2009. With Jackie, when Smokey was tarpin young. Lately everyone's growing up around here! (Picture taken months after Smokey's horrible attack.)
Today's word is listed under "Parler Marseillais," or Marseilles lingo, so it may be a regional expression….
tarpin (tar-pahn)
: a lot, very
Would then "super duper" = tarpin tarpin? 🙂
Audio File & Example Sentence: listen to Jean-Marc: Click MP3 or Wav
Il fait tarpin chaud. It's very hot!
Il y a tarpin de monde. There's a lot of people here!
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE… by Kristin Espinasse
Modern English and My Daughter Share the Same Birthdate
If you've followed my Facebook or Instagram page lately, you may have sensed a spell of nostalgie. Since our firstborn flew the coop last week, I've been posting photos of the kids when they were petits bouts de choux. Back when they used to say the cutest things.
"Peur pas!" Max would say to his little sister, giving a whole new meaning to "don't cry!" But when kids hit the teenage years those sweet little phrases turn into gros mots and you wonder, Where did the innocence go?
Nowhere, I'm happy to report. Nulle part!
Driving my daughter home from school, she's in an unusually chatty mood. Perhaps that Huffington Post tip worked ("25 Ways to Ask Your Kids 'So How Was School Today?' Without Asking Them 'So How Was School Today?'" worked!) Currently Jackie's talking about her favorite movie….
"Have you seen Will Hunting?"
It takes a minute to translate my daughter's English–so strong is her French accent. "Yes! I think so. It's with Robin Williams and… whose that other guy?"
"Matt Damon!!!"
"Ah. And you say it's a good film?"
"C'est tarpin bon!"
"Are you watching it in English I hope?"
"Yes," Jackie says, to my surprise. "Only it's hard to understand."
"Why's that?"
"Because they're speaking in old English. (Here, Jackie's exact words are "l'anglais d'avant.")
"Oh? What year did the film come out?"
"I don't know," my 16-year-old says. "1997?"
* * *
COMMENTS
To leave a comment, click here. If you like, you might enjoy adding a punchline to today's story. I hesitated over this last line: "That old, huh?" before leaving the end as is. The actual response I gave? A good chuckle!
French Vocabulary
petit bout de chou = little kid
le gros mot = cuss word
nulle part = nowhere
peur pas = fear not
tarpin = very
bon = good
Thanks, Meiling Newman, for this snapshot of a previous meetup. Winetastings at our home are informal and unpredictable. If it rains this Saturday we'll end up inside, as cozy as those sardines in Marseilles' vieux port. To reserve your seat for Saturday's 5 o'clock tasting, email jm.espinasse@gmail.com
Bye for now. Off to make un potage! Planted a potato that had sprouted on the kitchen countertop. Thrilled to find this at the bottom of the bucket! Enough to make one serving of Soupe à l'oseille et aux pommes de terre, using the sorrel from the garden.
My belle-soeur, Cécile's recipe: Stir fry the following. Add water. Simmer one hour.
- A few finely sliced potatoes
- handfulls of sorrel
- some onion
- a bouillon cube if you have one
- s & p
- bay leaf if you have one handy
- sour cream (optional), to stir in after
Blend, right there in the pan, with a handy-dandy mixer like this one.
Took this photo near Valréas. Can you explain this set up? Is it a warding off? Or an IOU to the postman? Fodder for a roving photographer? Comments welcome.
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Our dear Kristi,
Today’s post (once again) wrapped us in hugs and also brought tears to our eyes.
The wonderful gift that Max gave to his little sister (Peur pas!)–he’s watching out for her!–is a most special feeling,a closeness, to stay with them both throughout life.
And the loving gift you and Jean Marc have given them both–their wings– and to never forget you’ll always be there–is a blessing touched by God.
Kristi,your wonderful email and beautiful words touched our hearts and made our day perfect.THANK YOU!!!!!
Love
Natalia XO
Our dear Kristi,
Today’s post (once again) wrapped us in hugs and also brought tears to our eyes.
The wonderful gift that Max gave to his little sister (Peur pas!)–he’s watching out for her!–is a most special feeling,a closeness, to stay with them both throughout life.
And the loving gift you and Jean Marc have given them both–their wings– and to never forget you’ll always be there–is a blessing touched by God.
Kristi,your wonderful email and beautiful words touched our hearts and made our day perfect.THANK YOU!!!!!
Love
Natalia XO
I love the “US Mail” box! We didn’t see many of them in the Paris area when we lived there, so perhaps they are more common in your area? Think it’s a nice treat for the postman. :o)
I love the “US Mail” box! We didn’t see many of them in the Paris area when we lived there, so perhaps they are more common in your area? Think it’s a nice treat for the postman. :o)
Could we please tone down the God references? Not everyone is so religious? Thank you!
Could we please tone down the God references? Not everyone is so religious? Thank you!
How does one say in french… to each her own?
Chill~
How does one say in french… to each her own?
