30 French Words That Don't Translate - Does Not Translate

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Jubjoter·To wake up from a dream without knowing the end of it and trying to go back to it to know the end.

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Yahourt·A foreign song that you sing despite not speaking the language, just by imitating the sounds.

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Attendrissement·The warm feeling you get when you see something cute or moving, literally going soft.

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Dépaysement·The feeling of being in another country.

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Baisure·The spot where a bread had touched another bread whilst in the oven.

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Convives·The people gathered to share a meal (guests, hosts, family, whatever). Related to Convivial.

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goûter·It is the first thing that most French students do after coming home from school around 16:45 (4:45 pm). Le goûter usually consists of a glass of milk, and bread and chocolate (or jam), or cookies. It is very important to have goûter for most children, and even for some adults.

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Rentrée·La rentrée (rentrée scolaire, rentrée des classes) is the day when schools open in early September after the two-month long summer break. La rentrée is also a huge commercial event because it is the time to buy paper, pens, backpacks etc. for the school year and all shops advertise school supplies for the weeks leading to la rentrée.

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Déconseiller·To advise against, to recommend in not doing.

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Non peut être·An expression from Brussels meaning Yes surely except that it can be literally translated as No perhaps.

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Bifler·To slap someone in the face with your cock.

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Galvauder·To use inappropriately a word, a concept or a thing otherwise respectable or beautiful, to the point that it loses its beauty or its respectability.

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L’appel du vide·The instinct to jump from high places or do something detrimental and crazy.

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C’est pas de la merde·Literally This is not shit, means This is awesomely good.

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Fleuve·The primary downstream segment of a river, as contrasted to its tributaries.

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Déformation professionnelle·A quirk, trait or habit caused by one's occupation.

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Terroir·The combination of unique geography, history, cultural and culinary aspects of a region.

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Parler anglais comme une vache espagnole (lit. to speak English like a Spanish cow)·To speak a very bad English.

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Tartine·Any snack that is just a piece of bread/toast with something spread on it. Buttered toast with jam, a slice of bread with cheese or pâté.

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Il y a anguille sous roche·Things aren't clear or something is being hidden.

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L’esprit de l’escalier·Thinking of the perfect comeback too late.

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Tutoyer / Vouvoyer·To use tu / vous when addressing someone.

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Pas terrible·It's pretty bad.

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Relou, t’es relou, t’es lourde·You're annoying.

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Borgne·(n.) a one-eyed person; (adj.) one-eyed.

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Quamblance·The uncertain feeling that your shoelaces are untied.

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Joie de vivre·A delight in being alive; keen, carefree enjoyment of living.

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Un traquenard·A situation that sounds like funny business, a trap of some sort.

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Un Gloubi-Boulga·An unintelligible babbling or incoherent speech.

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Disputed Preum’s !·Used at the end of a long car ride to determine who will go to the bathroom first.

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