Talk:French proverbs
From Wikiquote
Remember that this is the English Wikiquote. Any notes on proverbs should be in English. We don't have a French Wikiquote yet, but when we do, the French notes will be appropriate there. Nanobug 16:50, 29 Aug 2003 (UTC)
- Right, the notes could be translated but I'm not sure they are really necessary... maybe an english translation of the proverb would be better instead. I could try to translate the easy ones, but I fear my english is not good enough to translate them all... → SeeSchloss 22:31, 29 Aug 2003 (UTC)
That's OK, your English is fine. Any minor things will be picked up and changed by someone else, so go for it. Nanobug 00:55, 30 Aug 2003 (UTC)
OK OK, I already began but I can only do literal translations since I do not know the corresponding proverbs in English, and I won't be able to translate them all anyway... → SeeSchloss 19:38, 30 Aug 2003 (UTC)
- I don't think you need to find corresponding proverbs in English as such. Literal translations are fine. See also my notes on Wikiquote talk:Templates/Archive#Transliteration. Nanobug 22:09, 30 Aug 2003 (UTC)
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[edit] comments
"À bon entendeur, salut!" means that those who understand the message will be saved. 'salut' is used in its 'salvation' sense, not as 'salute' (to another person, flag...)
"À chaque jour suffit sa peine." 'peine' is, at least now, used in its 'work' sense. therefore it means "enough work done today!"
"À cheval donné on ne regarde pas la bride." the common form in France is now "À cheval donné on ne regarde pas les dents"
"Au pays des aveugles les borgnes sont rois." and "Au royaume des aveugles, les borgnes sont rois." are the same one, but the second form is much more common in France
"C'est dans le besoin qu'on reconnaît ses vrais amis." 'vrai' is very often implicit (not written nor said)
"C'est dans les vieilles marmites qu'on fait les meilleures soupes." is of sexual intent (the 'marmites' (steamers) are women, enough said). the translation is "Best broth are made in old pots.", which is somewhat different from the idiomatic expression used in the article
My French Grandmother said it this way, "The hen that cackles first is the one who laid the egg." is often used in slangish contexts as an answer to someone asking who farted
There was a phrase used on television last night which was said to mean "Don't confuse the price and the real value of the thing". The subtitles didn't look quite right? they read "Ne pas confondre avec le prix est la valeur de chose. Any ideas?
Chantez à l'âne, il vous fera des pêts. is Sing to an ass, he will fart in your face. but the idiomatic translation Hold food in your hand, and the dog will bite it does not match perfectly because the French proverb is about lack of taste, not of the capacity to not be harsh to friendly people
"Oignez vilain, il vous poindra.": the complete form is "Oignez vilain, il vous poindra. Poignez vilain, il vous oindra"
"Hâtez-vous lentement.": I heard (US) "Take your time in a hurry"
"La caque sent toujours le hareng." used during religion wars, meaning "the convert smells his old religion perfume"
[edit] No "G"??
I swear there's one that sounds to the English ear like "Genus Say Qua" and it means that something has a certain quality that cannot be put into words, any help? 67.5.156.176 04:46, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
- Ah, it's 'je ne sais quoi', no "G", I was thinking "genus" 67.5.156.176 04:54, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
Obviously it's 'Je ne sais quoi'.... as in "she has a certain je ne sais quoi'". A lax English (British) pronunciation
would sound exactly like 'genus say qua(ck). That's a soft g and quack without the ck at the end'
[edit] Not proverbs
The following are idioms, not proverbs and should be removed: Avoir une araignée au plafond, Avoir un chat dans la gorge, Avoir d'autres chats à fouetter. 199.212.17.130 14 May 2008
- I agree. Or else the page should be called proverbs and idioms. Though I'm not sure that idioms are appropriate here. Perhaps a collection of French idioms would be appropriate for Wikibooks? Stratford490 00:04, 23 June 2008 (UTC)
- I've removed them. Stratford490 23:09, 23 June 2008 (UTC)
[edit] Bonjour
"Cela m'est égal" n'est pas un proverbe français. C'est une expression signifiant que nous n'avons pas d'avis. Vrai ! Il a été retiré. (CdL)
Certaines autres expressions sont très peu utilisées ou ne sont pas tout à fait utilisées de cette manière (par exemple on dit très souvent "il faut le voir pour le croire" mais jamais "voir, c'est croire"). "Il tombe des cordes" n'est lui non plus pas un proverbe, c'est une expression signifiant qu'il pleut beaucoup.
Le proverbe "Il n'y a pas de petit chez soi." n'est pas complet est ne veut rien dire tel quel. Le vrai proverbe est : "Il vaut mieux un petit chez soi, qu'un grand chez les autres".
Il y a aussi des proverbes détournés, c'est en fait des blagues qui mélangent plusieurs proverbes ou bien des jeux de mots. Par exemple : "C'est la goutte d'eau qui met le feu aux poudres" ("C'est la goutte d'eau qui fait déborder le vase" et "C'est l'étincelle qui met le feu aux poudres") "Tous les égouts vont dans la nature" (vrai proverbe : "Tous les goûts sont dans la nature") etc.
