-
Map of French accents: which do you prefer?
From the major division between north and south to the departments split in two - everywhere has one
-
‘Brexit: no-one else dares speak of leaving’: President Macron
The president also spoke of the threat from the far-right, the need for more border control, simpler rules and more defence investment in a speech in Paris
-
Why being told to go cook an egg in French is rarely a good thing
We look at seven colourful expressions to brighten up your conversations
Macron's delicious choice of words lost in translation
President sets internet tongues wagging with description of wife of Australian Prime Minister
President Emmanuel Macron caused something of a stir this week when he described the wife of the Australian Prime Minister as "delicious" during a visit to the country.
“I want to thank you for your welcome,” Mr Macron said to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at the end of a joint press conference in Sydney on Wednesday. “Thank you and your delicious wife for your warm welcome.”
The comment set tongues wagging in Australia and - thanks to the internet - beyond, but some have pointed out that the French délicieux can also be used to mean 'lovely' or 'delightful'.
Language expert Camille Chevalier Karfis, of French Today, said: "Délicieux (feminine "délicieuse") is mostly used to describe food.
"It can however mean "lovely" or "delightful" but it is quite sophisticated and seldom used that way nowadays - Nous avons passé une soirée délicieuse means we had a delightful evening."
Although a rather antiquated use of the word, she said that Mr Macron, of all people, would be aware of the meaning. "It's not at all surprising from President Macron, whose mastery of the French language is indeed délicieuse."
Stay informed:
Sign up to our free weekly e-newsletter
Subscribe to access all our online articles and receive our printed monthly newspaper The Connexion at your home. News analysis, features and practical help for English-speakers in France