Learning French
How mispronouncing French words can lead to awkward situations
Some slip-ups lead to confusion while others to pure embarrassment
While un baiser is a kiss, the verb is a vulgar way of referring to sex
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Have you ever discovered that you have been mispronouncing a word in French, to comic effect?
Realising that you have been confusing, amusing or even shocking people can be a moment of pure embarrassment.
We asked Connexion readers about awkward situaions they have experienced due to mispronunciations and mix-ups when speaking French.
A mix-up with the mechanic
Greg S. Finistère
“We live in Brittany, and older people here still speak Breton. My wife and I had been discussing some of the Breton words we’d heard, and they must have stuck in my head, unfortunately.
“I went to the local mechanic to ask about a problem with my scooter, which I thought was related to the spark plug. I walked in quite confidently, prepared to explain that I needed a bougie, but actually said the Breton word bouchig. Essentially, I had told the old guy that I needed a little kissy, and could he tell me what that would cost.
“He was understandably confused, and thank goodness I gestured to the scooter the second time around so it all became clear. When he explained, laughing, what I had actually said, I felt like such an idiot.”
Note to self: revise dating vocabulary
Sion D. Paris
Along similar lines, be wary of the difference between baisser (beh-say) and baiser (beh-zay) - the verb baisser with an 's' sound means 'to lower', while baiser with a 'z' has two different meanings:
"I have lived in Paris for 10 years but still cringe at the memory of a third date when I asked my new boyfriend if he wanted to kiss me… only, my formulation was woefully wrong.
"If un baiser is a kiss, I had reasoned, baiser must mean ‘to kiss’. Well, it was the wrong conclusion.”
Sion’s romantic question unintentionally became a crude proposition, but thankfully the gentleman understood and only revealed the truth several dates later.
Sion never made that mistake again!
