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la bérézina

By Laura K. Lawless, About.com

Definition: The Berezina is a river in Belarus where Napoleon Bonaparte suffered heavy losses in 1812. Now it means "catastrophe" or "disaster" in French.

C'est la bérézina ! - It's a complete disaster!

(click the little red + white graphic below to hear the Mot du jour pronounced)
Pronunciation: [bay ray zee na]Audio Link

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