FRENCH PROVERBS: EPISODE 5 – GIVE A GIRL THE RIGHT SHOES…
So do you like to give money?
It’s a tricky question, I know.
I bet that it depends on the circumstances.
Giving money to charity is different from giving money to bills, no?
Some people give their money away too easily, whether or not they like it!
Check out the article below for some more money talk and watch the video for some French that keeps on giving!
(This week: the verb DONNER – to give)
This is the fifth episode from our series – read our first, second, third, and fourth article.
Make sure you read the proverbs below – when you hear them in conversation, you really want to know what they mean – or else you may be excluded from the group 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.
Money is an overly used subject in today’s media – but don’t think that the traditional culture doesn’t give it its deserved place. Human behavior around money changes and proverbs won’t miss that – taxing it in a bitter sweet way, just enough to make it memorable.
French language has such a depth of wisdom, and it tells us how to relate, what to expect, how others think, helping us to find our niche in the society based on our preferences and desires.
Here are some of the most popular proverbs that refer to money and wealth.
The art of giving…
« Le temps, c’est de l’argent. »
Time is money.
« L’argent ne fait pas le bonheur. »
It is not enough to have money to be happy.
« Il vaut mieux tenir que courir. »
It is better to have something in hand rather than just promises.
« Un “tiens” vaut mieux que deux “tu l’auras”. »
It is better to have something in your hand rather than just promises.
« Chose promise, chose due. »
Promises must be kept and honored.
« Pierre qui roule n’amasse pas mousse. »
If you keep traveling you won’t accumulate wealth.
« Les bons comptes font les bons amis. »
You need to pay your debts if you want to keep good relationships with people.
« On reconnaît l’arbre à ses fruits. »
Someone’s value is seen in their actions.
« L’eau va à la rivière. »
Wealth and money go first to the rich.
« On ne prête qu’aux riches. »
We don’t trust the poor, we are rendering services to those who can pay.
« Les conseilleurs ne sont pas les payeurs. »
Those who give advice are generally not those who take risks.
Let’s see some more:
« Plaie d’argent n’est pas mortelle. »
Financial loss can always be repaired later.
« L’argent n’a pas d’odeur. »
Even gained dishonestly, money has the same value.
« L’argent ne pousse pas sur les arbres. »
Money is hard to earn.
« L’argent est le nerf de la guerre. »
Any successful business must be properly funded.
« Bonne renommée vaut mieux que ceinture dorée. »
It is better to have a good reputation rather than wealth.
« Qui paie ses dettes s’enrichit. »
When you pay yur debts, you become richer.
« Un sou est un sou. »
Each coin is important, even the smallest.
« Abondance de bien ne nuit pas. »
We must accept the something, even if we already have it, to be on the safe side.
« Les petits ruisseaux font les grandes rivières. »
Small accumulated profits eventually produce large profits.
« Déshabiller Pierre pour habiller Paul. »
Creates a debt to settle another debt; solves a problem by creating another.
Do you have a favorite yet?
« Tout ce qui brille n’est pas or. »
Appearances are deceiving.
« Le mieux est l’ennemi du bien. »
It is better to be content with what we have if we are satisfied, for wanting to improve is sometimes risky.
« L’appétit vient en mangeant. »
The more one has, the more one wants to own.
« L’argent est un bon serviteur, mais c’est un mauvais maître. »
Money is useful to help us live live, but it is harmful if one’s existence is entirely focused on it.
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 many French expressions by learning how to find the stem of the words and how to see the subtext and undertone of expressions.
The difference between French and English is significant: while the English words hold the context like a bag-pack, the French words need the context to be clearly defined. For example: « livre » means book or pound (depending on the gender) – same goes with « poêle »; how do you know when is one and not the other?
Like these examples, 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 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 your past years struggles.
Inspired from french.hku.hk
NOW IT IS YOUR TURN!
Tell us in the comments below, which proverb best reflects your money wisdom?
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?
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Always in your corner,
Llyane
photo credit: apmex.com, A.G. Photographe
« L’argent ne fait pas le bonheur. » is the one that resonates with me. I just gave $200 to a political candidate that I knew was going to have a hard time because he is for the environment and for women’s rights etc in a very conservative state. It felt really good to give to someone who could do more on a larger scale. I try to use giving money as a way to help people who are passionate about things I don’t have the time to advocate for on my own. Merci!
Beautiful, Ana, thank you so much for stopping by! 🙂
If I had some money to give, I would!!
I donate my time where I can instead. Although occasionally I will pay for a strangers coffee or once, their petrol. Was such fun!!
Makes you feel so good, doesn’t it? 🙂
Ah one of my favorite subjects! Money and wealth-consciousness. I could talk hours about this. My favorite is “On reconnaît l’arbre à ses fruits.” There is joy is sharing those fruits. That is what this is all about.
Great post, Llyane!
Love
Fatma
Awesome, Fatma – yes, we could talk for hours 🙂