The original French text, with the English definition of each word in a tip box, a page vocabulary, and notes by Susan Rhoads. The French chapter is from Contes et Legendes, Ire Partie ; par H. A. Guerber; New York: American Book Company; 1895; pp. 23-27.
How To Use This Page
ALL THE FRENCH WORDS are defined and conjugated — every one, every time. Each word on this page will show its meaning in English in its context in that phrase, in a Tip Box when your mouse hovers over it.
In addition, the first time the word is used in that way, outside of the headers, it will be in darker blue. Clicking on the first use of the word will take you to the Page Vocabulary at the bottom of the page. All the forms and meanings of that word used on this page only will be listed.
Afterward, when you have reached the word in the Vocabulary, click on the underlined word, and you will return to the first time the word was used in that way in the text.
If the word is blue, and not underlined, it will take you its entry in the Complete Vocabulary for more about that word. There, if it is underlined, it will take you to the first time that word was used in the entire text by Guerber.
If the word is in red, it is a Tricky Word ! It is a new meaning and function for a word with the same spelling that has been used before with a different meaning. Or it is a word that looks like an English word but means something totally different in French. Then it will be clickable, and take you to the dictionary below. The Tip Box will also clue you in.
All the words and their variant meanings and forms used in the entire book are in the Complete Vocabulary at the end of the book.
Also, when you click on the footnote numbers, or symbols (e.g., *, †, etc.), you will jump down to the appropriate note, and can return again by clicking on the symbol there.
L’AMOUR alla un jour se promener dans la forêt. C’était un beau jour au mois de juin. L’Amour se promena longtemps, longtemps. Il se promena si longtemps qu’il se trouva enfin fatigué, bien fatigué.
24“Oh !” dit l’Amour, “Je suis si fatigué!” Et l’Amour se coucha sur l’herbe verte pour se reposer. Tous les petits oiseaux de la forêt arrivèrent vite, vite pour voir l’Amour. L’Amour était si joli, si blanc et rose. L’Amour avait de si jolis cheveux blonds et de si jolis yeux bleus.
“Oh !” dirent tous les petits oiseaux de la forêt. “Regardez le petit Amour! Comme il est joli! Comme il est blanc et rose! Quel joli Amour ! Quels jolis cheveux blonds! Quels jolis yeux bleus!”
Tous les oiseaux se perchèrent sur les branches et commencèrent à chanter en chœur: “Quel joli petit Amour!”
Le petit Amour ferma ses jolis yeux bleus. Le petit Amour s’endormit. Il s’endormit profondément.
Les petits oiseaux continuèrent à chanter, “Quel joli petit Amour!”
Alors le Soleil dit : “Les petits oiseaux de la forêt chantent tous: ‘Quel joli petit Amour!’ Où est ce joli petit Amour?” et le Soleil entra dans la forêt pour chercher le joli petit Amour.
Le Soleil entra dans la forêt, et, guidé par le chant des petits oiseaux, il arriva bientôt à la place où le joli petit Amour était couché sur l’herbe verte.
“Oh !” dit le Soleil, “Quel joli petit Amour! Comme il est blanc et rose! Quels jolis cheveux blonds! Quelle est la couleur des yeux de ce joli petit Amour?”
Le Soleil était curieux, très curieux, mais la Rose 25 qui était là dit : “Non, non, Soleil, vous êtes curieux, très curieux, mais le joli petit Amour dort. Partez, méchant Soleil, partez vite, l’Amour dort profondément, et les petits oiseaux chantent. Partez!”
“Oh, non!” dit le Soleil. “Je veux voir quelle est la couleur des yeux de ce joli petit Amour.”
“Non, non!” dit la Rose, et elle se pencha sur l’Amour, et elle le protégea. La Rose protégea le petit Amour, et le Soleil, le Soleil curieux, resta dans la forêt, et dit:
“Je veux voir la couleur des yeux de ce joli petit Amour. Je resterai ici, dans la forêt, et quand l’Amour ouvrira les yeux, je serai content, très content.”
Le Soleil resta dans la forêt, les oiseaux chantèrent, la Rose protégea l’Amour, et l’Amour dormit profondément.
Enfin l’Amour ouvrit les yeux.
“Oh !” dit le Soleil, “j’ai vu la couleur des yeux de l’Amour. L’Amour a les yeux bleus!”
“Mais oui !” chantèrent les petits oiseaux de la forêt : “L’Amour a les yeux bleus!”
