bvlenci

My brother-in-law speaks English everywhere. He doesn't go around bellowing, "Do you speak English?" He's a very quiet person, and he just starts talking as if he were speaking to an old friend. I don't know if it's his disarming smile, but he always ends up hitting it off with people wherever he goes, even if they don't understand a word he's saying. His wife, my sister, makes a big effort to speak the local language wherever she is, although the only language she knows well, other than dead ones, is French. For some reason, she's never as warmly received as her husband is.

Askar01

but now according to a French friend who is visiting it is perfectly OK to just say "Bonjour" - leaving out the madame or monsieur - a bit easier for the tourists and this lady says now satisfies the protocol.

Not with a policeman or a gendarme. They might not appreciate it.

PalenQ

a woman of a certain age vs age certain - I would think having the certain after the lady would mean you ascertained the exact age but having before a women would mean a woman of a certain age range?

Or is there not a definitive answer to that?

I have a French lady friend of a certain age staying with me now so I'll ask her and report back!

kerouac

a woman of a certain age vs age certain

Only middle aged farts (or even older than middle age) use those terms and only when they are trying to be funny.

PalenQ

clue me in - is there a difference in how the 'certain' is positioned - certainly there is or ceartainly there is none?Vous dites que que les hommes d'un certain age l'ont dit une ou l'autre - et oui pardon mon francaise! La mi-mere d'une ma ex-femme m'on dit que je <parle francaise comme une vache espangol> - and I think she were right!

manouche

It's never polite to refer to a woman's age, in French or in any other language.
There's no point in discussing the placement of the adjective "certain(e)" in this case, since no one in his/her right mind would use it in polite conversation en francais.
Et une vache espangnole parlerait mieux...

Pvoyageuse

d'un certain âge : vague, indicates that she is not in her prime.

d'un âge certain : more precise - you can ascertain her age - she definitely isn't young any more!

PalenQ

Mooooooo! (thanks in Spanish cow talk!)

DonTopaz

According to my Former Beloved and her BFF/MAT (both of whom are French), a "femme d'un âge certain" is very definitely older than a "femme d'un certain âge," though the precise specifications for either category tends to be highly variable. And all parties involved (myself, my FB, her BFF/MAT) are post-middle-aged farts.

jaja

In the US South, women of a certain age are referred to as "Miss ****". I knew I was looking old when I became Miss Judy.

PalenQ

mccart34 - are you so dumb so naive that this will result in any traffic to that - this will obviously - surprised not already target by Fodor's civilian police as sheer advertising and B S at that. So long baby - I would say nice try but it is so so obviously some scam that you should be ashamed to be a part of.

Plus this is illegal and I hope Fodor's cops try to turn you and any web sites into the appropriate authorities. What a bunch of B.S. Who do you think you're dealing with - tilting at windmills at best.

Again the worst to yous - do you really think this can work - if so you are the dumbest most naive person on the planet!

NewbE

Pal, I hope you reported the post. And I hope you realize that by replying to it, you are making more work for whoever has to delete your post as well as the ad--because it won't make sense in the thread otherwise. How I wish you people would learn to just ignore and report! It's not as though s/he's going to read your oh-so-trenchant reply. They don't come back! Wise up!

Pepper_von_snoot

When I walk into Colette, I slam my Birkin bag on the counter and yell, "Coucou toi!"


At Deyrolle, I just say, "Ca va?"


Thin, reads Balzac

PalenQ

Now Thin is a woman of a certain age! Certainly!

TDudette

There is an ambiguity. All men are Messieurs but some where along the line, women are either married, not married, or actresses.

If I greet a very young looking Madam as Mademoiselle, will she be offended?

DonTopaz

> If I greet a very young looking Madam as Mademoiselle

Is it really appropriate to ask bordello-related questions here?

TDudette

It is a genuine question, DonTopaz, and I repeat it. It is based upon the French I took many years ago.

Pepper_von_snoot

I am a man of a certain age.

If Bruce Jenner can wear his hair like he is Joyce Carol Oates, I can carry a Birkin bag.

Thin

kerouac

All men are Messieurs but some where along the line, women are either married, not married, or actresses.

You have clearly never heard of the vieux beaux or the vieux garcons.

PalenQ

My French son when a teen would call old me "Pepe" - I don't know why - like "hey Pepe"