French Lessons: Des Baguettes
Much like un éclair, I love the double meaning of the word baguette. Not only is it the thin, long loaf of bread beloved in France, but it also is the word used for chopsticks. So next time you’re in an Asian restaurant in Paris you can ask, “Avez-vous des baguettes?”, but you’ll likely be full on rice rather than bread after the meal.
French Lessons is an ongoing series where I teach you French words and cultural lessons while beefing up my Illustrator skills.
Meg
September 25, 2012 at 9:20 am //
Cute. I remember learning that one and thinking to myself… how logical!
Prêt à Voyager
September 25, 2012 at 10:20 am //
Totally agree, Meg. So logical, but also funny to have a word that kind of bridges a cultural divide.
A
Robín
September 25, 2012 at 6:13 pm //
Also “être a la baguette” is to be the boss in french while in spanish we also say baguette for the loaf of bread and sometimes “flauta” which is flute in english; if the baguette is magical, then we call it “varita” and if it is the baton of a orchestra conductor we always say “batuta” which is still said baguette in french. But we do say “palillos” if we want to eat with them. So, next time you visit a asiatic restaurant, what will they think ,if you ask for a pair of flutes to eat with ?
Ulan News
September 27, 2012 at 7:58 am //
bread also use chopsticks
Shiva rei
September 27, 2012 at 8:01 am //
feel comfortable when eating disposable chopsticks
thefrancofly
September 27, 2012 at 4:58 pm //
A little less practical than chopsticks, but don’t forget magic wands go by the same name, too.
(one of the first things I learned as an au pair)
Ann
February 24, 2014 at 8:21 pm //
I’m reading Harry Potter right now, and baguette is also used for wand!