New Year’s Vocabulary

French New Year's vocabulary
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New French Vocabulary

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are holidays in much of the world – here’s the French vocabulary you need to celebrate on December 31 and January 1st.

December 31   le 31 décembre
New Year’s Eve   la Saint-Sylvestre*
New Year’s Eve party/feast   le Réveillon de Saint-Sylvestre
midnight   minuit
January 1st   le premier janvier
New Year’s Day   le jour de l’An, le Nouvel An
New Year’s resolution   une bonne résolution
New Year’s gifts   des étrennes
fireworks   les feux d’artifice
mistletoe   le gui
champagne   le champagne
hangover   la gueule de bois
truffles   les truffes
     
Happy New Year!   Bonne Année !
Bonne année et bonne santé
Happy holidays!   Joyeuses fêtes !
Season’s greetings!   Meilleurs vœux !
     
to celebrate   fêter, célébrer
to drink   boire
to eat   manger
to get drunk   se soûler
to kiss   faire la bise
to propose a toast   porter un toast

*Though there’s no association between New Year’s Eve and Saint Sylvestre, who was Pope from 314 to 335 A.D., his name is given to the celebration because December 31 is his feast day. And it’s called la Saint-Sylvestre because it’s short for la fête de Saint-Sylvestre.

 Vocabulary Quiz

Think you’ve got it? Test yourself French vocabulary for the new year with this fill-in-the-blanks exercise: Fête du Nouvel An

Note: You must be logged into your Progress with Lawless French account to take this test. If you don’t have one, sign up – it’s free!

French listening comprehension French listening practice

 Related features

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French vocabulary for other holidays

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French New Year's vocabulary

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