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French Vocabulary

Celebrations, Cultural Festivals & Milestones

Vocabulary for personal milestones, public holidays, and the expressions used to congratulate, invite, and celebrate in French.

Level A2 Category Vocabulary

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Lesson Summary

Vocabulary for personal milestones, public holidays, and the expressions used to congratulate, invite, and celebrate in French.

Vocabulary

Fêter et célébrer

The language of invitations and polite formulas was introduced in the context of a surprise party (see invitation à l’anniversaire surprise). The present lesson extends that vocabulary to cover a wider range of personal celebrations, French national holidays, and the fixed expressions used to offer congratulations and good wishes.

Fêtes et célébrations personnelles (Personal celebrations)

French	English
l’anniversaire (m)	birthday
le mariage	wedding
la naissance	birth (of a child)
la pendaison de crémaillère	housewarming party
le diplôme	degree / graduation
la retraite	retirement
la promotion	promotion (at work)

Jours fériés en France (French public holidays)

French	Date	English
le jour de l’An	1er janvier	New Year’s Day
la fête du Travail	1er mai	Labour Day
la fête nationale / le 14 juillet	14 juillet	Bastille Day
Noël	25 décembre	Christmas
Pâques	mars/avril	Easter
la Toussaint	1er novembre	All Saints’ Day

Expressions utiles (Useful expressions)

French	English
Joyeux anniversaire !	Happy birthday!
Félicitations !	Congratulations!
Tous mes vœux !	Best wishes!
Bon rétablissement !	Get well soon!
Bonne année !	Happy New Year!
Joyeux Noël !	Merry Christmas!
Trinquer (à)	To toast (to)
Offrir un cadeau	To give a present
Souffler les bougies	To blow out candles
Envoyer une invitation	To send an invitation

Usage

The expressions above are often combined with a verb such as souhaiter (to wish) or dire (to say). For example: Je te souhaite un joyeux anniversaire. Ils nous ont dit « Félicitations ! ». The verb offrir is frequently followed by an indirect object pronoun: Je vais lui offrir un cadeau. For the placement of object pronouns, see indirect object pronouns.

Examples

Pour son anniversaire, on va lui offrir un gâteau et chanter Joyeux anniversaire.
The indirect pronoun lui and the verb offrir; the phrase Joyeux anniversaire is a fixed greeting.
Le 14 juillet, il y a des feux d'artifice dans toute la France.
The date le 14 juillet refers to the national holiday.

Related searches

These are the main phrases this lesson covers:

Celebrations, Cultural Festivals & MilestonesVocabulary for personal milestones, public holidays, and the expressions used to congratulate, invite, and celebrate in French.Construct formal and informal congratulatory messages, describe festive events, and reference major French public holidays.VocabularyA2vocabularyLearn French VocabularyFrench VocabularyFêter et célébrerThe language of invitations and polite formulas was introduced in the context of a surprise party (see invitation à l’anniversaire surprise). The present lesson extends that vocabulary to cover a wider range of personal celebrations, French national holidays, and the fixed expressions used to offer congratulations and good wishes.