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From these 35 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.
More about this list Mon interlocuteur venait du même service is an ordinary French sentence, the kind somebody says at a coffee machine, and it cannot cross into English on the word that looks ready for it. « Interlocutor » exists, and a dictionary will offer it, but nobody says it. Where it is alive at all it is diplomatic or legal: « the government has no credible interlocutor » means a counterpart fit to negotiate with, not simply whoever happens to be speaking. Used of a colleague at a conference it sounds like the transcript of a hearing. French has no such trouble: l’interlocuteur is neutral and very common — changer d’interlocuteur , je n’ai pas eu le bon interlocuteur , regarder son interlocuteur dans les yeux . English has no everyday noun for that role, so it rebuilds the sentence around a relative clause — « the person I was talking to », « whoever picks up the phone », « the other person » — or drops the role and names the human being: « the man I was speaking to came from the same department ». The gap is worth knowing: the French noun names a role that English can only describe.
The words
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Verb (2)
refléter to mirror Verb C1 Sans y penser, elle reflète le rythme de son interlocuteur. Without thinking about it, she mirrors the rhythm of the person she is speaking to.
dédramatiser to defuse Verb C1 Une remarque légère peut dédramatiser un échange tendu. A light remark can defuse a tense exchange.
Adjective (1)
Grammar for these: Adjective agreement · Where the adjective goes
autodérisoire self-deprecating Adjective C1 Sa remarque autodérisoire a détendu la table. His self-deprecating remark relaxed the table.
Phrase (13)
briser la glace to break the ice Phrase C1 Une question sur la salle a suffi à briser la glace. A question about the room was enough to break the ice.
changer de sujet to change the subject Phrase C1 Il change de sujet dès qu’on parle d’argent. He changes the subject as soon as money comes up.
prendre congé to take one’s leave Phrase C1 Il a pris congé avant la fin du repas. He took his leave before the end of the meal.
être mis sur la sellette to be put on the spot Phrase C1 Personne n’aime être mis sur la sellette devant toute la salle. Nobody likes being put on the spot in front of the whole room.
en dire trop to say too much Phrase C1 On regrette vite d’en dire trop à un inconnu. You soon regret saying too much to a stranger.
sentir l’ambiance to read the room Phrase C1 Il sait sentir l’ambiance et se taire au bon moment. He knows how to read the room and keep quiet at the right moment.
présenter quelqu’un to introduce somebody Phrase C1 Présenter quelqu’un demande une phrase, pas un discours. Introducing somebody takes a sentence, not a speech.
retenir un nom to remember a name Phrase C1 Pour retenir un nom, je le répète aussitôt à voix haute. To remember a name, I repeat it out loud straight away.
parler de la pluie et du beau temps to talk about the weather Phrase C1 Nous avons parlé de la pluie et du beau temps jusqu’à l’ascenseur. We talked about the weather all the way to the lift.
parler boutique to talk shop Phrase C1 Dès le dessert, ils se sont mis à parler boutique. From the dessert onwards they started to talk shop.
garder un ton léger to keep it light Phrase C1 Elle garde un ton léger même quand le sujet pèse. She keeps it light even when the subject is heavy.
manifester de l’intérêt to show interest Phrase C1 Une question précise suffit à manifester de l’intérêt. One precise question is enough to show interest.
reprendre contact ensuite to follow up afterwards Phrase C1 Nous avons échangé nos adresses pour reprendre contact ensuite. We exchanged addresses in order to follow up afterwards.
Noun (f) (11)
Grammar for these: Definite article: le, la, les · Indefinite article: un, une
la conversation de circonstance small talk Noun (f) C1 La conversation de circonstance dure le temps d’un café. Small talk lasts as long as a coffee.
l’entrée en matière the opening gambit Noun (f) C1 Son entrée en matière était une question sur le trajet. His opening gambit was a question about the journey.
la question ouverte the open question Noun (f) C1 Une question ouverte laisse à l’autre le choix de la longueur. An open question leaves the other side free to decide how long to speak.
la question de relance the follow-up question Noun (f) C1 Sa question de relance montrait qu’il avait écouté. His follow-up question showed that he had listened.
l’écoute active active listening Noun (f) C1 L’écoute active se voit aux questions, pas aux hochements de tête. Active listening shows in the questions, not in the nodding.
la formule de sortie the exit line Noun (f) C1 Sa formule de sortie était polie et sans excuse compliquée. Her exit line was polite and carried no elaborate apology.
l’anecdote marquante the memorable anecdote Noun (f) C1 Une anecdote marquante vaut mieux qu’un long résumé. A memorable anecdote is worth more than a long summary.
la différence culturelle the cultural difference Noun (f) C1 La différence culturelle se voit surtout dans les silences. The cultural difference shows above all in the silences.
la poignée de main ferme the firm handshake Noun (f) C1 Une poignée de main ferme ouvre l’échange sans un mot. A firm handshake opens the exchange without a word.
la première impression the first impression Noun (f) C1 La première impression se joue avant la première phrase. The first impression is settled before the first sentence.
la soirée de réseautage the networking evening Noun (f) C1 La soirée de réseautage se tenait après les exposés. The networking evening was held after the talks.
Noun (m) (8)
Grammar for these: Definite article: le, la, les · Indefinite article: un, une
le point commun the common ground Noun (m) C1 Nous avons trouvé un point commun en deux phrases. We found common ground in two sentences.
le sujet neutre the safe topic Noun (m) C1 Le trajet reste un sujet neutre dans presque tous les pays. The journey stays a safe topic in almost every country.
le name-dropping name-dropping Noun (m) C1 Le name-dropping impressionne rarement celui qui connaît le métier. Name-dropping rarely impresses anybody who knows the trade.
le silence gênant the awkward silence Noun (m) C1 Un silence gênant s’est installé entre deux plats. An awkward silence settled in between two courses.
l’interlocuteur the person one is speaking to Noun (m) C1 Mon interlocuteur venait du même service. The person I was speaking to came from the same department.
l’espace personnel personal space Noun (m) C1 L’espace personnel n’a pas la même largeur partout. Personal space is not the same width everywhere.
le contact visuel eye contact Noun (m) C1 Le contact visuel se rompt dès qu’on regarde son écran. Eye contact breaks the moment you look at your screen.
le désaccord courtois the courteous disagreement Noun (m) C1 Un désaccord courtois rend la conversation plus vivante. A courteous disagreement makes the conversation livelier.
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