Chill~
Bonjour Kristin and al :
The expression “peur pas” : the real thing is : Ne pleure pas !(don’t cry)
and as the young kids say it with their delightful accent it sounds
as: peur pas, but it is : pleure pas. Of course it is difficult to discern…
Chris Allin: A chacun son goût! Also: Chacun pour soi.
Bonjour Kristin and al :
The expression “peur pas” : the real thing is : Ne pleure pas !(don’t cry)
and as the young kids say it with their delightful accent it sounds
as: peur pas, but it is : pleure pas. Of course it is difficult to discern…
Chris Allin: A chacun son goût! Also: Chacun pour soi.
I remember when Good Will Hunting came out in 1997. I was in high school at the time and all my friends had a crush on Matt Damon and Ben Afleck. Old world, indeed. 😉
I remember when Good Will Hunting came out in 1997. I was in high school at the time and all my friends had a crush on Matt Damon and Ben Afleck. Old world, indeed. 😉
I love the photos of Smokey —- he’s my fav! I love this post and I truly enjoy reading all of the comments.
So if you want to comment on anything regarding “God” I say — good for you. We do not need anyone criticizing or stating what we should “tone” down.
This is an exciting and thought provoking site that many enjoy and should continue to freely express themselves. God bless all of you!
Stay well.
I love the photos of Smokey —- he’s my fav! I love this post and I truly enjoy reading all of the comments.
So if you want to comment on anything regarding “God” I say — good for you. We do not need anyone criticizing or stating what we should “tone” down.
This is an exciting and thought provoking site that many enjoy and should continue to freely express themselves. God bless all of you!
Stay well.
Lunched at a favorite restaurant yesterday and when the cashier gave me a receipt with my number on it she said “You’re thirty-five.” Had to respond with ” I haven’t been 35 in 52 years!” Affectueusement toujours, Fred
Lunched at a favorite restaurant yesterday and when the cashier gave me a receipt with my number on it she said “You’re thirty-five.” Had to respond with ” I haven’t been 35 in 52 years!” Affectueusement toujours, Fred
Chris, youre a breath of fresh air. Chill indeed. And no offence to GretaMille, either. Ive thought alot about the religious mentions. I think this time you were not referring to mine. As for mine (and I do not see myself as religious), this is a personal journal so it is natural that from time to time I write about my faith. I do not think I overdo it (though, personally, overdoing faith would be a good thing in my case!) to each his own indeed. Thank you all for expressing yourselves. I learn so much from every comment I read here. You have no idea how much you influence my daily life, whether cooking, gardening, talking to family, or thinking.
Chris, youre a breath of fresh air. Chill indeed. And no offence to GretaMille, either. Ive thought alot about the religious mentions. I think this time you were not referring to mine. As for mine (and I do not see myself as religious), this is a personal journal so it is natural that from time to time I write about my faith. I do not think I overdo it (though, personally, overdoing faith would be a good thing in my case!) to each his own indeed. Thank you all for expressing yourselves. I learn so much from every comment I read here. You have no idea how much you influence my daily life, whether cooking, gardening, talking to family, or thinking.
Kristin,
Each posting of French Word a Day is filled with multiple, thought provoking messages or ideas for your readers. And each of us interprets your words in a personal way. It is so interesting to read the responses to your insights, stories and photos. Many of those responses seem honest and sometimes revealing, usually coming from the heart. That can sometimes be risky. I find it disheartening when someone is judged or criticized for their personal thoughts inspired by your writing. (That is what prompted my comment.) In the spirit of community we should be more accepting than that. We are all here, after all, by our own volition.
Don’t ever apologize for the content of your postings. You take your readers places we might not go with your honesty, and most seem to welcome the journey. For many of us, faith is part of that journey, and while it can mean different things to different people, it is part of the human spirit.
Thank you for being so very gracious to your readers, Kristin.
PS… I love the photo from inside the cabanon on Instagram!
Kristin,
Each posting of French Word a Day is filled with multiple, thought provoking messages or ideas for your readers. And each of us interprets your words in a personal way. It is so interesting to read the responses to your insights, stories and photos. Many of those responses seem honest and sometimes revealing, usually coming from the heart. That can sometimes be risky. I find it disheartening when someone is judged or criticized for their personal thoughts inspired by your writing. (That is what prompted my comment.) In the spirit of community we should be more accepting than that. We are all here, after all, by our own volition.
Don’t ever apologize for the content of your postings. You take your readers places we might not go with your honesty, and most seem to welcome the journey. For many of us, faith is part of that journey, and while it can mean different things to different people, it is part of the human spirit.
Thank you for being so very gracious to your readers, Kristin.
PS… I love the photo from inside the cabanon on Instagram!
Chris, thank you for your thoughtful words. You manage to express what the heart feels. May we all go gently forward today. So much going on in this world, in our own homes, and in our minds. Tolerance, kindness, forgiveness, understanding. How we struggle to keep on track.
Chris, thank you for your thoughtful words. You manage to express what the heart feels. May we all go gently forward today. So much going on in this world, in our own homes, and in our minds. Tolerance, kindness, forgiveness, understanding. How we struggle to keep on track.