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FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY

French Expression of the Day: Cul sec

If someone shouts this French expression at you, don't worry, they are not talking about your bottom.

French Expression of the Day: Cul sec
Photo: Annie Spratt/Unsplash/Nicolas Raymond

Why do I need to know cul sec?

Because you might hear this expression when at a party or bar in France. 

What does it mean?

Cul sec directly translates as ‘dry bottom’, which sounds like an inappropriate thing to say in public, but actually it’s a drinking term.

Although cul is often translated as ‘arse’ or ‘butt’ it can also mean the bottom of an object. So if someone in a bar shouts cul sec, they’re not talking about the human cul, but rather the cul (bottom) of the drink. When the glass is sec (dry), the drink is gone.

READ ALSO: Cool cul: 13 of the best French ‘bottom’ expressions

French online dictionary l’Internaute defines cul sec as “boire un verre d’un seul trait, sans s’arrêter”, which means “have a drink in one go, without stopping.”

It’s what in English is also known as ‘chugging’ or ‘downing’ a drink. Someone might say this to you in the imperative sense – like Cul sec ! which means “Down it!”

The full expression is faire cul sec (to do dry bottom) or boire cul sec (to drink dry bottom).

Cul sec isn’t a vulgar expression, but if you’re at a work party or with your French in-laws we suggest you refrain from downing your drink in one.

It might sound like the English phrase ‘bottoms up’, but in fact that is simply a toast, and doesn’t mean that you have to down your drink in one. Interestingly, you might hear ‘bottoms up’ (in English) used as a toast in France, although in the English-speaking world it’s pretty archaic.

More common options for a toast in France santé (good health) or tchin-tchin (cheers).

Here’s a video of French president Emmanuel Macron doing a cul sec while helping the Toulouse rugby team celebrate their victory in the final of the Top 14 domestic championship.

Use it like this

On fait cul sec ? – Let’s down it?

Allez les gars, cul sec ! – Come on guys, down it!  

Si tu perds, tu dois boire cul sec ton verre entier. – If you lose, you have to down your whole drink.

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FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY

French Word of the Day: Métropole

This French word might come up when learning about why France has 12 time zones.

French Word of the Day: Métropole

Why do I need to know métropole?

Because you might be curious about this distinction that is sometimes made before talking about France.

What does it mean?

Métropole – roughly pronounced may-troh-pole – translates as ‘metropolis’ in English. 

Most of the time, you will hear this word from public figures, local officials and the French press when discussing the urban area encompassing a city. As such, you could talk about la métropole de Bordeaux or la métropole de Lyon – this is a defined area that includes both the city and its suburbs or sometimes even a neighbouring town.

Explained: How French métropoles, départements and communes work

It is also the term used to distinguish mainland France from its overseas territories, as such you might hear people say la France métropolitaine, or just la Métropole. This is similar to how people might use L’Hexagone to refer to mainland France, which is sort of shaped like a hexagon.

You may hear people discuss the situation in la Métropole to draw comparisons with France’s overseas territories (referred to as les DOM, départements d’outre-mer), particularly when it comes to issues of inequality. 

Use it like this

Le taux de chômage est plus élevé dans les DOM qu’en métropole -The rate of unemployment is higher in the overseas territories than in mainland France.

Elle est de la métropole, elle n’a jamais visité la Martinique. – She is from mainland France, she has never visited Martinique.

La France métropolitaine n’a qu’un seul fuseau horaire, mais si l’on considère les territoires d’outre-mer, il y a 12 fuseaux horaires français. – Mainland France is only under one timezone, but when you consider the overseas territories there are 12 French time zones.

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