If you have traveled to France, you may believe that there are more cats there than in any other country. And if you have traveled south, you undoubtedly believe that they all reside in Provence.
France is ranked 5th in the list of countries with largest number of domestic cats; but, of course, France is much smaller and less populated that the top four countries (United States, China, Russia, and Brazil). The number of domestic cats in France probably hovers right around 10 million (compared to the 76 million or so cats in American homes).
However, when it comes to the subject of “expressions with cats,” surely France ranks 1st. Meet the cats of the Luberon as we introduce you to some of our favorite French expressions and phrases.
Enchantée
Pleased to meet you
Je suis très cher.
I am very special.
Je descends de chats éminents.
I am descended from notable cats.
Il n’y a pas de quoi fouetter un chat.
It is nothing to make a fuss about.
Les chiens ne font pas des chats.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Est-ce que vous voudriez jouer á chat?
Would you like to play tag?
C’est toi le chat!
You’re it!
C’est meilleur ne pas réveiller le chat qui dort.
It’s better to let sleeping dogs lie.
Un chat retombe toujours sur ses pattes.
Cats have nine lives.
Je donne ma langue au chat.
I give up (trying to answer).
Manifestement, tout effort conscient qu’on fasse pour
échapper à cette situation paradoxale est vain et absurde.
Obviously, any conscious attempt to escape from this
paradoxical predicament is futile and absurd.
Chat échaudé craint l’eau froide.
Once bitten, twice shy.
Quand le chat n’est pas là, les souris dansent.
When the cat’s away, the mice will play.
Appelons un chat un chat.
Let’s call a spade a spade.
J’ai d’autres chats à fouetter.
I have other fish to fry.
Je suis dehors, et je voudrais rentrer.
I am outside, and I would like to come in.
Je fais un somme, donc je suis; Je m’étire, donc je suis.
I nap, therefore I am; I stretch, therefore I am.
Je ne neux pas être châtré.
I do not want to be neutered.
J’ai un chat dans la gorge.
I have a frog in my throat.
Un chat noir a traversé mon chemin.
A black cat crosses my path.
C’est de la bouillie pour les chats.
It’s gibberish.
Où est le chat?
Where is the cat?
J’aime jouer au chat et à la souris.
I like to play cat and mouse.
Je vais faire une toilette de chat.
I’m going to wash quickly.
Est-ce qu’il y a un ascenseur pour descendre?
Is there an elevator to get down?
Je ne cours pas après les voitures.
I do not chase cars.
J’attends qu’on me serve.
I am waiting to be served.
Je crois que je vais cracher une boule de poils.
I think I am going to cough up a fur ball.
Est-ce que voudriez vivre comme chien et chat?
Do you want to fight like cats and dogs?
Trois chats sur le porche.
Three cats on a porch.
Quatre chats sur quatre porches.
Four cats on four porches.
Quatre chats dans quatre fenêtres.
Four cats in four windows.
Est-ce que vous voudriez acheter chat en poche?
Do you want to buy a pig in a poke?
Je dors.
I sleep.
Je t’aime mon petit chat.
I love you my sweetie.
Il est absolument necessaire que les poissons soient frais.
It is absolutely essential that the fish be fresh.
Il faut qu’après un éloignement prolongé l’on fasse son retour
au territoire de la façon la plus nonchalante.
The return to one’s territory after a prolonged absence should be
as nonchalant as possible.
Il n’y avait pas un chat!
There wasn’t a soul!
Note: I am indebted to my French teachers, Janine Kolb, from whom I learned many of these expressions, Henry Beard who wrote French for Cats and Advanced French for Exceptional Cats—two wonderfully illustrated books, from which I borrowed a few lines—and About.com.FrenchLanguage (see http://french.about.com/od/expressions/a/chat.htm), from which I learned very much. I was unable to find photos to support two of my favorite expressions: C’est du pipi de chat and écriture de chat which I include now in the event that you wish to describe something that tastes awful or someone’s handwriting that appears to have been scrawled across the paper.
Photography by Towny Manfull with contributions from David Scott Allen and Kim Oates. All but three of the photographs were taken in the Luberon villages of Lourmarin, Bonnieux, Menerbes, Buoux, Saignon, Ansouis, Vaugines and Joucas. The other three were taken in LaNapoule on the Cote d’Azur.
Susan & Towny – LOVED the cat pics. I used to have 2 marmalade cats years ago. These days David is allergic to cats so the days of a kitty curled on my lap are no more, sadly.
These are fantastic but one I will use often is: Je crois que je vais cracher une boule de poils. Merci! ~ David
10 MILLION CATS !!!!
My mother always said "if you can't say something nice ….. No, No, that wasn't MY mother, so I guess I can say it. OMG What a nightmare !!!!! Is it over yet ? Can I open my eyes?
On second thought, how lucky could 10 million cats get ? They have landed in Provence, where both the country and the people are beautiful !!
See I CAN say something nice !!
This was too cute…why does it seem so much more sophistiCATed when said in French?
Hi Patty,
So good to hear from you! There is nothing like a kitty on one's lap. We are now a house of two dogs, having until recently had three cats! Sadly our last one died in 2009.
So glad you liked the photos–we had fun assembling them.
My best to you and David,
Susan
David,
Have you had the opportunity to use this expression yet?
Best,
Susan
As I typed the large number of cats in such a small country, I wondered if it might not be good for tourism!!….If you keep your windows closed, you are safe! Thanks for the big smile you put on my face!
Amitiés,
Susan
Your article is really informative to learn French language. It is really great work. I am learner of french language . I have taken basic french course for learning french language. I have learnt many things from you which is useful to learn french language . Thanks for sharing this lesson with us.