Bordeaux is not just about its elegant facades and listed heritage. The city also cultivates a whole vocabulary that reflects the spirit of its inhabitants. The people of Bordeaux have their own way of expressing themselves, with local expressions and little phrases typical of the Southwest. Here are 10 Bordeaux expressions you need to know to speak like a true local.
Gavé
Surely the most essential of all Bordeaux expressions, it is heard and used in all sorts of situations! It’s “gavé” expensive, it’s “gavé” good, it’s “gavé” fine… As you can see, “gavé” isthe Bordeaux equivalent of “too.“ Use itwisely, or you’ll really bore your conversation partner.
Ça daille
When it daille, it’s not a good sign.The equivalent of “ça craint” ( it sucks) comes from the Occitan word “dalhar,” which means “to mow” and was originally used to say “ça me daille” (it bothers me).
A pocket
In Bordeaux, we don’t ask for a plastic bag or a pouch (hello Brittany and Loire-Atlantique), but a poche. This may surprise those who are not from the region.
Enki (or Anqui)!
It’s hard to ignore swear words, although this one seems to be becoming less and less common. Typically Bordeaux, “Oh enki” replaces the more vulgar “oh purée” without a hint of subtlety.
A Michel-Morin
Michel-Morin is a real jack-of-all-trades! We don’t know who he was, but one thing is certain: Michel is the man for the job! A Michel-Morin is someone who can do everything, from plumbing to electrical work to bodywork.
A chocolatine
Far be it from us to stir up controversy, but Bordeaux is famous for its wine, its cannelés, and… its chocolatines. Say goodbye to pain au chocolat, even if the debate remains open (or not).
Faire de l’essence
Because the people of Bordeaux are absolutely fascinating and creative, they make gasoline! As you can imagine, there is no oil in Gironde, but this is their way of saying that they are filling up their car with gasoline.
Avoir la quinte
No, this isn’t a winning hand in poker. “Avoir la quinte” means to be really fed up. “J’ai la quinte, j’ai raté l’avion! ” (I’m fed up, I missed the plane!) It’s more about bad luck, then.
Les drôles
Whether it’s funny or not, we don’t know, but this expression refers to children! It’s equivalent to “mômes” and comes from the Occitan word “dròlle.”
Aller au maille
Tram, maille, dodo. This is the daily motto of the people of Bordeaux. Yes, maille means work. Be careful not to confuse it with baille. Aller à la baille means to go swimming (which brings us to 11 Bordeaux expressions in this article!).