Je le répète à mes édudiants, apprendre le francais est simple. Une dose de bonne volonté et le tour est joué!
Toute simplicité a aussi ses futilités..voire contradictions?
En voici quelques exemples rigolots.
Pourquoi dit-on qu’il y a un Embarras de voitures quand il y en a trop, et Embarras d’ argent quand il n’ y en a pas assez ?
Why do we use in the french language the word “embarras” when there is too many and also when there is not enough?
Embarras = obstacles qui entravent la circulation // things that stops the natural flow
Embarras de voitures: so many cars that choosing one will be tricky
Embarras d’argent: so little money that it is embarrassing to talk about it
Pourquoi parle-t-on des quatre coins de la Terre,
alors qu’elle est ronde ?
Why do we say the 4 corner of the globe?
coin ≠rond
4 coins = 4 corners
• dans tous les lieux possibles d’un espace considéré comme clos // where a space is enclosed
• partout, sur toute l’étendue de// everywhere, on a large surface
Quand un homme se meurt, on dit qu’il s’éteint;
Quand il est mort, on l’appelle « feu » ?!
Why when someone is about to die we say in french he’s about to “switch off” and when he is dead we say he is on fire!
Feu ≠ eteindre
S’éteint = verbe éteindre
éteindre une flame
Feu = fire
feu Mr Dupuis = Mr Dupuis passed away
Feu here is an homonyme = same writing, same spelling, different meaning
ici vient du latin (latin populaire *fatutus, qui a accompli son destin, du latin classique fatum, destin// comes from latin, meaning who has accomplished its destiny – fatutus)
Le feu ( fire, light) is a noun ( plural feux) = latin focus, foyer) – foyer is where we put the wood to make fire, it is where the heat comes from, it is the place where things starts)
Pourquoi appelle-t-on « coup de grâce » le coup qui tue ?
Why do we call mercy the moment when we are about to be killed/ or before dying?
Coup de grâce = le dernier coup donné à un être vivant pour abréger ses souffrances ou pour l’achever// hit given to an living to shorten its suffering or to finish it.
coup = hit
grace =mercy to happiness or a better place
coup qui tue = hit that kills
On remercie un employé quand on n’est pas content de ses services.
In French langue we use the expression “thank you” when we are not happy about his performance.
remercie, verbe remercier = to thank for..
remercier qqnl = to fire someone or politely to thank him/her for his/her good work! and say bye-bye!
Other meaning of “remercier” = say thank you, to be thankful
in work environment = to be fired
Pourquoi dit-on d’un pauvre malheureux, ruiné et qui n’a même plus un lit dans lequel se coucher, qu’il est dans de beaux draps ?
Why do we say about an unfortunate person, broke and that doesn’t have a bed that he is in beautiful sheets?
Etre dans de beaux draps = expression familière to be in beautiful sheet/ bed linen!
the expression is to be used “a contrario” to its real meaning
= être dans une position très fâcheuse// to be in an awkward situation
should say: être dans de vilains draps! // to be in ugly bedlinen but the expression is really: “être dans de beaux draps”
Comment distinguer le locataire du propriétaire lorsque ces deux personnes vous disent à la fois : « Je viens de louer un appartement » ?
How to distinguish the renter from the owner when both say ” i just rent an appartement”
The renter rents ( le locataire loue = from verb louer)
the owner rents ( le propriétaire loue = from verb louer)
Pourquoi lave-t-on une injure et essuie-t-on un affront ?
Why do we wash an insult and wipe a confrontation?
injure = insult ( and not injury)
affront = confrontation
On lave une injure = We wash an insult! meaning we couldn’t care less about it
On essuie un affront = we wipe a confrontation! we could not care for it either!
but both expression, with similar meaning use different action word to make it work.
On passe souvent des nuits blanches quand on a des idées noires.
We often spend white nights when we have black/ dark ideas.
Nuits blanches = white nights = when we use the night as if it was daylight? meaning not sleeping!
idees noires: dark ideas,
We can’t sleep when our mind is filled with bad thoughts
Pourquoi, lorsqu’on veut avoir de l’argent devant soi, faut-il en mettre de côté ?
Why, when we want to have money in front of us we have to put it aside?
If you want to have money for the future ( ahead = devant soi), you have to put some aside ( de coté)
In other words expression to reflect on economiser = to save
Pourquoi, lorsque vous ne partagez pas l’avis de quelqu’un, dit-on que “les avis sont partagés ” ?!
Why when we don’t share an opinion et say that the opinion are shared? ( in english we will say divided, when in french it is still shared)
When you disagree with someone, your opinion parts with the opinion of your friend ( part = a part)
Partager = divided – different opinions
but partager means also to share
Maybe we can share different opinions ! that is freedom!!
Et pour en terminer, réjouissons-nous que ce soient les meilleurs crus qui donnent les plus fortes cuites !
Lastly, let’s be happy that the best vintage are the one that gives the best hangover!
meilleurs crus = best vintage
cuites = from the verb cuire = to cook
here, “cuites” is the noun = cooked when you drink too much / you are done!
Happy reading and sharing!
Bonne lecture and apprentissage!
Sandrine
If you like to learn french contact Sandrine on sandrine@rendezvousenfrancais.com
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