polyglottraveler

[polyglottraveler]

source

[polyglottraveler]

Untranslatable French words

(Be careful, these are casual expressions you can use with your friends but do NOT write them in essays!)

Putain 

We use this word for literally anything: when we’re happy, amazed, annoyed, disgusted…  Examples: “C’est génial putain!”, “Putain, ça me fait chier!”, “Mais bouge-là ta caisse putain!”. We also use it in front of nouns: “Cette putain de machine”

Ouf 

When something is great, amazing. It’s the “verlan” (reverse) of the word “fou”, which means crazy.  Examples: “Ce match est ouf!”, “C’est un ouf lui!”, “C’est un truc de ouf!” We also use it when something bad or scary happened but we finally made it, it’s a word of relief.  Examples: “Ouf, on s’en est sorti!”, “Ouf, on a eu chaud”

De ouf 

This expression uses the same words as before but means something different. We use “de ouf” to mean that something is extra, too much. It’s usually a reply to agree with someone.  Examples: “- Il était tellement bourré hier soir! - De ouf!”

La flemme 

The closer translation to “avoir la flemme” would be “to be lazy”. But I don’t think that there is any word in English that comes close to the concept of “flemme”. You can have “la flemme” to do basically anything.  Examples: “ -Tu viens à la soirée ce soir? -Non, j’ai trop la flemme” , “J’ai la flemme de la faire la vaisselle”

Ras-le-bol 

It literally means “at the edge of the bowl”, we use this expression when we’re over something, when we can’t stand it anymore, when it’s annoying us. It can be used for a thing or for a person.  Examples: “J’en ai ras-le-bol de mes voisins”, “J’en ai ras-le-bol de répéter tout le temps la même chose”

Flâner 

Probably the only word of this list which is not a slang but actually a word that you would find in books and that you can use in essays etc. “Flâner” means to walk slowly, to enjoy your time, to wander aimlessly just for the pleasure to walk and to enjoy your environment.  Example: “Elle a flâné dans les rues de Lille tout l’après-midi”, “Ils aiment flâner dans les allées du magasin”

Ringard 

When something is out, when it’s not trending anymore and it’s a bit shameful to like it or wear it.  Example: “Cette chanson est trop ringarde”, “Porter des pantalons pattes d’eph c’est ringard”

Relou 

This is the “verlan” (reverse) of the word “lourd”, which means heavy. “Relou” means that something or someone is annoying you or that it’s boring or annoying.  Example: “Le bus a 15 minutes de retard, c’est relou”, “Ce mec est tellement relou” 

Pêter un cable 

To go crazy, to burn out Example: “Si ça continue comme ça je vais péter un cable”, “Il a pété un cable au bar hier soir”

Un beauf 

Someone who wears old or ridiculous clothes such as socks with flip-flops. The stereotype is that these persons are white, not very educated, live in the countryside, are quite poor, like drinking alcohol, listen to bad music, have bad hair etc… I’ll join a picture so that you can portray better what is means

The man from the picture is actually “Jeff Tuche”, a character from a popular movie in France called “Les Tuche” which is the story of a beauf family who wins the lottery.  Examples: “C’est un camping de beauf”, “Patrick Sébastien ne fait que des chansons de beauf”

Avoir le seum 

To be mad, to be petty about something. We mainly use it when we’re annoyed because we lost or when we wanted something to happen but it’s not happening.  Examples: “Ma mère veut pas que je sorte ce soir, j’ai le seum”, “Les belges ont le seum d’avoir perdu contre les français” 

Bric à brac

A mix of random objects Examples: “C’est un vrai bric à brac ta voiture”, “Je n’arrive plus à retrouver mon briquet dans ce bric à brac”

And the last one: Pouloulou, it’s not a word, it’s a feeling 

[polyglottraveler]

French Slang Masterpost

Abbreviations 

Slt (Salut) = Hello Bcp (Beaucoup) = A lot Dsl (Désolé) = Sorry Stp (S’il te plait) = Please Dac (D’accord) = Okay Qd (Quand) = When  Qqch (Quelque chose) = Something Qqn (quelqu’un) = Somebody

Internet words 

Mdr (Mort de rire) = Lol Ptdr (Pété de rire) = Lmao Vdm (Vie de merde) = Fuck my life Tg (T’as gueule) = Shut up BG (Beau gosse) = Hot guy  Tkt (T’inquiête) = Don’t worry

Common sayings 

Bref = In short Ouais = Yeah Putain, Merde = Shit C’est de la merde = It’s crap     Ça craint = It sucks         Ça me soûle = It’s annoying me  C’est relou (C’est lourd) = It sucks  C’est ouf (C’est fou) = It’s crazy C’est trop cool = It’s awesome C’est le bordel = It’s a mess Je suis claqué = I’m exhausted               Je me casse = I’m getting out of here   Je m’en fou = I don’t care         Tu rigoles = You’re jocking       Tu te fous de ma gueule = You’re kidding me  Tu fais quoi? = What’s up? Laisse tomber = Just forget it Fais gaffe = Be careful                 Péter un plomb = Going crazy                 Avoir la flemme de faire quelque chose = To be too lazy to do something

