This is another adjective corresponding to a noun. It seems odd that a fruit would have the name normally reserved for something prepared to have a smooth texture, but it is actually from the Dutch word pompelmoes – a big lemon – which explains the use of the word mousse in its French adaptation. This is not mousse that you eat – pâté, chocolate mousse – but grapefruit. I’m not sure if the form of many kites resembles deer, but perhaps the flighty movements of kites bring deer to mind. ![]() This could be literally translated as “flying deer”, but is actually the translation for “kite”. It’s good to have a six-syllable word for something so bombastic. Its definition in the Larousse appears as: “Qui suscite l'incrédulité par son caractère improbable ou incohérent : Une affirmation abracadabrantesque”. In French there is a corresponding adjective, which means preposterous, exaggerated. Remember the word abracadabra? It is used as an incantation for magic tricks and is spelled the same way in English and in French. ![]() Some words seem to be deliberately funny, while others have just turned out to be amusing.Ĩ Funny French Words 1) abracadabrantesque Did I mention the group of students who laughed their pointy heads off at the word deuil as they were adjusting to producing its vowel sounds? In this case, their anglophone twist on the sounds of the word played a role in how funny it was to them, but there are also French words and phrases that are funny to any person uttering them, whether or not they are native speakers. If you are learning French, it's useful to know some funny French phrases. I don’t think English speakers have developed the necessary throat muscles to pronounce either of these words correctly, although I think I came close once when I almost choked on a cashew.There are words and phrases that sound funny in any language, and French is no exception. ![]() I just thought it was funny that one letter made the difference for two words that seemed to have nothing to do with each other. I lived in the Netherlands for a few months and the only words I remember (besides the numbers 1 through 5 and thank you) are Slagboom (toll gate) and Slagroom (whipped cream). As guttural as German sounds, it has nothing on Dutch, which some Germans say is not actually a language but a throat disease.The German word for exit is Ausfahrt, which is funny for obvious reasons.Nothing says luxury like a name that sounds like it’s the skin disease capital of the world. The economy model was called the Trabant, which doesn’t sound that funny but the upscale model was called the Wartburg. In the old East Germany they made two models of cars.And it’s just funny because, as my daughter says, “it’s exactly how you would imagine the Germans would say rainbow.” The word they use to describe one of nature’s prettiest sights sounds like someone clearing their throat. Regenbogen is the German word for rainbow.The State Department spokesman released a statement calling the launch “a troubling and provocative escalation that the United States takes seriously.” Or at least we would take seriously if the missiles weren’t called No-dong. ![]() Just a few days ago those crazy North Koreans launched a couple of missiles into the waters off the Korean peninsula. Everybody admits that the names of the Korean missiles are hysterical.It’s just that some foreign words are funny. Of course this doesn’t mean that English is a superior language and it doesn’t reflect negatively on the speakers of other languages (no matter how silly their little languages may sound). If you are a native English speaker like myself you will notice that there are some words in other languages that just sound funny.
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