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-^^H
EUGENE'S. KEY

FRENCH PRONUNCIATION,
FOLLOWED BY MANY THOUSAND FRENCH WORDS,
WHICH MAY HE LEARNED IN AN HOUR.

"A wink of fttestimable value to all who are seeking to

Hi" the French Language."
ONE

SHILLING.

-^

EUGENE'S FRENCH EDUCATIONAL WORKS.

EUGENE'S KEY

FRENCH PRONUNCIATION,
FOLLOWED BY

MANY THOUSAND FRENCH WORDS

WHICH MAY BE LEARNED IN AN HOUR;

BY

EUGENE BAZIN-BACON,
FRENCH MASTER AT CAVENDISH HOUSE, SHERWOOD,
NOTTINGHAM;
I. ATI: PROFESSOR OF FRENCH AT ADELAIDE ACADEMT, ST. HELIEB, JERSEY ;

AUTHOR OF SEVERAL EDUCATIONAL WORKS.

In omnibus rebus difficills est optimi perfectio atque absoiutlo.Cic, Br.,

LONDON:
PIPER, STEPHENSON, AND SPENCE, 23, PATERNOSTER ROW.
DUBlIN: U'GlASHAN AND GIll.

EDINBURGH: MENZIE8.

NOTTINGHAM: ALLEN.

30C)5-

"f-

5ntroD at Statfonna' Ifcall.

nottinoham: E. ALLEN, pbinteb, lono bow.

REV. WILLIAM CAMPBELL, B.A.,

OF EMMANUEL COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE,
THIS LITTLE WORK

IS INSCRIBED,
AS A RESPECTFUL TOKEN,

BY HIS MOST OBEDIENT SERVANT,

THE AUTHOR.

Cavendish House,
Sherwood, Nottingham,
Oct, Utht 1858.

The difficulties which the English Student has to

encounter with regard to the pronunciation of the
French sounds are great, especially if not properly
explained at firstwe will try to lessen them.
Pronunciation must undoubtedly be learned with the
Ear, and not with the Eye ; however there are numerous
Rules which are quite indispensable to be pointed out,
even to natives, and these are what we endeavour to
present to the Student of the French language in this
little publication.
E. 15.-15.

EUGENE'S KEY
FRENCH PRONUNCIATION.
1. The French Alphabet consists of 25 Letters,
which are :
a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, 1, m, n, o, p,
q, r, s, t, u, v, x, y, z.
2. We do not make use of the w, except in foreign
words ; then it is generally sounded as a single v.

TABLE I.
3. SINGLE LETTERS.
French Approximative Sound
in English.
Letters.

A, a... hat, cat

A.

A, a... far

Remarks.

Not to be sounded as in fate,

fall, care, want, war, journal,
village, courage.(See letter A,
No. 7.)

B,b... as in English,
sounded as in socialC,c... centre, & courage , Never
(See letter C, No. 12.)
B,d... as in English ... (See letter D, No. 14.)

E, ... hr
E, e... fate

Never sounded as in me.

>
E, ... nt
E, ...

(See letter E, No. 15.)

EUGENE'S KEY TO
French Approximative Sound
Letters.
in English.

Remarks.

f,/...

as in English ... (See letter F, No. 20.)

G,g... get, & azure
(See letter G, No. 21.)
U,h.. as in English ... ( (See the list in which H is aspi( rated, No. 50.)
pit
("Never sounded as in fine, six,

,'1

) antique.

meet.

J, j ... asure
K, A... as in English,
L, Z... as in English ...
M,j.. as in English ...
N,... as in English.

((See letter I, No. 24.)

Never sounded as the English,;'.
(See letter L, No. 25.)
(See letter M, No. 27.)

0, o... not, and no

(Never sounded as in move, love.

6, 6...

| (See letter 0, No. 31.)

note
P,p... as in English
Q,g... as in English.

(See letter P, No. 32.)

CNever sounded as in bird. The

J French r is always rough and
J vibratory.
(.(See letter R, No. 36.)
f Never sounded as in version,
S, ... son, and rose
\ usual.~(See letter S, No. 38.)
( Never sounded as in portion.
T, ... tea.
((See letter T, No. 39.)
U,f Unknown in English. "Y Never sounded as in tube, tub,
Between ee and oo. I bull, rule.
The German ii
j (See letter V, No. 41.)

E, r... rule

V, 1>... as in English.

aa;e, easimple .... (Never sounded as in anxious.

son, one
(See letter X, No. 43.)
i ( Never sounded as in boy.
Y, j/... pit
| [ (See letter Y. No. 44.)
I ( Never sounded as in azure.
Z,z...
, ( (See letter Z, No. 45.)

X,*{

'THE FRENCH PRONUNCIATION.

TABLE II.
4. COMBINED LETTERS.

French
Combined Letters.

Approximative Sound
in English.

Remarks.

An(When it is nearly as an in This is a nasal sound.

not followed
cant.
by another n)
Eu

as u in shun.

Pronounced as a sin
gle French u in the
verb avoir.

In(When it is nearly as en in A nasal sound.

strength.
not followed
by another n)
Oi

as wa in water.

Oin

as oo, and nearly Equals the French

sounds: ouin.
as enin strength

Longer when follow

ed by an 3 or an x.

On(When it is nearly as on in A nasal sound.

not followed
don't.
by another n)
Ou

as ou in soup.

Longer if followed by
s or x.

Un(When it is nearly as un in A nasal sound.

not followed
rung.
by another n)

EUOENB'S KEY TO

TABLE III.
5.SHOWING ALL THE FRENCH SOUNDS,
WITH THE COMBINATIONS OP LETTERS 'WHICH ARE PRONOUNCED
IN THE SAME WAT AS THE RADICAL SOUNDS
PLACED OPPOSITE TO THEM.

RADICAL SOUNDS.

COMBINATIONS OF LETTERS

French Approximative
Sounds. English Sounds.

Pronounced as the Radical Sound

placed opposite to them.*

a ... hat
a ... far .
e
e

...
...

...

care
pit
meet

ea.
act.as.eat.ats.(When they are
found at the end of words.)
none.
ai-eai.ce.er (at the end of a word )
et (idem)ez (idem).
are.ei.ais.eais.es (at the end, of
monosyllables.)
ai.eai.
ie.

6 ...
aux.eaux.
ii ... unknown ... eu (in the verb avoir).eu (in gageure,
wager).
(idem) ... eue (in the verb avoir).ue.
U ...
an ...
am. earn. ran. em. en. (When
their final consonant is not doubled.)
eu ...
am.
in ... strength . . . aim. ain. ein. im. ym. yn.
(When their final consonant is not
doubled.)
eoi.
oin... unknown ... none.
om.eom.eon.(When their final
on ... don't
consonant is not doubled.)
um.eum.eun.(When their final
consonant is not doubled.)
* It is understood that these combinations of letters have such sounds when
each of them forms a distinct syllable.

THE FRENCH PRONUNCIATION.

TABLE IV.
PECULIAR REMARKS ON THE PRONUNCIATION
OF SOME LETTERS.
6 General Rules :
;A consonant or consonants following another consonant,
are not to be pronounced.
0)Final consonants are not generally to be pronounced.
Exceptions will be pointed out in the Remarks on the letter not
following these General Rules.
French
Letters.

A
AEN
AI
10

AM

11

12

Remarks.
This letter is not sounded in taon, ox-fly, and
aout, August.
Is sounded as AN (see No. 4) in Caen, a French
town.
1. Has the sound ofWixifaisant, doingormaking.
2. It is pronounced A in douairiere, dowager.
Is not nasal at the end of proper names. It is
sounded AMM, as in English : Abraham, &c.
Except Adam, in which am is nasal, that is,
pronounced as AN.
Is sounded, by exception, at the end of proper
names : Caleb, Job.
1. Must be pronounced, by exception, at the end
of words.But it is silent in the following
ones :
accroc
rent, tear.
banc
bench.
broc
jug.
clerc
clerk.
eric
screw-jack.
croc
hook.
estomac
stomach.
flanc
side.
jonc
rush (bot.)
marc
mark (weight).
pore
pork.
tabac
tobacco.
tronc
trunk.
and in done, then, before a consonant.

* It ia understood, ouce for all, that the sounds given here are French
sounds.See the preceding Table to find their corresponding ones in English.

