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Appendix V: Glossary of French Words and Terms
- University Press of Mississippi
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CHAPTER 1 tarte salée a savory pie-like vegetable dish boulanger baker boulangerie bakery Oui? Yes? Père Father Madame Mrs. Chiens de Montagne des Pyrénées Great Pyrenees dogs, aka Pyrenean Mountain Dogs département a geographic governmental area CHAPTER 2 boulangerie bakery rue street quai embankment; levee CHAPTER 3 fraulein young woman (German) baguette French bread loaf les Allemands the Germans CHAPTER 4 filée dried, powdered sassafras leaves used to thicken gumbo CHAPTER 5 les États-Unis the United States la Nouvelle Orleans New Orleans francs French unit of currency sérieux serious CHAPTER 6 raison d’être reason for being poules d’eau literally “hens of the water”; American coot CHAPTER 7 banquette sidewalk les femmes women beaucoup de l’eau a lot of water APPENDIX V: Glossary of French Words and Terms EYES OF AN EAGLE EYES OF AN EAGLE EYES OF AN EAGLE 290 EYES OF AN EAGLE Comment ça va? How are you? How’s it going? Bonjour Good day; Hello M. abbreviation for Monsieur, Mr. Mlle. Miss sous copper coin; a penny Un joli nom pour une jolie fille. A pretty name for a pretty girl. baguettes loaves of French bread CHAPTER 8 laissez-faire noninterference in personal freedom CHAPTER 9 furieuse furious Sapristi! interjection expressing surprise, impatience, or hopelessness Mon Dieu My God Bonjour, Pierre, mon frère. Hello, Pierre, my brother. puis je m’en vais then I’m leaving adieu goodbye CHAPTER 11 Mon Dieu! My God! Ils vont nous tuer ? They’re going to kill us? les Acadiens Acadians la guerre war CHAPTER 13 moi me papa daddy un a garçon boy j’espère I hope. CHAPTER 14 fait accompli a thing accomplished and presumably irreversible patois a dialect differing from the standard language of a country CHAPTER 15 traiteur folk “healer” C’est étrange, non? It’s strange, isn’t it? 291 Appendix V: [3.237.51.235] Project MUSE (2024-03-28 21:00 GMT) CHAPTER 16 marraine godmother nainaine colloquial title given to one’s godmother parrain godfather traînasse a shallow, narrow waterway for pirogue travel CHAPTER 17 La Tristesse The Sadness Joyeux Noel demain Merry Christmas tomorrow Tu est encore triste? You are still sad? Non, chère petite. No, dear little one. CHAPTER 19 Tante aunt glorieuse glorious gateau de sirop cane syprup cake oreilles de cochon fried pastries, literally pigs’ ears bon idée good idea fête de naissance birthday party galerie porch goutte a taste; a small amount demitasse a half-cup; a small cup Mes fils…non, mes hommes. My sons…no, my men. Écoutez. Listen. C’est vrai. It’s true. Votre bébé est malade. Your baby is sick. Elle a colique. She has colic. C’est temps d’aller, Marguerite dit. Marguerite says it’s time to leave. Le temps se passe. Time is passing. CHAPTER 21 la Nouvelle Orleans New Orleans misérable miserable Je comprends. I understand. le Docteur the doctor (colloquial) miracle miracle à at, to pauvre poor EYES OF AN EAGLE EYES OF AN EAGLE EYES OF AN EAGLE 292 EYES OF AN EAGLE la prairie tremblant floating marsh (trembling prairie) Étrange strange les petits enfants grandchildren garde-soleil sunbonnet triste pitiful CHAPTER 23 Monsieur Mister oui yes Gascon An ancient dialect spoken by residents of the Spanish-French region of the High Pyrenees, with roots in Roman times vous connaissez you know jeune homme young man grand gens important people mon petit-fils my grandson garçon boy frère brother mangeable edible les maladies sicknesses courage fortitude, courage lagniappe extra; unexpected prospérité prosperity, success Papa, prend un peu de repose Dad, rest a little. bébé baby les enfants children merci le bon Dieu thank God grand-père grandfather grand-mère grandmother grand-grand-père great-grandfather grand-grandmère great-grandmother avocat de la ville city attorney Incroyable incredible Mon compatriote my (fellow) countryman Quelle magique. What magic. Adieu Goodbye rape à maïs dried corn grater dîner noon meal 293 Appendix V: ...