Unformal verbs

Bouffer = To eat Taffer = To work Roupiller, Pioncer = To sleep Kiffer = To have a crush on someone Etre vénère (Etre énervé) = To be annoyed Se marrer = To laugh

Unformal nouns

Un mec = A guy             Une meuf = A girl         Un pote = A friend       Une bagnole = A car                     Une baraque = A house             Un pieu = A bed             Un bouquin = A book Une clope = A cigarette                        Le fric, le blé, le thune, l’oseille, le pognon = Money   Un flic, un keuf = A cop               Un gosse, un gamin = A kid       Un boulot, un taf, un job = A job           La fac = University         Le bahut = High school

The above phrases/words can be used in almost every informal situation, but don’t use them in your essays or in any kind of normal writing!

[polyglottraveler]

20 funniest expressions in French

1) On est pas sortis de l’auberge We’re in a mess (litt. We’re not out of the hostel) Ex: On a encore trois dossiers à remplir, on est pas sortis de l’auberge

2) Faire quelque chose les doigts dans le nez To do something easily (litt. To do something with the fingers in the nose) Ex: Ils ont gagné les doigts dans le nez

3) C’est culcul la praline It’s childish/ridiculous (litt. It’s ass-ass the praline) Ex: Léa est super fan de HelloKitty, c’est culcul la praline

4) En faire un fromage To make a big deal of something (litt. To make a cheese of something) Ex: Victor a perdu et il en a fait tout un fromage

5) Etre copain comme cochon To be best friends (litt. To be as friends as pigs) Ex: Depuis l’année dernière, Matthieu et Valentin sont copains comme cochons

6) Ne pas pousser Mémé dans les orties Don’t push it (litt. Don’t push Grandma in the nettle) Ex: Tu m’en demande trop, faut pas pousser mémé dans les orties

7) Etre con comme un manche à balai To be an idiot (litt. To be as dumb as a broom) Ex: C’est pas possible, Thomas est con comme un manche à balai!

8) Devenir chèvre Becoming silly (litt. Becoming a goat) Ex: Elle me fait devenir chèvre

9) Etre sur son 31 To wear elegant/fancy clothes (litt. To be on one’s 31) Ex: Je me suis mise sur mon 31 pour le mariage de mon frère

10) Tomber dans les pommes Fainting (litt. To fall in the apples) Ex: Michel est tombé dans les pommes quand sa fille est née

11) Il y a quelque chose qui cloche There’s something wrong (litt. There’s something ringing) Ex: C’est trop silencieux, il y a quelque chose qui cloche

12) Avoir le cafard To be sad (litt. To have the cockroach) Ex: Depuis que Marine l’a quitté, Mattéo a le cafard

13) C’est la fin des haricots It’s the end of everything (litt. It’s the end of the beans) (almost always used ironically) Ex: L’Equipe de France a perdu, c’est la fin des haricots!

14) Coûter les yeux de la tête To cost an arm and a leg (litt. To cost the eyes of the head) Ex: Le nouvel iphone coûte les yeux de la tête

15) Arriver comme un cheveu sur la soupe Entering a situation at a bad time (litt. To arrive like a hair in the soup) Ex: Raphaël est arrivé dans la conversation comme un cheveu sur la soupe

16) Metrre son grain de sel To give an unsolicitated opinion (litt. To put one’s seed of salt) Ex: Sophie m’énerve à toujours mettre son grain de sel de partout!

17) Faire la grasse matinée To sleep late in the morning (litt. To do the fat morning) Ex: Après la soirée d’hier, j’ai fait la grasse matinée

18) Avoir un coup de foudre To fall in love instantly with someone Ex: Louis a eu un coup de foudre pour Jade

19) Sauter du coq à l’âne To jump to a new topic in a conversation without any transition (litt. To jump from the rooster to the donkey) Ex: Il passe du coq à l’âne pour éviter d’avoir une conversation sérieuse

20) Etre à l’ouest  Don’t understanding the situation (litt. To be at the West) Ex: Le nouveau stagiaire est complètement à l’ouest

[polyglottraveler]

[polyglottraveler]

Language classes online and in Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Hello everyone ! I haven’t used Tumblr in a while so I don’t know if any of you is still active but I’m posting this just in case.

I recently started giving language classes online as well as in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. I’m giving French and English lessons and my boyfriend is giving Quechua lessons. We’re just getting started so we don’t have a lot of clients yet.

I created a Facebook page and an Instagram account in order to reach more people. If any of you would like to follow us to help us build an audience this would be awesome ! I will post language tips and vocabulary lists like I used to do on Tumblr a few years ago when I was an active langblr haha

Here are the links :

https://www.facebook.com/IdiomasSantaCruz

https://www.instagram.com/idiomas_santa_cruz/

Also if any of you is interested in French, English, Spanish or Quechua lessons online, I will give you a 25% discount if you come from Tumblr. Our prices are already quite low as we live in Bolivia and charge bolivian prices. Please send me a message if you’re interested !