10

EUGENE'S KEY TO
French
Letters.

2. It is silent in echecs, chess (pl.)> lacs, snare

(pi.), though sounded in echec, check (chess),
lac, lake.
3. The letter C has two sounds :
a)A soft sound, that is, as an S, before
e, i, y, or when there is a cedilla ( J under it :
cellier, cellar ; ciment, cement ; cynique,
cynic; garcon, boy.
fi)A hard sound, that is, as a K, before
any other letter :
calomnie, calumny; confitures, sweet
meats ; crayon, pencil ; cupidite, cupidity.
4. C is sounded as a G in the word second, and
its derivatives.
13

CH

1. Is generally pronounced as the English SH

in the word ' shame' : chat, cat.
2. It is sometimes sounded as K, especially before
a consonant : chronometre, chronometer.

14

1. This letter is heard, by exception, at the end

of some proper names: Alfred, JDaind, See.
2. When D is final, and followed by a word be
ginning with a vowel, or a silent h, it is sounded
as a T : un grand enfant, a great child.
1. Besides its four sounds given in the preceding
Tables, this letter is also mute; that is, not
pronounced at all, as in cependant, however ;
commencement, beginning.
2. It has the sound of A in hennir, to neigh;
indemnite, indemnity; solennel, solemn, and
their derivatives.

15

16

EM

Is pronounced as in English (them), in words

borrowed from the Latin tongue : decemvirat,
decemvirs, item; and in foreign proper names :
Jerusalem, Sem.

17

EN

1. Has the nasal sound of AN in the following

words :
enamourer, to be in love with.
enhardir, to embolden.
enharmonique, enharmonic.
enivrer, to infatuate.
ennuyer, to tire.
enorgueillir, to make proud.

THE FRENCH PRONUNCIATION.

11

French
Letters.

IS

ENN

19

ENT

20

21

2. It is pronounced as in English Chen), in words

taken from Latin : abdomen, amen, hymen, &e.
Except. : The following ones, in which en is
sounded IN (nasal).
agenda.examen.memento.mentor.
3. Is pronounced IN (nasal) at the end of words,
and in all the tenses of the conjugation of tenir,
to hold, and venir, to come ; with their deri
vatives '
chien, dog.
Men, well.
je tiens, I hold.
il vient, he comes.
Is sounded ENE, as in ennemi, enemy ; moyenne,
middle.
When these three letters are the sign of the third
person plural in the conjugation of a verb, they
are sounded as E ; as, ih aiment, they love.
1. This letter is, by exception, sounded at the end
of words, chef, chief.
Except. : In clef, key ; and chef-d'oeuvre,
master-piece.
It is also silent in bcevf, ox, beef; ceuf, egg;
nerf, sinew, nerve; when these words are
in the plural, or followed by another word
that qualifies them :
nerf de batuf, bull's pizzle.
2. Neup. a)The final /of this word is sounded,
except before a consonant or an
aspirated h.
fi)Before a vowel or a silent h, the/
of neuf is sounded as a v ; neuf
enfants, nine children.
1. This letter has two sounds :
a)It is soft, or pronounced as S, in the
English word ' pleasure,' before the letters e,
i, y : as genou, knee ; gentil, pretty.
/3)It is hard, or pronounced as in the
English word ' game,' before any other letter :
garfon, boy.
2. It must be sounded as a K in the beginning
of gangrene.

12

EUGENE'S KEY TO
French
Letters.

Remarks.

3. It is silent in
doigt, finger.
legs, legacy.
signet, market-tassel.
22

GN

Is generally liquid, that is, pronounced as N in

the English word ' dominion' : ignorance, ig
norance ; compagnie, company.

23

This letter is, as in English, either mute or aspi

rated.As no certain rules can be given to
distinguish whether this letter is silent or not,
a list of all the words in which it is aspirated
will be found in No. 49.

24

Is silent in the following words :

moignon, stump
"\
mgnon, onion
poignant, poignant ) and their
poignard, poniard I derivatives.
poignet, wrist
J

25

1. This letter has generally the same sound as in

English, either at the beginning, in the middle,
or at the end of words.
2. It is, however, silent in
baril, barrel.
chenil, dog-kennel.
coutil, ticking-drill.
fenil, hay-loft.
fits, son.
fusil, gun.
gentil, gentle, pretty.
gril, gridiron.
nombril, navel.
outil, tool.
persil, parsley.
soul, fill.
sourcil, eye-brow.

26 '

>

ILL

These letters have very often what we call a

liquid sound. It is one peculiar to the French
language, and cannot be rendered by any
combination of letters. It is indispensable,
for its right pronunciation, as well as for that
of many other French sounds, that it should
be heard from the mouth of a native pro
nouncing correctly. However, the sound of

THE FRENCH PBONUNCIATION.

13

French
Letters.

y in the word good-bye can give a very good

idea of it. Tailleur, tailor; pronounce taye-eur. (French sounds.)
The double l is not liquid in the following words
and their derivatives, though preceded by an i :
Achille
Achilles.
campanille .... campanile.
codicille
codicil ; label.
distiller
to distil.
fibrille
fibril.
fritillaire
fritillarv.
imbecillitS
imbecility.
instiller
to instil.
maxillaire
maxillar.
mille
thousand.
osciller
to oscillate.
pupille
ward.
seille
squill.
scintiller
to scintillate.
Sibylle
Sibyl.
titiller
to titillate.
tranquille
quiet.
vaciuer
to vacillate.
ville
town.
And in the words beginning with ill, as illegal,
illegitime.
27

M.

1. Is silent in
automne, autumn
) and their
condamner, to condemn ) derivatives.
2. It is sounded, by exception, at the end of item,
interim; and in foreign proper names, as
Amsterdam, Rotterdam, &c.
Except in Joachim (nasal sound of IN).

28

EM

Is sounded A in the following words :

ardemment .... ardently.
differemment . . . differently.
femme
woman.

29

MM

Is pronounced as NM in the following words :

emmancher, to put a handle to.
emmener, to take away.

30

UM

Has the sound of OMM in words borrowed from

the Latin language : album, laudanum, &c.

14

EUGENE'S KEY TO
French
Letters.

EE MARKS.

31

Is silent in the following words :

32

1. Final p is sounded, by exception, in

2. It is silent in

And their derivatives, baptismal excepted.

Is always sounded as F :
physique; phosphore, &c.

33

PH

34

Is sounded, by exception, at the end of

coq, cock, and cinq, five,
when the latter is not followed by a consonant.

35

QU

1. Has generally the sound of a K :

question, question.
2. In few words is pronounced as koo in English :
quadrupede, quadruped.
3. Is pronounced KU (French sound) in very few
words:
equitation, riding.

36

Is sounded, by exception, at the end of words,

when immediately preceded by one of the letters
a, i, o, u. But its sound is vibratory and
rough, never guttural as in English.
Except Monsieur, which is pronounced if
spelt Mo-cieu.

37

ER

1. Is pronounced E at the end of words :

boulanger, baker.

THE FRENCH PRONUNCIATION.

15

French
Lktters.

Except the following words, in which it is

sounded ERR :
amer
bitter.
avant-hier
the day before yesterday.
belveder
belvidere.
cancer
cancer.
cher
dear.
enfer
hell.
ether
ether.
fer
iron.
fier
proud.
frater
surgeon's servant.
gaster
gaster.
hier
yesterday.
hiver
winter.
Jupiter
Jupiter.
Lucifer
Lucifer.
magister
schoolmaster.
mer
sea.
outre-mer
ultra-marine.
ver
worm.

38

2. In the verbs of the first conjugation, it is pro

nounced e, except when the next word begins
with a vowel or a silent h :
aimer ujouer, to like to play.
1. It is heard, by exception, at the end of the
following words :
agnis
simpleton.
amis
aloes.
argus
argus.
as
as, ace.
atlas
atlas.
hibus
trifle.
bis
encore, twice.
blocus
blockade.
bobus
bobus.
cholera-morbus . . cholera-morbus.
chorus
chorus.
dervis
dervis.
fils
son.
/lores
dash, figure.
foetus
foetus.
gratis
for nothing.
iris
iris.
jadis
of yore.
lapis
lapis.

16

EUGENE'S KEY TO
French
Letters.

3S

s
(continued.)

