Day 111 (Tuesday)

I’m very happy to say that it was a stunningly beautiful day again today until about 3pm when it clouded over a bit but it felt very summery – hooray! The fire engine boy in the school below us was the noisiest I’ve ever heard him – he just didn’t stop during all three breaks – there is definitely something amiss there.

Today’s little French lesson is quite amusing and I hope I can remember these words/phrases and actually use them.

Nine French Words We Should be using in English

French has many “why don’t we have a word for that?” words and even more that are just plain beautiful. Here’s a short list of my 9 favourite French words.

BY BRANDON JOHNSON

1. Dépayser

verb: to leave your comfort zone

Exiting your zone of comfort. The verb dépayser contains the word pays, which means “country”, and the prefix de-, which, like in English, can suggest removal or negation. So a literal one-word translation might be something like "decountrify.” To be dépaysé (adj) – “decountrified” – is to be out of your element, to break or change your habits, to be disoriented. The noun dépaysement – “decountrification” – can be translated as "culture shock" or "disorientation" or "change of scene." 

2. Nombrilisme

noun: self-centeredness, egoism, self-absorption

Nombril is navel or belly button, so this word is literally "bellybuttonism" and roughly translates as self-centeredness, egoism, self-absorption, etc. It is petty and detail-oriented, concentrating on a single issue to the exclusion of all else, a certain kind of childishness. English also has "navel-gazing" by the way.

3. Vachement

adverb: very, truly

When we examine those symbols that lie at the very heart of French culture and identity, there is one that we cannot ignore: the cow – la vache – an animal so important to this country of cheese and cream that it has transcended description and association to become an adverb, which can be applied to just about any verb or adjective for emphasis. The word is vachement, which literally translates to "cowly" and just means very, extremely, truly – a more colourful and emphatic très. cow in France. It is all things and no things. 

4. Chauve-souris

noun: bat

Chauve means bald and souris means mouse, so a chauve-souris – a bat – is literally a “bald mouse.” And while I can somewhat understand the association, it seems like its lack of hair is one of the more mundane traits that distinguish the bat from the mouse. What about flight, for example?! Shouldn’t it be a souris volante (“flying mouse”)? Maybe the person who gave the bat its French name encountered it for the first time while it was sleeping. But even then, you’d think “upside-down mouse” would come to mind before “bald mouse.”

5. Avoir le cafard

idiom: to be depressed

Are you feeling blue? Down in the dumps? Well my friend, it sounds like you’ve got the cockroach. Avoir le cafard literally means “to have the cockroach.” And really, who wouldn’t be feeling a little down if they were stuck with one of those things.

6. Chou

noun: cabbage; adj: cute

The noun chou means cabbage, as well as a host of other vegetables when combined with certain other words: chou de Bruxelles is Brussels sprout, chou chinois is bok choy, chou-fleur is cauliflower and the list goes on. But cabbage in the French language transcends the mere culinary: it can be a term of endearment for a child (mon petit chou = “my little cabbage”), a baby (bout de chou = “piece of cabbage”) or for a significant other (je t’aime, mon chou ! = “I love you, my cabbage!”); as an adjective it can mean adorable, lovely, cute sweet etc. 

7. Ronronner

verb: to purr

The verb ronronner is not only excellent practice for your French r-gargling, but by pronouncing it correctly you will already be doing the thing it describes: purring (like a cat) or humming (like an engine). 

8. Coccinelle

noun: ladybird

This word is just plain fun to say. It springs forth from the soft palate and bounces back before slithering out through the teeth, only to liquefy back across the entire palate. It takes your mouth on a one-word journey across five consonants and three vowels that are alternatingly sharp, bright, bouncy, and fluid. And to what creature is bestowed the honour of this ecstatic word? Why it’s none other than the humble ladybird.

9. Dépanneur

noun: repair person (European French); corner store (Québécois French)

And finally, a shout-out to my friends in Québec – I haven’t forgotten you! I leave you with dépanneur. In standard French, a panne is a breakdown or failure of a machine. The verb dépanner means to fix, repair, mend, but takes on the broader meaning of to help out or to come to the rescue. A dépanneur (in standard French) is by extension a repair person or a mechanic. The Québécois take this idea to its logical conclusion: a dépanneur is the corner store where you buy your booze and chips. A frequent panne that I encounter is lack of beer and chips. In Montréal, the dépanneur was always there to help.