Quickstep192 93 Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 I’m eager to learn French and my sailing buddy speaks French, so I’m planning to take classes and then speak only French while sailing to re-inforce what I learn. But, although my friend speaks French, he doesn’t know sailing terms in French. Is there anyone who knows the French words for sailing terms like Port, starboard, tack trim, jibe, reef, luff, leach, halyard, sheet etc. might as well throw “aground” in there since it will be needed sooner than later. We appreciate any help. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Crabtown 3 Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 Glenans Sailing Manual is (was) available in French language. Similar to Chapmans' Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sail4beer 3,414 Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 @Panoramix will teach you a thing or 2! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
P_Wop 3,423 Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 There are plenty of resources in the internet, so Google is your friend. My own advice (which worked very well, thank you) is to find a pretty and capable bilingual French sailor lass (or lad, if that's your preference) and learn the words across a pillow in the V-berth. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nolatom 584 Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 Non. Okay, un peu. Un petit peu. Many sailing words we use are French. Mayday is M'aidez, "help me". Radio talk too. When you need quiet, it's "SeeLonce", silence. More radio. You've got something others should know, It's "Saycuritay", accent on last syllable, to get them to listen in. I can think of others. Just not now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nolatom 584 Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 Here is some, not all: https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/french-vocabulary/sailing/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TBW 178 Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 https://www.lawlessfrench.com/vocabulary/boating/ < a list of terms I am in a bilingual French/English (about 40% bilingual) sailing city. From what I have seen most here seem to use English for sailing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMB 560 Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 Read Asterix in the original french. All my french sailing terminology comes from the pirate sections. Another good source is the RRS in french :0 https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwi5qaqimLL1AhXPXc0KHeJoCT4QFnoECAMQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ffyb.be%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F04%2FRCV_2017-2020.pdf&usg=AOvVaw3vh6UzvT89uKzADJjJyQUz 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Boathavn 192 Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 Sailing with the very nice French people in the marina, I learned the hard way about "le Fuck Up". They are kind and still let me sail with them. Important phrase to know. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Left Shift 3,617 Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 Just get the Froggies to tell you why they call the jib "Le foc", the spinnaker "Le spi" and why ocean sailing is call "au large". Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Zonker 5,241 Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 Le Lapin. Try it around your french sailor friends. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mckenzie.keith 132 Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 Spelling may be wrong and I don't know how to type all the special letters. I learned by talking/listening. These people were from Brittany. voilier = sailboat bateau = boat voile = sail grand-voile = mainsail foc = jib (pronounced almost like "fuck" in english) leve la grande-voile (raise the main) descend la grand-voile (lower the main) lache = let go or release attachez = cleat or tie it off mat = mast bome = boom ponton = dock le vent = the wind Il y a beaucoup de vent = it's windy Il n'y a pas beaucoup de vent = it's not very windy Ca souffle = it's blowing Ca monte = the wind is increasing (literally it means "it is going up.. if context is lacking you can say "Ca monte, le vent" to make it clear. Ca descend = the wind is decreasing (literally it means "it is going down") spi = spinnaker putain = fuck (literally whore but used like "fuck" in english. It is very vulgar. Don't say it if you wouldn't say "fuck" in english.) ca me fait chier = this pisses me off (also pretty vulgar.. more or less like saying "this is bullshit"). Calme plan = calm and flat or dead flat calm Bordel = often used to describe a mess, or could just mean fuck (literally whorehouse). Vulgar. epave = wreck or really shitty looking boat. fait gaffe = watch out ( can be shouted when danger is imminent "fait gaffe la bome") attention = watch out (often used to point out hazards ahead of time) "I saw the voilier in the slip next to you." "Voilier, you mean l'epave?" "Hahah what a bordel!" "You can laugh but I see it every day. Ca me fait chier." 