Customer Reviews

Collins Robert French Unabridged Dictionary, 8th Edition (Harpercollins Unabridged Dictionaries)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I finally bought a real French-English dictionary, the Collins Robert is a treat after having struggled with a half-dozen paperback dictionaries over the years. After some significant online research, the purchase of the Collins Robert has proved to be an excellent choice. The sheer volume of translations is more than I'm used to -- and the format is pleasing, and it's, of course, very resourceful. As I look up words I can choose to dig in as much as I want, to sharpen my understanding, or not -- I read French every day, and the Collins Robert is the perfect companion. Only one minor problem, the publisher economized on the binding, which is more suited for a book half the size. Fortunately, in this case, you cannot judge this book by its cover - I recommend this dictionary for its content, not its cover.

When I found that my "student" dictionary lacked even the most basic cooking terms, I decided that I needed a really good French-English dictionary. So, I visited bookstores (in London, where the selection is better) and previewed every French-English dictionary I could find. The Collins Robert Unabridged 8th edition was the absolute best. Then, all I had to do was wait for the 8th edition to be published in the U.S. and eventually it was.

It is almost misleading to call this just a dictionary, given that the entries are so complete and the usage notes so numerous. Example: The entry for the verb "faire" runs about 39 column inches! The formatting (e.g., the judicious use of color and bold font) also makes this dictionary a joy to use. The only bad thing I have to say about this dictionary is that the version published for the U.S. market has a rather cheap, nonsubstantial binding. But since it's too big to carry around anyway, that's a minor flaw. If you need a good French-English dictionary, look no further -- this is the one.

The Collins dictionaries are the best in the world for going between English and Romance languages. This dictionary is no exception. However, the absolutely shoddy binding that Harper in the US chose makes this edition a poor investment for the serious student of French. The two bookstores in which I have found this item all show tearing or damage on the paper-thin binding even from in-store browsing. When I ordered New from Amazon it arrived with the cover glue separating from the pages at the back. One could order this edition and have it rebound with proper material and workmanship, or purchase the older (2006) edition (blue cover) which has a binding that will stay in one piece. I love this dictionary and hope they resolve this in the next printing.

i love this dictionary! only had it a month but yet to find a definition not in it(excepting the occasional very exotique gros mot) . the phrases and idioms i find especially useful for giving the right context to the word. it is complete and i can't see myself EVER having to upgrade. if you want a totally thorough and definitive reference that is also very current and that will last you many years this is the one to get!

I have used the Collins-Robert French dictionary for over a decade to compile an enormous French-English vocabulary list. Most recently I purchased one of the large Oxford dictionaries and discovered that in all too many instances the Collins dictionary offers a very indirect, if not odd, meaning in an apparent attempt to show broad possibilities. So I've gone through page after page of my list making changes. I used to think that this was a great dictionary (it was the first I knew which gave vulgar words), but it is now the only dictionary which I have ever thrown away. I suspect that very few people actually compare dictionaries, but from my experience The Oxford-Hachette French Dictionary is the best and most reliable.

Since I read and listen to some item/song in French daily, I had outgrown my original French-English dictionary. After much research and consideration, I opted for the Collins-Robert. This is a great companion to Le Petit Robert dictionary. There has not been a French word yet that I was unable to find in this dictionary which is the reason that I highly recommend this tome to any serious student of French.

For many years I happily used the 5th edition of this Collins-Robert French Unabridged Dictionary, until it started showing signs of wear from frequent use. I also wanted a more up-to-date bi-lingual dictionary to reflect recent changes in English and French.

Not a professional translator, nevertheless, I frequently use this dictionary to check French words and phrases in my job as a proofreader of foreign-language books and materials and for occasional personal use.

There are now amazing online resources (such as Google Translate, which gives a rough idea of text content for over 130 languages). They provide only one translation, however, often with awkward constructions, but enough for a rough idea of content, not necessarily proper usage.

This French-English dictionary supplies copious idiomatic expressions and synonyms, along with thorough standard definitions. It's easy to locate the particular form you need when the same word has multiple meanings and usages in different contexts.

The choices of font, point size, bold face, and blue print for entries and gender only (all definitions are in easy-to-read black print) are a God-send--very kind on my eyes. If needed, pages still photocopy clearly in black and white.

This large, but not unwieldy, French-to-English and English-to-French dictionary is, for me, an amazing value for the price and a joy to use. I'm grateful for the fine thought and extensive efforts on the part of all who collaborated to bring this dictionary into print.

This dictionary is very comprehensive. It has many multiple phrases for just about anything. Perfect for a college student majoring or minoring in French. Forget those smaller dictionaries, buy this one and you'll be prepared for anything. It is well worth the money. Even if you are a high school student and you are considering continuing with foreign language in the future this will be a great buy for you. It's the best unabridged dictionary out there right now. Buy it! You'll be thankful you did.

This dictionary is quite useful to have around. Lots of useful phrases available. My only complaint is the thinness of the pages.

This dictionary has many idioms and examples and has helped me quite a bit with my writing in French. It is fairly comprehensive without being too large.