa supériorité en mathématiques était évidente à partir de ses résultats de test.
B2 adjective /steɪl/

Stale

rassis; vieux; sans fraîcheur
Meaning
no longer fresh; lacking originality or novelty
Example
The bread became stale after sitting out for three days.
Le pain est devenu rassis après être resté dehors pendant trois jours.
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 adjective /ˈstʌb.ərn/

Stubborn

têtu; obstiné; entêté
Meaning
refusing to change opinion or course of action; persistent; obstinate
Example
The stubborn child refused to eat his vegetables.
L'enfant têtu a refusé de manger ses légumes.
B2 noun /skwɒd/

squad

escouade
Meaning
a small group of people organized for a specific purpose or task, often in the military or sports
Example
The football squad trained hard before the championship match.
L'équipe de football s'est entraînée durement avant le match de championnat.
B2 noun /ˈstrʌk.tʃərz/

structures

structures
Meaning
Buildings or other objects constructed from several parts.
Example
The region has ancient structures.
La région possède des structures anciennes.
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 adverb /sɪˈvɪərli/

severely

gravement
Meaning
to a great degree; very seriously or harshly
Example
The patient was severely injured in the accident.
Le patient a été gravement blessé dans l'accident.
B2 verb /ʃrɪŋk/

shrink

rétrécir
Meaning
to become smaller in size; to draw back in fear
Example
The sweater shrank after washing in hot water.
Le pull s'est rétréci après avoir été lavé dans de l'eau chaude.
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 /ˈsɛksi/

sexy

attirant
Meaning
sexually attractive or exciting
Example
She wore a sexy red dress to the party.
Elle portait une robe rouge attirante à la fête.
B2 noun /ˈsɪmfəni/

Symphony

symphonie
Meaning
an elaborate musical composition for full orchestra, typically in four movements
Example
The orchestra performed Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.
L'orchestre a interprété la Cinquième symphonie de Beethoven.
B2 noun /skʌl/

Skull

crâne
Meaning
the bony framework of the head that protects the brain
Example
The doctor examined the skull X-ray carefully.
Le médecin a soigneusement examiné la radiographie du crâne.
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 noun /ˈsɒlɪtjuːd/

solitude

solitude
Meaning
The state or situation of being alone.
Example
Solitude can provide the opportunity for deep reflection.
La solitude peut offrir l'occasion d'une réflexion profonde.
B2 verb /ˈsuːpərvaɪz/

supervise

superviser
Meaning
to watch and direct a person or activity to ensure things are done correctly
Example
The teacher supervises students during the exam.
Le professeur supervise les étudiants pendant l'examen.
B2 verb /ˈspɛkjʊˌleɪt/

speculate

spéculer / investir
Meaning
To form a theory or guess without firm evidence; to invest in stocks, property, etc. hoping for profit.
Example
Experts speculate that the company may expand into new markets.
Les experts spéculent que l'entreprise pourrait s'étendre sur de nouveaux marchés.
B2 verb /ˈsʌfəkeɪt/

suffocate

s'étouffer
Meaning
to cause someone to die or have difficulty breathing by depriving them of air
Example
The child nearly suffocated when trapped in the locked room.
L'enfant a failli s'étouffer lorsqu'il a été piégé dans la pièce verrouillée.
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 adjective /səbˈstæn.ʃəl/

Substantial

substantiel; important; considérable
Meaning
large in size, amount, or importance; considerable; significant
Example
There was a substantial increase in sales this quarter.
Il y a eu une augmentation substantielle des ventes ce trimestre.
B2 verb /swel/

swell

gonfler
Meaning
to become larger, rounder, or thicker; to increase in size
Example
Her ankle began to swell after the injury.
Sa cheville a commencé à enfler après la blessure.
B2 noun /ˈskriːnɪŋ/

screening

dépistage ou projection
Meaning
the act of examining or testing people to detect disease or evaluate suitability; a showing of a movie or program
Example
The hospital offered free health screening for all employees.
L'hôpital a offert un dépistage de santé gratuit pour tous les employés.
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 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 adjective /sɑːrˈkæstɪk/

sarcastic

sarcastique
Meaning
Using irony or mockery to convey contempt or humor.
Example
She made a sarcastic remark about his cooking.
Elle a fait une remarque sarcastique sur sa cuisine.
B2 noun smɔːl ˈɛfərt

Small Effort

petit effort
Meaning
Minor actions or initiatives that can collectively make a significant impact.
Example
Small efforts can bring big changes in butterfly conservation.
Les petits efforts peuvent apporter de grands changements dans la conservation des papillons.
B2 noun /ˈsmɑːrt.nəs/

Smartness

intelligence; astuce; apparence soignée et moderne
Meaning
intelligence; cleverness; neat and fashionable appearance
Example
Her smartness in solving problems impressed everyone.
Son intelligence pour résoudre les problèmes a impressionné tout le monde.
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 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 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 adjective /ˈslɪp.ər.i/

Slippery

glissant
Meaning
smooth and difficult to hold; causing sliding or slipping
Example
The wet floor was very slippery after cleaning.
Le sol mouillé était très glissant après le nettoyage.
B2 verb /ˈstʌmbəl/

stumble

trébucher
Meaning
to trip or lose balance while walking or running; to make a mistake or falter
Example
He stumbled on the uneven pavement.
Il a trébuché sur le pavé inégal.
B2 adjective /suːˈpɜːrb/

superb

superbe
Meaning
extremely good; excellent
Example
The hotel provided superb service during our stay.
L'hôtel a fourni un service superbe pendant notre séjour.
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 adjective ˈsiːm.ləs

seamless

sans interruption
Meaning
A process or service that works without any interruption.
Example
A seamless checkout process improves user satisfaction.
Un processus de paiement sans interruption améliore la satisfaction des utilisateurs.
B2 verb /ˈsprɪŋkəl/

sprinkle

saupoudrer
Meaning
to scatter small drops or particles of a substance over a surface
Example
She sprinkled sugar on top of the cake.
Elle a saupoudré du sucre sur le gâteau.
B2 noun /səˈvaɪvl/

survival

survie
Meaning
the state of continuing to live or exist, typically in difficult conditions
Example
Survival in the wild can be a challenging experience.
La survie dans la nature peut être une expérience difficile.
B2 noun /ˈsɛntəmənt/

