English-French Dictionary

SKILL.md

---
name: english-french-dictionary
description: Comprehensive English-French and French-English dictionary with common phrases, verb conjugations, grammar tips, and pronunciation guides. Use when translating words and phrases between English and French, learning French vocabulary, checking verb conjugations, or needing grammar and pronunciation help.
---

# English-French Dictionary

Comprehensive bilingual dictionary for English-French and French-English translations with verb conjugations, common phrases, and grammar guidance.

## Core Translation Patterns

### English to French

**Greetings & Politeness:**
- Hello → Bonjour / Salut
- Goodbye → Au revoir
- Please → S'il vous plaît (formal) / S'il te plaît (informal)
- Thank you → Merci
- You're welcome → De rien / Je vous en prie
- Excuse me → Excusez-moi / Pardon

**Common Verbs:**
- Be → Être
- Have → Avoir
- Go → Aller
- Do/Make → Faire
- Say → Dire
- See → Voir
- Know → Savoir / Connaître
- Want → Vouloir
- Can → Pouvoir
- Take → Prendre

**Common Nouns:**
- House → Maison
- Food → Nourriture
- Water → Eau
- Friend → Ami(e)
- Family → Famille
- Work → Travail
- Time → Temps
- Day → Jour
- Night → Nuit

### French to English

**Greetings:**
- Bonjour → Hello / Good day
- Bonsoir → Good evening
- Bonne nuit → Good night
- Merci beaucoup → Thank you very much
- Enchanté → Nice to meet you

**Common Expressions:**
- C'est la vie → That's life
- Je ne sais pas → I don't know
- D'accord → OK / Alright
- À bientôt → See you soon
- Comment ça va? → How are you?
- Je t'aime → I love you

## Verb Conjugation Essentials

### Être (To Be) - Present Tense
- Je suis → I am
- Tu es → You are (singular informal)
- Il/Elle est → He/She is
- Nous sommes → We are
- Vous êtes → You are (plural/formal)
- Ils/Elles sont → They are

### Avoir (To Have) - Present Tense
- J'ai → I have
- Tu as → You have
- Il/Elle a → He/She has
- Nous avons → We have
- Vous avez → You have
- Ils/Elles ont → They have

### Aller (To Go) - Present Tense
- Je vais → I go
- Tu vas → You go
- Il/Elle va → He/She goes
- Nous allons → We go
- Vous allez → You go
- Ils/Elles vont → They go

## Grammar Tips

### Gender of Nouns
Most French nouns are masculine (-le) or feminine (-la):
- Masculine: le chat, le livre, le jour
- Feminine: la maison, la table, la nuit
- Plural: les + noun (les chats, les maisons)

### Articles
- Definite: le (m), la (f), l' (vowel), les (plural)
- Indefinite: un (m), une (f), des (plural)

### Useful Phrases by Category

**Travel:**
- Where is...? → Où est...?
- I need... → J'ai besoin de...
- How much? → Combien?
- I'm lost → Je suis perdu(e)
- Airport → Aéroport
- Hotel → Hôtel
- Restaurant → Restaurant

**Food & Dining:**
- I'm hungry → J'ai faim
- I'm thirsty → J'ai soif
- The bill, please → L'addition, s'il vous plaît
- Delicious → Délicieux / Délicieuse
- Water → Eau
- Coffee → Café
- Wine → Vin

**Time & Dates:**
- What time is it? → Quelle heure est-il?
- Today → Aujourd'hui
- Tomorrow → Demain
- Yesterday → Hier
- Monday → Lundi
- January → Janvier

## Pronunciation Guide

**Key Sounds:**
- Silent final consonants (often): chat (shah), temps (tahn)
- Nasal vowels: an, en, in, on, un
- "R" is guttural, produced in the back of the throat
- "U" is pronounced with rounded lips (like "ew" but tighter)
- "EU" is like "uh" with rounded lips

## Numbers 1-20
1. un/une
2. deux
3. trois
4. quatre
5. cinq
6. six
7. sept
8. huit
9. neuf
10. dix
11. onze
12. douze
13. treize
14. quatorze
15. quinze
16. seize
17. dix-sept
18. dix-huit
19. dix-neuf
20. vingt

## Usage Tips

1. **Context matters**: Many words have multiple translations depending on context
2. **Formality**: Use "vous" for strangers, elders, groups; "tu" for friends and family
3. **Agreement**: Adjectives must agree in gender and number with nouns
4. **False friends**: Watch out for faux-amis (e.g., "librairie" = bookstore, not library)