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LEARNING FRENCH

Reader question: What do the French call a ‘French kiss’?

In English if you want to describe a passionate kiss, you invoke the French. But in French it is not 'une bise française'.

Reader question: What do the French call a 'French kiss'?
Photo by Martin BUREAU / AFP

Question: If a passionate kiss with tongues is a ‘French kiss’ in English, what do the French call it? An English kiss?

Unbelievably for the nation that apparently personifies the passionate kiss (linguistically speaking, at least), for many years the French language had no specific word for a ‘French kiss’ – people would use embrasser to describe all types of kiss, with the context suggesting whether that was a kiss on the cheek for your granny or a passionate snog with a lover.

There were also some slang words for a sexy kiss.

‘French kiss’ is an Americanism which has been around since at least the 1920s, and may date to the 19th century.

Older English words for a passionate kiss including snogging, pashing and making out.

For many years the French have understood and used the term ‘French kiss’ – and plenty still do – but it has never been popular with French language purists.

It wasn’t until 2014 that the French dictionary Le Robert included a French verb that means to ‘kiss with tongues’.

This is galocher – pronounced ga – losh – ay.

This wasn’t a new verb in 2014, in fact the word itself is very old, but the secondary definition of kissing was new.

It comes from “galoche” – an overshoe with a leather upper and a wooden sole that is worn over slippers or shoes to protect them – it’s where the English word ‘galoshes’ comes from.

From that, there’s the verb galocher which means to walk around noisily in galoshes, and which now has – thanks in part to its addition to Le Robert dictionary – its second, more intimate meaning.

The link between shoe and kiss is not immediately apparent, and we’re carefully ignoring possible noise-related suggestions, but a phrase rouler des galoches may help. The verb rouler – to roll – which, according to Les 1001 expressions préférées des Français, describes the movement of the tongue during a sensual kiss. 

The verb is galocher and a French kiss is feminine – une galoche.

Use it like this

Elle s’est fait galocher par un prince charmant – she was passionately kissed by a prince charming

Love Island France: Gabriel galoche Camille… sous les yeux d’Anna – Love Island France: Gabriel French kisses Camille . . . right in front of Anna

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FILM

French films with English subtitles to watch in March 2024

Lost in Frenchlation – the cinema club that screens French films with English subtitles – has six films on offer in March 2024, including two Oscar-nominated dramas.

French films with English subtitles to watch in March 2024

Lost in Frenchlation has plenty in store for English-speakers looking to enjoy French cinema this March in Paris.

There are six films on the docket, including a rare foray into another European language, German, and two Academy Award-nominated films.

You can also subscribe to their weekly newsletter with more updates here.

Madame de Sévigné

March 8th, from 7pm to 11pm

L’Arlequin, 76 Rue de Rennes, 75006 Paris

Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, aka the marquise de Sévigné, is one of the best-known women of historical French literature. Isabelle Brocard’s film – with Karin Viard as the titular heroine – traces the story of how the marquise tried to craft her daughter into a brilliant and independent woman in her own image, but lost influence and alienated her … until history takes a turn for the devastating.

Tickets: €9.50-€12

MadameDeSevigne_FA_01_1080p24_709G24_LtRt_STA_h264 from Lost in Frenchlation on Vimeo.

Anatomie d’une Chute

March 10th, from 7pm to 11pm

Club de L’Étoile, 14, Rue Troyon

Oscar night is nominee night at Lost in Frenchlation, with Justine Triet’s multi-lingual courtroom drama the centre of attention. Sandra Hüller is the German writer who is suspected of murdering husband at their isolated mountain chalet. Milo Machado-Graner is the couple’s partially sighted son, who faces a moral dilemma as the main witness.

Tickets: €8-€10

The Zone of Interest

March 15th, from 7pm to 11pm

L’Entrepôt, 7 Rue Francis de Pressensé, 75014 Paris

Jonathan Glazer’s Academy Award-nominated (it may even be a winner by the time of this screening) German-language drama about the efforts of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss, and his wife, Hedwig, to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the notorious camp. Christian Friedel and Sandra Hüller star.

Tickets: €7-€8.50

Même si tu vas sur la lune

March 20th, from 7pm to 10pm

Luminor Hôtel de Ville, 20, Rue du Temple, 75004 Paris

A group of young Syrian students and refugees in Paris reflect on their current and past lives while at the country house of a university professor. Are they still who they were in Syria or have they reinvented themselves in exile?

Tickets: €7-€8.50

MSTVSLL_Trailer_EnglishSub from Lost in Frenchlation on Vimeo.

Daaaaaali!

March 24th, from 7pm to 10pm

Balzac, 1 Rue Balzac, 75008 Paris

A French journalist meets the iconic surrealist artist Salvador Dalí (the brilliant Gilles Lellouche) on several occasions for a documentary project that never came to be – expect the unexpected in a film easily as surreal as Dali’s works.

DAAAAAALI_TLR-DATE-V8_H264_1080-239_24p_FR-WEB_EN_20240112_LAB (1) from Lost in Frenchlation on Vimeo.

Tickets: €10 

Le Successeur

March 28th, from 7pm to 11pm

Luminor Hôtel de Ville, 20, Rue du Temple, 75004 Paris

The new artistic director of a famous fashion house starts experiencing chest pain – and discovers that he may have inherited much worse than his estranged father’s weak heart. Marc-André Grondin stars.

Tickets: €7-€11

LE SUCCESSEUR_FA_24-422_169-2.35_ST-ANG_23123889 from Lost in Frenchlation on Vimeo.

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