Tag Archives: French songs
Stromae’s “Papaoutai” (Read: “Where Are You, Dad?”) Posted by Hichem on Oct 19, 2013
A very good friend of mine just told me that he enjoyed a lot listening to this French song by Stromae. Its titre (title)? “Papaoutai” What? You’re not sure if it sounds French? Well, true, it at least sounds like une onomatopée (an onomatopoeia), like a French frog (a real one, please) that would go “coac coac” (Americans…
What Does “BOLOS” Mean in French Slang? Posted by Hichem on Jun 9, 2013
“Bolos“, sometimes spelled “boloss“, is a brand new word on the French Slang scene. It was virtually unknown just a decade ago! What does it mean? Everyone seems to agree that it designates a person who’s way too gullible. Call it in English a “boob“, a “patsy“, a “pigeon“, a “stooge“, etc. In short, it’s…
J’me Tire (I’m Outta Here)! Posted by Hichem on May 3, 2013
In proper French, if you want to announce that you are leaving, that you’re about to be gone, then you can say: “je pars“, “je m’en vais“, “je quitte les lieux“, etc. If you feel like saying it informally, however, or rather in French slang, then you have the choice between expressions (not to be used…
La Plume Française (The French Quill Pen) Posted by Hichem on Apr 11, 2013
Unlike what their name may suggest to some at first, the French group “Louise Attack” is no Heavy Metal band à-la-Rammstein. In fact, their songs are for the most part relaxées (chill) and rather mellow. One of such songs is “la Plume“, meaning “The Quill Pen“, which we feature today, together with an exclusive translation of its…
Under the Wing of the French Phoenix Posted by Hichem on Feb 1, 2013
In France, the word “Eiffel” used to only bring to mind Paris‘s most celebrated monument: la Tour Eiffel (the Eiffel Tower.) Today, however, it also refers to a young and dynamic music band which has successfully reinvigorated the French Rock scene, after years of torpor and somnolence (the same as in English: sleepiness!) * * *…
La Semaine Prochaine (Next Week) Posted by Hichem on Oct 1, 2012
There is something that you need to know about setting up appointments in French: When for example someone tells you “on se voit jeudi prochain“, although it may translate literally as the English “we meet up *next* Thursday”, i.e. not this upcoming Thursday but the Thursday of the following week, in reality it means the…
Vanité Vs. Humanité (Vanity Vs. Humanity) Posted by Hichem on Sep 17, 2012
According to Le Larousse, the most famous French dictionary: → vanité /va.ni.te/ féminin 1. [orgueil] vanity, pride, conceit. 2. [futilité] pointlessness, futility. Today’s post is in honored memory of the late Laurent Meynier, author of “Réflexions photographiques” (“photographic reflections”) After “Sous ton aile” (“Under your Wing”), Eiffel makes a comeback to The French Blog with “Tes vanités” (“Your Vanities“) (If your Youtube access is restricted in…