Remarks.

laps
lis
lily.
lys
lily.
mais
Indian corn.
mars
March.
metis
mongrel.
oremus
oremus.
ours
bear, (only in the sing.)
Phebus
Phoebus.
prospectus
prospectus.
rebus
pun, rebus.
relaps
relapse.
sinus
sinus.
sus, fen)
over and above.
tournevis
screw-driver.
vasistas
casement-window.
us
usage ; uses.
vis
screw.
virus
virus.
And in all Latin words not in common use, as
well as in foreign proper names.
2. It must never be heard when it is the mark of
the tense and person of a verb : tu aimes, thou
lovest.
8. It is silent when it is the sign of the plural :
hommes, men.
A
4. ES, in monosyllables, Is pronounced E : les,
mes, tes, ses, ces, des.
5. The letter s has two sounds :
a)It is soft, or pronounced like Z, when it
is placed between two vowels : saison, season.
fi)It is hard, or pronounced as S in the
English word 'son,' in all other circum
stances.
y)In compound words, s retains the same
sound that it would have if the radicals were
alone : monosyllabe.
})Though not placed between two vowels,
* has the sound of Z in the following words :
Alsace
Alsace.
balsamine
balsamine.
Esdras
Ezra.
Israel
Israel.

THE FRENCH PRONUNCIATION.

French
Letters.

17

Bemarks.

intransitif
intransitive.
Lesbos
Lesbos.
presbytere
parsonage.
transaction .... transaction.
transalpin
transalpine.

transiger
to compound.
transitoire
transient.
And other words having the syllable trans.
39

1. This letter is sounded, by exception, at the end

of the following words :
abject
abject.
aconit
aconite.
aspect
aspect.
Brest
Brest.
brut
raw ; rough.
chut
hush !
circonspect
circumspect.
comput
computation.
contact
contact.
correct
correct.
deficit
deficit.
direct
direct.
distinct
distinct.
dot
portion.
echec ' mat .... chess-mate.
est
East
exact
exact.
exeat
exeat.
fat
fop ; coxcomb.
fret
freight.
granit
granite.
gratuit
gratuitous.
indult
indult.
inexact
inaccurate.
infect
infectious.
intact
untouched.
lest
ballast.
lut
lute.
malt
malt.
net
clean, neat.
occiput
occiput.
opiat
opiate.
ouest
West.
pat
stale mate.
rapt
abduction.
respect
respect.
sinciput
sinciput.
B

13

euoene's key to
French
Letters.

Remakes.

toast

toast.

T is silent in Jesus- Christ.)

2. In the words sept, seven, and huit, eight, the
final t is sounded, by exception, but only when
they are not followed by a word beginning
with a consonant or an h aspirated.
huit hommes . . . eight men.
3. This letter is pronounced like an S when it
is followed by ia, ie, lent, ieux, ion; as in
initiative, portion.
Except the following words:
.eg

a
a
| (combustion

combustion.

4. TIEN at the end of a word is generally pro

nounced as sien.
Except: Chretien ... Christian.
entretien . . . conversation.
maintien . . . maintenance.
soutien
support. .
And a few more.
40

th

Is alvrays sounded as a single T : theme, exercise.

THE FRENCH PRONUNCIATION.

19

French
Letters.

Re HARKS.

After G and Q, the letter U is almost always

silent.(See QU, No. 36.)

42

u
w

43

41

As we do not find French words in which this

letter is used, we generally pronounce it as
the Germans do ; that is, like an English V.
Except in the following two names : Newton
and Law, which it is customary to pronounce
Neutonn, Lace ; but it is undoubtedly prefer
able to pronounce any foreign words as they
are sounded in the language to which they
belong.
1. This letter, is, by exception, pronounced at the
end of foreign proper names, and foreign
proper nouns : as, Ajax, Storax.
2. As X is, in fact, a double SS, it has four differ
ent sounds, which are :
a,)A hard sound, that is, like KS, which is its
usual pronunciation, as in exercice, exercise.
0JA. soft sound, as GZ, in exit, exile.
y)A whistling hard sound, as SS, in Auxerre, Auxonne, Bruxelles, names of differ
ent towns.
$)A whistling soft sound, as Z, in deuxieme,
sixieme, dixieme; 2nd, 6th, 10th.
3. In the words six, six; dix, ten, the x is
sounded like SS, when these words are not fol
lowed by a consonant.
4. When X is final, and the next word begins with
a vowel, it is sounded as a z : depuis deux ans,
these two years.

44

This letter, whose ordinary pronunciation is the

same as the French i, is also sounded as two
French i's, when it follows a vowel :
paysan (pr. pai-i-zan), countryman.

43

1. Is pronounced as an S at the end of proper

names : Cortez, Rhodez, Suez.
2. It is silent in the 2nd nerson plural ofverbs ; then
ez is pronounced as e : vous aimez, you love.
The words assez, enough ; chez, at the house of;
nez, nose ; follow the same rule.

ETJGENB'S KEY TO

HOW TO DIVIDE THE FRENCH WORDS INTO

SYLLABLES.
46. a,)When a consonant is placed between two Towels, the
consonant belongs to the same syllable as the second
vowel :
coupable, divide thus : cou-pa-ble, guilty.
The letter X is an exception to this rule, because X is a ,
double S.
47. @JWhen a consonant is double, the syllables are divided
between the two consonants, the first of which is sounded
long, as in English :
tonnerre, divide thus : ton-ner-re, thunder.
48. y)Two or three consonants between two vowels are con
sidered as a single consonant, if they can begin a word :
eehelle, divide thus : e-chel-le, ladder.
paraphrase, divide thus : pa-ra-phra-se.
because ck ) can be found at the beginning of
phr ) words : cheval, phraseologw.
Thus, two or three consonants which cannot begin a word
must belong to two different syllables ; as,
tromper, divide thus : trom-per, to deceive.
49. JTwo vowels which do not form a diphthong (see the Table
No. 5) belong to two different syllables.
cruel, divide thus : cru-el, cruel.

N.B.It is very important that every syllable may be pronounced as a

different word: we never lengthen the sound of a syllable as in English,
except when there is a double consonant.(See No. 47.)

THE FRENCH PRONUNCIATION.

60.WORDS IN WHICH THE LETTER H IS ASPIRATED.

ha! ah! ha.
hablCTj to crack ; to brag ; to boast ; to bounce.
hablerie, cracking ; boasting ; drawing the long bow.
hableur, boaster ; bragger ; bouncer; braggart.
hache, axe ; hatchet.
hfichS, abrupt (style).
hache-paille, chaff-cutting machine (agriculture).
hacher, to chop; to hew; to hack; to cut to pieces.
hachereau, small are.
hachette, hacking-knife.
hachis, hash ; minced-meat.
hachoir, chopping-block ; knife ; chaff-cutting machine.
hachure, hatching (drawing, engraving).
hagard, haggard ; wild.
halia, haha ; haw-haw.
'
hahe, tally-ho (hunting).
hai, ha ! well ! indeed ! bless me !
haie, hedge; row, line; beam (of a plough).
haillon, rag ; tatters.
haine, hatred ; heart-burning ; spite.
haineux, hateful; spiteful ; malevolent; malignant.
hair, to hate ; to detest ; to dislike.
haire, hair-shirt.
haissable, hateful ; odious.
halage, towage (action, price); tracking ; towing.
halbran, young wild duck ; flapper.
halbrener, to shoot young urild ducks.
\iiie,.burning, scorching sun; heat of the sun.
haUS, sun-burnt ; swarthy ; tanned.
halener, to smell the breath of; to wind (hunting).
haler, to set ; to excite ; to track ; to haul ; to bowse.
haler, to burn ; to tan.
haletant, panting for breath ; puffing.
haleter, to pant for breath; to puff.
haleur, tracker.
halitueux, halituous; moist.
hallage, market-due.
halle, market-place ; market-house.
hallebarde, halberd.
hallebardier, halberdier.
hallier, market-nian ; market-keeper.
hallucination, hallucination.
halo, halo, areole.
haloir, drying-room (for hemp).
hiilot, rabbit-hole.
1ml te, halt ; stop ; stand; resting-place.
hamac, hammock.
hamefon, fish-hook.
hampe, staff'; handle ; flower-stalk.

