A Kiss Is Not A Kiss....

Last lesson we came across the word 'baiser', which literally means 'to kiss' but can also mean 'to f**k', so best to avoid it I say.

'faire la bise' or 'donner une bise' both mean 'to kiss' (the kiss on both cheeks, which is the usual French greeting among family, friends and close colleagues). 

You can also use 'embrasser', which means to kiss (usually in a more intimate sense like the picture above).

The French don't really do hugs as a greeting, so there is no real translation of 'hug'.  The closest is 'un calin' (faire un calin), which means cuddle (give a cuddle), so implies something a bit more intimate.  

Click on the link to explore this cultural minefield further. 

There is also an interesting thread here.  Go straight to the 7th July 2009 post by lorenzogranada.

By the way, do you recognise the picture? It is by Robert Doisneau, a famous French photographer and is called  'Le baiser de l'Hôtel de ville'. 

Reminder

Next lesson, Thursday 2nd February, is chez Malcolm.

Grosses Bises,

Evelyn