Surprise Birthday: A French Story for Celebrating with Friends

A1 · Beginner43 sentences·

Follow Lucas on his eighth birthday as he looks for a cake, feels sad, and discovers a surprise party. This simple French story uses short present-tense sentences and everyday words for feelings, family, and birthday celebrations.

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The lesson

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43 sentences · 62 new words
  • 01anniversaire · birthday
    , anniversaire .
    oh-zhoor-dwee, seh lahn-nee-vehr-sehr duh Loo-kah
    Today is Lucas's birthday.
  • 02huit · eight
    huit .
    Loo-kah ah weet ahn
    Lucas is eight years old.
  • 03réveiller · to wake up
    réveille .
    eel suh ray-vay luh mah-tan
    He wakes up in the morning.
  • 04content · happy
    content.
    eel eh treh kohn-tahn
    He is very happy.
  • 05courir · to run
    court .
    eel koor dahn lah kwee-zeen
    He runs into the kitchen.
  • 06chercher · to look for
    cherche .
    eel shehrsh sohn gah-toh dahn-nee-vehr-sehr
    He looks for his birthday cake.
  • 07voir · to see
    voit .
    meh eel nuh vwah pah duh gah-toh
    But he doesn't see any cake.
  • 08décoration · decoration
    décoration.
    eel nuh vwah pah duh day-koh-rah-syohn
    He doesn't see any decoration.
  • 09silencieux · silent
    silencieuse.
    lah meh-zohn eh treh see-lahn-syuhz
    The house is very quiet.
  • 10regarder · to look
    regarde .
    Loo-kah ruh-gahrd pahr-too
    Lucas looks everywhere.
  • 11chercher · to look for
    cherche .
    eel shehrsh mah-mahn
    He looks for Mom.
  • 12où · where
    Où ?
    oo eh mah-mahn
    Where is Mom?
  • 13arriver · to arrive
    arrive .
    mah-mahn ah-reev dahn lah kwee-zeen
    Mom arrives in the kitchen.
  • 14dire · to say
    dit
    el dee bohn-zhoor Loo-kah
    She says: "Hello, Lucas!"
  • 15joyeux · happy
    Joyeux .
    el nuh dee pah zhwah-yuhz ahn-nee-vehr-sehr
    She doesn't say "Happy birthday".
  • 16attendre · to wait
    attend.
    Loo-kah ah-tahn
    Lucas waits.
  • 17rien · nothing
    rien.
    mah-mahn nuh dee ryahn
    Mom says nothing.
  • 18supermarché · supermarket
    supermarché
    mah-mahn dee noo zah-lohn oh soo-pehr-mahr-shay
    Mom says: "We are going to the supermarket."
  • 19triste · sad
    triste.
    Loo-kah eh treest
    Lucas is sad.
  • 20oublier · to forget
    oublié
    eel pahnss mah-mahn ah oo-blee-ay mohn ahn-nee-vehr-sehr
    He thinks: "Mom forgot my birthday."
  • 21acheter · to buy
    , achète .
    oh soo-pehr-mahr-shay mah-mahn ah-shet boh-koo duh shohz
    At the supermarket, Mom buys a lot of things.
  • 22gâteau · cake
    gâteau.
    Loo-kah nuh vwah pah duh gah-toh
    Lucas doesn't see any cake.
  • 23bougie · candle
    bougies.
    eel nuh vwah pah duh boo-zhee
    He doesn't see any candles.
  • 24triste · sad
    triste.
    Loo-kah eh treh treest
    Lucas is very sad.
  • 25silencieux · silent
    silencieux.
    eel eh see-lahn-syuh
    He is silent.
  • 26rentrer · to return
    rentrent .
    eel rahn-truh ah lah meh-zohn
    They return home.
  • 27ouvrir · to open
    ouvre .
    Loo-kah oovr lah pohrt duh sah-lohn
    Lucas opens the living room door.
  • 28sombre · dark
    sombre.
    luh sah-lohn eh sohmbr
    The living room is dark.
  • 29lumière · light
    , lumière .
    soo-dan lah loo-myehr sah-loom
    Suddenly, the light turns on.
  • 30clair · bright
    clair .
    luh sah-lohn eh klehr man-tnahn
    The living room is bright now.
  • 31crier · to shout
    crie : « , ! »
    too luh mohnd kree zhwah-yuhz ahn-nee-vehr-sehr Loo-kah
    Everyone shouts: "Happy birthday, Lucas!"
  • 32surpris · surprised
    surpris.
    Loo-kah eh soor-pree
    Lucas is surprised.
  • 33yeux · eyes
    yeux.
    eel oovr grahn leh zyuh
    He opens his eyes wide.
  • 34rien · nothing
    rien.
    eel nuh dee ryahn
    He says nothing.
  • 35gâteau · cake
    , gâteau.
    soor lah tahbl eel yah ahn boh gah-toh
    On the table, there is a beautiful cake.
  • 36bougie · candle
    bougies.
    luh gah-toh ah weet boo-zhee
    The cake has eight candles.
  • 37sourire · to smile
    sourit.
    mah-mahn soo-ree
    Mom smiles.
  • 38embrasser · to hug
    embrasse .
    el ahm-brahss Loo-kah
    She hugs Lucas.
  • 39surprise · surprise
    : « surprise, ! »
    el dee seh tah soor-preez mohn shay-ree
    She says: "It's your surprise, my darling!"
  • 40souffler · to blow
    souffle .
    Loo-kah soofl lay boo-zhee
    Lucas blows out the candles.
  • 41rire · to laugh
    rit .
    eel ree treh fohr
    He laughs very loudly.
  • 42content · happy
    content.
    eel eh treh kohn-tahn
    He is very happy.
  • 43bel · beautiful
    bel .
    seh luh ploo behl ahn-nee-vehr-sehr duh Loo-kah
    It's Lucas's most beautiful birthday.
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