Podcast Summary

Podcast: ehoui!
Host: Virginie Cutulic
Episode: 47. Évitez ces 5 malentendus !
Date: July 12, 2021

Overview

In this episode, Virginie Cutulic, French teacher and host, explores five common French words and expressions that often lead to embarrassing misunderstandings or have the potential to become vulgar, especially for non-native speakers. With practical examples and everyday scenarios, Virginie highlights subtle linguistic traps and the importance of context, helping listeners to avoid social faux pas and improve their colloquial French.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Double Meaning of "Chaud"

[03:50 - 07:02]

• "Il fait chaud": Used impersonally to describe weather; not problematic.
• "Être chaud pour": Informal, often used among young people, to express motivation or willingness.
  • Example: « Tu es chaud(e) pour aller au resto ? — Oui, je suis chaud(e) ! »
  • Virginie emphasizes this is familiar, not vulgar.
• "Elle est chaude": When said about a woman, this becomes sexual and very vulgar, comparable to “she’s hot” in English—but with stronger sexual connotations in French.

  “Si vous dites qu’une fille est chaude, c’est très vulgaire. Sinon vous pouvez vous prendre une claque dans la figure.” (Virginie, 06:42)

  • Warning: Avoid using “chaude” to describe a woman in most situations.

2. "Coucher" vs. "Se coucher"

[07:05 - 09:45]

• "Se coucher": Pronominal verb. Means to go to bed.
  • Example: « Je vais me coucher. »
• "Coucher": Sexual context; to sleep with someone.

  “C’est pas vraiment vulgaire, mais faites attention, c’est plutôt familier.” (Virginie, 09:28)

• Common Error: Many students mistakenly use “coucher” when they mean “se coucher.”
• Takeaway: Use "se coucher" for sleeping; "coucher" only when referring to sexual activities.

3. Nuances of "Bon"/"Bonne"

[09:47 - 12:58]

• "Être bon(ne) en": To be good at something. Neutral and widely used.
  • Examples: « Je suis bonne en français » / « Il est bon en chimie »
• "Elle est bonne": Highly sexualized and vulgar when used about a woman; much stronger than "chaude."

  “Elle est bonne, cette fille est bonne, c’est plus vulgaire que cette fille est chaude.” (Virginie, 11:54)

• Interesting Note: The sexual undertone only applies in the feminine form.

  “Si vous dites ce garçon est bon, ça ne signifie rien du tout.” (12:18)

4. The Word "Chat/Chatte"

[13:00 - 16:45]

• "Un chat" : A (male) cat, inoffensive.
• "Une chatte": Literally the female cat, but in colloquial speech, this refers vulgarly to female genitals.

  “Le mot chatte est vraiment sexuel, c’est un peu vulgaire…” (Virginie, 15:30)

• Advice:

  “Ne dites pas 'j’ai cinq chattes,' vous dites 'j’ai cinq chats.'” (Virginie, 15:58)

• How to Avoid Misunderstandings: Refer to cats as “chat” and specify gender only if necessary, otherwise say "mâle" or "femelle."
• Pronunciation Tip: Do NOT pronounce the final 't' in “chat.” Pronouncing it creates the feminine form and thus the vulgar meaning.

5. "Embrasser" vs. "Baiser"

[16:47 - 21:15]

• "Embrasser": To kiss (on cheek or mouth), or give bisous/bises. Not vulgar—used for greetings or affection.
• "Le baiser" (noun): Somewhat old-fashioned term for kiss; nowadays, “faire la bise” is more common.
• "Baiser" (verb): Extremely vulgar, means “to fuck.”

  “Le verbe baiser est extrêmement vulgaire, c’est l’acte sexuel.” (Virginie, 18:55)
  “J’ai même du mal à vous le dire parce que c’est vraiment, vraiment vulgaire...” (19:42)

• Warning: The similarity in sound and spelling (especially for learners) makes this an easy but serious trap.
• Pronunciation Note: “Baiser” is pronounced with a 'z' sound in the middle, which differentiates it from "bise" (cheek kiss).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [06:42] “Si vous dites qu’une fille est chaude, c’est très vulgaire. Sinon vous pouvez vous prendre une claque dans la figure.” (Virginie)
• [11:54] “Elle est bonne, cette fille est bonne, c’est plus vulgaire que cette fille est chaude.”
• [15:30] “Le mot chatte est vraiment sexuel, c’est un peu vulgaire… Moi, personnellement, je n’aime pas ce mot.”
• [19:42] “J’ai même du mal à vous le dire parce que c’est vraiment, vraiment vulgaire.” (about "baiser”)
• [20:05] “Coucher, je ne considère pas comme un mot vulgaire, mais baiser, c’est horrible.”

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:01 — 03:45: Introduction and context
• 03:50 — 07:02: The adjective "chaud" and its pitfalls
• 07:05 — 09:45: "Coucher" vs "se coucher"
• 09:47 — 12:58: The dangers of "bon"/"bonne"
• 13:00 — 16:45: "Chat/Chatte" and avoiding accidental vulgarity
• 16:47 — 21:15: "Embrasser", "baiser", and French for kisses and more (or much, much more)
• 22:00 — 23:20: Recap of the five confusing expressions

Conclusion

Virginie provides both warnings and practical advice to help learners avoid embarrassing or offensive mistakes in French. The focus on real-life examples and the explicit, yet approachable, tone makes the episode memorable and highly useful. She encourages listeners to pay close attention to context, gender, and pronunciation—showing that sometimes the innocent can accidentally become indecent!