EUGENE'S KEY TO

han, heave.
hanap, goblet.
handle, hip : haunch ; quarter.
hangar, shed ; cart-shed ; cart-house.
hanneton, tree-beetle ; cock-chaffer, May-bug.
hanse, Hans-Toums.
hanseatique, Hanseatic.
banter, tofrequent ; to haunt ; to go often.
hantise, intercourse.
happe, axle-tree-bed ; cramp-iron.
happe-chair, catch-poll ; grasp-all.
happelourde, imitation gem ; old hack.
happer, to snap ; to catch; to nab.
haquenee, ambling-nag ; ill-made gawky.
haquetj dray.
haquetier, dray-man.
harangue, harangue; oration; speech; address.
. haranguer, to harangue ; to speechify ; to speak.
harangueur, haranguer ; speaker; orator.
haras, stud.
harasse, crate.
harasser, to harass; to jade ; to tire out.
harceler, to torment ; to gall.
harcellcment, harassing ; galling.
harde, herd; leash.
harder, to leash.
hardes, wearing apparel ; clothing ; clothes.
hardi, bold ; hardy ; daring ; venturesome.
hardiesse, boldness ; hardiness ; daringness.
hardiment, boldly ; daringly ; hardily.
hare, halloa, halloo.
harem, harem.
hareng, herring
harengaison, herring-season.
harengere, herring-woman ; fish-fag.
harenguette, herring-cob.
hargnerie, wrangling.
hargneuz, surly ; crabbed ; curish ; dogged.
haricot, kidney-bean ; stewed mutton and turnips.
haridelie,,/rfe; hark.
harle, merganser.
harnachement, harnessing ; harness.
harnacher, to harness.
harnacheur, harness-maker.
harnais, harness ; tackling; trapping.
harnois, harness; armour.
haro, hue and cry ; cry of shame.
harpailler, to wrangle ; to squabble.
harpaye, marsh harrier.
harpe, harp ; harp-shell ; toothing.
harp6, well-made (of greyhounds).
hTpeau,fin-grapling; grapnel.

THE FRENCH PRONUNCIATION.

harpie, harpy ; bell-cot.

harpiste, harpist ; harp-player ; harper.
harpon, harpoon ; fish spear.
harponner, to harpoon; to spear.
harponneur, harpooner.
hart, writhe ; rope ; strangling.
hasard, chance; hazard; casual; risk.
hasarder, to hazard; to venture ; to risk.
hasardeusement, hazardously ; jeopardously.
hasardeux, hazardous ; jeopardous ; unsafe.
hase, doe hare ; doe rabbit.
haste, spear.
hastiiorme, hostate; halberd-shaped.
hate, haste; hurry.

hatelet, small skewer ; silver skewer.

hater, to hasten ; tofonoard; to hurry ; to push on.
hatier, spit-rest.
hatif, forward; precocious; premature.
hativeau, hasting-pear ; early pea.
hativement, early.
Mtivet^, earliness; forwardness.
hauban, shroud.
haubergeon, small hauberk.
hausse, rise; block; piece; bridge.
hausse-col, gorget.
haussement, raising ; shrug (of the shoulders).
hausser, to raise ; to lift ; to shrug ; to rise.
haussier, bull (speculator on a rise ; exchange).
haut, high ; tall; aloft ; loud ; taunt.
haut, height ; top ; summit ; up.
liaut, high; up; loudly.
haut-a-bas, pedlar, huckster.
haut-a-haut, halloo; halloa (hunting).
hautain, haughty ; supercilious; lofty.
hautainement, haughtily ; superciliously ; loftily.
hautbois, hautboy ; performer on the hautboy.
haut-de-chausses, breeches ; small-clothes ; trunk-hose.
haute-contre, counter-tenor.
hautement, highly ; loudly ; boldly.
hautesse, highness.
hauteur, height ; loftiness; elevation; depth.
haut-fond, shoal.
haut-le-corps, skip ; start.
haut-le-pied, scamp ; person having no residence.
hauturier, of the high-seas; sea-pilot.
have, emaciated ; wan.
haveron, wild oats.
havir, to scorch.
havre, harbour ; port ; dry harbour.
havre-sac, knapsack ; wallet.
he, hoy! I say! ha! ah! ho! O!
heaume, helmet ; helm; helmet-shell.

2*

EUGENE'S KEY TO

hein, hey.
heler, to hail; to challenge; to speak.
hem, hem.
hennir, to neigh.
hennissement, neigh; neighing.
heraut, herald.
h&re, fellow; wretch.
herisser, to erect; to bristle; to arm; to mix.
herisson, bottle-drainer; hedge-hog.
herissonne, crouching.
herniaire, hernial; rupture-wort.
hernie, rupture ; hernia.
hernutes, Moravian brothers.
hron, heron; hern.
heronnean, young heron.
heronnier, like a heron; thin, lean.
heronniere, heronry ; heronshaw.
heros, hero.
hersage, harroteing.
herse, triangular candlestick; harrow.
herser, to harrow.
herseur, narrower.
hetre, beech-tree.
heurt, collision ; shock ; knock.
heurter, to strike, to hit, to shock, to injure.
heurtoir, knocker, sill.
hibou, owl; unsociable person.
hie, difficulty.
hideusemeut, hideously ; dreadfully.
hideux, hideous ; frightful ; shocking.
hie, paving-beetle; ram.
hiement, ramming; creeking.
hier, to ram; to creak.
hierarchie, hierarchy.
hiSrarchique, hierarchical.
hierarchiquement, hierarchically.
hile, hilum.
hisser, to hoist; to raise; to truss up.
ho, oh! hoy! ahoy! hallo!
hobereau, hobby; country squire.
hoc, hoc (game of cards).
hoca, hoca (game).
hoche, notch.
hochement, tossing of the head.
hochepied, heron-hawk.
hochepot, hotchpotch; hodge-podge.
hochequeue, wagtail; brandling; nuthatch.
hocher, to shake; to toss; to wag.
hochet, coral (for children); rattle; toy.
hogner, to growl ; to grumble.
hola! holloa! holla! stop; end.
hoUandais, Dutch; Dutchman,woman.

THE FBKNCII PRONUNCIATION.

25

hollander, to dress (of quills).

hom ! hem !
homard, lobster.
hongre, gelded ; masculated.
hongrer, to geld.
hongroyeur, tanner of Hungary leather.
hongrois, Hungarian.
honnir, to dishonour ; to disgrace.
honte, shame ; disgrace: reproach ; scandal.
honteusement, shamefully ; discreditably.
honteux, ashamed; shameful; bashful.
hoquet, hiccough ; hiccup.
hoqueton, hoqueton.
horae, horde.
horion, thump.
hors, out; beyond; save; except.
hors d'oeuvre, outwork ; digression ; side-dish.
hotte, basket carried on the back ; basket-funnel.
hottee, basketfull.
hottentot, Hottentot.
hotteret, garden-basket.
hotteur, basket-carrier.
houache, wake.
houblon, hop; hops.
houblonner, to hop.
houblonniere, hop-plantation ; hop-ground.
houe, hoe.
houer, to hoe.
houille, coal; pit-coal; sea-coal.
houiller, containing coal.
houillere, coal-pit; coal-work.
houilleur, collier ; coal-miner.
bouilleux, coaly.
houle, swell ; surge ; billow.
houlette, crook ; sheep-hook ; trowel.
houleux, swelling ; rough.
houper, whoop ; to shout.
houppe, tuft ; top-knot.
houppelande, great-coat.
boupper, to tuft ; to comb.
houque, feather-grass.
hourailler, to hunt with bad hounds.
houraillis, pack of bad hounds.
hourdage, pugging.
hourder, to pug.
hourdis, pugging ; wing-transom.
hourct, bad hound.
houri, houri.
hourque, howker.
hourra, hurrah ; hurra ; huzza.
hourvari, cry to call back the hounds.
house, dirty.

