superlative
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 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 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.
A2 noun /skwɛə(r)/

square

carré
Meaning
a shape with four equal straight sides and four right angles
Example
The table has a square shape.
La table a une forme carrée.
C1 noun /slæɡ/

slag

scories
Meaning
Stony waste matter separated from metals during the smelting process.
Example
The factory dumped the slag near the river.
L'usine a déversé les scories près de la rivière.
C2 noun /sɒl/

sol

sol (cinquième note de l'échelle musicale)
Meaning
The fifth note of the sol-fa musical scale (do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti); also the Latin word for sun
Example
The choir practiced singing the note sol during rehearsal.
Le chœur a pratiqué en chantant la note sol pendant les répétitions.
C2 noun /səˈɡæs.ə.t̬i/

sagacity

sagesse profonde
Meaning
The quality of being sagacious; having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment.
Example
His sagacity made him a great leader.
Sa sagacité faisait de lui un grand leader.
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.
B1 verb/adjective /sɪˈkjʊər/

secure

sécuriser
Meaning
to make safe or protect; to fix something firmly in place
Example
Please secure the door before you leave.
S'il vous plaît sécurisez la porte avant de partir.
C1 verb /ˈstæmər/

stammer

bégayer
Meaning
To speak with sudden involuntary pauses and a tendency to repeat the initial letters of words.
Example
The nervous student began to stammer during his speech.
L'étudiant nerveux a commencé à bégayer pendant son discours.
A1 verb /steɪ/

stay

rester
Meaning
to remain in the same place; to continue being
Example
Please stay here until I return.
S'il vous plaît, restez ici jusqu'à ce que je revienne.
B2 noun /ˈstɛriəˌtaɪp/

stereotype

stéréotype
Meaning
A widely held but oversimplified and fixed idea of a particular type of person or thing.
Example
It is a stereotype that all gamers are antisocial.
C'est un stéréotype que tous les joueurs sont antisociaux.
A2 verb /ʃeɪk/

shake

secouer
Meaning
to move quickly back and forth; to tremble
Example
The earthquake made the building shake.
Le tremblement de terre a secoué le bâtiment.
C1 verb /sʌlk/

sulk

faire la tête
Meaning
to be silent and bad-tempered because you are angry or disappointed
Example
She sulked in her room after the argument.
Elle a fait la tête dans sa chambre après la dispute.
B1 noun /ˈspæroʊ/

Sparrow

moineau
Meaning
small brown and grey bird commonly found in cities and towns
Example
The sparrow chirped cheerfully from the tree branch.
Le moineau chantait joyeusement depuis la branche de l'arbre.
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.
B2 noun /ˈsætaɪər/

satire

satire
Meaning
The use of humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize people's stupidity or vices.
Example
The play was a brilliant satire on modern politics.
La pièce était une brillante satire de la politique moderne.
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.
B2 noun /ˌsɛlf rɪˈspɛkt/

self-respect

estime de soi
Meaning
A feeling of pride and confidence in oneself; self-worth.
Example
She refused to compromise her self-respect by accepting unfair treatment.
Elle a refusé de compromettre son estime de soi en acceptant un traitement injuste.
C2 noun /səˈvɑːnt/

savant

bonheur
Meaning
a learned person, especially a distinguished scientist or scholar; sometimes used in the phrase ‘savant syndrome’ for someone with exceptional abilities alongside developmental differences
Example
The conference keynote was delivered by a linguistic savant who studies endangered languages.
Elle ne pouvait cacher sa bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C1 adjective /ˈspaɪni/

spiny

épineux
Meaning
covered with or full of spines; having sharp points
Example
The spiny cactus stood tall in the desert.
Le cactus épineux se dressait haut dans le désert.
A1 noun /stɑːr/

Star

étoile
Meaning
a fixed luminous point in the night sky that produces light and heat through nuclear fusion
Example
Thousands of stars are visible in the clear night sky.
Des milliers d'étoiles sont visibles dans le ciel clair de la nuit.
B1 noun /ʃɑːrk/

