Basic French for sailors

[Sybarite]

That's what I meant sorry...
I think you can also say j'écoute but there will be somebody correcting me shortly ,I'm sure.

You can. Same thing for the telephone but it's not very polite. "Je vous écoute" is better but a simple "Allo. Bonjour Monsieur/Madame" is best.

One also needs to remember that the French are more formal than we are and so in aswering eg "Oui" or "Non" always remember to add the "Monsieur" or "Madame". Be careful with the Mademoiselle because convention says that when a lady has attained her "Majorité" she should also be addressed as "Madame" even if she is not married. I made that fatal mistake early on with a senior spinster lawyer and got an earful.

Almost French words have roughly a similar stress on each syllable. English people often wrongly stress the final one.

Remember also to use the "vous" form of the verb ("vouvoyer") . You can get away with "tu" ("tutoyer") sometimes but you need a bit of experience to know when it is acceptable - which it often is exceptionally in the sailing context. But it is safer and more respectful to use the "vous" form and it makes a better impression. In sailing you would pass quickly to first name terms but on a more formal occasion, never unless invited to.

If you have a business lunch, do not speak business until near the end of the meal ("entre la poire et le fromage"). Before then, they will be sounding out your general knowledge and culture.

 

[Sybarite]

Because that is where Mayday came from (help me).

Yes all the radio instructions are French

Pan Pan is "panne" meaning breakdown.
"Seelonce" is the French pronunciation of "silence".
Sécurité 'say-cur-ee-tay' for safety related communications.

 

[30boat]

You can. Same thing for the telephone but it's not very polite. "Je vous écoute" is better but a simple "Allo. Bonjour Monsieur/Madame" is best.

One also needs to remember that the French are more formal than we are and so in aswering eg "Oui" or "Non" always remember to add the "Monsieur" or "Madame". Be careful with the Mademoiselle because convention says that when a lady has attained her "Majorité" she should also be addressed as "Madame" even if she is not married. I made that fatal mistake early on with a senior spinster lawyer and got an earful.

Almost French words have roughly a similar stress on each syllable. English people often wrongly stress the final one.

Remember also to use the "vous" form of the verb ("vouvoyer") . You can get away with "tu" ("tutoyer") sometimes but you need a bit of experience to know when it is acceptable - which it often is exceptionally in the sailing context. But it is safer and more respectful to use the "vous" form and it makes a better impression. In sailing you would pass quickly to first name terms but on a more formal occasion, never unless invited to.

If you have a business lunch, do not speak business until near the end of the meal ("entre la poire et le fromage"). Before then, they will be sounding out your general knowledge and culture.

There is a strong French influence on the Portuguese culture and most things you say apply to the Portuguese except perhaps the business lunch thing.
But the formality is there and can be baffling to the Anglo Saxon .
I hate the way that lawyers ,for instance ,address each other, always emphasising their titles, Doutor and such. Annoying and pretentious.They never say the President, it's always Senhor Doutor Professor and his name.
And try writing a formal letter....

 

[westhinder]

I think you can also say j'écoute but there will be somebody correcting me shortly ,I'm sure.

I haven't heard j'écoute on the VHF, but they do sometimes say 'parlez' instead of 'à vous'. In most cases this came from a sémaphore, so I suspect it is a military thing.

 

[jerrytug]

I haven't heard j'écoute on the VHF, but they do sometimes say 'parlez' instead of 'à vous'. In most cases this came from a sémaphore, so I suspect it is a military thing.

'Parlez' for 'over' down here in LO.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

In common with many, I learnt French to O-level standard at school, back in the ice-age! And I can still usually understand French that is spoken clearly and slowly. However, my ability to put together a sentence is poor - I've forgotten much of the vocabulary I had. The most useful phrase in my repertoire is "parlez plus lentement s'il vou plait" - speak more slowly, please!

This was all tested recently when we had a French guest at home. His English was about at the same level as my French, so we managed pretty well by both speaking in our native languages - I could understand his French, and he could understand my English!

 

[bobgarrett]

My French is very poor and limited but have found calling marinas they may reply in English to my Franglais but they seem to be more helpful than just starting in English.
As an aside I was surprised a few weeks ago to hear Solent Coastguard speaking French to a French yacht.

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

I find that shouting 'How muuuuch?????!!!!!!' on receipt of the bill gets the message across. I've never subscribed to the theory that they appreciate it if you make an attempt at speaking French ... they're probably thinking 'Listen to this dickhead foreigner!'

 

[Burnham Bob]

another simple rule is that all foreigners speak english if you shout loud enough.........