“Oui, certainement,” dit la Rose, “L’Amour a les yeux bleus!”
L’Amour regarda le Soleil, et dit : “Oh Soleil, pourquoi êtes-vous entré dans la forêt ?”
“Oh !” dit le Soleil, “j’ai entendu les oiseaux qui chantaient: ‘Oh, le joli petit Amour’; et je suis entré dans la forêt pour vous voir.”
26L’Amour dit au Soleil, “Oh Soleil, vous êtes curieux, très curieux.’
“Oui,” dit le Soleil, “Je suis curieux, mais la Rose vous a protégé.’
“Merci! chère Rose,” dit le joli petit Amour, “merci, merci. Vous êtes bien bonne, chère Rose, et vous êtes aussi belle que bonne. Quelle récompense voulez-vous, chère Rose, vous qui êtes la plus belle de toutes les fleurs?”
“Oh !” dit la Rose. “Donnez-moi un charme de plus!”
“Comment!” dit l’Amour, surpris. “vous demandez un charme de plus. Impossible! Je vous ai déjà donné tous les charmes. Je vous ai donné une forme parfaite. Je vous ai donné une couleur charmante. Je vous ai donné un parfum délicat. Je vous ai donné tous les charmes et toutes les grâces, et vous demandez un attrait (charme) de plus. Ce n’est pas raisonnable!”
“Oh!” dit la Rose, “raisonnable ou pas raisonnable, je vous demande un attrait de plus, cher Amour. Je vous ai protégé. Récompensez-moi!”
L’Amour dit : “C’est impossible!” Mais la Rose insista. Enfin l’Amour, en colère, dit : “Rose, vous êtes belle, vous êtes la plus belle des fleurs, mais vous n’êtes pas sage (bonne).” Et l’Amour prit de la mousse. Il jeta la mousse sur la Rose, et dit : “Vous ne méritez rien que cela!”
La Rose, couverte de mousse verte, parut plus belle 27 que jamais, et la Rose dit avec joie : “Merci, mon joli petit Amour! Merci, vous m’avez donné une récompense. Vous m’avez donné une grâce de plus.” “Oui!” dit l’Amour, surpris. “Je vous ai donné une grâce de plus!”
Le Soleil regarda la Rose, et dit aussi : “Mais oui ! la Rose a une grâce de plus.” Et tous les petits oiseaux chantèrent: “Mais oui, le joli petit Amour a donné une grâce de plus à la Rose, à la plus belle des fleurs.”
Et l’Amour partit en chantant aussi : “La Rose mousseuse est la plus belle des fleurs. Elle est bonne aussi. Elle m’a protégé quand le Soleil est arrivé pour voir la couleur de mes yeux qui sont bleus.”
Et depuis ce jour la Rose, cette coquette, a toujours porté un peu de mousse verte.
1 The story of the “Moss Rose” has been developed from the following beautiful lines by Krummacher: —
Weary of pleasure,
And laden with treasure,
The Angel of flowers
Had wandered for hours;
When he sunk to his rest
With his wings on his breast.
And the rose of the glade
Lent her beautiful shade,
To guard and to cover
The flower king’s slumber.
When the Angel awoke,
Then in rapture he spoke:
“Thou queen of my bowers,
Thou fairest of flowers,
What gift shall be mine,
And what guerdon be thine?”
“In guerdon of duty
Bestow some new beauty,”
She said, and then smiled,
Like a mischievous child.
In anger he started,
But ere he departed,
To rebuke the vain flower,
In the pride of her power,
He flung some rude moss
Her fair bosom across.
But her new robes of green
So became the fair queen,
That the Angel of flowers
Mistrusted his powers,
And was heard to declare
He had granted her prayer.
Vocabulaire
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 THE FRENCH WORDS in the entire book, are defined and conjugated — every one, every time. Each word will be listed, with its meaning in English in every form it is used in this text.
Each main word entry that is underlined is a link. Click on it to be taken to the first time this word was used in the story — in that exact form, or by that exact definition.
If the main entry has not been used in this exact way, it is the main form of the word, and it is not underlined. In that case, the form of the word which is used in the book will be in an underlined subheading below it.
The resources used can be found in Comments* below.
If the meaning used at the time the book was written is significantly different in today’s French, that is noted. The modern definition may be included.