26

EUGENE'S KEY TO

houseaux, spatterdashes.
houspiller, to mob ; to worry ; to lash.
houspillon, half a glass of water.
houssage, sweeping ; dusting.
houssaie, holly-grove.
housse, liorse-cloth ; saddle-cloth ; cover.
housser, to sweep ; to dust.
houssine, switch.
houssiner, to stoitch; to thrash; to beat.
houssoir, birch-broom ; feather-broom.
housson, knee-holly; butcher's broom.
houx, holly-tree; holm.
hoyau, mattock, pick-axe.
huaille, mob, populace.
huard, ospray ; erne ; sea-eagle.
hublot, light-port.
huche, kneading-trough ; bin ; brake.
hucher, to whistle (hunting).
huchet, hunting-horn.
hue, gee ! gee-ho ! jee !
huee, hooting; shouting; hoot.
huer, to shout after ; to hoot after, at.
huette, howlet ; owlet.
huguenot, huguenot.
huguenote, pipkin.
huguenotisme, huguenotism.
huhau, gee ! gee-ho ! jee !
huit, eight.
huitain, poem ; stanza of eight verses.
huitaine, eight days ; week.
huitieme, eighth ; eighth class.
huitiemement, eighthly.
hulotte, howlet ; tawny owl.
hun, Hun.
hune, top (navigation).
hunier, topsail.
huppe, tuft ; top-knot ; hoopoe ; whoop.
hupp6, crested ; with a top knot.
hure, head ; jowl ; head of hair.
hurlement, howling ; yell ; shriek.
hurler, to howl ; to bellow ; to yell.
hurleur, howler.
hurluberlu, giddy goose ; hare-brained person.
hurlubrelu, hurluberlu (head-dress).
hussard, hussar.
hussarde (a la), like hussars.
hutte, shed ; hut.
hutter (se), to make a shed, hut ; to hut.

'

THE FRENCH PRONUNCIATION.

27

61. EXERCISE OF PRONUNCIATION,

FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE PRECEDING RULES.

N.B.The two dots (..) used in the middle of the words indicate how to form
the syllables, and show what letters must be pronounced together.
Fuench.
LE VRA1 DI..ETJ.
Un jeu..ne chre..ti..en vi-.vait
dans la mai..son d'un i..do..U*i..
tre, et lu..i di..sait sou. .vent :
II n'y a qu 'un seul DL.eu, ere..
a..teur du ci..el et de la ter..re;
e'est lu..i qui fait lu..i..re le
so..leil et fait tom..ber la plu.ie ;
il voit tou..tes nos ac..ti..ons,
con. .unit tou..tes nos pen. .sees,
eten..tendtou..tesnospri..e..res.
Le Di-.eu vi..vant a seul le
pou..voir de nous re. .com. .pen.,
ser ou de nous pu..nir, de nous
sau..ver ou de nous per..dre.
Ces i..do..les que je vois i..ci
ont e..tk fa..bri..quees a..vec de
l'ar.gi.le, el. .les n'ont pas la
fa..cul..t6 de voir ni d' en. .ten.,
dre; et, par con..se..quent, ne
peu..vent fai..re ni bi..en ni mal
a ceux qui les a. .do. .rent. Mais
le pa..I..en fer..mait 1' o..reil..le
& la ve\.ri..t6.
Uh lour qu 'il e..tait sor.ti
pour al..ler a la cam..pa..gne,
J'en..fant, pro..fl..tant de son
abs..en..ce, prit un ba..ton et mit
en pi. .e.. ces tou..tes les i..do..les ;
il n'e\.par..gna que la plus
gran..de, dans la main de la.,
quel-.le il eut soin de pla..cer le
ba..ton dont il s'e..tait ser..vi
pour bri..ser les au..tres.
Lors..que le pa..i'..en fut de
re. .tour, il s' e..cri..a a. .vec
co..U5..re: Qui done a pous..se
1' au..da..ce jus..queId ?

Literal Translation.
THE THUE GOD.

A young Christian lived in the

house of an idolater, and often
said to him : There is but one
God, creator of heaven and
earth ; it is he who causes the
sun to shine and the rain to fall ;
he sees all our actions, knows
all our thoughts, and hears all
our prayers.
The living God alone has the
power of rewarding or punishing
us, of saving or destroying us.
These idol gods I see here have
been made of clay; they have
not the faculty of seeing nor of
hearing, and consequently can
do neither good nor evil to those
who worship them. But the
pagan turned a deaf ear to truth.

One day, when he was gone

to the country, the child taking
advantage of his absence, took a
stick, and broke into pieces all
the idols; he spared but the
largest, in the hand of which he
had the care to place the stick
which he made use of to break
down the others.
When the pagan returned, he
exclaimed with anger: Who
has been so rash as to do
this?

28

EUGENE'S KEY TO THE FRENCH PRONUNCIATION.

Literal Translation.

L'en..fant re..pon..dit : Est

ce que vous ne croy..ez pas que
vc.tre gran..de i..do..le ait pu
de\.tru..i..re ses pe..tits fre..res ?
Non, s' e\.cri..a 1' hom..me,
je ne sau..rais le croi..re, car
ja..mais el..le n' a re..mu..e la
main. C est vous, me..chant
gar..con qui vous e\.tes ren..du
cou..pa..ble d' u..ne pa..reil..le
ac..ti..on ; c' est vous qui a..vez
bri..se mesdi..eux; aus..si pour
vous pu..nir, vais je vous
as..som..mer a..vec ce me. .me
ba..ton.
Mais l'en..fant re..par..tit,
d' un air se..rein : Oh ! cal-.mez
vo..tre cour..roux; si vous ne
croy..ez pas a vo..tre i..do..le le
pou..voir d'ex..e..cu..ter ce que
J' au..rais pu fai..re, moi, fai..ble
en..fant, com..ment pou..vez
vous croi..re qu' el..le soit le vrai
Di;.eu ToutPu..is..sant qui
ere..a le ci..el et la ter..re.
Le pa..i'..en res..ta mu..et, se
mit a re..fle..chir, l>ri..sa lu..i
me..me la der..ni..e..re i..do..le
ui lu..i res..tait en..co..re, pu..is
il tom..ba a ge..noux, et pour
ff
la pre..mi..e..re foil), a..do..ra
le vrai DL.eu.

The child answered : Do you

not believe that your large idol
has been able to destroy its little
brothers ?
No, cried out the man, I can
not believe it, for it has never
moved its hand. It is you,
wicked boy, who has rendered
yourself guilty of such an action,
it is you who have broken my
gods; therefore to punish you,
I am going to knock you down
with this same stick.
But the child replied with a
serene countenance: Oh! calm
your wrath ; if you don't believe
that your idol-god has the power
to execute what I could have
done, though a weak child, how
can you believe that it is the
Almighty God, who created
heaven and earth ?
The pagan was struck dumb,
reflected, and broke himself the
last idol which he had still re
maining; then he fell on his
knees, and, for the first time,
worshipped the true God.

tin*

w
MANY THOUSAND FRENCH WORDS
WHICH MAY BE LEARNED IN AN HOUR.

There are in French and English many thousand words which are
alike in both languages, or slightly differing in their orthography.
These words are hereafter divided into two tables : the first in
cludes all those which are alike in the two idioms, and the second
those which require a slight alteration to be similar.
No doubt the Student already knows that the English language
has borrowed many thousand words from the French, Latin, and
Greek languages.
In more advanced works, I give all the necessary explanations,
lengthily illustrated, to arrive at a prompt and certain knowledge
of these words. The limits of this little book not allowing me to
repeat them here, I will furnish the student with abridged mate
rials, though quite sufficient to produce a good result.
In any language, words are naturally divided into two classes :
Radicals and Derivatives.
The Radicals often become Derivatives either by means of a
prefix or of an affix.
In case the student should not already be acquainted with the
Latin and Greek prefixes, lists of the most important to be known
are hereafter given.

TABLE I.
LATIN AND FRENCH PREFIXES.
52

A, AB

53

AD

Coming from the Latin, and indicating separation,

distance ; it means from, of.It becomes ABS
before a T.
abjurer,
jurer de,
to a&jure.
to swear of.
abuser,
user de,
to oftuse.
to make too much use of.
abstenir,
tenir de,
to afatain.
to hold from.
Coming from the Latin, and signifying tendency,
drawing near, bringing together ; it means near,
at, to, towards.The D of AD is often changed
into the same letter as that which begins the
radical ; that happens with radicals besrinnino

30

MANY THOUSAND FRENCH WORDS

with c,f, g, l, n, p,
cut off.
a&joindre,
to adjoin.
attirer,
to attract.
amener,
to bring.
54 | ANTE

r, s, or t.D is sometimes
joindre &,
to join to.
tirer a,
to draw towards.
mener a,
to lead to.

Coming from the Latin, and meaning before.

