i have been learning french now for about 18 months and i absolutely love it ,i am determined to become fleunt in the language ,i also went to quebec last year and they seem to have a different way of speaking also... i go to college twice a week , but as with all languages you learn the vernacular . i would love to know if there are any expressions or slang words like in the english . any favorite sayings or interesting words that i wouldn't normally come across ?
2007-01-17 08:19:28 · 33 answers · asked by jasmine_moore_19 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
PLEASE , i would love to hear some genuine answers ..i do want to learn something from asking this question !!!
2007-01-17 08:27:17 · update #1
Une hirondelle ne fait pas le printemps.
One swallow does not mean it is spring.
Pierre qui roule n'amasse pas mousse.
A rolling stone gathers no moss.
On n'attrape pas les mouches avec du vinaigre.
You do not make friends through being unpleasant.
Le nom des fous se voit partout.
Being famous does not mean one is wise.
Il n'y a rien qui passe qui ne repasse.
Your bad deeds will catch up with you eventually
Les hommes sont comme les melons, plus ils sont murs, meilleurs ils sont.
Men are like melons, the more mature the mellower.
Un tien vaut mieux que deux, tu l'auras.
A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush.
Ne t'occupe pas du chapeau de la gamine!
Mind your own business!
Apres la pluie, le beau temps.
Good things come after bad.
L'habit ne fait pas le moine.
One cannot judge people by their appearance.
Battez le fer quand il est chaud.
Seize the moment.
Rien ne sert de courir, il faut partir a temps.
Do not leave things till the last minute.
Just a few to keep you going. I have put the meaning of each saying, rather than a word for word translation which you can work out for yourself. Good luck in your studies. It is lovely to find someone who is so enthusiastic about learning French. Sad that people persist in writing profanities rather than positive answers.
2007-01-17 22:51:55 · answer #1 · answered by WISE OWL 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My favourite is 'formidable'. It's so expressive without being easily translated into English, a classic false friend. It sounds so pleasingly French: the guttural R, the trailing /bl/ in the last syllable, the change in stress make /foR.mi.'dabl/ please the ear in a very different way from the English /fo:.'mi.de.bel/. A French friend in Italy is always saying 'formidabile' (/for.mi.'da.bi.le/) when speaking Italian, which is lovely to hear, if not idiomatic Italian.
2007-01-17 12:16:24 · answer #2 · answered by John L 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Quebec speaks Canadian French, not French from France.
Canadians and Americans speak English diffently than people from England. C'est normal.
Fais dodo. Go to sleep.
Va t'en! - I don't believe you!
Beurre de pinottes - Peanut butter (shoud be arachides)
Gosses - boys in France, testicles in Quebec
je me meurs de faim - I'm really hungry
Ils sont fous ces Romains - those people are crazy (taken from the Asterix comic books)
avoir la chair de poule - to have goose bumps
J'ai les nerfs a fleur de peau - I'm really uptight and nervous
Ca chatouille - it itches
Cogner des clous (literally kocking nails) means sleeping deeply.
The more you use your French, the better you'll get at it. You need to get your ears and your tongue used to hearing and making the right sounds.
Une poutine SVP....french fries, natural curd cheese w/gravy!!!
2007-01-17 09:44:30 · answer #3 · answered by buster 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
"Il n’était pas Français pour des prunes" is a good expression and you will make people laugh by bringing it into convesation. Of course, it doesn't have to be "Français" -- it could be any nationality, or any personal attribute. It roughly translates: "He wasn't French for nothing" and you would follow it up by describing something very typical or authentic that he did. “Il avait étudié à perfection les arcanes de la langue française.”
An old advertisement which I love but have difficulty in explaining to people is this:
Du bo
Du bon
Dubonnet!
2007-01-17 23:02:09 · answer #4 · answered by Doethineb 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are a few phrases 1 Nobody's perfect favourite word 2 keep the language g rated. 3. don't get pushy
2016-03-29 02:02:24 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I love the old cartoon where a man is following a donkey down the road and the caption is a sort of double entendre.
"Je suis ce que je suis mais je ne suis pas ce que je suit."
2007-01-17 11:07:07 · answer #6 · answered by stratmanreturns 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Quand je marchais les pas,
J'ai rencontré un homme qui n'était pas là,
Il n'était pas là encore aujourd'hui
Je souhaite, Je souhaite, il va partir
2007-01-17 08:47:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Je suis est truck driver
2007-01-17 08:33:12 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Fous le camp
2007-01-17 08:26:53 · answer #9 · answered by Status: Paranoia 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Omg i am taking french in my school! Its so fun. Ok J'adore faire du shopping au centre commercial! ( i love to go shopping at the mall!) lol
2007-01-17 08:25:06 · answer #10 · answered by Miss §hopaholic 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