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Lifestyle


February 6th 2008

Pardon our French


Photo by Mary Decker Vack

As we bravely go forth into French automotive culture, we do so with great respect but equally great lack of knowledge of the French language.

Years ago, Automobile Quarterly did the car enthusiast a great service by publishing an article which listed many of the most difficult foreign words associated with the automobile, and beside each the English, phonetic pronunciation. The article was entitled, “Only Chickens Live in Coupes”, and was published in Volume 18-1, the first quarter of 1980.

We have, with permission of Automobile Quarterly, taken the French words from the article and reprinted them below. Also, our new contributor, Philippe Defechereux, has updated and greatly expanded the list. Most of these words, names and or places will become increasingly familiar to readers of VeloceToday. The AQ pronunciation guide is as helpful today as it was some 28 years ago, but try these on a French friend before a Parisian waiter!

Barquette
bar-kette

Beltoise, Jean-Pierre
jzan-Pierre bell-twahze

Behra, Jean
jzean bear-rah

Benoist, Robert
row-bear ben-wah

Berliet
bear-lee-ay

Berlinette
bear-lynn-ette

Boillot, George
Jzorje bwa-lo

Bolide
bo-leed

Cahier, Bernard
Bear-nar cah-yeh

Carrossier
Kar-ross-yeh

Carrosserie
Kar-ross-uh-ree

Cévert, François
fran-swa seh-vayr

Chenard et Walcker
shen-ar-ay walker

Chiron, Louis
lew-ee sheer-on

Cibie
cee-bee-ay

Citroën
ce-tro-en

Coupé
coop-eh

Cugnot
kewn-yo

Darracq
dar-rack (accent on first syllable)

De Dion Bouton
de-dee-own boo tone

Delage
de-laj (accent on first syllable)

Delahaye
del-a-aye (slight whisper of the h)

Depailler, Patrick
patrick duh-pa-yeh

Etancelin, Philippe
fill-eep eh-tahn-slan

Fournier, Henry
on-ree foor-gnay

Frère, Paul
Paul fray-r

Gatsonides, Maurice
gat-sohn-ee-dees

Gendebien, Olivier
oliv-yeh gzan-duh-bee-en

Grégoire
gray-gwar

Habitacle ("cockpit")
ah-bee-tackl (stress on first syllable)

Landaulet
lawn-doe-lay

Landaulette
lawn-doe-let

Le Mans
le-mawn (barely pronounce the n)

Levegh, Pierre
pierre luh-vayg

Magny Cours circuit
seer-kwi duh magny-koor

Molsheim (German)
mole-sime

Montlhéry circuit
seer-kwi duh moan-le-ree

Mulhouse (French)
mull-ooze

Panhard et Levassor
pon-ahr eh le-vass-or

Pau circuit
seer-kwi duh po

Paul Ricard circuit
seer-kwi duh Paul-ri-kar

Peugeot
pe-joe (very soft j)

Pironi, Didier
dee-dyeh pee-ro-nee

Prost, Alain
Al-ayn Prost

Reims circuit
seer-kwi duh R

Renault
re-no

Rosier, Louis
lew-ee rooz-yeh

Saoutchik
sow-chick

Schlesser, Jo
jo shlay-sayr

Sizaire et Naudin
seas-air ay no-dan

Sommer, Raymond
raymond som-ayr

Talbot-Lago
tal-bo lahgo

Todt, Jean
jzan tot

Traction-Avant ("FWD")
trak-sion a-van

Trintignant, Maurice
moh-riss tren-tee-gnan

Villeneuve, Gilles
jyll ville-nuh-v

Vitesse ("speed")
vee-tess

Voisin
vwa-zan

Voiture
vwa-teur

Voiturette
vwa-teur-et

Wimille, Jean-Pierre
jzan-pierre wee-mill






Past Issues




Date
Topic


2-6-08
Book Review: Ferrari California Spyder


1-16-08
VeloceToday Easy Index

2-6-08
Pardon our French

1-9-08
French Automotive Influences

12-26-7
Fifty years of slot cars


12-5-7
Book Review: James Dean


11-28-7
Malta Discovered


11-14-7
Book Review: Ferrari Gauld Mine


11-14-7
Book Review: Modena Racing Memories


9-26-7
Book Review: Lancia Delta Integrale


9-12-7
Pebble Beach 07


9-12-7
Monterey Historics 07


9-05-7
Inside at The Quail


9-05-7
Monterey Overview


8-22-7
Fiat Spider, Cars and Owners


8-22-7
Great and Small Fiats, BR


8-08-7
The book that made Ferrari


7-04-7
Reuter Bandini Update


5-30-7
Welcome to Watkins Glen


5-16-7
Mille Miglia 2027 (art)


5-16-7
Vintage Motorphoto


5-09-7
Gerelli photo gallery


5-02-7
Car Collector's Dream Mansion


4-25-7
Lancia Stratos Book Review


4-18-7
Little old Lady, with Fiat 1100


3-28-7
Living with a Lambo


3-14-7
The Lost Cisitalia D46 Part II


3-14-7
Toly and the Appia Zagato Part II


2-28-7
Toly and the Appia Zagato


2-28-7
Finding the lost Cisitalia d46


2-21-7
Carnevale Venezia


2-14-7
Book Review, Italian Auto Legends


1-31-7
Arutunoff on Coachbuilding


1-31-7
Italy in the Era of the Appia


1-10-7
Book Review, The Red Dream


1-17-7
The Reuter Bandinis Part II


1-24-7
Car Guy Tour 2007


1-10-7
The Reuter Bandinis Part I


1-03-7
Coupe vs Spider, GT development



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