French for Kids

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Drinks — Les boissons by Dawn-Michelle Baude, Ph.D.

Feeling thirsty after all this talk about food? Your French friends drink a lot of the same things you do, and some things that you probably don't.

French kids often sip wine (le vin) at formal meals — not because they want to feel funny, but because knowing about wine is, well, very French. And the best way to learn about wine is to taste it! So kids' taste buds are often trained from a very young age.

FUN FACTS Pour s'amuser

The French have a lot of cheese made from different kinds of milk. There's cheese made from cow's milk (fromage de lait de vache), cheese made from sheep's milk (fromage de brebis) and cheese made from goat's milk (fromage de chèvre). From the time French kids are babies, they eat cheese, even strong cheeses, like Roquefort.

Kids' Favorites — Les préférées des enfants

French kids also have a kind of soft drink, called sirop. It comes in all kinds of flavors — lemon, peach, even fig! You pour a little into a glass, add water, and voilà. When you add sirop to lemonade (la citronnade), you get a special treat, called a diabolo.

In the chart below, you'll find a list of French drinks:

<tgroup cols="2"> <colspec align="left" colname="col1" colnum="1" colsep="0" colwidth="50%"/> <colspec align="left" colname="col2" colnum="2" colsep="0" colwidth="50%"/> <thead> <tr> <td><p><B>English</B></p></td> <td><p><B>French</B></p></td> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td><p>water</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>l'eau</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>soft drink</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>le soda</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>syrup</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>le sirop</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>lemonade</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>la citronnade</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>kiddie cocktail</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>le diabolo</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>cola</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>le coca</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>wine</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>le vin</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>tea</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>le thé</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>coffee</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>le café</emphasis></p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <h2>To Drink, To Eat — Boire, Manger</h2> <p>Now that you have words for things to drink, you need a verb to swallow them! Take a look at the conjugation map for <emphasis>boire</emphasis> (“to drink”):</p> <table frame="none" width="100%"> <title/> <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec align="left" colname="col1" colnum="1" colsep="0" colwidth="50%"/> <colspec align="left" colname="col2" colnum="2" colsep="0" colwidth="50%"/> <thead> <tr> <td><p><B>English</B></p></td> <td><p><B>French</B></p></td> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td><p>to drink</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>boire</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>I drink</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>je bois</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>you drink</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>tu bois</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>he/she/it drinks</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>il/elle/il boit</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>we drink</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>nous buvons</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>you drink</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>vous buvez</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>they drink</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>ils/elles</emphasis> boivent</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <div class="npsb"> <h2>Spinning Spelling</h2> <p>What is this spinning fool telling us? Start reading the words from the center out and you will know what he likes to eat.</p> <div class="npmo"> <img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/np/kids-french/p76-001.jpg"> </div> </div> <p>Since you've got a long list of things to drink — and the verb to do it with — you also need <emphasis>manger</emphasis>, the verb “to eat” to go with all your foods! Here it is:</p> <table frame="none" width="100%"> <title/> <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec align="left" colname="col1" colnum="1" colsep="0" colwidth="50%"/> <colspec align="left" colname="col2" colnum="2" colsep="0" colwidth="50%"/> <thead> <tr> <td><p><B>English</B></p></td> <td><p><B>French</B></p></td> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td><p>to eat</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>manger</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>I eat</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>je mange</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>you eat</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>tu manges</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>he/she/it eats</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>il/elle/il mange</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>we eat</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>nous mangeons</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>you eat</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>vous mangez</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>they eat</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>ils/elles mangent</emphasis></p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table>  <div id="pagination"><ul><li class="prev"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/im-hungry-jai-faim/preparing-food-prparer-un-repas.htm" title="Preparing Food — Préparer un repas">Preparing Food — Préparer un repas</a></li><li class="next"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/im-hungry-jai-faim/at-the-table-a-table.htm" title="At the Table — A table">At the Table — A table</a> </li></ul></div></div> <div id="coda"> <div id="rel"><div class="n5">Related Articles</div><ul> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/im-hungry-jai-faim/drinks-les-boissons.