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FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY

French Word of the Day: aïe

More of a sound than a word but still very common... although hopefully you won't need it too often.

Published: 25 April 2019 17:03 CEST
French Word of the Day: aïe
Photo: Depositphotos

Why do I need to know aïe?

Aïe is a sound you will hear a lot around France and it may be one that moves you to ask the person who utters it if they're ok. 

One thing you can be sure of is that you definitely don't want to be in a position where you're saying it a lot. 

So, what does it mean?

The action that goes with this word is a deep frown or perhaps even a wince of pain, because it is the French equivalent of 'ouch!' or 'ow!' in English. 

So for example you might say: Aïe! Je me suis piqué le doigt. – Ow! I pricked my finger. 

Or Aïe! Aïe! Aïe! Je viens de me couper. – Ouch! I just cut my finger.

It can also mean 'oh', 'oh dear', 'oh no' or 'oh my'. 

In this case, you might say: Aïe! Que se passe-t-il? – Oh my! What's happening? 

How is it pronounced?

This one's a little hard to put into words, but luckily here's an example of how to pronounce it online. 

For more French Expressions and French Words of the Day you can CLICK HERE to see our full list

 

 

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FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY

French Phrase of the Day: Les carottes sont cuites

This French expression can be used in the kitchen, as an important coded message during war-time, and when the end is near.

Published: 20 September 2024 10:59 CEST
French Phrase of the Day: Les carottes sont cuites

Why do I need to know les carottes sont cuites?

Because this expression might signal the end of something.

What does it mean?

Les carottes sont cuites – roughly pronounced lay ca-rote sohn queet – translates as ‘the carrots are cooked’.

While you might use this literally when preparing a meal, the phrase is also an old-fashioned idiom.

Figuratively, it means ‘the situation is hopeless’ or ‘the decision is final’. The expression is very similar to ‘your goose is cooked’ or ‘your tea is out’ in English. It can also just mean ‘it’s over’.

Generally it has a negative connotation, which might be explained by the phrase’s origins.

There are a few guesses – the first involves the word carrotte having a close pronunciation to crotte (poop). The second evokes a phrase used in the 18th and 19th centuries.

At the time, avoir ses carottes cuites meant ‘to be dying’ or close to death. It was a bit of gallows humour – carrots were usually accompanied by meat dishes, so the joke is that the dying person would soon be meat themselves, ready to be eaten alongside some carrots. 

Over time, les carottes sont cuites went on to describe hopeless or unchangeable situations. 

That said, it has been used for some optimistic moments, notably during the D-Day landings, when les carottes sont cuites was a coded message from Radio Londres announcing the imminent landings  to their listeners.

Use it like this

Les carottes sont cuites. L’homme d’affaires a déjà décidé de le licencier. – It’s over. The businessman already decided to sack him.

Maman a déjà décidé de te punir ! Les carottes sont cuites. – Mummy already decided to punish you! Your goose is cooked.

C’est terminé. Les carottes sont cuites. Il a fait son choix. – It’s over, my goose is cooked. He made his choice.

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