Scuttlebutt French - Help req

[MrG]

In an attempt to fit seamlessly into French society when we arrive. I need some help with typical language.
I already have a couple that will, no doubt, prove extremely useful:

1 - Zoot Alors
2 - La plume de ma tant.

Thanks in anticipation..

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=blue>Regards Mark

 

[boatone]

theres an 'e' on the end of 'tante' mon ami.........feminine see.......

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.boatsontheweb.com/> Website, Photo Gallery, Chat Room, Burgees</A>

 

[mirabriani]

Manche tout!

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[MrG]

Aha - merci mon ami...

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=blue>Regards Mark

 

[AJW]

I think its actually "Zut Alors" not "Zoot".
The only phrase I remember from schoolboy french is
"Zut alors, mon pantalons, noir et blanc, et flambe".
Do you think this will come in useful in Cherbourg?

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[squidge]

Try Here <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.france-pub.com/french/index.html>http://www.france-pub.com/french/index.html</A>

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[mirabriani]

I generally find when in "La Belle Francais" the wearing of black beret, stripy tee shirt and a string of carrots around neck all helps to fit in with the locals who all seem to join in our good humoured banter.
Briani


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[snowleopard]

here are a couple of useful greetings

a) to a woman: voulez vous coucher avec moi.

b) to a man: si les cons peuvent voler vous serriez le capitaine d'escadrille.

c) to a policeman: espece de cochon

d) thank you: merde

that should get you through the first day

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[Roberto]

it should be
zut alors --> means "oh nooo!", or more rudely WTF

la plume de ma tante may be a new suburban expression with a hidden meaning, otherwise shoud translate
my aunt's pen, or my aunt's feather



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[Ohdrat]

I would practice the Galic Shrug.. and lots of other quite wild (and often explicite) hand jestures..

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[jhr]

A couple of simple phrases

Voulez-vous faire le pipe? - would you kindly connect up my hose?

On couler! - my raw water filter has blocked again.

Quelle con - I have just done business with a marine industry service provider

Qu'est-ce que vous voulez comme boisson? - I am keen to make new friends who like me for myself, not for my money.


You may also hear French people say the following:

Merde, imbecile! a droite! - you may find it helpful to steer to starboard.

Pensez vous que nous ne rappelons pas Agincourt? - Fraternal greetings to our British neighbours!


Zoot allures - <A target="_blank" HREF=http://globalia.net/donlope/fz/lyrics/Zoot_Allures.html>title of a Frank Zappa album</A>

Hope this helps.

<hr width=100% size=1>Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho

 

[Nickel]

Carry a handbag, and wear an incongruous moustache - you can't go wrong. Drinking beer and wine fairly regularly will help - I don't see that being a problem.
Passing any english tourists and muttering 'huh, les ros-boeufs!' before urinating in the gutter will seal it!

I could bring my full size tricolour......... but on second thoughts they may want it back even if it was a Le Havre lampost that my criminally minded brother decided to remove it from.

If that fails to work Je ne suis pas americain - will probably come in handy, as will the similar Je ne m'appelle pas Brian Moore!

<hr width=100% size=1>Nickel

Being paranoid simply means - having all the facts.

 

[tcm]

The complete Merde!

this book <A target="_blank" HREF=http://sale-depot.co.uk/books/item/0002557681/The,Complete,Merde!:,The,Real,French,You,Were,Never,Taught,at,School.html>http://sale-depot.co.uk/books/item/0002557681/The,Complete,Merde!:,The,Real,French,You,Were,Never,Taught,at,School.html</A>

...includes loads of really fabulously abusive language, which is always bound to come in handy...

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[GazzaUK]

Re: The complete Merde!

And, of course, 'ow you say, eat plenty of garlic before you arrive

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[Sans Bateau]

Just speak loadly and clearly in English, they all speak it you know. If that fails mention Waterloo, you will get along just fine.

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[moodycruiser]

....now lizzen verrry carrrefully, I will zay zis only wunz.

<hr width=100% size=1>Tony

 

[Sybarite]

For once I feel sort of comfortable in a thread.

Just some advice : if you feel like swearing with passion do it in your own language; you lack impact if it comes out with errors and the recipient usually ROFLHHO.

If you quote French quote it correctly : who ends his posts with "Que scais-je" ???
Another recent one (by a journalist) "this little 'je ne sais crois...' " etc etc

The French also do it.

John

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[Clive_Rigden]

Debaquez vous et laiter la !

(Get off and milk it !)

<hr width=100% size=1>Khyber

 

[robp]

<<Just speak loadly and clearly in English>> Ah! that'll be the policeman in Alo alo then?

<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by robp on 09/09/2004 15:49 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[BlueChip]

Due to heightened level of security alerts worldwide, France has raised it alert status from "Run" to "Hide".

Only two higher levels exist in France. Surrender and Collaborate.

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