This weekend while I was helping a photographer friend shoot a wedding at beautiful chateau in Tours, 2.5 hours outside of Paris, I learned a very important French word while watching the storm roll in during our dinner break: un éclair. While I have long been familiar with the wonderful oblong pastry filled with cream filling and covered with icing – typically chocolate or coffee flavored – the fact that the same word is used for "lightning" amused me greatly. So as we finished our dessert, we also enjoyed regarder des éclairs dans le ciel. Watching the eclairs [lightning] in the sky.French Lessons is an ongoing series where I teach you French words while beefing up my Illustrator skills.
And let us not forget that an éclaircie is a sunny spell or improvement in the weather! We must listen carefully.
ReplyDeleteHahaha, neat! Very good to know this Ann. And more importantly you reminded me to try un éclair when in Paris. Added to my list of things to do!
ReplyDeleteWhen i was a kid -i still am- i also used to think honey was a kind and free bees gift; until i felt the thunder of their anger and the lightenings of their stings; they thought i might try to steal the sweet from them.
ReplyDelete("Honey is burglary"
(Ramón Gómez de la Serna))
"If you want a lightening; buy it"
(Anonymous)
"Trueno: caída de un baúl por las escaleras del cielo"
"Tonnerre: chute d´une malle dans les escaliers du ciel"
"Thunder: the fall of a trunk over the stairs of the sky"
(Ramón Gómez de la Serna)
Anne, I love the series! Anything that prevents me from further putting my foot in my mouth in France is highly appreciated.
ReplyDeletethefrancofly.wordpress.com
Funny! I didn't know that was also the word for lightening. I'm enjoying learning about all these double meanings through your series. ;D
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