French Headline Features False Cognate

False cognate: a French word that looks like an English word but has a different meaning.

Here's a stellar example from tonight's (actually Monday morning's) Le Monde article on the American election:

"J-2: des meetings devant des foules toujours plus grandes"

Translation: "T-minus 2 days: rallies before still larger fools... er, crowds" 

Somewhere, Le Monde's Washington bureau chief is winking at us.

Heidelberger in Paris, Enjoying Art, Architecture, and Puns

[Originally posted from Paris on the Madville Times, Thursday night, July 19, 2012.]

Did I mention I’m in Paris?

Here I am at the Louvre, with our guy Pei’s great glass pyramid out front. The drastic contrast the the architecture of the old fortress still doesn’t well with some observers. But it creates a spectacularly light and airy entryway to the museum.

Eugène Delacroix, “Liberty Leading the People”

Maybe this painting is why some American conservatives get ants in their pants about France: they don’t like women taking leadership roles in the fight for liberty.

Jacques-Louis David, “Le Sacre de Napoléon

Just after the French got all excited about liberté, fraternité, and égalité, they let this bully declare himself emperor. You’ve got to watch out for those little guys who say they are fighting tyranny, only to become tyrants themselves.

Here’s where Napoleon held that coronation, in Notre Dame de Paris.

Remarkable building, even to non-Catholics.

By the way, what does every hungry classical music aficionado need before heading to the supermarché for groceries?

Flight of the Conchords: Foux du Fafa

Practice your textbook French with Flight of the Conchords!