Customer Reviews

Larousse Concise Dictionary: French-English/English-French (French Edition)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a French teacher, I have a collection of French-English dictionaries (and two French-French dictionaries). In the upper levels I teach, I recommend that students buy their own pocket dictionaries as a reference for some of the work that we do in class. I go over what to look for in a good dictionary (cultural notes, expressions, examples of different contexts, etc.) Students over the years have tried many, many different brands of dictionaries and this is always a favorite. Sure, it is not as complete as say, the full-sized Oxford French-English dictionary, but for a pocket-sized dictionary it does a really solid job.

Great dictionary, especially for use in the high school French classroom. There are even boxes for French cultural notes that aren't always explained by a simple translation. Well organized and very up to date. If you're looking for a student Larousse dictionary, this is the one to get!

This book is very helpful. It covers a lot of vocabulary and gives accurate translations. The explanation is very clear. I bought a used one, so it did not cost me a lot. However, one needs a working knowledge of French to make best use of this dictionary.

This dictionary displays what has to be the worst judgment in the history of dictionary making. It's an embarrassment. My last Larousse I "acquired" from high school in 1985. It has served me well but is getting a little long in the tooth. That dictionary was a nice, regular-sized paperback.

Comparatively, this new version I just bought is enormous. It's not significantly larger width or height, but it is almost 4 inches thick! The cover says it has 260,000 entries. Okay, fine, it is thorough, right?

Wrong. One of the abbreviations used in the entries is "SMS." It took me a while to realize they mean TEXTING! Yes, on the first page of the dictionary is ab1to, short for à bientôt. And a2m1, short for à demain. And that's not all, it's cross-referenced to the English version of the same abbreviation! So the "definition" of ab1to is CU, as in "see you." On the English side is l8r and lol, to name just a couple. I am astounded. This dictionary is so thick not because it has so many words, but because it is a combination dictionary/giggling-12-year-old-girl-on-her-junior-high-trip-to-Paris guidebook.

I think if they had had an appendix at the end that listed the abbreviations all in one spot, I might be able to forgive it. But to put the "definition" of "LOL" in with the real words just really strikes me as horrendously misguided.

And that's not all. These new "words" were added hastily as well. "SMS" is not listed in the list of abbreviations--I had to figure out what lexicographical thing it could possibly mean. So, in French, LOL means, in English "SMS," LOL. But in English, LOL means, in French, MESSAGING, LOL. The English definition, I suppose, is correct: LOL is used more when chatting than when texting. But how can the texting LOL in one language "mean" the messaging LOL in the other language? What about the texting LOL? Also, THEY DON'T ABBREVIATE THE WORD "MESSAGING"!!! In EVERY definition in the English side of a texting abbreviation, the word "messaging" is written out! Sometimes two or three times in a single definition!

But more sloppiness. The sloppiness might be more unforgivable than the editor's fascination with 12-year-old girls. The English LOL means both, in French, LOL and MDR. LOL is defined on the French side, but MDR is not! It means mort de rire--dying of laughter.

This dictionary is really an atrocity.

By the way, there's another thing that I noticed that added another 30 pages to the book. They have 116 different verb conjugations, with complete conjugations for every one of them. I suppose that in itself isn't that bad (except they need to look up the word "concise"). But they don't separate out the four REGULAR conjugations! Nor even put them first in the list! Verb number THREE is "chanter," which one would assume is to demonstrate regular -er verbs. But then verb number SIX is "jouer." I'll be damned if I can figure out how chanter is conjugated differently than jouer. Or how dormir is conjugated differently than servir or mentir. I said the conjugations are "complete." Except that's not entirely true. NOWHERE does it say how to conjugate, say, first person singular passé simple, or even, amazingly, how to conjugate first person plural conditionnel présent!

There is one more problem with this dictionary for an English speaker. It is apparently intended for French speakers, because it has a 60-page section on English grammar, but no French grammar at all. Perfect for lugging around on your next trip to Paris.

By the way, this is a general complaint. All dictionaries have as a feature that they have all the latest slang and other travel tips. That's fine for someone who is traveling (although why would you bring a 2-pound dictionary with you for a trip to France?). But how about a nice normal dictionary whose purpose is armchair translating or scholarship? Obviously there is less market for that than travelers, but why not a traveling version and a "collegiate" version? Mon dieu. Oh, sorry, I mean OMD.

The operative word is basic, but very convenient. Over 1,000 pages, the paper is OK, the print is clear and legible, and the book is not too heavy to keep on a table near your reading chair and take it back and forth as needed. At a minimum, it will give you a starting point. For example, it defines logiciel as software, which is true, but it is often used to mean the specific program under discussion, which you will be able to guess or find in a more comprehensive dictionary. Another example: avenir is defined simply as future, which again is true, but a more comprehensive dictionary will add posterity, prospects (cet homme n'a aucun avenir - that man has no prospects), &c. For what it is, and for the price, it is highly recommended.

The Larousse Concise French-English/English-French Dictionary remains the best choice for high school and college French students because of the number of the selections and the nuances that can be teased out of the definitions by cross-referencing terms.

I bought this dictionary for my French 101 class because I had heard that Larousse was a good brand for dictionaries and because the publication date was one of the most recent. When I received the dictionary, I was pleased with the number of words it included (I would give it 5 stars for that), but I did not like how the binding of the book made it very difficult to read the words that were on the inner parts of the pages (I would give it 1 star for that). As a result, I'm giving this 3 stars. I gave it a shot for a couple of weeks, but the binding issue really started to bug me, so I ended up returning the dictionary and will look for a paperback copy where the binding will have more give.

Yes, it's thick, but it fits easily in the backpack that I carry my laptop in, and it's superbly legible. Headwords are black, not colored, but they are quite large and easy to find. Whiter paper would be nice, but as I said, legibility is not a problem.

A large number of the entries have multiple meanings, often with a fair number of complete phrases or sentences fully translated to help you distinguish among the meanings--especially helpful when a word is used with various prepositions.

I bought four or five variously sized `carry-around' dictionaries to try out, with this the largest of them, and I do use one of the smaller ones when I'm carrying my smaller messenger bag. But when I'm translating philosophy from French to English on my laptop at Starbucks, this is my hands-down favorite. (Yes, I do have three `really big,' professional, hard-bound dictionaries at my home and office for the long-term, get-it-right process. But this dictionary has been fine to get me started.)

Bottom line--I'm not denying there may be equally good French-English dictionaries in this size format from the other solid publishers. But after three months of use, three or four times a week, maybe two hours at a time, this one has been so satisfying that I haven't felt the need to look for anything better in this size format.

I recently purchased this book for my college diction courses I am required to take as a music performance major. This book is fantastic for anyone looking for a good French IPA dictionary. I am incredibly happy with this purchase and just bought the Larousse German-English dictionary for the same purpose.

This dictionary has the information which fits my needs.It is well organized,contains helpful addendum. The occasional inserts recommending cultural
experiences are welcome . I would recommend the Larousse French/English dictionary to anyone who wants to learn French.