26 Jan 2010
by Ubiquityin Parlez-vous français ? Tags: mot du jour
Sympa is one of the most useful adjective in the French language. Initially, sympa is short for sympathique (literally translated in English: sympathetic nerve). In French however, sympa is something that is nice. People, places, moments, activities can all be sympa. Being fantastically non-committing, sympa grew to become tremendously popular adjective. Not only can most things be sympa, they usually are. In French, there is really only one answer to the question, “C’était comment ?” (How was it?)
Sympa !
Click to enlarge
Using it extensively, francophones managed to empty the word of its very substance: the way it is said gives it its actual meaning. To decipher what a francophone really thinks of something or someone, it is KEY to be attentive to the tone of the ‘sympa‘ he/she will most likely come up with as an answer. Only then will you know a bit more about what the francophone really thinks.
Being short for something, sympa is vaguely colloquial. Making the francophone seem vaguely laid back when using it. On top of this, sympa is a fantastic buffer against any form of enthusiasm. Sympa is nice but it is still very far from excellent, geniál, exceptionnel, formidable or fantastique. It is just sympa. By saying something or someone is sympa, the francophone gives it a good point. But not too good of a point either.
Sympa is about the object. It is not about the person who says it. The francophone is weirdly passive in judging something or someone as sympa. He/she becomes a mere receptacle for the world he lives in. This posture of passive humility is yet another reason for the popularity of the term. I judge without judging. Whatever I say, it is not my fault. Francophones, thy love this tepid feeling of social innocence. Flamboyance gone.
Making sympa such a close companion, francophones mechanically diminished the strength of its original meaning. Thus, making phrases like ‘hyper sympa‘ or ‘super sympa‘ major hits. Among younger francophones, the word sympa is so prevailing that its use deprived of hyper, super, vraiment or carrément is suspicious. If a young francophone tells you that a place was sympa, he/she probably didn’t think much of it. With nothing but positive words, francophone youth downgrades reality.
Useful tip : There is no connection whatsoever between sympathique in French and sympathetic in English. Faux amis !
22 Jan 2010
by Ubiquityin Parlez-vous français ? Tags: mot du jour
If you have read my previous post on Putain, you would’ve known by now what it means. So this post right here shall be a continuation…
Putain is more than a word. When pronounced in a sentence the word is sometimes inaudible. The noun putain refers to a prostitute. In its most common usage, it simply vividly expresses feelings like discontentment, anger, frustration: stuck in traffic jam: “Putain, mais c’est pas possible !” (This is not possible!); talking about bosses: “Il est complètement con, putain !” (He is a complete idiot!)… In those instances, the word works as a capital letter or a full stop. It is by far the most common usage of a word in French.
Click to enlarge
But the reach of the word goes beyond this initial scope. Putain en français (in French) also defines surprise: witnessing a car accident: “Oh putain !” (Oh shit!) ; watching the clock: “Putain, il est déjà deux heures ?” (Damn! It’s 2 already?). It can also be a firm injunction to stop joking around: “Putain, t’es serieux ?” (Are you serious?). In the same realm, used on its own, putain in a conversation can express sympathy and interest when a sad subject is being talked about.
Francophone 1 : Et c’est là que son mari l’a quittée.
Francophone 2 : Putain.
Francophone 1 : Ouais, et donc elle se retrouve avec trois gamins…
(roughly translated)
Francophone 1 : That’s where the husband left her.
Francophone 2 : (injunction here)
Francophone 1 : Yeah and so she’s left with 3 kids…
Awkwardly enough, it can also express admiration or encouragement: talking about a good movie: “Putain, c’était hyper bien !” (That was good!); discovering a friend’s new apartment: “Putainnnn !”; hearing about someone they took a trip around the world; “Putain…?”; watching a game on TV: “Allez putain !!!” (come on!).
When followed by de, putain is used to emphasize: “Il a une putain de voiture” (He has a crappy car), “C’est une putain de restaurant” (That is a crappy restaurant).
