Level B1 (Intermediate)
The French Word of the Day is le régime,” meaning “diet” and “regime”, as in a governmental system.
Meaning & usage
Pronunciation
Example sentences
Word origin
Meaning & usage
“Le régime” (masculine French) means either “diet” (as in, an eating plan, e.g., suivre un régime – to go on a diet) or a “governmental/political system” (e.g., l’Ancien Régime).
Pronunciation
Example sentences
For this first sentence, the adverb trop means too or too much. In the passé composé, it comes between auxiliary verb and past participle. To go on a diet in French is suivre un régime, literally “to follow a diet”.
J’ai trop grossi et j’ai pris la décision de suivre un régime. Plus de sucre !
I gained too much weight and made the decision to go on a diet. No more sugar!
For this second sentence, l’Ancien Régime or “old order” refers to the political and social system of France leading up to the French Revolution. Translations for au cours de include in, during, over and during the course of.
Nous avons étudié tous les rois de l’Ancien Régime au cours de l’histoire.
We studied all of the kings of the ancien régime throughout history.
Word origin
The Modern French régime comes from the regimen (control, steering, direction) and regere (to rule, guide, direct) in Latin. A related English word is regiment (military unit, to organize rigidly).
Words related to régime (food and health)
- Faire un régime or être au régime (also used for to be or go on a diet)
- L’alimentation: (feminine noun) diet, food (what one eats)
- Manger: (to eat)
- Maigrir: (to lose weight, to get thinner).
- Grossir: (to gain weight, to get fatter).
- La perte/prise de poids: (feminine noun) weight loss/gain
Related Word of the Day lessons
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