FRENCH PROVERBS – EPISODE 2: ANIMAL WISDOM
So do you enjoy looking at adorable animals?
Who doesn’t, no?
Maybe this is why we enjoy watching kitten and puppy videos on Youtube so much!
They’re just a complete joy and some can even be important members of the family!
Check out the article below to find out more about how animals are part of the French language and check out the video for some French worth looking into!
(This week: the verb REGARDER – to look)
This is the second episode from our series – read our first article.
Make sure you read the proverbs below – when you hear them in conversation, you really want to know what they mean – or else may be excluded from the fun.
The most fascinating element of proverbs is their multi-dimensionality for sure, but their strongest dimension is cultural. They act as references, intervening in situations where communication is shared by speakers of the same language, but where metaphor is needed. With it they express the often conservative and contradictory wisdoms of the time, as well as everyday experience.
We all know that animals and children have their own wisdom. But how can we learn from them – or should we?
French language has such a depth of wisdom, and it tells us that yes, we should open our ear to those who don’t speak and borrow some of their un-orthodox approach to a beautiful life.
Here are some of the most popular proverbs that have animals as a theme.
A little bird whispered in my ear…
« Ce n’est pas à un vieux singe qu’on apprend à faire la grimace. »
You can’t teach anything to someone who has a lot of experience.
« Quand on parle du loup on en voit la queue. »
When talking about someone (usually speaking ill), that person suddenly shows up.
« Il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l’ours avant de l’avoir tué »
You don’t own yet something you didn’t yet acquire. You should not celebrate the victory too soon.
« Les loups ne se mangent pas entre eux. »
The evil people sympathize and support each other.
« Il faut hurler avec les loups. »
You must adapt to the customs of the people you hang out with.
« Petit à petit l’oiseau fait son nid. »
We must have patience and perseverance if we want to get results.
Aren’t they ultra fun?
« Qui va à la chasse perd sa place. »
When we are absent, we are often the loser because when we come back, someone has taken our place.
« Qui vole un œuf vole un bœuf. »
One who steals small things can also steal large ones. A little mischief can also be a big one.
« Il ne faut pas mettre la charrue avant les boeufs. »
You have to do things in order, do not start them from the end.
« Il ne faut pas mettre tous ses oeufs dans le même panier. »
You should think ahead about more opportunities to diversify your assets and resources.
« La nuit tous les chats sont gris. »
In certain circumstances, everything looks the same. In a complicated situation, it is difficult to judge.
« Quand le chat n’est pas là, les souris dansent. »
When the boss is gone, we can do what we want.
« Chien qui aboie ne mord pas. »
Those who make the most noise are not always the most dangerous.
How will you choose – flip a coin?
When you have so many things to learn – grammar, pronunciation, phrase construction, verb conjugation, oh-là-là – how do you approach learning the proverbs? Do you memorize them? Do you have a cheat sheet that you peek at during the cocktail party?
In the J’Ouellette® Intensif program, you will understand the French expressions by learning how to find the stem of the words and how to see the subtext of expressions.
The difference between French and English is very big: while the English words hold the context like a bag-pack, the French words need the context to be clearly defined. For example: « la serviette » means napkin, towel and briefcase; how do you know when is one and not the other? By context.
Like this example, there are also families of words with concrete and abstract meaning which are easy to identify, once you have a good eye for the stem of the family that can be found in all the words.
Want to know how to master the French expressions? Try J’Ouellette® Intensif and never look back to the struggles of the past years.
Inspired from french.hku.hk
NOW IT IS YOUR TURN!
Tell us in the comments below, which animal proverb speaks most to you? 🙂
Let me guess.
Do you constantly have the feeling that you can’t hear what the French say and you don’t know how to read all the French words because they are written so much differently than they sound?
Learn 3 secrets that will help you be self sufficient in the way you pronounce French words – even if you don’t know what they mean – so that you can read that sophisticated menu in your favorite French restaurant.
Immerse yourself as you FINALLY reach your dream of becoming bilingual, learn to speak Parisian French on Skype and BREAK your language barrier!
…and now, please SHARE this article with your friends. They’ll love you for it! : )
Always in your corner,
Llyane
photo credit: A.G. Photographe, Marc Nouss, Trend Hunter
These expressions are so helpful and interesting, too.
These aren’t the typical things you learn in basic French 101. Thanks so much for this. I’m going to share it with my daughter who is in love with all things French!
My pleasure, Suzanne! 🙂
It’s interesting how each plays into the French laid back outlook on life and overall acceptance of people.
Yes, it makes you speak slower and breathe deeper, doesn’t it? 😉
Llyane, comme d’habitude, j’aime bien votre blog! (Apologies for the broken French but you inspire me to keep trying!) 🙂
My favorite proverb from your list is:
« Petit à petit l’oiseau fait son nid. » So very true in everything we do!
Thanks as always and I hope to see you on my next trip to Paris! <3
Oh, I hope to see you too, Carla! 🙂
I am an avid lover of language. One of my favorite classes in college was Anthropology of Linguistics… I thought I was going to fail the class but loved it to pieces and that itself got me a B in the class… one of the things I love the most about language is just how is used tells you so much about a particular culture. The proverbs are a great example of the French psyche and I love the French even more for it.
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for sharing this with us, Victoria!
xo