Wishing everyone a very nice day !

[polyglottraveler]

[polyglottraveler]

I just really want to say that the BLM movement is not a 2020 disaster by any means. I know a lot of ppl keep saying that this year keeps getting worse but I think that black voices finally being heard is a sign of improvement

[polyglottraveler]

An alley in the Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter) of Barcelona, Catalonia.

Photo by sepeme79 on instagram.

[polyglottraveler]

"Hey so it turns out that the people of earth accidentally did a global experiment to see if every individual could course correct climate change through mass personal change of habits, and it turns out, no! We can't! It was massive corporate activity all along!"

[polyglottraveler]

The countries that got tea via China through the Silk Road (land) referred to it in various forms of the word “cha”. On the other hand, the countries that traded with China via sea - through the Min Tan port called it in different forms of “te”.

[polyglottraveler]

me recreating a conversation i had with a native speaker 4 hours ago with higher-level vocabulary and grammatically correct and complex sentences:

[polyglottraveler]

I used to start my day with a few hours of translating, but my clients have all temporarily stopped their activity, so I found a new project in order to keep my ritual going (the hardest thing about rituals is starting them…) My grandparents both wrote journals of their experience in WWII, and I started translating them for my English cousins who are interested in reading them. I have to say, I rolled my eyes at my president’s “We are at war” speech, yet I am struck by the many similarities I am finding with the current situation:

the “eeriness of empty city streets”, the curfews, the panic buying, the movie theatres closing, the inability to travel to be with family, or even to walk in the street without a written attestation (Ausweis)

French people from the cities being asked by the government to go help farmers with harvest due to a shortage of seasonal labour, just like we are seeing now

(Of course the situation was incomparably worse—I’m not equating the two, I just didn’t expect to find all these parallels)

The most striking similarity is in the way they feel about the events: they both write about how the uncertainty of these times produces a strange mixture of stress and morbid fascination. My grandmother describes the first time she saw the Nazi flag flying above the City Hall, saying she felt “distress, and an incongruous curiosity—how will all of this end?” My grandfather, writing about the dangerous process of changing his identity and obtaining fake documentation to avoid being deported to Germany, says “Tout cela est très éprouvant pour les nerfs. Malgré tout… quelle année intéressante nous traversons.” (“This is all very nerve-wracking. Nevertheless, what an interesting year we are living through.”)

My grandmother writes about how stunned she would feel if “myself from not so very long ago” could get a glimpse of her current life: all of her projects frozen in time, her studies interrupted (“I wish I had been able to finish the year—they’ve had such trouble organising the classes and exams, they gave the Baccalauréat almost to everybody!”), her wedding cancelled, “I am now hiding people in my basement”, and her fiancé, “formerly fond of insect collecting”, now “keeps himself busy planting bombs on railway tracks” to stop freight trains going to Germany.

(She uses a lot of breezy euphemisms; at one point she briefly mentions being interrogated by Nazis re: her fiancé travelling to the ‘forbidden zone’ then starts the next paragraph with “Despite this contretemps—” and moves on to how she still had time to fill her purse with dead leaves on the Champs Elysées so she could light the stove.) 

She writes about the difficulty of getting accurate information amidst all the contradictory news sources (Resistance radio broadcasts, rumours around her, German propaganda, lies from her own government), and about how unsettling it feels “quand la vie ne va plus de soi” (“when life no longer goes without saying”)

I saw French people on twitter joking about how “after coronavirus, we won’t bring back cheek-kissing, okay?” and was amused to find an entry in my grandmother’s journal saying in the middle of all this turmoil, she & her fiancé have started using the informal “you” with each other, and she hopes that when the war is over, French society won’t go back to expecting people to use “vous” until marriage. 

The very beginning of the war, around her 19th birthday, also presents interesting parallels: she is frustrated with her mother who is planning a holiday trip and acting like nothing serious is going on, and is simultaneously still confused about “the events” and wondering if she is misjudging their severity

In April 1944, as she finally hopes to see “this nightmare end soon”, she speculates on what aspect the future post-crisis society will take, when will normal life resume and what will ‘normal’ be? Then she says making conjectures is futile for the time being because “we cannot measure the depth of a derangement that is still under way.”

One last arresting part, in 1942: “Ce que j’ignorais quant aux calamités et bouleversements est que, lorsqu’on les vit soi-même, le temps passe très lentement.” (“What I didn’t know about life-altering disasters is that, when you are living them, time goes by very slowly.”)

[polyglottraveler]

Golden Seceda

(by Sven Broeckx)

[polyglottraveler]

[polyglottraveler]

Rhode Island | kjp

[polyglottraveler]

quarantine mood