Shark

requin
Meaning
a large marine fish with sharp teeth and a cartilaginous skeleton
Example
The shark is a powerful predator of the ocean.
Le requin est un puissant prédateur de l’océan.
B1 adjective /ˈsuːtəbl/

suitable

approprié
Meaning
appropriate or right for a particular person, purpose, or situation
Example
This dress is suitable for the wedding.
Cette robe est appropriée pour le mariage.
C1 noun /ˌsɪmbɪˈəʊsɪs/

symbiosis

relation symbiotique
Meaning
A mutually beneficial relationship between different people or groups.
Example
The symbiosis between the two companies led to mutual growth.
La symbiose entre les deux entreprises a conduit à une croissance mutuelle.
B2 adjective /ˈʃɔːrt ˌtempərd/

Short-tempered

irritable; facilement en colère
Meaning
quick to lose one's temper; easily angered
Example
She became short-tempered when the traffic made her late for the meeting.
Elle est devenue irritable lorsque le trafic l'a rendue en retard pour la réunion.
B2 adverb /ˈstrɪktli/

strictly

strictement
Meaning
in a way that follows rules or limits completely
Example
Smoking is strictly prohibited inside the building.
Il est strictement interdit de fumer à l'intérieur du bâtiment.
A2 noun /seɪl/

sale

vente
Meaning
the exchange of a commodity for money; the action of selling something
Example
The store is having a sale on winter clothing.
Le magasin a une vente de vêtements d'hiver.
A2 noun /sprɪŋ/

spring

printemps
Meaning
the season between winter and summer when plants begin to grow
Example
Flowers bloom in the spring.
Les fleurs éclosent au printemps.
C1 adjective /ˈʃeɪm.ləs/

Shameless

impudique
Meaning
having no shame; bold and rude; impudent
Example
The shameless politician refused to apologize for his mistakes.
Le politicien sans honte a refusé de s'excuser pour ses erreurs.
B1 verb /spɛl/

spell

épeler
Meaning
to write or name the letters of a word in order; to mean or result in something
Example
Can you spell your name for me?
Peux-tu épeler ton nom pour moi ?
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 adjective /ˈskrʌmpʃəs/

scrumptious

délicieux
Meaning
extremely tasty or delicious
Example
She baked a scrumptious chocolate cake for the party.
Elle a préparé un délicieux gâteau au chocolat pour la fête.
C1 adjective /ˈsʌn.dri/

sundry

divers
Meaning
Various or miscellaneous.
Example
The shop sells fruits, clothes, and sundry items.
Le magasin vend des fruits, des vêtements et divers articles.
B1 noun /slaɪd/

Slide

toboggan
Meaning
a smooth surface for sliding down; a piece of playground equipment
Example
The children enjoyed playing on the slide at the park.
Les enfants ont adoré jouer sur le toboggan dans le parc.
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 /ˈsikwəns/

Sequence

séquence
Meaning
a particular order in which related events, movements, or things follow each other; a set of related events, movements, or things that follow each other in a particular order
Example
The dance sequence was perfectly choreographed.
La séquence de danse a été parfaitement chorégraphiée.
B1 noun /ˈstætʃuː/

Statue

une œuvre d'art tridimensionnelle, généralement en pierre, métal ou bois
Meaning
a three-dimensional work of art, typically made of stone, metal, or wood
Example
The statue of liberty is a famous landmark in New York.
La statue de la liberté est un monument célèbre à New York.
B1 verb /ˈsʌfər/

suffer

souffrir
Meaning
to experience pain, distress, or hardship
Example
She suffered from a severe headache all day.
Elle a souffert d'un mal de tête sévère toute la journée.
B2 adjective /ˌsɪm.pəˈθet.ɪk/

Sympathetic

compatissant; compréhensif; sensible;
Meaning
showing compassion or understanding for someone's feelings or situation
Example
She was very sympathetic when I told her about my problems.
Elle était très sympathique quand je lui ai parlé de mes problèmes.
C1 noun /sɔɪl ˈmæn.ɪdʒ.mənt/

soil management

gestion des sols
Meaning
The application of operations, practices, and treatments to protect soil and enhance its performance.
Example
Proper soil management improves long-term agricultural productivity.
Une gestion appropriée des sols améliore la productivité agricole à long terme.
C1 noun ˌsɛlf.rɪˈstreɪnt

