Les lacs du Connemara – Bilingual Lyrics French/English
Lyrics & Translation
Key Vocabulary
Vocabulary | Meanings |
---|---|
terre /tɛʁ/ A2 |
|
lacs /lak/ A2 |
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nuages /nyɑʒ/ B1 |
|
feu /fø/ B1 |
|
pierre /pjɛʁ/ A2 |
|
vent /vɑ̃/ A2 |
|
vivants /vivɑ̃/ B1 |
|
enfer /ɑ̃fɛʁ/ B2 |
|
catholique /katɔlik/ B2 |
|
église /eɡlize/ B1 |
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comté /kɔ̃.te/ A2 |
|
guerre /ɡɛʁ/ B1 |
|
paix /pɛ/ B1 |
|
montre /mɔ̃tʁ/ A2 |
|
cheval /ʃə.val/ A2 |
|
monstre /mɔ̃stʁ/ B2 |
|
Key Grammar Structures
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Terre brûlée au vent
➔ Past Participle as Adjective
➔ The word "brûlée" is a past participle that modifies the noun "Terre". It functions as an adjective to describe the state of the land (burnt).
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C'est pour les vivants un peu d'enfer
➔ C'est + [noun/adjective] + pour + [person/group]
➔ This structure indicates the purpose or consequence of something "C'est" is referring to. In this case, the Connemara is, for the living, a bit of hell.
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Maureen a plongé Nue dans un lac du Connemara
➔ Agreement of adjectives with nouns (gender and number). Positioning of adjective after verb.
➔ "Nue" (naked) agrees in gender and number with Maureen (feminine singular). The positioning of "Nue" after the verb emphasizes the manner in which she dove.
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Sean Kelly s'est dit Je suis catholique
➔ Reflexive verb in past tense. Direct speech.
➔ "s'est dit" is the reflexive verb "se dire" (to say to oneself) in the past tense. The direct speech "Je suis catholique" shows Sean's internal thought.
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On sait tout le prix du silence
➔ Use of "on" as an indefinite pronoun meaning 'one', 'people', or 'we' (generic).
➔ Here, "on" doesn't specifically mean "we", but rather a more general "people" or "in this region". It suggests that everyone in the Connemara knows the value of silence.
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On dit que la vie c'est une folie
➔ Indirect speech, indefinite subject 'on', "c'est" to introduce a definition or characteristic
➔ "On dit que..." (It is said that...) introduces a common belief or saying. "C'est" then equates life to madness, acting as a definitional statement.
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On y vit encore au temps des Gaels Et de Cromwell
➔ Use of the adverbial pronoun "y", implying "in Connemara" or "there". Conjunction "Et" connecting related elements
➔ "On y vit encore" translates to "They still live there", with "y" replacing "in Connemara". "Et de Cromwell" extends the temporal context, indicating a long-lasting way of life.
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On n'accepte pas La paix des Gallois Ni celle des rois d'Angleterre
➔ Negative construction with "ne...pas", demonstrative pronoun "celle" replacing "paix" and the usage of "Ni...Ni.." to link 2 negative items.
➔ "On n'accepte pas" shows negation. "Celle" avoids repetition: "La paix des Gallois Ni celle des rois d'Angleterre" means "Neither the peace of the Welsh nor that of the kings of England".