NOTE !!! A big, big warning. In French, the infinitive form of the verb does not include the preposition to, as in English. Example, from English: the infinitive form of the verb walk, is walk. This is important because prepositions are often used before the infinitive in French, and thinking that to ought to be part of the translation will end up making for a great deal of confusion.
Monsieur Bill Thayer enlightened me on this point, and has once again rescued me from the French Grammar Swamp.
About types of verbs : to Toynbee, an older grammarian, verbs are classified as active, neuter, and reflective. In modern dictionaries transitive, intransitive and reflexive are used. (I think reflective makes much more sense, though, since it better explains that the action of the verb “reflects” onto the subject.)
The distinctions between neuter, transitive and intransitive verbs are not mentioned for these stories. The details and explanations are long, convoluted and intimidating (to me). If knowing this makes a huge difference to you, write me and tell me why, so I might finally understand it clearly. However, if you want to know such a classifiation for any of the verbs here, write me and I will probably refer you to your own dictionary, until I feel that I can discuss the matter intelligently or helpfully.
The past tense is variously called the Definite Past, or the Simple Past, or the Historic Past, or the Narrative Past. The term Definite Past is used here. This is a little less confusing and makes it clear that the action expressed is definitely over, or in the past — e.g., dansai: I danced.
The definite past is rarely used in modern French, unless in text books or historical accounts. Which makes it a very good reason to only read history and fairy tales, since this form is so easy to translate.
On the other hand, the Imperfect Past (called the Perfect in older books), is used all the time today, even in cases where the past tense is appropriate. It expresses an action that was not completed, or was habitual, or even was just considered or intended but not really done — e.g., dansais can mean : I was dancing, or I did dance, or I used to dance, or I thought about dancing.
So just to confuse things for everybody, in modern French the Imperfect is regularly translated like the Definite Past, so dansais can also mean I danced.
Alla : verb — active indicative past (definite); third person singular, from the verb aller: go. .
Alors : adverb; masculine or feminine; singular or plural. .
Amour : masculine noun; singular. .
NOTE !!! In this story, Amour is capitalized. It is capitalized because it is his proper name. Here, l’Amour is a person, being the personification of love, or the god of Love, like Cupid. This word is not capitalized normally.
Anglaise : feminine adjective; singular, or plural from anglais. .
NOTE !!! In the headers, this adjective is modifying Texte, which is a feminine noun. In this use of anglaise as an adjective, it is not capitalized — unless it is at the beginning of a sentence, or in a title.
For other uses, meanings and forms of this word, see the Main Vocabulary entry for anglais.
Arriva : verb — active indicative past (definite); first person plural, from the verb arriver: arrive, or reach. .
Arrivèrent : verb — active indicative past (definite); third person plural, from the verb arriver: arrive, or reach. .
Au : contraction of à + Le. In this case, it means ; .
(2)Au : contraction of à + Le. In this case, it means ; .
Here, it is the contraction of A, the preposition (masculine or feminine; singular or plural) and Le, the definite article, (masculine; plural).
For other meanings, see the Main Vocabulary entry for Au.
Aussi : adverb — masculine or feminine; singular or plural. :
(2) Aussi : As an adverb of comparison.
(a) Aussi. . . que : expression of comparison.
(i) Aussi belle que bonne : expression of comparison using Aussi, an adverb, and Que as a conjunction of comparison.
Avait : verb — active indicative imperfect; third person singular, from the irregular verb avoir: have (or be), an irregular verb. ; or .
Avec : preposition — masculine or feminine; singular or plural. .
Beau : irregular masculine adjective; singular. It is changed to bel before a vowel or mute “h”. .
Belle : irregular feminine adjective; singular, from bel or beau. .
Bien : adverb; masculine or feminine; singular or plural. .
Bientôt : adverb; masculine or feminine; singular or plural. .
Blanc : masculine adjective; singular. .
Bleus : masculine adjective; plural. .
Blonds : masculine adjective; plural. .
Bonne : feminine adjective; singular; from bon. .
Branches : feminine adjective; plural of Branche. .
Certainement : conjunction; masculine or feminine; singular or singular. .
Chanter : verb — active infinitive. .
For more uses, forms and meanings, see the Main Vocabulary entry for chanter.
*Chantaient *ChantantChantèrent : verb — active indicative past (definite); third person plural, from the verb chanter: sing, [or chant]. .
Cher : feminine adjective; singular. !
Chère : feminine adjective; singular; from cher. !