self-restraint

autocontrôle
Meaning
The practice of restraining oneself from indulging in something, typically an impulse or desire.
Example
Practicing self-restraint helps in avoiding impulsive decisions.
Pratiquer l'autocontrôle aide à éviter les décisions impulsives.
C2 adjective /ˌsuːpərˈnuːmərɛri/

supernumerary

supplémentaire
Meaning
Exceeding the usual number; extra or unnecessary.
Example
The play included several supernumerary actors to fill the background scenes.
La pièce a inclus plusieurs acteurs supplémentaires pour remplir les scènes de fond.
C1 adjective /ˈstraɪ.dənt/

strident

strident, bruyant
Meaning
loud and harsh; presenting a point of view in a forceful way
Example
His strident voice made the debate uncomfortable.
Sa voix stridente rendait le débat inconfortable.
C1 noun /ˈskwɒtər/

squatter

squatteur
Meaning
a person who unlawfully occupies an uninhabited building or unused land
Example
The police removed the squatters from the abandoned house.
La police a expulsé les squatteurs de la maison abandonnée.
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 /ˌsuːpərɪnˈtɛndənt/

superintendent

surintendant
Meaning
a person who oversees, manages, or directs an organization, building, or project
Example
The superintendent visited the classrooms to check on progress.
Le surintendant a visité les salles de classe pour vérifier les progrès.
A2 noun /ˈsiːkrət/

secret

secret
Meaning
something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others
Example
He told me a secret about his childhood.
Il m'a confié un secret sur son enfance.
C1 adjective /ˈsæljʊˌtɛri/

salutary

salutaire
Meaning
Producing good effects; beneficial, especially after something unpleasant.
Example
The accident was a salutary reminder to drive carefully.
L'accident a été un rappel salutaire de conduire prudemment.
B2 adjective /səˈpɔːtɪv/

supportive

de soutien
Meaning
providing encouragement or emotional help to someone
Example
She was very supportive during my difficult times.
Elle était très supportive pendant mes moments difficiles.
C2 noun /ˌsɪləbɪˈkeɪʃən/

syllabication

syllabation
Meaning
The division of words into syllables.
Example
Proper syllabication helps in correct pronunciation.
Une bonne syllabation aide à une prononciation correcte.
B1 noun /ʃɒk/

shock

choc
Meaning
a sudden upsetting or surprising event or experience
Example
The news of his sudden departure was a shock to everyone.
La nouvelle de son départ soudain a été un choc pour tout le monde.
C1 noun/verb /snɛər/

snare

piège
Meaning
a trap for catching animals; to catch or trap
Example
The hunter set a snare to catch rabbits.
Le chasseur a mis un piège pour attraper des lapins.
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.
A2 noun /ˈspiːkər/

speaker

orateur
Meaning
a person who speaks or talks, especially as an occupation
Example
The speaker delivered an inspiring speech at the conference.
L'orateur a prononcé un discours inspirant à la conférence.
B1 verb /səˈraʊnd/

surround

entourer
Meaning
To be all around someone or something.
Example
Mountains surround the small village.
Les montagnes entourent le petit village.
C2 noun /sɪˈrɒkoʊ/

sirocco

vent chaud et sec
Meaning
A hot, dry wind blowing from North Africa across the Mediterranean to southern Europe.
Example
The sirocco made the city unbearably hot and dusty.
Le sirocco a rendu la ville insupportablement chaude et poussiéreuse.
A1 noun /sʌn/

Sun

soleil
Meaning
the star around which the earth orbits; the source of light and heat for planets
Example
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
Le soleil se lève à l'est et se couche à l'ouest.
C1 noun /skɪt/

skit

sketch
Meaning
a short, humorous performance or piece of writing
Example
The students performed a funny skit at the event.
Les étudiants ont joué un sketch drôle lors de l'événement.
B2 verb /skeər/

scare

effrayer
Meaning
to frighten someone or make them feel afraid
Example
The loud noise scared the baby.
Le bruit fort a effrayé le bébé.
C2 verb /ˌsuːpərɪnˈtɛnd/

superintend

superviser
Meaning
to oversee and direct the work or operation of something
Example
She was hired to superintend the construction project.
Elle a été engagée pour superviser le projet de construction.
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 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.
B2 noun /ˈsɛtlər/

