/tʁu dy ky/
Trrroo dü kü. Ass-hole.
The plural is a tricky orthographic challenge. I would say trous-du-cul (because there cannot be more than one hole per ass)
There is no way I could ever put it better than this :
Monday, November 23, 2015
Language ! (3) Basic insults and swear words
Trou-du-cul
/tʁu dy ky/
Trrroo dü kü. Ass-hole.
The plural is a tricky orthographic challenge. I would say trous-du-cul (because there cannot be more than one hole per ass)
There is no way I could ever put it better than this :
/tʁu dy ky/
Trrroo dü kü. Ass-hole.
The plural is a tricky orthographic challenge. I would say trous-du-cul (because there cannot be more than one hole per ass)
There is no way I could ever put it better than this :
Sunday, November 15, 2015
Saturday, November 14, 2015
Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité
It feels good to hear Barack Obama say those words. It feels good to hear John Kerry speak perfect, elegant French. It feels good to see the candle-lit windows, and #porteouverte.
For the rest of it, it feels bad. And a terrible déjà-vu.
Liberté
lee-bear-tay Freedom.
Égalité
ay-gal-ee-tay Equality
Fraternité
frrah-ter-nee-tay Fraternity
Something fragile we are all responsible for.
For the rest of it, it feels bad. And a terrible déjà-vu.
lee-bear-tay Freedom.
Égalité
ay-gal-ee-tay Equality
Fraternité
frrah-ter-nee-tay Fraternity
Something fragile we are all responsible for.
Friday, November 13, 2015
Edible and drinkable words (1)
Pourboire
/puʁbwaʁ/
poor-boo-ah-rr
Litterally 'to drink', the pourboire is the tip you give a waiter in a restaurant. It's a bonus. Usually you would let the waiter/cab driver keep the change (garder la monnaie) if you are pleased with them. Waiters are paid and won't scorn you for not giving them any, but it will be appreciated.
Note that some French waiters are going to scorn you no matter what (I don't mean you as a foreigner, but you as a human being). Don't take it personally. It's a local sport (very parisien but not only).
And the way they are supposed to spend it is pretty much in the name... I find it on the web, that the German Trinkgeld, and the protuguese Gorjeta share the same origin. So we are not the only alcoholic in Europe !
Interestingly enough, the Russians apparently say na chaï, tea money. Yeah right...
Faux amis of the day : from money to love.
Pourboire is a gratuity
Gratuit means free of charge, a courtesy.
Courtoisie means old-fashion politeness.
L'Amour courtois, courtly love, was a form of medieval litterature, where love was part erotic desire, part highly elevated spiritual bond. Usually illicit and ending tragically.
poor-boo-ah-rr
Litterally 'to drink', the pourboire is the tip you give a waiter in a restaurant. It's a bonus. Usually you would let the waiter/cab driver keep the change (garder la monnaie) if you are pleased with them. Waiters are paid and won't scorn you for not giving them any, but it will be appreciated.
Note that some French waiters are going to scorn you no matter what (I don't mean you as a foreigner, but you as a human being). Don't take it personally. It's a local sport (very parisien but not only).
And the way they are supposed to spend it is pretty much in the name... I find it on the web, that the German Trinkgeld, and the protuguese Gorjeta share the same origin. So we are not the only alcoholic in Europe !
Interestingly enough, the Russians apparently say na chaï, tea money. Yeah right...
Faux amis of the day : from money to love.
Pourboire is a gratuity
Gratuit means free of charge, a courtesy.
Courtoisie means old-fashion politeness.
L'Amour courtois, courtly love, was a form of medieval litterature, where love was part erotic desire, part highly elevated spiritual bond. Usually illicit and ending tragically.
Friday, November 6, 2015
Useless word of the day (4)
Galipette
/ɡalipɛt/
gal-ee-pay-tuh
A little somersault on the ground, using hands to roll on the back.
It's a word of vernacular origin, some say it comes from a old verb, galer, wich used to mean 'to have fun'. The suffix -ette at the end is cute and means 'little'.
Physical Education teachers and athletes despise galipette and call it a roulade (a roll), because it sounds more serious. But a galipette is a galipette, no matter what. It's fun, and nice, and not athletic at all. It comes naturally to every kid around 2 or 3.
Galipette avant / galipette arrière
A bit of a naughty twist, of course, when used in the plural : faire des galipettes. It all depends on the context...
Interestingly, when you jump up and turn in the air without touching the ground, a somersault is called a saut périlleux, literally a 'hazardous jump'.
No hazard for me... I'll stick to the galipette, thank you very much.
gal-ee-pay-tuh
A little somersault on the ground, using hands to roll on the back.
It's a word of vernacular origin, some say it comes from a old verb, galer, wich used to mean 'to have fun'. The suffix -ette at the end is cute and means 'little'.
Physical Education teachers and athletes despise galipette and call it a roulade (a roll), because it sounds more serious. But a galipette is a galipette, no matter what. It's fun, and nice, and not athletic at all. It comes naturally to every kid around 2 or 3.
Galipette avant / galipette arrière
A bit of a naughty twist, of course, when used in the plural : faire des galipettes. It all depends on the context...
No hazard for me... I'll stick to the galipette, thank you very much.
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