| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Monsieur
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1688 Posts |
 Posted - 07/22/2004 : 10:28:42
|
I know some of our expressions are used in other languages, especially English (thanks to William the Conqueror, or Guillaume le Conquérant).
However, I am always very surprised when I hear a foreigner using a French expression, especially by the way it is pronounced and the meaning, which is often quite different from the original meaning.
So, which French words/expressions do you use, and to express what? Do you like people who do it, or do you think they are snobs? |
|
|
floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2004 : 10:41:38
|
some French expressions i use in an unironic way, like "faux pas"..
but sometimes it's fun to throw more convoluted ones in to either a.) impress people b.) make fun of pretentious people or c.) make fun of the French.
i like to use "double entente" and "raison d'etre" to spice up a conversation in an absurd way. for instance, "i love quesadillas. they're my... raison d'etre if you will" (it's usually good to add "if you will" after using one)
when i was in France with a friend of mine (not that you asked) we got frustrated by some of the Parisians being rude to us because our accents weren't perfect or whatever.. so, after a while we started pronouncing French phrases with HEAVY Texan accents. imagine George Bush pronouncing "parlez vous Angles?" with a long paaaarrrr llaaaaayy vuuuuuuu drawl.
anyway, we thought it was funny.
ist es möglich für ein quesadilla skrotum zu lecken? beim sprechen der quesadillas von LBF, ja. ja in der tatheheheheheheehehee! |
 |
|
|
Monsieur
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1688 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2004 : 10:50:08
|
| Those people you met were not very nice. It is so difficult to find an American speaking French (and foreign languages in general) that when you find one, you should really be nice to him. |
|
|
|
floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2004 : 10:56:28
|
btw - it looks like my friends and i are planning on spending this coming New Years eve in Paris. a little friend reunion thing (we're skattered all over the place)..
please be nice to us.
ist es möglich für ein quesadilla skrotum zu lecken? beim sprechen der quesadillas von LBF, ja. ja in der tatheheheheheheehehee! |
|
|
|
Monsieur
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1688 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2004 : 11:01:29
|
| E-mail me if you decide to come. I will be very nice to you. Well, not nice like, you know....just nice. |
|
|
|
floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2004 : 11:29:13
|
quote:
Originally posted by Monsieur
E-mail me if you decide to come. I will be very nice to you. Well, not nice like, you know....just nice.
i will.
if you invite me to dinner i won't insult your cooking (till i get back to the US)
ist es möglich für ein quesadilla skrotum zu lecken? beim sprechen der quesadillas von LBF, ja. ja in der tatheheheheheheehehee! |
|
|
|
Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2004 : 11:30:19
|
| If you want to learn French, ask Del-Boy. |
|
|
|
Little Black Francis
> Teenager of the Year <
3648 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2004 : 12:03:04
|
"Meisen Place" culinary term for "everything in it's place"
Used when setting up the kitchen for service
"chef" Cheif of the kitchen
"sous chef" second chef
"oo la la" = I want to f**k you
there's a couple from me
Floops quesedillas zijn te vergelijken met het likken van fatsige Albert's aars nadat hij een fles laxeermiddel heeft leeggedronkenhehehahhahehehaha |
|
|
|
GypsyDeath
Zapped Profile
3575 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2004 : 12:12:23
|
hahaha, that last one cracked me up andy!
I would really love to be fluentin french. I dotn really use any expressions, id rther not until my pronounciation was competent. Im thinking of going over to france at some point this year. Where'd you suggest ad?
Just thought I'd throw that in there... |
|
|
|
floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2004 : 12:12:51
|
i almost forgot "mise en scène". that's a classicly pretentious, academic term to use for film discussions. generally, only film students, academians or the French actually use the term. which basically means "what's in the frame" (the film frame). for discussing the overall composition, lighting, set decoration, actor placement, depth.. etc.. of a given shot.
usage of this term on a first date will insure intercourse.
ist es möglich für ein quesadilla skrotum zu lecken? beim sprechen der quesadillas von LBF, ja. ja in der tatheheheheheheehehee! |
|
|
|
GypsyDeath
Zapped Profile
3575 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2004 : 12:15:19
|
oh, i stand corrected, i use that all the time. You sort of forget that soemthings you say are french...some expressions are adopted and integrasted in tot he culture so much so that you dont even realise youre using it!
