Useful words and phrases for PBP

[SandyV]

Comments on another thread made me think - what French words or phrases did you find useful during PBP or wish you knew?

Some starters:

"puree" (pronounced puray ) = mashed potato and was available at most controls
that alltime favourite "pain au chocolat" (pron. pan o shoc-o-la)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pain_au_chocolat
dormitory - dortoir
where can I sleep? - Où puis-je dormir ?


Edited: Thanks Frenchie

[Redlight]

You forgot "Je suis presque mort"

[Andrij]

Another very important bit of French.

Je suis le maire de Mortagne-au-Perche.   

[Ian H]

I rode some way with a jolly Parisien in 95: "I'm not really a cyclist but I had to do my local event just the once."
I asked him whether there was an expression more emphatic than tres fatigue. He drew me aside and answered, "Oui, c'est fuerked."
[My attempt at phonetic spelling]

[Salvatore]

I asked him whether there was an expression more emphatic than tres fatigue. He drew me aside and answered, "Oui, c'est fuerked."
[My attempt at phonetic spelling]

I humbly suggest je suis crevé, but I 'm sure Panoramix and his fellow-countrymen can suggest a range of suitable phrases to indicate varying degrees of bonk and and/or knackeredness.

[Julian]

Crevé means knackered but its literal meaning is punctured, so that might cause confusion!

[Ian H]

I asked him whether there was an expression more emphatic than tres fatigue. He drew me aside and answered, "Oui, c'est fuerked."
[My attempt at phonetic spelling]

I humbly suggest je suis crevé...

M. Parisien (I can't now remember his name) wasn't above the occasional joke. He certainly brightened up the latter stages of the event. I recall him loudly taking the p1ss out of passing gendarmes, something I was schooled never to do.

[vorsprung]

Actual french phrases actually deployed by me with a accent described as "the worst" by other riders

On being asked if I would like to eat a large greasy omelette at Loudeac at 1am
"C'est ne pas possible pour mon c' soir"

When discussing why my bike wouldn't fit in the home made bike racks at JdV
"Le pneu est de vingt huit millimètres mais un compound vitesse"

Trying to buy a sandwich with no ham ( this didn't work obviously: all sandwiches have ham )
"Je voudrais un sandwich avec non jambon s'il vous plaît"

On being asked (after I'd finished) when I'd be doing the ride again
"Jamais"

Saying "Je suis Crevé" doesn't cause confusion at controls but a response like "tout le monde est crevé" can be expected

[alexb]

J'ai mal - I hurt - point to injured spot
Possibly the single most useful phrase you'll need!

Since I speak pretty good French, I was susrprised at how many riders had not taken learning a few phrases into account during their preparation.

I ordered cakes, donuts, croissants, coffees etc. for a large group of american Randonneurs in a cafe in the middle of nowhere. They had no clue what the proprietor of the cafe was asking them and were simply repeating politely, but loudly, what they wanted.  Many smiles and jokes all round once I did my translation bit.

[alexb]

Actual french phrases actually deployed by me with a accent described as "the worst" by other riders

On being asked if I would like to eat a large greasy omelette at Loudeac at 1am
"C'est ne pas possible pour mon c' soir" - Try "non merci"

When discussing why my bike wouldn't fit in the home made bike racks at JdV
"Le pneu est de vingt huit millimètres mais un compound vitesse"

Trying to buy a sandwich with no ham ( this didn't work obviously: all sandwiches have ham )
"Je voudrais un sandwich avec non jambon s'il vous plaît" - "sandwich sans jambon s'il vous plait"

On being asked (after I'd finished) when I'd be doing the ride again
"Jamais"  

Saying "Je suis Crevé" doesn't cause confusion at controls but a response like "tout le monde est crevé" can be expected

[TOBY]

Isn't a Quarter Pounder with Cheese a Royale with Cheese? and a Big Mac's a Big Mac, but they call it Le Big Mac?

[MSeries]

Le Big Mac.

What do they call a Whopper ?

[TOBY]

Le Big Mac.

What do they call a Whopper ?

I dunno, I didn't go into a Burger King.
But you know what they put on french fries in Holland instead of ketchup?

[Salvatore]

I rode some way with a jolly Parisien in 95: "I'm not really a cyclist but I had to do my local event just the once."