settler

colons
Meaning
a person who settles in a new area or land
Example
The settlers arrived in the new town and started building homes.
Les colons sont arrivés dans la nouvelle ville et ont commencé à construire des maisons.
A1 noun /striːt/

street

rue
Meaning
a public road in a city or town, typically with buildings on one or both sides
Example
He walked down the street to the park.
Il marchait dans la rue jusqu'au parc.
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.
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.
B2 noun /ˈstɑːrt.ʌp/

startup

nouvelle entreprise
Meaning
A newly established business, especially a small technology or business company that is just beginning operations.
Example
The startup secured funding from investors.
La startup a sécurisé des fonds auprès des investisseurs.
A1 adjective /stɪl/

still

calme
Meaning
not moving or making a sound
Example
The water was still, reflecting the sky.
L'eau était calme, reflétant le ciel.
B2 phrase ˈsɛvən ˈhæbɪts

seven habits

sept habitudes
Meaning
Regular behaviors or actions that are done consistently over time, specifically referring to a set of seven key practices.
Example
Even habits help in maintaining a balanced lifestyle.
Même les habitudes aident à maintenir un mode de vie équilibré.
B1 noun /slaɪs/

Slice

tranche; part
Meaning
a thin, flat piece cut from something larger
Example
Would you like a slice of pizza?
Voulez-vous une tranche de pizza ?
B2 noun /ˈspesɪmən/

Specimen

échantillon; spécimen; exemple
Meaning
an individual example of something; a sample collected for scientific study or testing
Example
The scientist collected a blood specimen for analysis.
Le scientifique a collecté un échantillon de sang pour analyse.
C1 noun /ˈspɛktər/

specter

spectre
Meaning
A ghost or spirit; something that causes fear or dread.
Example
The specter of war still haunts the region.
Le spectre de la guerre hante toujours la région.
B1 noun /ˈsoʊ.lər ˌsɪs.təm/

Solar system

système solaire
Meaning
the sun and all the planets, moons, asteroids and other objects that orbit around it
Example
Our solar system has eight planets orbiting the sun.
Notre système solaire possède huit planètes orbitant autour du soleil.
A1 verb /siː/

see

voir
Meaning
to perceive with the eyes; to understand; to meet
Example
I can see the mountain from here.
Je peux voir la montagne d'ici.
C1 noun /ˈskrɪmɪdʒ/

scrimmage

match d'entraînement
Meaning
A practice game or informal match, often in sports, especially football.
Example
The team had a scrimmage before the official season started.
L'équipe a joué un match d'entraînement avant que la saison officielle commence.
C2 noun /ˈstænʃən/

stanchion

poteau de support
Meaning
a strong upright bar or post used as support or to control movement
Example
The red rope was attached to the stanchions to guide the crowd.
La corde rouge était attachée aux stanchions pour guider la foule.
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.
B1 noun /ˌsaʊθˈwɛst/

southwest

sud-ouest
Meaning
the direction that is between south and west; a region in that direction
Example
They traveled to the southwest of the country for their vacation.
Ils ont voyagé au sud-ouest du pays pour leurs vacances.
C2 adjective /ˈsætərˌnaɪn/

saturnine

saturnien
Meaning
slow and gloomy in mood
Example
His saturnine expression made everyone in the room uncomfortable.
Son expression saturnienne rendait tout le monde dans la pièce mal à l'aise.
C2 adjective /ˈʃɪft.ləs/

shiftless

paresseux
Meaning
Lacking ambition or the ability to accomplish anything; lazy and unmotivated.
Example
He was seen as a shiftless young man with no goals.
Il a été vu comme un jeune homme paresseux sans objectifs.
B1 noun /ˈsɛkrəteri/

secretary

secrétaire
Meaning
a person employed to handle correspondence and manage routine tasks for an individual or organization
Example
The secretary scheduled the meeting for tomorrow.
La secrétaire a planifié la réunion pour demain.
C1 verb/noun /skɒtʃ/

scotch

mettre fin à / whisky écossais
Meaning
to put an end to something; also a type of whisky
Example
The report scotched the rumors of a merger.
Le rapport a mis fin aux rumeurs de fusion.
B2 adjective /ˈspeɪ.ʃəs/

