I’ve noticed just recently that certain people have started saying ‘salut’ to me. I presume it’s a product of having been here a while now and they are relaxed with me. I always forget that I can use it with them though.
Rosemary Kneipp
September 19th, 2013 at 10:28 pm
Definitely a step up in intimacy! That’s pretty good in a village.
Pat in Toulouse
September 20th, 2013 at 3:16 am
It has recently been pointed out to me that my family keeps saying “coucou” for hello. So I’ve been watching out for it and yes, indeed, we “coucou” each other all the time. When coming home (“coucou tout le monde”), when meeting each other in the kitchen in the morning (to my daughter: “coucou, ma chérie, tu as bien dormi?”), when meeting friends at the market (“ah, coucou! ça va?”), on the phone, by sms and also by e-mail… I don’t know if this a regional or general trend or if it’s just us. Our friends here say it too.
Rosemary Kneipp
September 20th, 2013 at 8:30 am
Hi Pat, I’d forgotten about “coucou”. No it’s not regional and seems to be fairly widespread. One of my stepsons introduced it a few years’ back and suddenly Jean Michel started saying it too because he has a tendency to pick up his sons’ lingo! However, I prefer to say “salut” or “bonjour” to family members because I feel a bit silly saying “coucou” but that’s entirely personal. I have a friend in Blois (Françoise, are you there?) who always begins her emails with “coucou” as well, so that makes at least three regions where it’s used.
Portlandia
September 24th, 2013 at 9:45 am
In fact the Hail Mary is “Je vous salue, Maire” – much prettier than Salut Maire! 😉
Rosemary Kneipp
September 24th, 2013 at 10:14 am
Thank you, Portlandia! I’d better correct that in my post. Very embarrassing!
I’ve noticed just recently that certain people have started saying ‘salut’ to me. I presume it’s a product of having been here a while now and they are relaxed with me. I always forget that I can use it with them though.
Definitely a step up in intimacy! That’s pretty good in a village.
It has recently been pointed out to me that my family keeps saying “coucou” for hello. So I’ve been watching out for it and yes, indeed, we “coucou” each other all the time. When coming home (“coucou tout le monde”), when meeting each other in the kitchen in the morning (to my daughter: “coucou, ma chérie, tu as bien dormi?”), when meeting friends at the market (“ah, coucou! ça va?”), on the phone, by sms and also by e-mail… I don’t know if this a regional or general trend or if it’s just us. Our friends here say it too.
Hi Pat, I’d forgotten about “coucou”. No it’s not regional and seems to be fairly widespread. One of my stepsons introduced it a few years’ back and suddenly Jean Michel started saying it too because he has a tendency to pick up his sons’ lingo! However, I prefer to say “salut” or “bonjour” to family members because I feel a bit silly saying “coucou” but that’s entirely personal. I have a friend in Blois (Françoise, are you there?) who always begins her emails with “coucou” as well, so that makes at least three regions where it’s used.
In fact the Hail Mary is “Je vous salue, Maire” – much prettier than Salut Maire! 😉
Thank you, Portlandia! I’d better correct that in my post. Very embarrassing!