The ending e is changed in French into e, and
sometimes into i.
autediluvien,
antideluvian before the
deluge.
anticAam6re, antechamberbefore the prin
cipal apartment.

55

BI

Coming from the latin, and signifying two, a

double object,
bipeds, oipedthat has two feet.
bigame, fcgamistwho has two wives.

00

circon

Coming from the Latin (circum), and meaning

about, around.
circonlocution, circumlocution locution
around the subject.
circonpect, circumspectwho looks about,
around one's self.

57 CO or CON Coming from the Latin (cum), denoting associ

ation, concord, gathering, putting together, Sue.
Is changed into COL, COM, COR, according
to the letter which begins the radical word.
concounr,
courxr avec,
to concur.
to run with.
operer avec,
cooperer,
to operate with.
to co-operate.
58 CONTRE Coming from the Latin (contra.) It indicates
opposition and means against,. In some French
words contra is retained, but in very few.
contrea'ire,
dire contre,
to contradict.
to say against.
contTe-indiquer,
indiquer contre,
to centra-indicate.
to indicate against.
DE

Is often used as a negative, answering the English

initiative dis ; but it has also the signification

WHICH MAY BE LEARNED IN AN HOUR.

31

ol from, down. Before a vowel or an h mute,

it is changed into des.
depeupler, to (depopulate.
peupler, to people.
detowner, to turn away.
tourner, to turn.
deshabiller, to undress.
habiller, to dress.
60

DIS

Has two different meanings in the composition of

words :
a.)Negative ; as in
disparaitre, to disappear.
paraitre, to appear.
(2)Intensive; denoting diffusion, or increas
ing the import of the radical word ; as in
dmtendre, to distend.
tendre, to stretch out.
It is sometimes changed into DI, and the S re
placed by F, if the radical begins with this letter.
diminuer, to diminish. | difformc, deformed.

61

E, EX

Generally denotes extraction or derivation. It

meansfrom, out of, and comes from the Latin
(ex.)

eerier (s'), crier hors, I exporter, porter hors,

to exclaim, to cry out. \ to export, to carry out.
E, ES, S These prefixes are to be found in many words
coming from the Latin language. Some expla
nations are necessary.
a.JThe words originally beginning with S and
another consonant, have had, for euphony's
sake, an E prefixed to them.
space (space) is now espace.
@)Since that addition, some of these words
have now lost the S itself.
stable (stable) was changed into estable,
and is now etable.
stude (study) was changed into estude,
and is now etude.
However, it often happens, that in the deriva
tives of such words, the euphonic E is sup
pressed, and the original S is restored.
studieux (studious) not etudieux, nor estudieux.

32

MANT THOUSAND FRENCH WORDS

03

EM, EN

64

ENTRE

65

EQUI

66

IN

07

MI

OB

Serve to change nouns and adjectives into verbs.

hint me,
balm. I riche,
rich.
embaumer, to embalm. | enrichir, to enrich.
Coming from the Latin (inter, intro). It means
between, into, inside. It sometimes retains the
Latin orthography inter, intro.
lacer entre,
entrelacer,
to interlace.
to lace between.
interrenir,
venir dans,
to intervene,
to come into.
entrer en dedans,
introduire,
to introduce.
to come inside.
Coming from the Latin indicates equality.
iquivalent,
de valeur egale,
equivalent.
of equal value.
a)Is always negative before an adjective, and
usually so before other parts of the speech. It
corresponds to the English particles in, un, and
sometimes to the termination less. It is changed
into IM before 6, m, p ; into IL, before l; and
into IR, before r.
invisible, invisiblefrom visible.
inutile, uselessfrom utile.
impossible, impossiblefrom possible.
iUeaitime, illegitimatefrom legitime.
irregulier, irregularfrom regulier.
@)Before verbs it generally means in, within ;
and this is also the case with some nouns.
incorporer,
(mettre) dans (un) corps,
to incorporate, embody, to put into a body,
inrasion,
entrer dans,
invasion.
to come into.
Coming from the Latin ; and meaning half, mid.
It indicates the division (middle) of the word to
which it is prefixed into two equal parts. It is
joined to it by an hyphen, except in midi (mid
day, or noon), minuit (mid-night),
mi-careme,
(la) moitie (du) careme,
mid-lent.
the middle of Lent.
mi-jambe,
(la) moitie (de la)jambe,
mid-leg.
the half of the leg.
Coming from the Latin tongue, and meaning in
the way of, against, opposite to, before. It is
changed into OC, OF, OP, according to the
letter beginning the radical.
obstacle, I occasion, 1 offrir, I opposer,
oftstacle. | occasion. | to offer. \ to oppose.

WHICH MAY BE LEARNED IN AN HOUR.

CO

PER,

70

POST

PRE

7-2

PRO

73

RE

33

Coming from the Latin, and meaning in that

language by, for, on, through ; in French, it
generally signifies thoroughly, completely. It
is often changed into PAR.
persuader,
convaincre completement,
to persuade.
to convince thoroughly,
parfaire,
faire entitlement,
to perfect.
to make completly.
Coming from the Latin, and signifying after.
postscriptum,
ecrit apres,
postscript.
written after,
posthume,
apres les funerailles.
posihumous.
after the burial.
Coming from the Latin (pros). It means before,
beforehand. It generally denotes priority or
superiority. It sometimes answers to the
English prefix fore.
predisposer,
disposer d'avance,
to predispose.
to dispose beforehand,
prevoir,
voir a' avance,
toforesee.
to see before.
Coming from the Latin, denotes in French pro
gress, moving outwardly, lengthening or diffu
sion.It literally means forward, for, before,
forth.
pronoTO,
pour le nom,
pronoun.
for the noun.
projeter,
jeter en avant (depaeser),
to project.
to throwforth, forward.
Which is sometimes changed into re, or r, indi
cates:
a).Repetition, reduplication, beginning over
again.
redire. to say again. I refaire, to do over again,
dire encore.
| faire de nouveau.
tktablir, to re-establish.
etablir une nouvelle fois.
@)Coming or going back :
reconduire, to lead
rappeler, to recall.
back,
appeler en arriere, to
conduire en arriere.
call back.
y)Completion or gradual increase :
redoubler, to redouble.
doubler graduellement, to double gradually.

MANY THOUSAND FRENCH WORDS

74

RETRO

Coming from the Latin (Retro), and meaning

backward, behind.
retroactif,
retrograder,
retroactive.
to retrograde.
(qui a de P) action en (qui) retourne sur ses
arriere.
pas, (rentier).

75

SE

Coming from the Latin (se) denotes separation,

putting aside, or removal.
conduire hors,
seduire,
to lead astray.
to seduce.
(mettre) hors du danger,
securite,
to remove from danger.
security.

70

SUB

Coming from the Latin implies a subordinate de

gree. It means below, under. This prefix is
often changed into SOUS.
subdiviser,
diiriser sous,
to subdivide,
to divide under.
sousm're,
ecrire au dessous,
to subscribe.
to write below.
Before c, f, g, or p, the 6 of SUB is replaced by
one of these consonants, and sometimes totally
suppressed.
succomeer,
supporter,
to succumb.
to support.

77

SUPER

Coming from Latin, and indicating superiority,

augmentation, increasing. It is otten in French
contracted into SUR.
super/m,
au dessus defin,
superfine.
above fine.
sumatural,
au dessus du naturel,
supernatural.
above natural.

7rt

TRANS

Coming from Latin, and having the signification

of beyond, across, over. It is sometimes short
ened into TRA.
transporter,
porter au-dela,
to transport,
to carry beyond.
aller a travers,
traverser,
to pierce through.
to transpierce.

WHICH MAY BE LEARNED IN AN HOUR.

