Product Description

Acclaimed by language professionals the world over, the Oxford-Hachette French Dictionary has long been the market leader. Using the statistical evidence provided by vast electronic databanks of language currently being written and spoken, our expert editors have made it the most comprehensive, reliable, and up-to-date dictionary of French and English available today. This fully updated fourth edition has even better coverage of the language than ever before, with improved treatment of acronyms and EU terminology, as well as thousands of new words in both English and French. A must for anyone studying the French language, this dictionary has been tailored to the needs of students in consultation with key academic advisors. This edition contains even more of the useful information for language students or part-time residents abroad, including sample bills and rental agreements. By far the most up-to-date and complete French dictionary of its size, it will provide one-stop shopping for all your language needs.
NEW thousands of new words spanning everything from technology and medicine to colloquial slang
NEW headwords in color and changes to layout to further improve accessibility
Increased coverage of acronyms and EU terminology
More material for students on their year abroad or anyone living in the French speaking world e.g. sample utility bills, bank statements, rent agreements
NEW and updated cultural notes--grasp the essence of the language
A 'numbers' page at the start of the dictionary covers the increasing frequency of numeric abbreviations, such as '0800 number' and '24/7'

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #55324 in Books
• Published on: 2007-07-23
• Original language: English, French
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 1945 pages

Review

"All types of libraries and students, along with those contemplating living or working in Anglophone and Francophone countries, will benefit from this dictionary....Highly recommended. All levels."--CHOICE
"A well-thought-out and -executed bilingual dictionary. Easily accessible with colored, alphabetic markings, the entries provide a wealth of information and examples to the user....The work is a worthwhile addition to any library or private reference collection, especially considering the price."--American Reference Books Annual
"You can never have too many langauge dictionaries but some are better than others, and if I had to choose one, it would be the Oxford-Hachette French Dictionary. Any library supporting French langauge studies needs to provide this reference work to its public."--Against the Grain

Language Notes
Text: English, French

About the Author

About the Editor:
Marie-Helene Correard is a highly experienced lexicographer who also edited the original edition.

Customer Reviews

A writer's dictionary
As a practical guide to modern usage, this dictionary can't be beat, even though because it was written by British and French editors with an eye toward the American market as well, there is a good deal of duplication, marked "GB" and "US" respectively, that can be a little awkward. For a francophone contemplating a piece of writing in English this would be immensely useful; in the opposite direction it is a little less so. On the other hand, because it doesn't limit itself to words approved by the Académie, it will resolve many a doubt caused by slang or franglais. Though le footing comes from English, not every English user would know that faire un footing means go for a jog. it seems a little silly to define le football as "American football GB, football US," but it is precise. Very well done and useful are the guides to drafting every imaginable kind of business correspondence in French, preparing a résumé, and other supplmenary materials. I admit that if I'd had my druthers I'd have bought a French dictionary with the definitions in French and some etymological information, but couldn't find on the web good advice on which to choose. Perhaps no other language has the equivalent of the Merriam Webster Tenth Collegiate. But I would like to know, for example, how croquer and les croquants became le croque-mort and croque-monsieur/dame. It is a grownup dictionary, giving full definitions for words such as tringler, apt to be missing or Bowdlerized elsewhere. Though its bulk and style can make it a trifle slow in checking a word quickly enough not to lose the sense of the paragraph you are reading, but that's in the nature of the beast. For what it is--a writer's and translator's dictionary more than a reader's or a traveller's--it is first-rate.

Comprehensive
More definitions than you will ever need. Many examples so that you can understand how each word is used. The examples also bring out subtleties of meaning that should help you avoid making a fool of yourself. Many insets and extras. So thorough that you won't have to spend money on an army of books for conjugations, idioms etc. Don't get me wrong, this is not a complete stand-alone guide to the French language (who could lift it), but it is a damned good start.

Five stars means that I don't see how this could be any better.

This is an incredibly useful and thorough dictionary.
As a French major, I must recommend this book to anyone who needs a really good french dictionary. Not only is it great for difficult reading assignments, it's especially good for writing essays. Not only does it have just about every word in existance, but it gives you in depth examples of how to *use* all those words, which is just as important. It is a bit hefty, so I'd also recommend getting a paperback dictionary to take to class ;)