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AnotherSailor 450 Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 clusterfuck = merde! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PaulK 596 Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 Because there are so many technical terms on boats, vocabulary can be difficult. Backstays are a case in point. Bastaques are running backstays, while a standing backstay is a pataras: two entirely different words. You need to be careful with the exact meaning of things as well. 'Lacher' is to let go. 'Choquer' is to ease. 'Border' to pull in, 'hisser' to hoist. Letting go the sheet is not the same as easing it. Hoisting the jib is not the same as trimming it. There are lots of reasons to be careful. People make mistakes too, interchanging stays and shrouds: étais and haubans, for example. Regional variations come into play with things like boom vang and kicker. Google is not necessarily your friend. It can tell you a stay is a surcis - which refers to a court stay of judgement, or that a sheet is 'un drap' (a bedsheet) instead of 'une écoute'. Lists of translated sailing terms are probably the best source, but pronouncing things properly will still call for help from your sailing friend. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PaulK 596 Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 13 hours ago, Zonker said: Le Lapin. Try it around your french sailor friends. DON'T!! Rabbits are horrendously bad omens for French sailors. Worse than dead albatrosses & Mother Carey's Chickens together. Even the word is NEVER said aloud, and it is bad luck even to bring up the idea of them by talking about long-eared animals. Bananas are not found on board French boats either. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TBW 178 Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 9 minutes ago, PaulK said: Lists of translated sailing terms are probably the best source, but pronouncing things properly will still call for help from your sailing friend. Canadian French, for example, is very different from Parsian French. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
slug zitski 575 Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 19 hours ago, Quickstep192 said: I’m eager to learn French and my sailing buddy speaks French, so I’m planning to take classes and then speak only French while sailing to re-inforce what I learn. But, although my friend speaks French, he doesn’t know sailing terms in French. Is there anyone who knows the French words for sailing terms like Port, starboard, tack trim, jibe, reef, luff, leach, halyard, sheet etc. might as well throw “aground” in there since it will be needed sooner than later. We appreciate any help. The problem with French crew is that they like food double your provisioning budget Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PaulK 596 Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 45 minutes ago, TBW said: Canadian French, for example, is very different from Parsian French. eh? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Laurent 2,000 Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 13 hours ago, mckenzie.keith said: Spelling may be wrong and I don't know how to type all the special letters. I learned by talking/listening. These people were from Brittany. voilier = sailboat bateau = boat voile = sail grand-voile = mainsail foc = jib (pronounced almost like "fuck" in english) leve Hisse la grande-voile (raise the main) descend Affale la grand-voile (lower the main) lache choque l'écoute = let go or release the sheet attachez frapper = cleat or tie it off mat = mast bome = boom ponton = dock le vent = the wind Il y a beaucoup de vent = it's windy Il n'y a pas beaucoup de vent = it's not very windy Ca souffle = it's blowing Ca monte = the wind is increasing (literally it means "it is going up.. if context is lacking you can say "Ca monte, le vent" to make it clear. Ca descend = the wind is decreasing (literally it means "it is going down") spi = spinnaker putain = fuck (literally whore but used like "fuck" in english. It is very vulgar. Don't say it if you wouldn't say "fuck" in english.) ca me fait chier = this pisses me off (also pretty vulgar.. more or less like saying "this is bullshit"). Calme plan blanc = calm and flat or dead flat calm Bordel = often used to describe a mess, or could just mean fuck (literally whorehouse). Vulgar. epave = wreck or really shitty looking boat. fait gaffe = watch out ( can be shouted when danger is imminent "fait gaffe la bome") attention = watch out (often used to point out hazards ahead of time) "I saw the voilier in the slip next to you." "Voilier, you mean l'epave?" "Hahah what a bordel!" "You can laugh but I see it every day. Ca me fait chier." A good start, but I allowed myself to make a few corrections. See above in bold. Like in English, words can have double (or triple) meaning. So be careful. And what makes it worse, is that the most common meaning, in "everyday language" has absolutely no link to the "sailing language". A good example in English is "a sheet". In common language, a large piece of cloth on your bed, or a full size piece of paper. In sailing language, a line used to trim in and out a sail. The translation of the sailing language word is "une écoute", but in the common language, "écouter" means to listen. So the name "écoute" is the act of listening... A tricky word in French sailing is "dérive". The common sense, which is also used in sailing environment, is "drift", in the sense of going sideways. BUT, in sailing context, it also means... the daggerboard!!! The device used to AVOID drift!!! Don't ask me why... Another one, just for the heck of it. A delivery sail (bring a sailboat from point A to point B ) is called in French; un convoyage. But it is also related to moving stuff from one place to another, with a .... conveyor belt. So I have seen automatic translations, replacing what should have been dagger board,with drift, and delivery trip with conveyor belt... It always cracks me up... 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mckenzie.keith 132 Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 31 minutes ago, Laurent said: A good start, but I allowed myself to make a few corrections. See above in bold. Thanks. Looks like some of the things I said were tolerated by the people I was working with, but not strictly correct. And some I must have misheard (l guess I mis-heard "calme blanc"). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sidecar 1,306 Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 Don’t forget “babord” and “tribord”. Dozens of these around, but they may not be sufficiently colloquial these days: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Navig8tor 1,769 Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 14 hours ago, AnotherSailor said: clusterfuck = merde! In my French experience merde was uttered a lot, not necessarily because of clusterfucks-rather in recognition of the clusterfuck that was about to occur. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shaggybaxter 2,738 Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 When I was commissioning the boat, Pogo's user manual and documentation was all in French. They kindly corrected the mistake and gave me an English version. But all the pictures in it were all still labelled in French . Here are some random ones 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shaggybaxter 2,738 Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 My most favourite French nautical term of all time. "Clac clac clac" 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Laurent 2,000 Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 59 minutes ago, Navig8tor said: In my French experience merde was uttered a lot, not necessarily because of clusterfucks-rather in recognition of the clusterfuck that was about to occur. When you see the clusterfuck coming and you know there is nothing you can do, it is more like: Merde... Merde, MERDE! MerdeMerdeMerdeMERDEMEEEEEEERRRDE!!! 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Laurent 2,000 Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 More sériously; if you REALLY want to lear sailing with French terms, I am sure that there are a bunch of glossaries on line, but "Le Cours des Glénans" is ZE bible which has been used by generations of French wannabe sailors, to learn not only the vocabulary, but also why and how sailboats work. https://www.amazon.fr/Cours-Glénans-8ème-édition/dp/2021288269/ref=sr_1_1?crid=320G3T7W94W29&keywords=le+cours+des+glénans&qid=1642282831&s=books&sprefix=Le+cours+des+glénans%2Cstripbooks%2C185&sr=1-1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jmb 0 Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 On 1/14/2022 at 1:57 PM, Quickstep192 said: I’m eager to learn French and my sailing buddy speaks French, so I’m planning to take classes and then speak only French while sailing to re-inforce what I learn. But, although my friend speaks French, he doesn’t know sailing terms in French. Is there anyone who knows the French words for sailing terms like Port, starboard, tack trim, jibe, reef, luff, leach, halyard, sheet etc. might as well throw “aground” in there since it will be needed sooner than later. We appreciate any help. Port = babord Starboard= tribord tack = virer (de bord) to trim = border jibe empanner reef = ris luff = bord d'attaque leach = chute halyard = drisse (de spi, foc, grand-voile...), sheet = ecoute (de GV, foc, etc.) aground = a sec or echoue Hope this helps. jm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LB 15 6,516 Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 On 1/15/2022 at 6:54 AM, P_Wop said: There are plenty of resources in the internet, so Google is your friend. My own advice (which worked very well, thank you) is to find a pretty and capable bilingual French sailor lass (or lad, if that's your preference) and learn the words across a pillow in the V-berth. Merde! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dolfiman 5 Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 I am such french (old) sailor and (retired) naval architect. Having the reverse problem (to know the english terms), I use : Sailing : La voile - Vocabulaire anglais thèmatique - BabelCoach Buiding small boats : Petit lexique anglais-francais pour la construction de canots (lesbonscomptes.com) Another one : DICO-ENG_Marins.pdf By hoping this can be helpful 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cms 663 Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 One of the most useful French sailing verbs is pronounced "grétéper" meaning to apply some duct tape / duck tape / grey tape. Nice how they make a verb out of it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guy LeDouche 37 Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 Oui! Guy parle français mais il préfère ne le parler qu'aux femmes. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DELETED 208 Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 NKE Website was educational for me before i discovered the English version button in the top right corner. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Orion Jim 128 Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 Once you have a working knowledge of the general sailing terms you will find adding this to your lexicon will give you credibility within the yachting community. “Je vous demande pardon, Monsieur, mais allez vous faire foutre.” Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Baldur 144 Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 While hoisting the main for a race a car had come out of the track. The look on Rémi's face as he wondered why the crew was suddenly all shouting at him about an automobile and refusing to haul on the main.!?!?!?!? WTF?????? I cant remember the french word for that piece. It was very funny though. We spoke several different languages on that boat, German, French, Hindi, English, sometime Dutch or Spanish, & the English guys said I wasnt really a true Native English Speaker because I'm American. But everything was done in English. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Albatros 546 Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 1 hour ago, Orion Jim said: Once you have a working knowledge of the general sailing terms you will find adding this to your lexicon will give you credibility within the yachting community. “Je vous demande pardon, Monsieur, mais allez vous faire foutre.” that's the polite version, the one that is a bit more stingy is "allez vous faire enculer" ( a polite translation would be something like "go get yourself sodomised" and as Baldur remarks, if you get several languages mixed on board it can tend to get interesting ... got my first sailing lessons in french, next sailing schools was dutch, then naval school mostly english, and now sailing with neighbours in marina of which some french, most flemish and one english, there is no shame in talking about "that rope" instead of "that halyard", as long as it's clear which one Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PaulK 596 Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 2 hours ago, Baldur said: While hoisting the main for a race a car had come out of the track. The look on Rémi's face as he wondered why the crew was suddenly all shouting at him about an automobile and refusing to haul on the main.!?!?!?!? WTF?????? I cant remember the french word for that piece. It was very funny though. We spoke several different languages on that boat, German, French, Hindi, English, sometime Dutch or Spanish, & the English guys said I wasnt really a true Native English Speaker because I'm American. But everything was done in English. un charriot était sorti du rail... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Laurent 2,000 Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 When you want something adjusted gradually and you are guiding someone to do it for you, in French it is common to say: Un peu plus... Un peu plus... Pas plus. Which litterally means: A bit more... A bit more... Not more. Sailing with an English speaking friend, I was using the English translation as above to trim in a sail... except that instead of understanding: "Not more", he heard: "A LOT more" He is still teasing me to this day for my very peculiar use of the English language... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jambalaya 25 Posted January 18 Share Posted January 18 Excellent idea, go for it ! I sailed in France with a French crew for 5 seasons. Been with a French lady now for 9 years and spend about half of the year in France. I can get by and am happy to help but most definitely not fluent. The Glenan sailing school in Brittany is excellent and their resource is a good one. To give you an idea of my level, as noted above foc = jib (pronounced almost like "fuck" in english) For trim and ease we used to say Foc On Foc Off Jib often called "solent" and main = grand voile abbreviated to GV. Halyard = drisse Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jambalaya 25 Posted January 18 Share Posted January 18 On 1/15/2022 at 4:01 PM, PaulK said: eh? Certainly the pronunciation/accent. Also terminology varies. When I was trying to learn I watched "Jean de Florette" film of very famous book. My French friends warned me not to copy the accents unless I wanted to sound like a country bumpkin. Think of learning American English in Kansas and then turning up in New York or San Francisco ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rum Runner 409 Posted January 18 Share Posted January 18 Find a French speaking girlfriend. Best way to learn the language is in the bedroom. