Today Jojojiba asked me a pretty long, but interesting question: Despite being one of the powerhouses of European cinema as well as some of the most important pioneers of film artistry, how come France could not produce a Golden Age star who is still adored today internationally like Sophia Loren? […]
Ask a Frenchman!
Do you remember, my old Ask a Frenchman blog? A few years ago, I imported a few posts here. Well, what about I import more? Maybe all of them if I find the time? Let’s start with this one. It was originally posted in 2009, so some things may have […]
Hello David, I have a question for you. Since I was born half French and Irish, have been trying to find the right course to take on learning authentic French. I am very confused on this. My Mother was born and raised in New Brunswick, Canada, and we learned Quebec […]
(asked by Kristin from Scotland) Bonjour Monsieur, I was just wondering what French people think of ginger/red hair and if there is any prejudice against it? I just call it Ginger hair but some people find this term offensive. Is there an offensive term in French or is roux/rousse […]
(asked by Carina from Portugal) Dear Frenchman, I’ve just discovered your blog and I’m finding your answers much more engaging than I was expecting to. In a matter of minutes you’ve managed to stimulate my curiosity concerning France in a way I didn’t think possible until this very moment […]
I haven’t written anything about the events of last Friday night in Paris. Not sure why. Maybe I don’t really feel like expressing myself about them yet. Maybe I simply don’t have much to add to the whole thing. That and the fact that it feels so unreal to […]
(asked by Anne from DC and – probably- currently in France) The other day when I was visiting a friend in Paris, I noticed that one of the names listed on the interphone in her building was the Comtesse de Something (I can’t remember what). So what’s the deal? France […]
(asked by Chris from… Mmm… I don’t know where he’s from, but I will have to assume the US) Hello! We have had several interns from France stay with us, and it seems a common theme is that they all believe that air conditioning makes people sick. I thought […]
(asked by David B. from Québec) I would like to know, what do the French really think of the Franco-Québécois, or even of the non-francophones from Quebec and Canada. Just to see as to how it differs from their overall and/or personal appreciation of that great American figure […]
So, Marie, from somewhere (I suspect the US considering the question) asked the following thing: Do French people really use the expression “Ooh La La”? If so, what does it mean? Is it used more by women or does everyone say it? How do the French pronounce it? Do […]