My French III class, which consists of nine students, eight of which are girls, is slightly obsessed with finding "cute French-isms." In other words, words or phrases that are cleverly cute. The French language has significantly fewer overall words than English, so sometimes its words or phrases are funny (though often logical) combinations of other words. If you are thoroughly confused now, here are a few examples that might help clear things up:
moth = papillon de nuit (literally-"night butterfly")
misleading word = faux ami (literally- "false friend")
paper clip = trombone (literally- "trombone")
sunset = coucher du soleil (literally- "the sun's going to bed")
potato = pomme de terre (literally- "apple of the earth")
beef tenderloin = filet mignon (literally- "cute fillet")
to have the blues = avoir le bourdon (literally- "to have the bumblebee")
dead-end street = cul-de-sac (literally- "bottom/butt of the bag")
lipstick = rouge à lèvres (literally- "red to the lips")
You have 9 students in one of your classes? I ENVY YOU!!! (We are hitting upwards of 30 + ...oh public school *sigh* : ) )
ReplyDeleteP.S.
ReplyDeleteI always liked the term of endearment (excuse the spelling) Petite Papillon (Little butterfly) : )