3o

GREEK PREFIXES.
79

A ('A)

Meaning without.It indicates privation.

anarchie,
sans gouvemement,
anarchy.
taithout a government.
anonyme,
sans nom,
anonymous.
without a name.
80
AMPHI ('Af4>r Meaning around, on both sides. It denotes
circuit, neighbourhood.
amphitheatre, I edifice autour d'un theatre,
amphitheatre. | building around a theatre.
81
ANA (,'Axa)
Meaning again. It implicates repetition, redu
plication, action from one thing to another.
anabaptiste, (qui) baptise de nouveau,
anabaptist
that baptisms anew.
analyse,
-.de la cause aux effets,
analysis.
from the cause to the effects.
82
ANTI CA,T0 Means against, opposed to. It must not be
taken for the Latin ANTE, meaning before,
though it is sometimes written ante in French.
antipathie,
contre la passion,
antipathy.
against love.
antecftrat,
oppose au Christ,
antichrist.
opposed to Christ.
83
Has several meanings. It indicates distance,
APO (Airo)
origin, extraction, privation, suppression.
apogee,
loin de la terre,
apogee.
far from the earth.
apographe,
ecrii d'apres,
apograph.
copied from,
apocope,
suppression d' une lettre,
apocope.
suppression
of a letter.
84
ARCH (Azx) Means ahead, above.It implies an idea ofcom
mand, superiority, going before.It is changed
into ARCHE or ARCHI.
-au-dessus de l'eveque,
archeveque,
above a bishop,
arcfebishop.
-superieur a un due,
archiauc,
ahead
of a duke.
archduke.
85
Means
through,
from
one
side
(end, or person,
DIA (Aik)
&c.) to another.
diametre,
mesure (passant) a travers,
diameter.
measure passing through,
dialogue,
conversation d' une
dialogue.
personne a une autre.

36

MANY THOUSAND FRENCH WORDS

;
86
EPI ('Efl-Q

Meaning over, on, upon.

kpidemique,
epidemic.
epitaphe,
epitaph.

sur le peuple,
over the people.
sur le tombeau,
on, upon the grave-stone.

87
HYPER ('KVfp) Meaning also on, upon, but with an idea of
excess or superiority.
hyper&ofe,
exageration,
hyperbole.
exaggeration.
hyvercritique,
un critique outr,
hypercritic.
exaggerating critic.
HYPO ('Yiro') Meaning under, beneath.
hypocrite,
hypocrite.
hypothese,
hypothesis.
META (Meto)
90
PARA (naja)

91
PERI (n>pi)

qui cache son opinion,

that conceals what he thinks.
sous une these,
under a thesis.

Means a change.
metamorphose, changement deforme,
metamorphose.
a change in the shape, form.
Means near, by the side, beyond.
paragraphe,
paragraph.
paradoxe,
paradox,
Means around.
perimetre,
perimeter.
penphrase,
periphrasis.

ecrit a cote,
written by the side,
opinion au del a de laverite,
opinion beyond truth.

autour du cercle,
around the circle.
autour de la phrase,
circumZocufem.

92

SYN (Su'v

Means with, together. It indicates aggregation,

gathering.
synagogue, assemblee des Juifs,
synagogue.
meeting of the Jews.
syntaa;e,
arrangement des mots ensemble,
syntax.
order of words together.
It is sometimes changed into SYL, or SYM.
syilogisme,
avec trois propositions,
syllogism.
with three propositions.
sympathie,
avec passion, affection,
sympathy.
with love, friendship.

WHICH MAT BB LEARNED IN AH HOUR.

37

TABLE II.
SHOWING THE WORDS WHICH ABE ALIKE
IN BOTH LANGUAGES.
(few exceptions.)
Words having
the iollow1no
terminations
in English.

Examples and Observations.

93ABLE This ending denotes aptness, aiZeness, fitness. It is

joined to verbs of which it makes adjectives. It
signifies the liability to undergo the action ex
pressed by the verb.
bldmer (verb), ftZam-able (adj.) ; that is liable to
be blamed.
About 200 adjectives with this ending are alike in
both languages :
acceptable, admirable, adorable, considerable,
consolable, payable, respectable, variable, Sec.
Their corresponding verbs may be generally obtained
by changing ABLE into ER.
acceptableaccepter (to accept).
admirableadmirer (to admire).
adorableadorer (to adore).
considerableeonsiderer (to consider).
consolableconsoler (to console).
payablepayer (to pay).
respectablerespecter (to respect).
variablevarier (to vary) ; &c.
Asface, grace, grimace, place, preface, race,
94ACE
surface, trace, &c.
95ACLE Asmiracle, obstacle, oracle, receptacle, spectacle,
tabernacle, &c.
Asambuscade, arcade, brigade, cascade, decade,
96ADE
esplanade, parade, serenade, &c.
Asage, assemblage, cage, courage, image, message,
97AGE
plumage, rage, Sec.
Ascertain, refrain, Sec.
98AIN
Many nouns having this termination are alike, or
99AL
nearly so, in both languages.
amiral. animal, arsenal, cristal, general,
hopital, metal, vassal, Sec.

38
Words hwino
the following
terminations
in English.

MANY THOUSAND FRENCH WORDS

Examples and Observations.

There are 250 adjectives ending with AL which are

the same, or nearly the same :
conjugal, cordial, final, infernal, local,
martial, venial, vocal, &c.
100ANCE The English words with this termination hava
generally been borrowed from French :
alliance, assistance, assurance, concordance,
ignorance, perseverance, temperance, ven
geance, &c.
The ending ANCE usually makes a substantive of a
verb by replacing it by ER.
allianceallier (to ally).
assistanceassister (to assist).
assuranceassurer (to assure).
concordanceconcorder (to concord).
ignoranceignorer (to be ignorant of).
perseveranceperseverer (to persevere).
temperance temperer (to temperate).
vengeanceVenger (to avenge) ; &c.
This termination is common to words which are
101ANT
ordinarily alike in both languages :
arrogant, complaisant, constant, elegant,
important, lieutenant, vacant, vigilant, &c.
The nouns of the greatest part of the adjectives
ending with ANT may be known by changing
their termination into ANCE.
arrogantarrogance
complaisantcomplaisance.
constantconstance.
elegantelegance.
importantimportance.
lieutenantlieutenance.
vacantvacanee.
vigilantvigilance, Sec.
Ascollege, privilege, sacrilege, siege, &c.
102EGE
103ENCE Asadolcscencej conference, continence, diligence,
eloquence, innocence, residence, science, &c.
Asaccent, accident, agent, client, excellent, im
104ENT
prudent, incident, insolent, urgent, &c.
Asbanquet, bonnet, cadet, parapet, rochet,
105ET
sonnet, valet, violet, &c.
It is sometimes changed into ETTE, as :
bandelette, baionnette, lancette, omelette, &c.

WHICH MAY BE LEARNED IN AN HOUR.

Woans eatino
the following
terminations
in English.

106GE
107IBLE

108ICE
109ILE

110-INE

111ION

lia-UDE
113ULE
114URE

EXAMPlES AND OBSERVATIONS.

Asbarge, charge, deluge, doge, forge, orange,

refuge, vestige, &c.
It denotes, as able, aptness, fitness.
accessible, combustible, flexible, horrible,
invisible, perceptible, risible, sensible, &c.
Asartifice, avarice, caprice, edificejustice, office,
police, sacrifice, See.
This termination, in adjectives, denotes what is en
dowed with the quality, the property, or the faculty
expressed by the radical.
agile, debile, docile, facile, fragile, mercantile,
nubile, servile, &c.
Ascarabine, doctrine, famine, fascine, heroine,
machine, marine, mine, &c.
It is sometimes shortened into IN.
aquilin, alerandrin, brigantin, clandestin,
feminin, libertin, masculin, palatin, &c.
This ending includes the greatest number of words
which are generally perfectly alike in both lan
guages (more than one thousand) :
addition, ambition, decision, dimension, forti
fication, lion, religion, vision, &c.
ATION. Almost all substantives having this termi
nation may be changed into verbs, by
replacing ATION by ER.
accusationaccuser (to accuse).
agitationagiter (to agitate).
diminutiondiminuer (to diminish).
formationformer (to form).
occupationoccuper (to occupy).
palpitationpalpiter (to palpitate).
spoliationspolier (to spoliate on).
transfigurationtransfigurer (to transfigure).
Asaptitude, gratitude, habitude, lassitude, mul
titude, rectitude, servitude, Sea.
Ascorpuscule, formule, globule, module, mule,
pustule, ridicule, valvule, &c.
About 100 nouns alike in French and in English :
agriculture, censure,figure, nature, signature
stature, verdure, &c.

40

MANX THOUSAND FRENCH WORDS

TABLE III.
SHOWING WORDS REQUIRING ONLY THE CHANGE
OF THEIR TERMINATION TO BE ALIKE
IN BOTH LANGUAGES.
(some EXCEPTIONS )
Change the
English
termination

115 AL

INTO THE

French

Examples and Observations.

