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The "French" in our language

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ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

syljo

syljo Report 4 Aug 2004 21:48

au bain marie cul di sac conservatoire I know there are lots more, you tell me? Sylvia

Unknown

Unknown Report 4 Aug 2004 21:56

Once there were 3 Frenchmen trying to explain their language to an Englishman. He asked "What is sang-froid?" The first Frenchman (apologies for accent!) said "Eef a man comes 'ome and finds eez wife in bed wiz 'er lover and 'ee leaves ze room wizout saying anyting, zat is sang-froid" "Non," said the second Frenchman. "Zat is laissez-faire. Eef a man comes 'ome and finds eez wife in bed wiz 'er lover and 'e says 'continuez' zat is sang-froid". "Non, non ,non" said the third Frenchman. "Zat eez not sang-froid, zat eez savoir-faire. Eef a man comes 'ome and finds eez wife in bed wiz 'er lover and 'e says 'continuez' and ze lover, ee can continuez, ZAT is sang-froid!" venue, discotheque, bijou, cafe, croissants, vin du table, fricassee, casserole, marmite, menage a trois, soissante-neuf. Strange how most words we import from France are connected with food, drink and sex. However, I discovered recently that bistro is not a French word, but a Russian one for "quick" which the French picked up when they invaded Moscow with Napoleon. Helen

syljo

syljo Report 4 Aug 2004 21:59

Yes, I'm always fascinated by languages. Even have some German influence too - Kindergarten for instance. The British don't have a word for it. Sylvia

Maureen

Maureen Report 4 Aug 2004 23:16

What is sans faire rien? My mother used to say it all the time.

Maureen

Maureen Report 4 Aug 2004 23:25

Thanks Dorothy, thats exactly the context she used to use it in.

Janet

Janet Report 4 Aug 2004 23:37

Don't tell me Marmite is French. I love the stuff but it is enough to put you right off. Janet

ஐ+*¨^¨*+e+*¨^¨*+ஐ Mildred Honkinbottom

ஐ+*¨^¨*+e+*¨^¨*+ஐ Mildred Honkinbottom Report 4 Aug 2004 23:43

Kindergarten means "Childrens Garden" When translated from German to english The nearest english word for Kindergarten is Nursary. And conservatory is the English spelling of the word. Elaine

Unknown

Unknown Report 4 Aug 2004 23:44

Not Marmite the spread, marmite a kind of pot to cook in. Comme ci, comme ca. Italian: la dolce vita

Janet

Janet Report 5 Aug 2004 09:51

Thanks Helen for putting that straight. I can enjoy my marmite again. Never heard of a cooking pot called a marmite. Janet

syljo

syljo Report 5 Aug 2004 09:51

I have a brother in law who always says "merci" instead of thank you. Probably sounds more polite to him. Sylvia

syljo

syljo Report 5 Aug 2004 20:46

contre temps

Geoff

Geoff Report 5 Aug 2004 21:03

There's a picture of a "marmite" on the Marmite jar.

syljo

syljo Report 5 Aug 2004 21:07

hors d'oeuvres

Rosalind in Madeira

Rosalind in Madeira Report 5 Aug 2004 21:09

c'est la vie!

syljo

syljo Report 5 Aug 2004 21:31

coup

syljo

syljo Report 5 Aug 2004 21:40

couchette

syljo

syljo Report 5 Aug 2004 22:08

corvee

Frances

Frances Report 5 Aug 2004 22:21

May day Help (me) m'aidez

syljo

syljo Report 6 Aug 2004 15:15

chalet

syljo

syljo Report 6 Aug 2004 15:55

bureau