Letters: French 'réserve de chasse' sign does not mean what I thought it did

To the Editor,

Both my wife and I are good French speakers and both of us have always translated réserve de chasse as being the area reserved for hunting. This is, after all, the literal translation. 

How to keep hunters out of your garden in France

When out walking in the Vaucluse last Christmas the randonneur’s track on the map went straight through the middle of a wood marked réserve de chasse, which naturally caused us to raise a bit of an eyebrow. 

After some research we learned that it actually means the exact opposite of what it implies – ie. that this is an area where hunting is NOT permitted. 

Perhaps we are the last to know this but it struck me that we’re probably not – especially amongst non-native French speakers who rely on Google Translate. 

It’s a misunderstanding which could go badly wrong!

Martin Roberts, by email 

Editor’s note: The term 'réserve de chasse' designates an area where animals are protected from hunting so numbers can be re-established.

Have you been wrongfooted by any peculiar French turns of phrase? Share them with us at letters@connexionfrance.com