In the end, the word putain is used to express surprise, anger, encouragement, frustration, emphasis or admiration. While is certainly is helpful, extensive use of putain has a disadvantage. The outcome of using putain extensively is a form of mental laziness. Easy expression of easy emotions. Making up emptiness with easy negativity. Pretending to be there while hiding behind words.
Useful tip : If you don’t know what to say, just say putain or sprinkle every one of your sentences with putain.
(Credits to Olivier Magny)
14 Jul 2009
by Ubiquityin Parlez-vous français ? Tags: mot du jour
Noun
putain feminine (plural : putains)
- (slang) whore, hooker, tart
- (vulgar) bitch, cow (an unpleasant woman)
“Èteins cette putain de télé !” = Turn off that bloody TV! (literally: Extinguish this whore of TV!)
Synonyms
- whore : pute
- unpleasant woman : pute
Interjection
putain !
- fuck, fucking hell, bloody hell
02 Jul 2009
by Ubiquityin Parlez-vous français ? Tags: mot du jour
Noun
trou du cul masculine (plural : trous du cul)
- (vulgar) asshole, anus
- (vulgar) asshole, jerk
- a card game, also called président
“Le trou du cul du monde” = The asshole of the world
22 May 2009
by Ubiquityin Pain in the asses, Parlez-vous français ? Tags: mot du jour
Pronunciation
[day goo lahs]
Adjective
dégueulasse (plural: déugueulasses)
- (slang) bloody disgusting, rank, yucky
Examples
Ce film est déugueulasse ! = This movie is disgusting!
C’est dégueulasse de voler aux enfants = It’s disgusting to steal from kid
Now the reason I’m sharing with you the french word déugueulasse is to further emphasize the description of the lady living in the apartment opposite ours who is downright awful.
I was outside the house earlier rummaging through my sac for the keys when I heard a LOUD female voice spouting vulgarities. I spun around looking for the source and lo, I found it! It came from the above-mentioned lady who had her front door open.
“F*cking bloody hell! I asked for f*cking 5 feet but your f*cking guys brought 3 f*cking feet! What the f*ck are you guys trying to do?!? Don’t f*cking f*ck with me I tell you, you mother-f*cker!”
Those words are still ringing in my ears! Note how each of her sentences never fail to include the crude definition of fornicating. It’s amazing eh?
So as I was saying, that lady is unquestionably disgusting. Apart from her unrefined vocabulary, she was hardly friendly. There was never a simple “Hello!”, or a smile, or even a little nod of recognition from her. A few times while I was smoking outside the house, her live-in maid would leave the front door open prior to her arrival. Predictably, 10 seconds later, “Ding!”, the elevator door opens and she marches right into her apartment slamming the door behind her.
Of course I am not expecting her, for even a second, to hang around and share gossips with me. But with that kind of attitude, I simply can’t help raising an eyebrow. Do I offend? Do I have a B.O? Do I have a HUGE, ugly and hairy wart on my forehead? Yet I will still give her some credits because she’s not TOO bad looking despite her rotten attitude. That’s it! I couldn’t see any other wholesome characters in her.
Elle est une déugueulasse pute !
07 May 2009
by Ubiquityin Parlez-vous français ? Tags: mot du jour
Yesterday, I’ve learnt a new word. “Le moineau”.
Un moineau est un petit oiseau. Il y a beaucoup de moineaux à Singapour. Ils sont très mignons. J’adore les moineaux !
03 May 2009
by Ubiquityin Parlez-vous français ? Tags: mot du jour
Noun
interdit masculine (plural: interdits)
- Something which is prohibited
Adjective
interdit masculine (plural: interdits)
interdite feminie (plural: interdites)
- forbidden, prohibited, off-limits
Verb
interdit
- Past participle of interdire
“Il est interdit de fumer ici” = Smoking is prohibited here
“Stationnement interdit” = No parking
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