What are the origins and meaning of the phrase dès potron-minet?

While this amusing phrase has somewhat fallen out of everyday use, you may still hear older generations of French speakers saying it.

We look at how it can be used and why it is actually linked to cats.

What does dès potron-minet mean?

It literally translates as ‘as soon as the cat’s backside’. However, this could be extended to ‘as soon as you see the cat’s backside’.

The expression is actually used to refer to the early morning, just after the sun rises over the horizon. 

Other French synonyms include:

• Au point du jour – at the break of day

• Aux premières lueurs – at the first light

• Au chant du coq – at cockcrow

What are the origins of dès potron-minet?

The origins can be traced as far back as 1640, to the Burgundian expression pauitrou-jaiquai or le poitron-jacquet in Old French. 

This stems from the Latin word posterio, which refers to the rear, behind or backside, while jacquet is a colloquial term for a squirrel. 

In the 19th Century, the phrase evolved from squirrel to minet – a cute word to refer to a cat, much like ‘kitty’ in English.

Squirrels and cats are considered to be early risers – waking up at the same time as the sun and often pointing their bottom into the air while having a big morning stretch.

When do you say dès potron-minet?

The phrase is most often said with negative or mocking undertones:

• Mon mari veut rentrer en voiture dès potron-minet pour éviter les embouteillages. (‘My husband wants to drive home at daybreak to avoid traffic.’)

• Chaque jour, dès potron-minet, les oiseaux se mettent à chanter sous ma fenêtre. (‘Every day, at the crack of dawn, the birds start singing by my window.’)

To whom do you say dès potron-minet?

It is an older colloquial expression that can be used with friends and family.

It is not likely to offend anyone, however some younger generations may not be familiar withit.

You are more likely to hear it said out loud rather than see it written down.

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