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FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY

French Expression of the Day: Avoir la banane

This usually has nothing to do with fruit.

Published: 25 March 2024 11:06 CET

French Expression of the Day: Avoir la banane

Photo: Annie Spratt/Unsplash/Nicolas Raymond

Why do I need to know avoir la banane?

Because you should know you’re not going crazy if your French friend is talking about having this fruit, but it’s nowhere in sight.

What does it mean?

Avoir la banane – roughly pronounced ah-vwar la bah-nahn – translates as ‘to have the banana’.

In reality, the expression has little to do with the yellow fruit – it means ‘to be happy’ or ‘to be content’ because the curved shape of a banana resembles a smile.

So if you are told gardez la banane (literally – hold the banana), this actually means ‘keep smiling’.

People have been using this expression for decades to talk about being happy. A common synonym would be être de bonne humeur (to be in a good mood).

The similar-sounding phrase se faire bananer has a less happy meaning – it means to be cheated or swindled.

It’s also worth keeping in mind that a sac banane is the French term for a fanny pack/bum bag.

Use it like this

Tout le monde avait la banane après le déjeuner. – Everyone was in a good mood after lunch.

Une moitié du groupe semble énervée, mais l’autre moitié a la banane. – One half of the group seems annoyed, but the other half is in good spirits.

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French Expression of the Day: Ne pas avoir la langue dans sa poche

Why do I need to know ne pas avoir la langue dans sa poche?

Because depending on your sensitivity level, you would either seek out this type of person or try to stay far away from them.

What does it mean?

Ne pas avoir la langue dans sa poche – roughly pronounced nuh pahz ah-vwar lah lahng dahn sah poe-sh – translates precisely as ‘to not have the tongue in the pocket’.

This is an old French expression, dating back to the 19th century, and it does not have anything to do with literal tongues in pockets.

It refers to someone who speaks freely and without any restraint. In English one might say that ‘they do not hold back’ or perhaps ‘calls a spade a spade’ – it means someone who is blunt and says exactly what they are thinking, regardless of whether it might offend or upset people.

A person qui n’a pas la langue dans sa poche might be borderline rude, or impulsive, as they speak without thinking.

While you are most likely to hear this in the negative sense (about a blunt person), you could also use it in the opposite way (avoir la langue dans sa poche) to describe someone who is guarded and speaks carefully.

There are a couple of similar French expressions, though they do not convey exactly the same meaning of speaking carelessly. One option is être un moulin à paroles (‘to be a mill with words’, or to speak a lot and quickly, without taking any pauses).

Another is une pipelette for someone who talks a lot and enjoys gossiping.

Use it like this

Ne t’inquiète pas, ma belle-mère n’a pas la langue dans sa poche. Elle dira exactement ce qu’elle pense. – Don’t worry, my mother in law does not hold back. She will say exactly what she is thinking.

Il n’a pas la langue dans sa poche. Il m’a dit carrément que ma robe était moche. – He is brutally honest. He told be outright that my dress was ugly.

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