Spacious

spacieux; vaste
Meaning
having a lot of space; roomy and comfortable
Example
The house has a spacious living room with high ceilings.
La maison a un salon spacieux avec des plafonds hauts.
A2 adverb /ˈsʌm.deɪ/

someday

un jour
Meaning
at some time in the future
Example
Someday, I want to travel the world.
Un jour, je veux voyager à travers le monde.
C2 noun /ˈspɒt.ɪd sneɪk hed/

Spotted snake head

poisson tête de serpent tachetée
Meaning
a type of freshwater fish with spotted markings and an elongated head resembling a snake
Example
The spotted snake head is a popular fish for aquaculture in South Asia.
Le poisson tête de serpent tachetée est populaire pour l'aquaculture en Asie du Sud.
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.
A2 noun, verb, adjective /saʊnd/

sound

son
Meaning
a sensation perceived by the ear; to make or cause to make a noise; in good condition
Example
The bell sounded across the valley.
La cloche a sonné à travers la vallée.
A2 adjective /ˈʃaɪ.ni/

Shiny

brillant; luisant;
Meaning
reflecting light; bright and polished; glossy
Example
The shiny new car caught everyone's attention.
La voiture neuve brillante a attiré l'attention de tous.
B2 noun /ˈsɜːvɪŋ/

serving

portion
Meaning
a portion of food for one person; the act of giving food or drink to someone
Example
He ate a large serving of rice and curry.
Il a mangé une grande portion de riz et de curry.
C1 noun, verb /spreɪn/

sprain

entorse
Meaning
an injury to a joint in which the ligaments are stretched or torn
Example
She sprained her ankle while running in the park.
Elle s'est foulé la cheville en courant dans le parc.
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.
A2 noun /spuːn/

Spoon

cuillère
Meaning
an implement consisting of a small, shallow bowl on a long handle, used for eating, stirring, and serving food
Example
He used a spoon to eat his soup.
Il a utilisé une cuillère pour manger sa soupe.
B2 noun /ˈstiː.mər/

Steamer

vapeur
Meaning
a ship or boat powered by steam engines
Example
The old steamer crossed the river slowly.
Le vieux steamer a traversé lentement la rivière.
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.
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 verb /səˈlɪdəˌfaɪ/

solidify

solidifier
Meaning
To make something firm, strong, or more certain.
Example
The company solidified its position in the market.
L'entreprise a solidifié sa position sur le marché.
B2 noun, verb /skruː/

screw

un dispositif métallique avec une hélice; fixer ou serrer quelque chose avec une vis
Meaning
a metal fastener with a helical ridge; to fasten or tighten something with a screw
Example
He screwed the shelf to the wall tightly.
Il a vissé l'étagère au mur fermement.
B2 adjective /stɪf/

Stiff

rigide; ferme; dur
Meaning
not easily bent or changed; rigid; firm
Example
The old wooden board was too stiff to bend.
La vieille planche en bois était trop rigide pour se plier.
C1 verb /ʃraʊd/

shroud

envelopper
Meaning
to cover or hide; to wrap in cloth
Example
The mountain peak was shrouded in mist.
Le sommet de la montagne était enveloppé de brume.
C1 noun ˌsæn.ɪ.taɪˈzeɪ.ʃən

sanitization

désinfection
Meaning
The process of cleaning and disinfecting to eliminate germs and bacteria.
Example
Regular sanitization keeps appliances germ-free.
La désinfection régulière garde les appareils sans germes.
A2 adverb /ˈseɪf.li/