Chercher : verb — active infinitive. .
For more uses, forms and meanings, see the Main Vocabulary entry for chercher.
Chère : feminine adjective; singular; from cher. !
Chevux : masculine adjective; plural of cheveu. .
Chœur : masculine adjective; plural of oiseau. .
*ColèreCouleur : feminine noun; singular. .
Commencèrent : verb — active indicative past (definite); third person plural, from the verb arriver: arrive, or reach. .
Comme : conjunction; masculine or feminine; singular or plural. .
Contes : masculine noun; plural of conte. .
Continuèrent : verb — active indicative past (definite); third person plural, from the verb continuer: to continue. .
Curieux : masculine adjective; singular or plural. .
Dans : preposition — masculine or feminine, singular or plural. .
.DeDéjà : adverb — masculine or feminine; singular or plural. .
*Delicat *Demande *DemandezDepuis : preposition — masculine or feminine; singular or plural. .
*Depuis *?DesDirent : verb — active indicative past (definite); third person plural, from the irregular verb dire: say, or tell. .
Dit : verb — active indicative past (definite); third person singular, from the irregular verb dire: say, or tell. .
En : preposition — masculine or feminine; singular or plural. .
Enfin : adverb; masculine or feminine; singular or plural . .
Entra : verb — active indicative past (definite); third person singular, from the verb entrer: enter, or come in. .
.Entré .EstEt : conjunction; masculine or feminine; singular or plural. .
For the first time et is used in this story outside of the page titles see this text entry for et.
Était : verb — active indicative imperfect; third person singular, from the irregular verb être: be, an irregular verb. ; or .
etait couche *Êtes *Êtes-vous *EntenduFerma : verb — active indicative past (definite); third person singular, from the verb fermer: close, or shut. .
Fleurs : feminine adjective; plural of Fleur. .
Forêt : feminine noun; singular. .
Forme : feminine noun; singular. .
Française : feminine adjective; singular, or plural, from français. .
This adjective is modifying Texte, which is a feminine noun. In this use of française as an adjective, it is not capitalized — unless it is at the beginning of a sentence, or in a title.
For other uses, meanings and forms of this word, see the Main Vocabulary entry for français.
Herbe : feminine noun; singular. .
Impossible : masculine, or feminine adjective; singular. .
Insista : verb — active indicative past (definite); third person singular, from the verb insister: insist, or be insistent. .
Ire : abbreviation for the ordinal number; feminine or plural. .
This notation of I plus re makes this the ordinal number abbreviation, for first. In French, the full word is première. Just as in English, we use 1, or I, plus st, to make 1st, or Ist, as an abbreviation for first.
Jeta : verb — active indicative past (definite); third person singular, from the verb jeter: thrown, or jettison (throw overboard). .
Joie : feminine noun; singular. .
Joli : masculine adjective; singular. .
Jolis : masculine adjective; plural of Joli. .
Jour : masculine noun; singular. .
Juin : masculine noun; singular. .
NOTE !!! Usually, The months, and the days of the week, are not capitalized in French.
Là : adverb; masculine or feminine; singular or plural . .
La without a grave accent: La, is a different word entirely !!! When the accent on this word is omitted when the whole word is capitalized in a title, the meaning must be determined from the context.
*L’Amour
.Le
Legendes : feminine noun; plural of legende. .
Les : definite article — masculine or feminine, definite article; plural of Le or La.
Longtemps : adverb; masculine or feminine; singular or plural . .
Mais : conjunction; masculine or feminine; singular or plural. .
Méchant : masculine adjective; singular. .
Merci : Exclamation [interjection]; masculine or feminine; singular or plural. .
Mousse : feminine noun; singular. .
Non : adverb; masculine or feminine; singular or plural. .
Oh : Exclamation [interjection]; masculine or feminine; singular or plural. .
Oiseaux : masculine adjective; plural of oiseau. .
Ou : conjunction — masculine or feminine; singular or plural. .
Ou with a grave accent: Où, is a different word entirely !!! When the accent on this word is omitted when the whole word is capitalized in a title, the meaning must be determined from the context.
Où : indefinite pronoun; masculine or feminine; singular or plural. .
Ou, without a grave accent: Ou, is a different word entirely !!! When the accent on this word is omitted when the whole word is capitalized in a title, the meaning must be determined from the context.
Oui : adverb; masculine or feminine; singular or plural. .