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Upp3 254 Posted January 18 Share Posted January 18 16 hours ago, Laurent said: Which litterally means: A bit more... A bit more... Not more. And that literally means inch, inch and effing 5 inches back. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cms 663 Posted January 18 Share Posted January 18 Australian sailing terms are so much easier. In fucker, down fucker etc. No worries. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mambo Kings 978 Posted January 18 Share Posted January 18 We were drifting in zero breeze in the Cherbourg race, just north of Alderney. Frenchie came up from down below, stuck his head out of the hatch, said something to the effect "Plat comme les seins d'une nonne " and went back to his bunk. I believe it means "Absolutely No Wind" ...or literally "Flat like the River Seine with nothing" Whenever Ive been on a French boat....and the wind craps out to nothing...I've used the phrase and it usually draws nodding agreement, so I feel very professional and French. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMB 560 Posted January 18 Share Posted January 18 9 minutes ago, Mambo Kings said: We were drifting in zero breeze in the Cherbourg race, just north of Alderney. Frenchie came up from down below, stuck his head out of the hatch, said something to the effect "Plat comme les seins d'une nonne " and went back to his bunk. I believe it means "Absolutely No Wind" ...or literally "Flat like the River Seine with nothing" Whenever Ive been on a French boat....and the wind craps out to nothing...I've used the phrase and it usually draws nodding agreement, so I feel very professional and French. or possibly flat as a nuns tits....... 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mambo Kings 978 Posted January 18 Share Posted January 18 1 hour ago, JohnMB said: or possibly flat as a nuns tits....... Shhhhh. Quick step is eager to learn On 1/14/2022 at 1:57 PM, Quickstep192 said: I’m eager to learn French.......I’m planning to take classes and then speak only French while sailing to re-inforce what I learn. Another helpful phrase is people from Quebec drive around with plates that say "I am a souvenir" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Laurent 2,000 Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 53 minutes ago, Mambo Kings said: Shhhhh. Quick step is eager to learn Another helpful phrase is people from Quebec drive around with plates that say "I am a souvenir" Non, pas du tout! "Plat comme les seins d'une nonne" literally means "as flat as a nun's tits", meaning flat seas... And "je me souviens" does not mean I am a souvenir, but "I remember" But you are pulling my leg, right? RIGHT? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Panoramix 1,776 Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 Lot of it has been covered I think. The "racing slang" can be funny and definitely not politically correct, in the 90s we used the the feminine of the n word (Négresse) to call an incoming puff (because the water becomes black when a big puff is about and puffs (risées) are feminine), I used to imagine an angry black woman about to board the boat! The N word is probably not as offensive in French. We use more English words now, "la fameuse" is now sometimes a "gybe drop". 12 hours ago, Jambalaya said: When I was trying to learn I watched "Jean de Florette" film of very famous book. My French friends warned me not to copy the accents unless I wanted to sound like a country bumpkin. Think of learning American English in Kansas and then turning up in New York or San Francisco ! I initially tried to learn English by watching "Neighbours", my British flatmates laughed at the ensuing mixed accent and kept asking me the time at 6 o'clock. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mambo Kings 978 Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 1 hour ago, Laurent said: Non, pas du tout! "Plat comme les seins d'une nonne" literally means "as flat as a nun's tits", meaning flat seas... And "je me souviens" does not mean I am a souvenir, but "I remember" But you are pulling my leg, right? RIGHT? Sigh......Laurent and John, I know what both meant (I spent the better part of 8 summers living with my parents in France) , but didn't you want to see Quickly tell his nice new French girlfriend on a nice sunny calm afternoon that that it is a perfect day to go out in the harbor with a couple of glasses and a bottle of Cotes de Rhone because the sea is as flat as a Nun's tits ? Oui, je te fais marcher, but perhaps the new ownership has sadly affected the humor in this place. Anyway, it wasn't Frenchie, and it wasn't anywhere near Alderney. It was Connor and it was in Perth and it was said with a strong Australian accent.. