Customer Reviews

Collins Gem French Dictionary: French-English/English-French (6th Edition)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My sister recommended this book on the basis of the equally good Portugese version. I bought her a copy and then promptly used it myself. It is not a full reference work but a very useful carry-in-the-bag issue. Translations are more than adequate and although my French is beginner level I was easily able to cope. I have a more extensive dictionary as well but very rarely use it as the Cassel Gem so far has been very thorough and certainly covered the vocabulary and phrasing that I have come across and/or used.

This dictionary is small and compact and can fit in a jacket pocket. It has a comprehensive list of words and each entry has valuable information that is provided. The dictionary should help the reader in learning and understanding modern French.

The author uses various typefaces, sizes of type, symbols and abbreviations to present information. Common expressions in which a word appears are often shown which assist the reader in the learning process. The phonetic expression of each headword is given which is very important since the French words often sound very different from similar English words.

Key words, for example those which occur frequently or having several different meanings, are emphasized and indicated. I like the dictionary because it is very compact yet packed with valuable information as well as containing almost all the words one is likely to encounter when studying French.

I have had this dictionary for four years and it has never failed me. I only need search my big dictionary for the most obscure words. It is very easy to read and has the french equivalent of every form of the word, including adverbs and adjectives. It also has "keywords" that can take up a whole page showing all the different meanings in certain sentences. I have gone from beginner to fluent and this dictionary has helped me the whole way and will continue to.

Small neat little book. It is ideal. Pocket sized but thick. Easy to flip through. It doesn't have any extras on the culture. Just the dictionary part.