ENDING.

el

accidentel, additionnel, 6ternel, &c.

( aire . . ( (generally) circulaire, oculaire, &c.

\ier . . ( (exceptionally) particulier, regulier,
singulier, &c.

116
117 ARY .,,
118 ATE

aire

\t

119 CY

lapidaire, militaire, salaire, .See.

(substant.) chocolat, magistrat, &c.
(adjectives) effemine, moder6, &e.
The radical is the same, but the
ending is different, as :
clemence, Constance, delicatesse, &c.

120

CRACY . .

cratie . . aristocratie, autocratie, democratie,&c

(re.... r (generally) membra, ordre, tigre, &c.
\ier . . .
(denoting a trade) barbier, drapier,
mercier, &c.
( Greek words) biographe, philosophe,
typography &c.

121

r-1
122

FY

fier
(verbs) fructifier, pacifier, &c.
( graphie
C (generally) calligraphie, cosmogra123 GRAPHY
< phie, topograpnie, &c.
( graphs ( (exceptionally) ortnographe, &c.
124

\ aire

125 IBLE....

(generally) academicien, loglcien, &c.

(exceptionally) valetudinaire, &c.

ibule. .. (exceptionally) mandibule, &c.

126

IC

127

.... grammatical, pontifical, vertical, &c.

ICAL .... \f ical
ique. . . . anatomique, magique, periodique, &c.

ique. . . . botanique, metallique, musique, &c.

WHICH MAY BE LEARNED IN AN HOUR.

Change the
English

INTO THE

TERMINATION

ENDING.

French

Examples and Observations.

128

ICLE ....

icule. . . follicule, particule, pedicule, &c.

129

ICS

ique

hydraulique, mecanique, &e.

lucide, morbide, rapide, &c.

130
131

41

ILE

\il

(generally) entreprise, surprise, &c.

(exceptionally) concis, paradis, &c.

132 ISE
133 ISM

(generally) crocodile, debile, &c.

(exceptionally) pueril, subtil, &c.

isme. . . . anglicisme, exorcisme, &c.

(verbs) braudir, etablir, polir, &c.

134
135 1ST

iste .... fataliste, moraliste, naturaliste, &c.

lelicite, rapacite, veracite, &c.

136

(adjectives) decisif, positif, relatif, &c.

137 IVE

if

138 LOGY....

logie . . . ( Greek words) geologie, physiologie,

&c.

139 OON
140 AIK

doublon, harpon, pantalon, &c.

aire .... affaire, glaire, paire, &c.

OB

eur .... ambassadeur, tailleur, torpeur, &c.

142 ORY.....

aire .... aratoire, illusoire, obligatoire, &c.

141

143 OUR ....

144 OUS

eur .... candeur, splendeur, tumeur, &c.

( eux
\e

(generally) delicieux, melodieux, &c.

(exceptionally) ridicule, tenace, &c.

145 RY

industrie, penurie, pruderie, &c.

14G

(exceptionally) siriasis, &c. ) Greek

(generally) phase, these, Sec. J words.

SIS

147 TY

te

anxiete, difficulte, sobriete, &c.

42

MAHY THOUSAND FRENCH WORDS

TABLE IV.
OBSERVATIONS ON SOME ENDINGS PECULIAR TO
FRENCH.
148

EE

In substantives, it commonly denotes the whole,

the sum total of that which is expressed by the
radical :
an, year ; annee, the whole yearthe length
of the year.
jour, day; journee, the whole daythe length
of the day.
matin, morning; matinee, the whole morning
the length of the morning.
soir, evening ; soiree; the whole eveningthe
length of the evening.
In many nouns, it corresponds to the English affix
ful.
aiguille, needle .... aiguillee, needleful.
assiette, plate
assietee, plateful.
bouche, mouth .... bouchee, mouthful.
cuiller, spoon
cuilleree, spoonful.
pot, pot
potee, potful, Sec.

140 ISSIME Means very, extremely, superlatively, Sec. It is

added to adjectives
grand, great
grandissime, very great.
riche, rich
richissime, extremely rich.
150

Et!SE

Denotes the abstract of that which is expressed by

the radical. It is added to adjectives to form
nouns.
delicat, delicate. . . . delicatesse, delicacy.
faible, feeble
faiblesse, feebleness.
hardi, bold
hardiesse, boldness.
petit, small
petitesse, smallness, See.

151

ISE

Added to certain adjectives makes them substantives.

bete, simple
betise, simplicity.
couard, coward. . . . couardise, cowardice.
franc, frank
franchise,,/V<mAm.
friand, dainty
friandise, daintiness.
gourmand, glutton, gourmandise, gluttony.
sot, fool
sotlise, foolishness, Sec.

WHICH MAY BE LEARNED IN AN HOUR.

4:3

152

ETTE

Diminutive found in about 300 nouns, many of which

have their correspondents in English terminated,
in et.
bande, band
bandelette, bandelet.
chanson, song
chansonnette, canzonet.
fleur, flower. .'.
fleurette, floweret.
hache, axe
hachette, hatchet.
table, table
tablette, tablet.
trompe, trump .... trompette, trumpet, &c.

1.33

IER

Generally denotes the person who exercises a pro

fession or trade, who is daily engaged or usually
deals in the thing expressed by the radical.It
often corresponds to the English affix er.
banque, bank
barbe, beard
drap, cloth
geole, gaol
jardin, garden
office, office
usure, usury

banquier, banker.
barbier, barber.
drapier, draper.
geolier, gaoler.
jardinier, gardener.
officier, officer.
usurier, usurer, &c.

When added to the name of a fruit, it serves to

designate the true bearing of such fruit.
amande, almond . . . amandier, almond-tree.
abricot, apricot .... abricotier, apricot-tree.
cerise, cherry
cerisier, cherry-tree.
figue,^
Sguier, fig-tree.
olive, olive
olivier, olive-tree.
poire, pear
poirier, pear-tree.
pomme, apple
pommier, apple-tree.
prune, plum
prunier, plum-tree, &c.
In a more limited number of words, it denotes the
vessel, or the place destined for the use of the
thing expressed by the radical.
colombe, dove. ..... colombier, dove-house.
encre, ink
encrier, inkstand.
obus, shell
obusier, howitzer. _
sucre, sugar
sucrier, sugar-basin, &c.
154

lit

Forms many verbs from adjectives.

blanc, white
epais, thick
grand, large
gros, big
mol, soft
vieil, old

blanchir, to whiten.
epaissir, to thicken.
grandir, to enlarge.
grossir, to render big.
mollir, to soften.
vieillir, to grow old, &c.

44

MANY THOUSAND FRENCH WORDS, ETC.

155

OIK

Changes verbs into nouns.

abreuver, to quench..,, abreuvoir, horse-pond.
chauffer, to warm
chauffoir, warming-place.
cracher, to spit
crachoir, spittoon.
demeler, to ravel
demeloir, targe comb.
divider, to spin
devidoir, reel.
dresser, to level
dressoir, dresser.
laver, to wash
lavoir, ivashinj-place.
mirer, to look one's self,, miroir, mirror.
seeher, to dry
sechoir, di t'ng-place.
tirer, to draw
tiroir, drawer, &c.

156

EUR

Denotes the agent or the person who ; rforms the

action expressed by the verb. It con. j/juds, in
this case, to the English affix er.
chanter, to sing
chanteur, singer.
danser, to dance
danseur, dancer.
prefer, to lend
preteur, lender.
voler, to rob
voleur, robber.

157

AT

Answers the English ship, denoting the function or

the quality of the person indicated by the radical.
consul, consul
consulat, consulate.
general, general
generalat, generalship.
It often makes a substantive of a verb, and then
points out the end obtained, or the action done.
assassiner, to murder. . . assassinat, assassinate.
attenter, to attempt. . . . attentat, attentate.
resulter, to result
resultat, resultate.

158

MENT Transforms verbs into substantives, which are

generally the same, or nearly the same, as in
English.
amuser, to amuse
amusement, entertaining.
engager, to engage
engagement, engagement.
juger, to judge
jugement, judgment.
payer, to pay
paiement, payment.
sentir, tojeel
sentiment, sentiment.

PRINTED BY li. AllEN, lONG ROW, NOTTINGHAM.

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