How to express deepest sympathy?
Feb 2nd, 2006, 09:08 AM
#1
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How to express deepest sympathy?
A neighbor's husband just died. We are on friendly terms, but still use <i>vous</i>. The only translation of deepest symapthy in my dictionary is <i>veuillez agréer mes condoléances</i>, which, given the relationship, is a little too much. What would be a better expression? Thanks.
Feb 2nd, 2006, 10:32 AM
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Normally the adjective does come after the noun (I am aware of exceptions and differences in meaning: <i>un grand homme</i> and <i>un homme grand</i
, but putting it in front is a form of emphasis.
, but putting it in front is a form of emphasis.
Feb 2nd, 2006, 11:22 AM
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I would put sincere after the noun myself (and do when writing in French, like mes sentiments sinceres), it would have to agree in number with the noun in any case (so mes sincere regrets would be wrong).
I don't think the phrase in your dictionary is a little too much at all given your relationship. In fact, I would write that to someone whom I didn't know well at all. Do you mean it's not enough since it is your neighbor? Perhaps you aren't used to French correspondence which traditionally can be quite formal. Heck, I write things like that to hotels to make reservations or thank people for services (not with the word condoleances, of course).
"croyez à mes sentiments de profonde sympathie et à mes condoléances attristées" is fairly standard or
"je vous prie d'accepter ma respectueuse sympathie" or "nous vous prions" as the case may be.
I don't think the phrase in your dictionary is a little too much at all given your relationship. In fact, I would write that to someone whom I didn't know well at all. Do you mean it's not enough since it is your neighbor? Perhaps you aren't used to French correspondence which traditionally can be quite formal. Heck, I write things like that to hotels to make reservations or thank people for services (not with the word condoleances, of course).
"croyez à mes sentiments de profonde sympathie et à mes condoléances attristées" is fairly standard or
"je vous prie d'accepter ma respectueuse sympathie" or "nous vous prions" as the case may be.
Feb 2nd, 2006, 11:26 AM
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Well, I just check Le Parfait Secretaire, and it uses "ma pensée..."
It also recommends "Croyez que je prends la part la plus sincère `a votre grand chagrin, et recevez l'expression de mon sentiment attristé et fidèlement sympathique."
It also recommends "Croyez que je prends la part la plus sincère `a votre grand chagrin, et recevez l'expression de mon sentiment attristé et fidèlement sympathique."
Feb 2nd, 2006, 01:06 PM
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Christina,
The formality of <i>Veuillez agréer ...</i> was too much. She planted flowers around our house, we invited each other over for meals, in spite of warnings by another neighbor: her lunches start at 12:30 and end at 6:00. She's the one who gives me home-made foie gras and confit. I arranged for her to use my cousin's property (for free) for hay and grazing her donkeys. But it was still <i>vous</i> and <i>monsieur</i> & <i>madame</i>. I suspect that a misperception of class is part of the problem.
The formality of <i>Veuillez agréer ...</i> was too much. She planted flowers around our house, we invited each other over for meals, in spite of warnings by another neighbor: her lunches start at 12:30 and end at 6:00. She's the one who gives me home-made foie gras and confit. I arranged for her to use my cousin's property (for free) for hay and grazing her donkeys. But it was still <i>vous</i> and <i>monsieur</i> & <i>madame</i>. I suspect that a misperception of class is part of the problem.
Feb 2nd, 2006, 02:48 PM
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Of all the options on this thread, I would say that Christina has it perfectly right: warm yet correct, without being impersonal.
"Mon sentiment attristé et fidèlement sympathique" is impossible for an Anglophone to write or send -- she'll know it came out of a book.
"Mon sentiment attristé et fidèlement sympathique" is impossible for an Anglophone to write or send -- she'll know it came out of a book.
