52 Comments
Knowing jaundice is the yellowing of skin and eyes helps me remember that jaune= yellow and not jeune
does anyone know the difference in pronunciation? they sound the same to me.
Let's look at some English words to help you make some solid connections.
Jejune Rejuvinate
I make connections like this to learn vocabulary.
the 'e-u' of "jeune" is like a french 'e' and the 'a-u' of "jaune" is like a 'o' ;-) le 'e-u' de "jeune" est comme un 'e' français et le 'a-u' de "jaune" est comme un 'o' ;-)
"Nous sommes jeunes." = "We're young. ", but that is not the same as "Je suis jeune." = "I am young. "
Yes, "Nous sommes jeunes." = "We are young." also. "We're" is just a contraction that can be used in place of "We are" and "I'm" is a contraction that can be used in place of "I am". Both contraction and two word forms are correct.
To make this masculine would I just take off the 'e,' like 'jeun?' or is it already masculine?
No, "jeune" does not change with the gender, only add an -s for plural.
Note that it is the same for "jaune" (yellow).
"Jeune" is "young".
"old" is "vieille" for feminine and "vieux" for masculine.
Compared to eating an ice cream cone, yes. Compared to calculus, no. Try these sites for listening to the sounds: http://french.about.com/od/pronunciation/a/beginningpronunciation.htm
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but duo gives "new" as a definition of jeune. i think that is my question too. it gives 3 english glosses for jeune, yet does not accept one of those very definitions.
Each definition may be for a different context. Some are for very specific contexts only. We don't expect every definition in a dictionary to work for every sentence. The main definition is "young" http://dictionnaire.reverso.net/francais-anglais/jeune It means new in a specific expression "jeune papa" and "jeune maman" mean "new dad" and "new mom".
Is the last "e" in "jeune" pronounced? Based on the pronunciation when you click the word and my knowledge of French, I would say no. But the full sentence pronounced had a clear "e".
If you hear a sound at the end of a word ending in -e, it is probably a schwa.
Interesting, thank you! The ending sounds does indeed sound like a schwa to me. However, isn't a key feature of French pronunciation that the "e" at the end of a word is left silent? It is my understading that having a "schwa" there is reserved for certain non-standard dialects and for artistic purposes.
Your understanding is correct. You may add to your list people who naturally enunciate very clearly, and some south-westerners (Montpellier region).
Because it is the translation for "je suis une jeune personne", which is not the original sentence.
"Je suis jeune" would work for that situation, but if you want to specify, you could say "je suis un bébé" (I am a baby).
No, because "grandes" is for a plural, feminine noun, such as "elles sont grandes." Since "je" (or "I") is singular, it becomes "grand" if you are male, or "grande" if you are female.
I have seen "je suis ..." and "j'ai ..." as far as adjectives, but I do not understand how I am supposed to discern which to use. Is there a rule? ex: ("je suis jeune") ("j'ai chaud")
"I am + adjective" usually translates to "je suis + adjective".
Exceptions are limited to sensations or feelings:
- j'ai chaud/froid = I am warm/cold
- j'ai faim/soif = I am hungry/thirsty
- j'ai peur/honte = I am afraid/ashamed