Sentiment

sentiment
Meaning
a feeling or opinion, especially one based on emotion; tender feelings of affection
Example
Public sentiment was strongly against the new policy.
L'opinion publique était fortement opposée à la nouvelle politique.
B2 verb /soʊ/

sow

semer
Meaning
to plant seeds in the ground; to scatter seeds for growing
Example
The farmer will sow wheat seeds in the field tomorrow.
Le fermier plantera des graines de blé dans le champ demain.
B2 verb səˈsteɪnd

sustained

soutenu
Meaning
Strengthened and supported; not allowed to weaken or fail.
Example
The proposal was not sustained.
La proposition n'a pas été soutenue.
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 verb /sweɪ/

sway

balancer
Meaning
To move or cause to move slowly or rhythmically back and forth; to influence someone's opinion or decision.
Example
The trees swayed gently in the breeze.
Les arbres se balançaient doucement dans la brise.
B2 adjective /ˈslʌɡ.ɪʃ/

Sluggish

lent; paresseux; inactif
Meaning
slow-moving; lacking energy or alertness; inactive
Example
The old computer became sluggish after running for hours.
L'ordinateur vieux est devenu lent après avoir fonctionné pendant des heures.
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 adjective /ˈseɪ.krɪd/

Sacred

sacré
Meaning
connected with God or a god; considered holy; worthy of religious worship
Example
The sacred temple was visited by thousands of pilgrims.
Le temple sacré a été visité par des milliers de pèlerins.
B2 noun /ˈswɛər wɜːrd/

swear-word

mots grossiers
Meaning
An offensive or rude word used to express anger or frustration.
Example
He shouted a swear-word when he hit his toe.
Il a crié un mot grossier quand il s'est frappé le orteil.
B2 adjective /ˈstʌf.i/

Stuffy

manque d'air frais; mal ventilé; attitude formelle et conservatrice
Meaning
lacking fresh air; poorly ventilated; formal and conservative in attitude
Example
The room was stuffy and needed fresh air.
La pièce était étouffante et avait besoin d'air frais.
B2 adjective /saʊər/

Sour

aigre
Meaning
having an acid taste like lemon or vinegar; unpleasant or disagreeable
Example
The milk has gone sour and smells terrible.
Le lait est devenu aigre et sent mauvais.
B2 verb /səbˈskraɪb/

subscribe

s'abonner
Meaning
to pay to receive a service regularly; to agree with or support something
Example
I subscribe to several online magazines.
Je m'abonne à plusieurs magazines en ligne.
B2 noun sɔɪl ɪˈrəʊʒən

soil erosion

érosion du sol
Meaning
The wearing away of topsoil by water, wind, or other natural forces.
Example
Soil erosion can lead to the loss of fertile land.
L'érosion du sol peut entraîner la perte de terres fertiles.
B2 noun /ˌsuːpərˈvɪʒən/

supervision

supervision
Meaning
the action or process of overseeing or managing something or someone
Example
The project was completed under the supervision of an experienced manager.
Le projet a été complété sous la supervision d'un gestionnaire expérimenté.
B2 adjective /swɪft/

swift

rapide
Meaning
moving very quickly; happening promptly
Example
The river current was swift after the heavy rain.
Le courant de la rivière était rapide après la forte pluie.
B2 noun /ˈstæm.ɪ.nə/

Stamina

endurance
Meaning
the ability to sustain prolonged physical or mental effort
Example
Marathon runners need great stamina to complete the race.
Les coureurs de marathon ont besoin d'une grande endurance pour terminer la course.
B2 noun /ˈsiː.krə.si/

Secrecy

secret
Meaning
the practice of keeping something secret; the state of being kept hidden
Example
The project was conducted in complete secrecy.
Le projet a été mené dans un secret total.
B2 noun /ˈspɔːrtsmən/

sportsman

sportif
Meaning
A person who is skilled in sports or enjoys participating in athletic activities.
Example
He is a true sportsman, always fair and respectful to his opponents.
C'est un véritable sportif, toujours juste et respectueux envers ses adversaires.
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/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 noun /swiːt/

suite

suite
Meaning
a set of rooms designated for one person's or family's use or for a particular purpose
Example
They stayed in the presidential suite at the hotel.
Ils sont restés dans la suite présidentielle de l'hôtel.
B2 adjective /ˌsʌp.lɪˈmen.tər.i/

Supplementary

supplémentaire; supplémentaire; additionnel
Meaning
completing or making an addition to something; additional; extra
Example
Students need to buy supplementary books for the course.
Les étudiants doivent acheter des livres supplémentaires pour le cours.
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 noun /ˈsɜːr.plʌs/

surplus

excédent
Meaning
An amount that is more than what is needed.
Example
The country has a surplus of food this year.
Le pays a un excédent de nourriture cette année.
B2 adjective /ˈskɛptɪkəl/

skeptical

sceptique
Meaning
not easily convinced; having doubts or reservations
Example
She was skeptical about the new plan.
Elle était sceptique à propos du nouveau plan.
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.