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mambo Kings 978 Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 2 hours ago, Laurent said: And "je me souviens" does not mean I am a souvenir, but "I remember" My French tutor when I was a young lad was Dr. Black. Poor chap, he had to put up with me for 4 years. As long as I could make myself understood at the baker in the morning and the local girls giggled at my accent at the cinema, I figured I had enough to get by. He used to tell me that he would know that I had finally mastered the language when I could dream in French. So he was very excited when at one of our early afternoon sessions I proudly announced that I had an entire dream the previous night in French. "That's Great . What was it about? " "C'est magnifique , Que s'est-il passé?". " I have no idea. They were speaking in French" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMB 560 Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 1 hour ago, Mambo Kings said: Sigh......Laurent and John, I know what both meant (I spent the better part of 8 summers living with my parents in France) , but didn't you want to see Quickly tell his nice new French girlfriend on a nice sunny calm afternoon that that it is a perfect day to go out in the harbor with a couple of glasses and a bottle of Cotes de Rhone because the sea is as flat as a Nun's tits ? You want me to pass up an opportunity to post a photo of tits just to make your joke work :)? Where do you think you are...... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mambo Kings 978 Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 22 minutes ago, JohnMB said: You want me to pass up an opportunity to post a photo of tits just to make your joke work :)? Where do you think you are...... Fair point. But are these the same tits that you would have relished nibbling 12 years ago when you first joined SA? Is it sad for me to admit that they do look rather delicious? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jambalaya 25 Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 On 1/19/2022 at 3:00 AM, Panoramix said: Lot of it has been covered I think. The "racing slang" can be funny and definitely not politically correct, in the 90s we used the the feminine of the n word (Négresse) to call an incoming puff (because the water becomes black when a big puff is about and puffs (risées) are feminine), I used to imagine an angry black woman about to board the boat! The N word is probably not as offensive in French. We use more English words now, "la fameuse" is now sometimes a "gybe drop". I initially tried to learn English by watching "Neighbours", my British flatmates laughed at the ensuing mixed accent and kept asking me the time at 6 o'clock. Yes the slang you have to be careful with especially in Brittany where political correctness hasn't really arrived Neighbours .... that's brilliant Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jambalaya 25 Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 @Quickstep192 from the front page these would be worth watching. It's everyday language. Quite hard to hear clearly for the on the water stuff and also the subtitles translate the meaning and not word for word (which is ok you just have to know that). For learning it's often best to have French subtitles although again they don't often don't put them word for word https://youtu.be/tdcNNZI07Vg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Panoramix 1,776 Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 1 hour ago, Jambalaya said: Yes the slang you have to be careful with especially in Brittany where political correctness hasn't really arrived Despite Le Pen being Breton, I definitely don't think that we are the worst offenders, actually we are quite open to the outside world and don't vote for him despite his origins. It's just that we speak in a very metaphoric way and that can easily be interpreted wrongly by those who don't know us! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Panoramix 1,776 Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 And it is not just puffs, a lot of stuff is personified and understated, like : navigator to helm : "How's the sea?" helm replies : "She's OK, I have a bit of an incoming SW swell now but she's OK and doesn't stop the boat" ("Comment est la mer?" "Elle va bien, J'ai un peu d'houle du Sud Ouest qui rentre, mais la mer va bien et n'arrête pas le bateau") Translation There is a new swell coming from the SW but that doesn't bother us! mainsail trimmer to helm : "How's the tiller" Helm : "She's a bit stiff" ("Comment est la barre ?" "Elle est un peu dure" ). Translation "I have some weather helm!" When the weather helm becomes really bad and the trimmer is useless . Helm will say "I can't hold the boat (as if the boat was a dog on a leash), we'll have to let some traveller" ("Je ne tiens plus le bateau, va falloir lâcher du chariot") Translation "Dump the traveler idiot, we are about to broach" 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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