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01/04/2008, 10:49 sweet 17 Joined on 05/08/2006 charente maritime Posts 3,201 Re: French dictionary Thank you everyone.  It's nice to have a choice and I am going to enjoy researching.  I think one of the things I most enjoy about France is that I know so little about it.  It's like getting better acquainted with a fascinating person you have just met at dinner.  You think, it's the coffee stage so I must find out as much as possible about him/her before saying "goodnight". Mind you, if it's Leo sitting on the other side of the table, I'd be spluttering into my coffee as he is such a mischievous little monkey (lion) I won't be able to help giggling.      Report

01/04/2008, 14:10 Helen Joined on 07/01/2007 61 & Reading Posts 59 Re: French dictionary I  read somewhere (possibly on this or another forum) that Collins Robert is particularly good for business, commercial and practical purposes and that the equivalent large Harraps is particularly good for literary french etc.  I have a 30 year old Harraps (sadly lacking in anything to do with computers or modern idioms!) so I bought a new C-R which I love.  It has never let me down on advanced or obscure words and also includes a very useful section in the middle on the language in use, which includes things like SMS text shorthands and business letter standards.  It's not handbag size though! But it's each to their own and I think you need to devise your own test to see which would suit you best - if you can find a shop which doesn't keep them all in filmwrap. Unfortunately OH has forbidden me from buying a large 'proper' French dictionary - what I want is one which includes the origin of each word, partly because I just find it interesting but also because I think it might help memorise the meaning of the words - but they come in at about €80 so I can sort of see his point!  Helen    Report

01/04/2008, 14:21 Benjamin Joined on 21/08/2005 Vendée South Posts 1,864 Re: French dictionary Helen Could you give the ISBN for the Collins Robert as our original C-R was printed in 1987 and lacks a lot of modern expressions? By the way, compared to novels etc, aren't dictionaries tremendous value? Benjamin St Malo 1-New evidence suggests mis-trial    Report

01/04/2008, 15:27 Weedon Joined on 23/08/2004 Laval (53) Posts 1,264 Re: French dictionary Permit me to throw in my 3kgs worth for the Harrap Shorter dictionary.  It says it's France's favourite dictionary and who could plaider contre that! With 1124 pages of English words and phrases and 995 of French, there is something for every occasion.  Plus you get plenty of Notes Concernant l'Orthographe and Les Expressions de Temps, such as ma montre avance de six minutes in the middle of the book.  I could go on about its virtues but you would only s'endormir. Believe it or not it even gives 2 definitions for nob, caboche and aristo.  I bet you don't get that in your pocket versions. As a language struggler this dictionary has been very useful for all situations although you have to reserve an extra place for it on a restaurant table!  Luckily I don't take it with me now. I haven't yet found the need to use qu'est-ce-que tu lui veux á ma copine? But it's all in there just the same. The only down side is the price, in 2000 it was £23.    Report

01/04/2008, 15:56 Clair Joined on 23/08/2004 Forum Moderator based in the Lot (46) Posts 8,040 Re: French dictionary My Harraps was a useful companion in my student days Clair Real Virtual French Person    Report

01/04/2008, 18:34 Gemini_man Joined on 10/02/2007 near Ribérac, Dordogne. Posts 267 Re: French dictionary I did make a post last night about this but the stoopid server thingy either mislaid it or regurgitated it. Anyway, I agree totally with Weedon - Harraps Shorter dictionnaire would be my choice - http://tinyurl.com/23vq4t I bought one here in France about 12 years ago and have been very pleased with it. It has lots of phrases and good grammar sections including conjugation of popular verbs in all tenses and I find it easy to find what you are looking for in it. Having said that, my advice is to look for one whose layout you like, it's all important so far as I'm concerned that you like the feel and appearance of a book, which is why I chose the Harraps but i know that the layout has now changed. Just a thought - it may be best to wait until the summer before you buy - all the big stores have new stock in for the rentrée so you will have a better choice. I bought mine from Auchan as they had the best range on display by far.    Report

01/04/2008, 20:16 Ysatis Joined on 25/02/2006 Cornwall/Vienne(86), not far from Civray Posts 444 Re: French dictionary Hi Benjamin,    I have a Collins Robert, bought it nearly two years ago and it's ISBN is: 0007221088. Hope this helps.   Ysatis. On n'a jamais fini d'apprendre.    Report

01/04/2008, 20:17 sweet 17 Joined on 05/08/2006 charente maritime Posts 3,201 Re: French dictionary Thanks Gemini and Weedon, this one is obviously to look at.  I understand what you mean about the layout.  Some books just appeal and some don't.  I do like to have to do a bit of work myself, don't really like it when they put things in coloured boxes and bold type, etc and make you feel little better than a cretin.    Report

01/04/2008, 21:09 sweet 17 Joined on 05/08/2006 charente maritime Posts 3,201 Re: French dictionary For people who are interested, the Collins Robert dictionary can be had from Amazon at 50% off which makes it £17.50, free delivery to the UK, otherwise usual euro zone delivery charge which, from memory, is £3.50 or thereabouts.  Can't be precise because I now cannot remember even very basic facts!     Report

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