Off-topic anecdote: In 1995 I rode into Villaines (on the way back) with Ann Learmonth and a local called Gérard - he'd seen all these cyclos every 4 years and had eventually decided to give it a go. He got rather emotional:
(a) as we gradually reached his home turf
(b) arriving at VlJ in the evening sun when he was recognised and got a huge cheer from the crowd
(c) when the announcer in the canteen announced his name over the tannoy and he got a round of applause


On-topic vocab item:  le self   -   (self-service) cafeteria

[Really Ancien]

Merci beaucoup, vous etes tres gentil(e). Thank you, you're very kind.
Pardonnez mon impatience, car je suis tres fatigue. Forgive my impatience as I'm very tired.
Vous etes de quel region? Which region are you from?
If you want to rehearse the cultural aspects of PBP without the sleep deprivation you have to go to the Semaine Federale.

Damon.

[Graeme Wyllie]

I have found the following the single most useful phrase to remember -

parler plus lentement s'il vous plaît, je ne comprend pas = speak more slowly please, I dont understand. 

as it normally results in the remainder of the conversation being conducted in English, without any guilt or embarrasment. 


 

[Panoramix]

I have found the following the single most useful phrase to remember -

parler plus lentement s'il vous plaît, je ne comprend pas = speak more slowly please, I dont understand. 

as it normally results in the remainder of the conversation being conducted in English, without any guilt or embarrasment. 

As a south of channel native , I think that this is a very good piece of advice....

My minute of fame on this subject:
Booking campsites in France (french language assistance appreciated)

[simonp]

J'ai mal a la derriere.

A quelle heure est le prochain train a Paris?

Est-ce-que vous avez de la EPO ou des amphetamines?

HTH.

[L CC]

parler plus lentement s'il vous plaît, je ne comprend pas = speak more slowly please, I dont understand. 
 

I used this on Saturday. Very helpful.

And then I managed (I think) to explain that I was a randonneur on a 200, but the biggest problem was getting them to believe I'd willingly cycled that far. Just like you get here, really...

For PBP (if I get there) I suspect point and smile grimace may end up being the extent of my communication skills.

[arabella]

chier = to shit, les chiottes are the loos (ie les toilettes)

chialer = to wail (arrete de chialer, y'a que 1000km qui restent)

je veux me doucher/me laver I want to shower/wash

le bidon = water bottle, remplir = fill and eau = water

nettoyer = to clean

(awaits comments on grammar and spelling)

[Greenbank]

For PBP (if I get there) I suspect point and smile grimace may end up being the extent of my communication skills.

I had that at Eskdalemuir on LEL on the way back South. I was lovely and warm whilst cycling but as soon as I stopped and got into the control I started to cool down, by the time I got to the hall with the food I'd dropped from multiple syllables to basic grunts. The volunteers asked me if I wanted food, I knew what they were saying but I just didn't seem to respond. They took my blank stares to be a sign of lack of understanding so they spoke slowly saying "Eat? Hungry?" and did the international "do you want to eat?" gesture with their hands. It's only then I managed to snap out of it and say "Ah, sorry, yes please, just in a bit of a daze there, what are the choices?"

[phil d]

For PBP (if I get there) I suspect point and smile grimace may end up being the extent of my communication skills.

I had that at Eskdalemuir on LEL on the way back South. I was lovely and warm whilst cycling but as soon as I stopped and got into the control I started to cool down, by the time I got to the hall with the food I'd dropped from multiple syllables to basic grunts. The volunteers asked me if I wanted food, I knew what they were saying but I just didn't seem to respond. They took my blank stares to be a sign of lack of understanding so they spoke slowly saying "Eat? Hungry?" and did the international "do you want to eat?" gesture with their hands. It's only then I managed to snap out of it and say "Ah, sorry, yes please, just in a bit of a daze there, what are the choices?"

I can imagine the response ... "Ah, English!"

[Mr Larrington]

Another very important bit of French.

Je suis le maire de Mortagne-au-Perche.   

GIT!

 

[jogler]

what's French for..
do you want to share my tandem?

[arvid]

But you know what they put on french fries in Holland instead of ketchup?

War. (Patat oorlog = fries war, that's with mayonaise, peanut sauce and onions)