Safely

en toute sécurité
Meaning
in a safe manner; without danger or risk
Example
Drive safely on the icy road.
Conduisez prudemment sur la route glacée.
C2 adjective /ˈsmɑːrmi/

smarmy

flatteur / fausse politesse
Meaning
Excessively flattering or ingratiating, often insincerely.
Example
The salesman gave a smarmy pitch that felt fake.
Le vendeur a donné un discours flatteur qui semblait faux.
C2 verb /ˈstɪp.əl/

stipple

couvrir de petits points
Meaning
to cover a surface with numerous small dots or specks, often in drawing or painting
Example
The artist stippled the canvas to create a textured effect.
L'artiste a couvert la toile de petits points pour créer un effet texturé.
B2 noun /ˈsaɪd.laɪn/

sideline

activité secondaire
Meaning
An activity done in addition to one's main job or area of work.
Example
The sideline discussions led to mutual understanding.
Les discussions secondaires ont mené à une meilleure compréhension mutuelle.
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.
C1 adjective /sɪmˈfɒnɪk/

symphonic

symphonique
Meaning
relating to or having the character of a symphony or symphony orchestra
Example
The concert featured a symphonic masterpiece.
Le concert a présenté un chef-d'œuvre symphonique.
C2 adjective /ˈsɪŋkəˌpeɪtɪd/

syncopated

syncopé
Meaning
Characterized by displaced beats or rhythms, especially in music.
Example
The jazz piece had a syncopated rhythm that energized the crowd.
Le morceau de jazz avait un rythme syncopé qui a énergisé la foule.
B2 verb /ˈsɪmplɪfaɪ/

simplify

simplifier
Meaning
to make easier to understand or do; to reduce complexity
Example
The teacher simplified the complex equation for the students.
Le professeur a simplifié l'équation complexe pour les étudiants.
C1 verb /siːp/

seep

s'infiltrer lentement
Meaning
to flow or leak slowly through small openings or pores
Example
Water began to seep through the cracks in the wall.
L'eau a commencé à s'infiltrer à travers les fissures dans le mur.
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 noun /sɪˈnɪləti/

senility

sénilité
Meaning
The state of being old and showing the weaknesses of age, especially mental decline.
Example
His forgetfulness was attributed to senility.
Sa perte de mémoire a été attribuée à la sénilité.
C2 adjective /ˈsæpɪd/

sapid

savoureux
Meaning
Having a pleasant taste; flavorful.
Example
The chef prepared a sapid dish that delighted everyone at the table.
Le chef a préparé un plat savoureux qui a enchanté tout le monde à table.
C1 adjective /ˈskeɪðɪŋ/

scathing

critique acerbe
Meaning
severely critical; harshly scornful
Example
The critic wrote a scathing review of the movie.
Le critique a écrit une critique acerbe du film.
B2 verb, noun /sniːz/

sneeze

éternuer
Meaning
to expel air involuntarily from the nose and mouth due to irritation; the act of sneezing
Example
I had to sneeze during the meeting.
J'ai dû éternuer pendant la réunion.
C2 noun /ˌsuː.pɚˈfluː.ə.t̬i/

superfluity

superfluité
Meaning
An excessive amount of something; more than what is needed.
Example
The room was filled with a superfluity of decorations.
La pièce était remplie d'une superfluité de décorations.
B1 adjective /sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt/

significant

significatif
Meaning
Sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention; noteworthy.
Example
Social media has a significant impact on relationships.
Les réseaux sociaux ont un impact significatif sur les relations.
B2 noun /ˈseɡ.mənt/

Segment

section; portion; segment
Meaning
each of the parts into which something is divided; a section or portion
Example
The orange was divided into eight segments.
L'orange a été divisée en huit segments.
C1 noun /ˈʃʊɡ.ər ˈkæn.di/

Sugar candy

bonbon de sucre
Meaning
crystallized sugar formed into small pieces; rock candy made from sugar syrup
Example
The children enjoyed eating colorful sugar candy at the festival.
Les enfants ont adoré manger des bonbons sucrés colorés lors du festival.
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.
C1 noun/verb /ˈskɜːrmɪʃ/

skirmish

escarmouche
Meaning
a small or brief fight between groups of soldiers; to engage in such a fight
Example
The soldiers got into a skirmish near the border.
Les soldats se sont engagés dans une escarmouche près de la frontière.
C1 noun /səˈsteɪnəbl ˈæɡrɪkʌltʃər/

sustainable agriculture

agriculture durable
Meaning
Farming practices that meet current food needs while preserving environmental resources and maintaining the ability to produce food for future generations through ecologically sound methods.
Example
Sustainable agriculture practices protect the environment while ensuring food security.
Les pratiques d'agriculture durable protègent l'environnement tout en assurant la sécurité alimentaire.