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Drinks — Les boissons - French for Kids </a></li> <li><a href="http://cocktails.about.com/od/atozcocktailrecipes/r/frnch_75_cktl.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> French 75 Cocktail Recipe - Drink Recipe for a French 75 Cocktail </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/lets-get-started-allons-y/spelling-and-pronunciation-orthographe-et-prononciation.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Spelling and Pronunciation — Orthographe et prononciation - Fren... </a></li> <li><a href="http://baking.about.com/u/ua/hintsandtips/share-your-opinion-Liqueur-Cakes-For-Kids.01.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Liqueur Cakes for Kids - At What Age Should Kids Be Allowed to Eat Liq... </a></li> <li><a href="http://cheese.about.com/od/cheesebuyingguide/a/raw_cheese.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Raw Unpasteurized Milk Cheeses - Cheeses Made With Unpasteurized Raw M... </a></li> </ul></div> <div id="sec"><div class="n5">Read More I'm Hungry! — J'ai faim!</div><ul><ul class="col1"><li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/im-hungry-jai-faim/in-the-kitchen-dans-la-cuisine.htm">In the Kitchen — Dans la cuisine</a></li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/im-hungry-jai-faim/preparing-food-prparer-un-repas.htm">Preparing Food — Préparer un repas</a></li> <li class="btO">Drinks — Les boissons</li> </ul><ul class="col2"><li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/im-hungry-jai-faim/at-the-table-a-table.htm">At the Table — A table</a></li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/im-hungry-jai-faim/at-the-restaurant-au-restaurant.htm">At the Restaurant — Au restaurant</a></li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/im-hungry-jai-faim/yumyum-thats-good-miam-miam-cest-bon.htm">Yum,Yum! That's Good! — Miam, miam, c'est bon!</a></li> </ul></ul></div> </div> <script>if(zSbL<1)zSbL=3;zSB(2);zSbL=0</script> </div> <div id="widgets"><script type="text/javascript">if(z336>0){w('<div id="adB">'+ap[0]+at[4]+as[0]);adunit('','','about.com',ch,gs,336,280,'1','bb',3);w('</div>')}if(z155>0){w('<div id="adP">'+ap[0]+at[4]+as[0]);adunit('','','about.com',ch,gs,336,155,'1','ps',4);w('</div>')}</script> <div id="pg" class="pane"><div class="n3">Shopping</div><div class="cntnr"><a href="http://shop.everything.com/product/the-everything-kids-learning-french-book"><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/np/kids-french/Cover.jpg"></a><h4><a href="http://shop.everything.com/product/the-everything-kids-learning-french-book">THE EVERYTHING KIDS' LEARNING FRENCH BOOK</a></h4><p><a href="http://shop.everything.com/product/the-everything-kids-learning-french-book">By Dawn-Michelle Baude, Ph.D.</a></p><div id="fp"><a href="http://shop.everything.com/product/the-everything-kids-learning-french-book">Buy This Book</a></div></div></div> <div id="toc" class="pane"><div class="n3">French for Kids Sections</div><ul><li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/lets-get-started-allons-y/">Let's Get Started! — Allons-y!</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/time-and-dates-lheure-et-les-dates/">Time and Dates — L'heure et les dates</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/all-about-me-tout-sur-moi/">All About Me — Tout sur moi</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/social-life-la-vie-sociale/">Social Life — La vie sociale</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/what-should-we-do-quest-ce-quon-va-faire/">What Should We do? — Qu'est-ce qu'on va faire?</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/im-hungry-jai-faim/">I'm Hungry! — J'ai faim!</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/going-to-town-aller-en-ville/">Going to Town — Aller en ville</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/lets-go-outdoors-allons-dehors/">Let's Go Outdoors — Allons dehors</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/getting-along-bien-sentendre/">Getting Along — Bien s'entendre</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/appendix-a-english-french-dictionary/">English-French Dictionary</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/appendix-b-glossary/">Glossary</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/appendix-c-puzzle-answers/">Puzzle Answers</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/appendix-d-exercise-answers/">Exercise Answers</a></li> </ul></div></div> <script type="text/javascript">zCi();validateForms();</script> <div id="abf" style="padding-right:0"><ol class="crumbtrail"><li class="home"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/">Home</a></li><li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/">French for Kids</a></li><li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/im-hungry-jai-faim/">I'm Hungry! — J'ai faim!</a></li><li>Drinks — Les boissons</li></ol></div> <div id="aboutinfo" class="hlist"><div id="morefrom"><h6>Visit other About.com sites:</h6><ul><li><a href="http://caloriecount.about.com/" rel="nofollow">Calorie Count</a></li><li class="last"><a href="http://www.allexperts.com/" rel="nofollow">Allexperts.com</a></li></ul></div> <ul id="siteinfo"><li><a href="http://spiderbites.about.com/sitemap.htm">SiteMap</a></li><li><a href="http://www.about.com/gi/pages/hc.htm" rel="nofollow">Help</a></li><li><a href="http://www.about.com/gi/pages/mprivacy.htm" rel="nofollow">Privacy Policy</a></li><li><a href="http://www.about.com/gi/pages/mprivacy.htm#adchoices" rel="nofollow">Your Ad Choices</a></li><li class="last"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/pform.htm" rel="nofollow">Contact Us</a></li></ul> <ul id="companyinfo"><li class="last"><a href="http://shop.everything.com/ " rel="nofollow">Buy Books</a></li></ul><div id="disclaimer"> </div></div></div> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript">(function(){var po=document.createElement('script');po.type='text/javascript';po.async=true;po.src='https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js';var s=document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(po,s)})();</script> </body></html>