Hoddy Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 I came across a postcard with this on. When I asked my French neighbour he looked rather sheepish and said it was a greeting that you would use with someone you are very familiar with.“Hey up mi duck” is a widespread familiar greeting in my part of the UK.Does anyone know if this greeting is in use in all parts of France or if it is a fairly local thing ?Hoddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 The neighbour is right, it is a direct equivalent to 'ay oop me dook' which was certainly very common when I lived in Derbyshire - in fact it was the use of that phrase that was said to characterise locals from the area near Belper where I was. Some sources suggest that the origin of the East Midland phrase is this same French term, although others suggest it comes from 'The Dukeries', the area around Worksop in North Notts. The phrase in French seems perfectly innocent, so I don't know why the neighbour may have felt sheepish.I don't think it's purely local to your area - a quick Google showed it is also current in Belgium, and comes up frequently in lists of French terms of endearment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchie Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 Indeed, it's commonly used, mon lapin ! [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 In my old region of France people say 'mon chou' most. But mon canard and mon chou are very familier as far as I am concerned.In the NE of England we don't say 'me duck' as my mother would say, but 'pet', which used to amuse my young sons a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patf Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 or 'hinny'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 [quote user="Frenchie"]Indeed, it's commonly used, mon lapin ! [:D][/quote]And 'ma puce' for very small children. Though I feel that to be called an irritating insect is not perhaps not always a compliment. Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 In the South West of England it is often 'my lover' which can lead to funny looks.I don't often hear anything after Bonjour down here unless it is Ca va? Perhaps it is more common further North?A canard is a sugar lump to soften rough brandy or a 'rag' in the sense of a poor quality newspaper hence the self mocking title le Canard enchaîné of the satirical paper.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 [quote user="suein56"][quote user="Frenchie"]Indeed, it's commonly used, mon lapin ! [:D][/quote]And 'ma puce' for very small children. Though I feel that to be called an irritating insect is not perhaps not always a compliment. Sue[/quote]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyT6jyNbJLg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 And I thought you were being affectionate when you called me your canard,Norman! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancer Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 My favorite Only fools and horses moment:Del and Rodney are in France on their way to Uncle Albert's reunion. Del One of my most favouritist meals is Duck à l'Orange, but I don't know how to say that in French.Rodney It's canard. (the can sounded more like kin)Del You can say that again bruv!Rodney No the French word for duck is canard.Del Is it? I thought that was something to do with the QE2?Rodney No that's Cunard. They're the ones with the boats and what have you. The French for duck is canard.Del Right lovely jubbly. Right, so how do the French say à l'Orange then?Rodney A l'Orange!Del What, the same as we do?Rodney YesDel Oh dear, it's a pity they don't use more of our words innit eh? Canard has now won its place in my Franglais vocabulaire, amongst mes proches I say "c'est canard!" instead of "c'est pas evident!"I dont think that I have ever sucessfully explained the comedy sketch they just know what I mean now and I am waiting with impatience for one of them to slip up and say it [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Animal Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 Bonjour mes petits loups, mes petits poussins ! [:P] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 [quote user="NormanH"]A canard is a sugar lump to soften rough brandy or a 'rag' in the sense of a poor quality newspaper hence the self mocking title le Canard enchaîné of the satirical paper..[/quote]Not just brandy where I come from, more like eau de vie made from the rotting plums from the orchard next to us![:-))] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoddy Posted August 29, 2012 Author Share Posted August 29, 2012 Thanks for all these interesting replies.Around these parts 'canard' is used for any after dinner drink with sugar. Half the time no-one seems to know exactly what it is. It rarely has a label on and is sometimes thought to be something granny made in the 1980s.I am still intrigued by the expression 'mon canard' though. I wonder how it came into being in the first pace and why it persisted in a relatively limited area of England.Hoddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchie Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 [quote user="Christine Animal"]Bonjour mes petits loups, mes petits poussins ! [:P] [/quote] Coucou ma biche ! [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 [quote user="Hoddy"]Thanks for all these interesting replies.Around these parts 'canard' is used for any after dinner drink with sugar. Half the time no-one seems to know exactly what it is. It rarely has a label on and is sometimes thought to be something granny made in the 1980s.I am still intrigued by the expression 'mon canard' though. I wonder how it came into being in the first pace and why it persisted in a relatively limited area of England.Hoddy[/quote]The first time I had home made Calvados it was put on a sugar cube, eve n so I felt that all my teeth would fall out, it was so strong..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Animal Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 [quote user="Frenchie"][quote user="Christine Animal"] Bonjour mes petits loups, mes petits poussins ! [:P] [/quote] Coucou ma biche ! [:)][/quote] Alors, tu es revenue ma puce ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchie Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Oui ma caille .. Been through tough times in 2012, lost my dad from lung cancer (diagnosed in feb, died in April ...) , then my gran I loved so much too, then 2 uncles (dad's brothers..) ... J'ai été comme une huitre dans sa coquille pendant des mois... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Animal Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Oh ma pauvre, ça fait vraiment beaucoup. You must feel so orphaned. I think at whatever age you lose your parents, you feel lost, especially your father. Je suis de tout coeur avec toi et je t'embrasse très fort chère Frenchie. [kiss]Et bon courage pour la rentrée des classes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchie Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Merci de tout coeur aussi. Dad was "only" 75, and what saddened me a lot is that I couldn't see him alive one last time... I had planned to go when on hols for Easter, arriving on the 22nd. He died on the 17th....... My mum says he wouldn't have liked me to see him so ill... He had lost 13 kg in 2 months, could hardly eat and walk any longer... Poor dad, I miss him.. The last time I talked to him on the phone he sounded so vulnerable.. He said "quoi qu'il arrive, occupez vous bien de votre mère ". That's what I try to do, even if we live 900 k from each other. She came to my place for a month this summer. Was good to have her here.Thanks for your nice words & understanding.. [kiss] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Animal Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 My father was only sixty-four. I was not there either. It was very sudden and a great shock. Je sais ce que tu ressens. That's nice that you are close to your mother, even if she is so far away, you have each other.Et la rentrée des classes ? Aren't you back at school yet ? When does it start, I never know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Frenchie, mes condoléances....oui, c'était très dur pour toi, je suis sûre!Have been wondering where you were and whether you'd just got fed up with us here.Je t'embrasse et G aussi [kiss] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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