This week, we have had glorious sunshine and Summer temperatures and so has everybody in France. But the French do not take the weather for granted and television and my own mum have reminded that Spring is only a few days old and things could turn nasty...Popular sayings (des dictons) and proverbs (des proverbes) give us a warning...
"En avril, ne te découvre pas d'un fil, en mai , fais ce qu'il te plaît!" is one of my family's favorite! Do not take a thread (any cloths) off in April, do what you want in May! Even though, temperatures reached high maximums this week, most French people will follow this advice and not wear shorts quite yet...
"Une hirondelle ne fait pas le printemps!" A swallow does not make the spring! is of the same rather negative register and both sayings are hot favorites at home and on TV...
There are also plenty of proverbs mostly used by "les paysans" (those who work the land) and can be found in the ephemeride and calendar:
"Noël au balcon, Pâques au tison" Christmas on the balcony, Easter near the fireplace. Can somebody remind what kind of weather we had this Christmas?
All this negative talk has put me off this beautiful weather...Luckily I can also think of a more uplifting one: "Après la pluie, vient le beau temps."(after rain, comes better weather).
Practice:basic
Practice with a weather report: French region map, weather and grammar step by step
Practice: improvers
Audio exercise: advanced
