2007-04-12 22:27:34 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
This guy whose wallet I accidently mistaken as my own said that to me after he saw. And he was like seriously angry and I'm from Ontario, not Quebec so I totally dunno Frenc and when I ask my Quebec friends, their just turn pink.
Didnt know the guy was so offended with me
2007-04-13 05:07:47 · update #1
Actually the word "con" mean "jerk" in english.
You cannot translate litterally from one language to another.
Basically he told you : "you're a f...ing jerk"
2007-04-13 07:14:42 · answer #1 · answered by Servette 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Someone's really not impressed with you.
It's funny, but "espèce de" literally means "a kind of" but it makes any insult that much worse.
I thought, and my husband whose first language is French (with both Quebec and European influences) agreed, that "espèce de con" is not QUITE as bad in Quebec as in France.
2007-04-12 22:57:08 · answer #2 · answered by Goddess of Grammar 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The general meaning of this phrase is "you idiot", but it is an extremely offensive insult in French.
"con" = "c*nt", and any insult is rendered worse in French by putting "espèce de" in front of it.
The phrase would then have the force of something like: "you f**king idiot!" (or as we would say in the UK "You ****!!!"
2007-04-12 23:34:43 · answer #3 · answered by GrahamH 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's the lowest form of abuse you could apply to anyone.
"Con" is bad enough -- meaning ****.
But the words "espèce de" push it to an even lower level.
Just don't use it!
2007-04-12 22:47:00 · answer #4 · answered by Doethineb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think in English you would say "You idiot!"
But there are other ways of suggesting the same idea, too!
2007-04-12 23:28:42 · answer #5 · answered by Jesus is my Savior 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
F*****g bas***d, for example.....
It is very injurious in French...
2007-04-12 22:44:44 · answer #6 · answered by HAPPY 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