Just thought I'd throw that in there... |
|
|
|
shineoftheever
> Teenager of the Year <
Canada
4307 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2004 : 12:23:15
|
rendez-vous
joie de vivre
je ne c'est quoi
savoir faire
laissez faire
mise en garde
en garde
touche..........
forgive me if I spelled anything wrong ;)
 "Too cool for Cults" |
|
|
|
Monsieur
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1688 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2004 : 12:26:48
|
| je ne sais quoi |
|
|
|
shineoftheever
> Teenager of the Year <
Canada
4307 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2004 : 12:30:44
|
ah, pardon. :)
"Too cool for Cults" |
|
|
|
apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2004 : 12:50:45
|
Déjà vu
risqué
tusche (lithographic medium)
"peau de la grenouille" (lithography term)
Ceci n'est pas une pipe. (favorite phrase)
L.H.O.O.Q.
Husband and pet terms of endearment:
Mon cheri/ami/amour
Ma petite pomme de rue. (My little road apple/horse turd -a joke nickname for each other)
le chat
Bastardized:
Mon petit poo-poo
le chat poo-poo
our resevoir (pun)
Lots of others, but I feel like I do when I walk into a book or music store - "I've drawn a blank." (How would you say this idiom in French -does it have a common cousin) |
|
|
|
GypsyDeath
Zapped Profile
3575 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2004 : 12:53:14
|
Ok Ok, I stand very corrected, i use lots of expressions!
Just thought I'd throw that in there... |
|
|
|
Cheeseman1000
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Iceland
8201 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2004 : 13:00:38
|
Zut alors!
Mange tout, mange tout...
Bon soir.
Kind regards,
Dr. Simon
Specialist In Broken Hearts |
|
|
|
pfeffa
= Cult of Ray =
Aruba
367 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2004 : 13:29:23
|
Fais l'amour avec moi
What's he saying baby
Viens dormir, mon amour
I asked you not to talk to him
Je t'aime donne moi ton coeur ce soir
I'm begging you
Someone please translate this. I've wanted to know since I was 9 years old.
+20 points to whoever knows which song this is without googling |
|
|
|
shineoftheever
> Teenager of the Year <
Canada
4307 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2004 : 13:34:04
|
here are some more..
avant garde
toute suite
bon voyage
"Too cool for Cults" |
|
|
|
Etienne
- FB Fan -
Japan
115 Posts |
Posted - 07/23/2004 : 01:19:23
|
That is funny to read...
Note for Floop : People living in Paris are well known for being less nice to other people than other French people... So they were rude to you, just think they were also rude to everybody they met (sorry for you, Paris people).
Etienne |
|
|
|
vilainde
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Niue
7442 Posts |
Posted - 07/23/2004 : 01:54:55
|
That's entirely true. We parisians hate everybody, ESPECIALLY the people from Lyon. Etienne, remember me to give you a good slap in the face next time I see you.
French tend to say a lot of words in English to sound cool, especially at work. In 99.9% of the cases it actually sounds ridiculous. I know a guy at work who said last time "Je vais gatherer les informations". That was the stupidest thing I had ever heard.
Denis
|
|
|
|
benji
> Teenager of the Year <
New Zealand
3426 Posts |
Posted - 07/23/2004 : 02:33:20
|
i'm going to paris next month for my wedding anniversary...
should we change our destination away from paris to avoid the likes of denis?
but back on topic, i don't think i use much french apart from the usual ones that have been bastardised by the english...
but i don't know any french at all, so i can't even pretend to be cool.
 Join the Cult of Cartman! Respect my Authoritaah!!! |
|
|
|
vilainde
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Niue
7442 Posts |
Posted - 07/23/2004 : 02:39:53
|
I was just kidding. Paris is quite safe if you don't cross my path.
Denis
|
|
|
|
benji
> Teenager of the Year <
New Zealand
3426 Posts |
Posted - 07/23/2004 : 03:11:09
|
well i'll make sure to avoid any weedy men with excess body hair and greasy slicked back hair.
Join the Cult of Cartman! Respect my Authoritaah!!! |
|
|
|
vilainde
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Niue
7442 Posts |
Posted - 07/23/2004 : 03:15:35
|
Yeah, avoid these ones too!