Ouvrit : verb — active indicative past (definite); third person singular, from the irregular verb ouvrir: to open. .
Partez ! : verb — active imperative; second person plural, from the verb partir: leave, or depart. This is a command, or direct order.
NOTE !!! With the imperative, the object pronoun (Vous) is usually not used.
In formal speech, the imperative second person plural is used as a command to either one person (you), or for more than one person (you all). In familiar speech between family and friends the first person imperative of partis is used.
For more uses, forms and meanings, see the Main Vocabulary entry for partir.
Partie : feminine noun; singular. .
Partit : verb — active indicative past (definite); third person singular, from the verb partir: depart, or leave. .
*Parut .Pas *Penchase Perchèrent : reflexive form of the verb — past (definite); third person plural; — used with the reflexive object pronoun Se: himself, herself, itself or themselves. From the reflexive verb se percher: to perch (oneself). .
Petit : masculine adjective; singular. .
Petits : masculine adjective; plural of petit. .
*PeuPlace : feminine noun; singular. .
Pour : preposition — masculine or feminine, singular or plural. .
Précédent : feminine adjective; singular; from precedent. .
Prit : verb — active indicative past (definite); third person singular, from the irregular verb prendre: take or get. .
Profondément : adverb; masculine or feminine; singular or plural . .
Projet : masculine noun; singular. .
In the headers and footers of the pages, this refers to the general site plan of this website: Elfinspell.
*Promena .Promener *Protégé *ProtégeaRécompense : feminine noun; singular. .
Regarda : verb — active indicative past (definite); third person singular, from the verb regarder: look, or look at, look upon; or regard; to watch. .
Resta : verb — active indicative past (definite); third person singular, from the verb rester: stay; or remain. .
Rose : noun or adjective. :
(1) Rose : <Feminine noun; singular :
NOTE !!! In this story, Rose is capitalized. It is capitalized because it is her proper name. Here, la Rose is a person, being the personification of the flower, Rose. It is also a proper name for many people. This word is not capitalized normally.
(2) Rose :
Soleil : masculine noun; singular. .
NOTE !!! In this story, Soleil is capitalized. It is capitalized because it is his proper name. Here, <>le Soleil is a person, being the personification of the sun, or the Sun god like Apollo. This word is not capitalized normally.
Sont : verb — active indicative present; third person plural, from the verb être: be, an irregular verb. ; or .
Suis : verb — active indicative present; first person singular, from the verb être: be; [or have], an irregular verb. ; or .
Suivante : feminine adjective; singular; from suivant. .
Sur : preposition — masculine or feminine; singular or plural. .
For other meanings and uses of sur see the Vocabulary.
Texte : feminine noun; singular. .
Toujours : adverb; masculine or feminine; singular or plural. .
Très : adverb; masculine or feminine; singular or plural. .
Un : indefinite article or cardinal number; masculine; singular. This word has two meanings, which are often used interchangeably : .
In a list of numbered items, it is easy to see that the number Un, or one, is meant; the rest of the time it can mean either a, or an.
This word is singular only, never plural.
(1) Un : indefinite article; masculine; singular. .
(2) Un : cardinal number; masculine; singular. .
Une : indefinite article, or cardinal number; feminine; singular from Un. This word has two meanings, which are often used interchangeably : .
In a list of numbered items, it is easy to see that the number Un, or one, is meant; the rest of the time it can mean either a, or an.
This word is singular only, never plural.
(1) Une : indefinite article; feminine; singular; of Un. .
(2) Une : cardinal number; masculine; singular; of Un. .
Verte : feminine adjective; singular, from vert. .
Vite : adverb; masculine or feminine; singular or plural. Used with the adverb ne; or n’ to mean : .
Vocabulaire : masculine noun; singular. .
In French, the word is not used in the sense of a word list with definitions, as in this book by Guerber and other English books. In French, this would be called a Lexique, or Glossaire.
Here, this link at the top of the page will take you to the Main Vocabulary, with all the French words translated into English, for the entire book. There is a smaller vocabulary list for only the words used for each story at the bottom of its page.
Voir : irregular verb — active infinitive. .
For more uses, forms and meanings, see the Main Vocabulary entry for Voir.
.Vous *VuYeux : masculine adjective; plural of œil. .
NOTE !!! This is a very irregular noun. Yeux, is the plural of œil !!!
Copyright © by Susan Rhoads, Elfinspell 2008