Denis
|
|
|
|
Monsieur
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1688 Posts |
Posted - 07/23/2004 : 04:38:18
|
quote:
Originally posted by benji
i'm going to paris next month for my wedding anniversary...
should we change our destination away from paris to avoid the likes of denis?
but back on topic, i don't think i use much french apart from the usual ones that have been bastardised by the english...
but i don't know any french at all, so i can't even pretend to be cool.
Join the Cult of Cartman! Respect my Authoritaah!!!
Yeah, avoid Seine-St-Denis ! |
|
|
|
Monsieur
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1688 Posts |
Posted - 07/23/2004 : 04:44:14
|
quote:
Originally posted by vilainde
That's entirely true. We parisians hate everybody, ESPECIALLY the people from Lyon. Etienne, remember me to give you a good slap in the face next time I see you.
French tend to say a lot of words in English to sound cool, especially at work. In 99.9% of the cases it actually sounds ridiculous. I know a guy at work who said last time "Je vais gatherer les informations". That was the stupidest thing I had ever heard.
Denis
In my job, everybody speaks franglais. Most common franglais words :
- swapper
- dealer
- plugger
- switcher
- p&l
etc.
I think it is very often due to the lack of "practical" words in French... |
|
|
|
floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 07/23/2004 : 07:43:51
|
quote:
Originally posted by Etienne
That is funny to read...
Note for Floop : People living in Paris are well known for being less nice to other people than other French people... So they were rude to you, just think they were also rude to everybody they met (sorry for you, Paris people).
Etienne
yeah, i know. i don't take it personally.
i do find it ironic though how most parisians travellers i meet in Los Angeles always talk about how friendly everyone is and how much they like visiting here.
ist es möglich für ein quesadilla skrotum zu lecken? beim sprechen der quesadillas von LBF, ja. ja in der tatheheheheheheehehee! |
|
|
|
Etienne
- FB Fan -
Japan
115 Posts |
Posted - 07/24/2004 : 07:46:05
|
No offense to you, Denis but that's the picture of parisians you can get if you visit the city for a few days!! I have lived in Paris and I know how great this city is but sometimes its inhabitants can be... less great. 
Etienne |
|
|
|
Monsieur
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1688 Posts |
Posted - 07/24/2004 : 07:55:14
|
Parigot, tête de veau
Parisien, tête de chien |
|
|
|
corazondiablo
- FB Fan -
1 Posts |
Posted - 07/24/2004 : 11:37:57
|
I always thought the phrase "Oh la vache!" was great... oh the cow!!!!
When I was in Montreal a couple of years ago, we went to a little coffee place, and my companion ordered "a chocolate croissant". the counter person acted horrified like he was burped at her or something and pretended not to understand... I then asked for the same thing with "un croissant chocolate et un cafe moyen" and she finally "understood"... what a vache. |
|
|
|
fudd
= Cult of Ray =
664 Posts |
Posted - 07/24/2004 : 11:50:25
|
| Are our French friends aware that many Americans including food production corporations use "au jus" as a noun (and that many pronounce it "ah juice")? And that we dip roast beef on rolls into the reconstituted sauce and call it a French dip sandwich? |
|
|
|
VoVat
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
9168 Posts |
Posted - 07/24/2004 : 12:47:03
|
You mean a Freedom dip sandwich?
Cattle in Korea / They can really moo. |
|
|
|
LUTINS
- FB Fan -
France
182 Posts |
Posted - 07/24/2004 : 14:05:01
|
I know another expression in frenglish :
"je tame"
union pour la propulsion de la promotion photonique pixienne |
|
|
|
TarTar
* Dog in the Sand *
1965 Posts |
Posted - 07/24/2004 : 18:56:37
|
Denouement: The resolution after the climax in a story.
Raison d'etre: Reason for existing.
Inna zany combination of Wayne's Pet Youngin'! |
|
|
|
Monsieur
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1688 Posts |
Posted - 07/25/2004 : 03:20:43
|
quote:
Originally posted by VoVat
You mean a Freedom dip sandwich?
Cattle in Korea / They can really moo.
This thread should be called "freedom expressions in English".
How ironic! |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
"C'est la vie" - French expressions in English
