Think “Bien” Means “Good”? Not Quite…

And sometimes in consequence they think they are well 'ard.

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No, of course not. I was using delivery as an example, but thinking of something else!

Invthe parcel context, I think the closest English equivalent would be “successfully”, though in either language the word isn’t adding anything to the sentence.

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No it’s a bit like saying “totally unique” or “completely perfect”. :slight_smile:

My first name, Alastair, often created problems when I gave it to French officials and businesses. In the end, I printed up some “calling cards” and this worked perfectly because they carry my contact details. French acquaintances resolutely refuse to use the option of “Al”. They have mastered my full name remarkably well.

We sometimes use it politely but implacably to stress er yes it jolly well has if someone is claiming something didn’t or wouldn’t happen. Je vous ai bien rendu vôtre monnaie - yes I did give you your change. I told you so - je vous l’avais bien dit.

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I agree that bien is frequently much closer to well in context than good these days. Apart from the deeply annoying reply to“how are you?” “I’m good”.

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Acceptable only if the person has eg taken soup to the convalescent, helped someone over the road, etc.
Otherwise 4 walls are 3 more than necessary.

I find myself torn between wincing at such phrases as “Can I get……?” and admitting I might have answered “Good” to the question “How are you?” Is it not just the evolution of language?

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it is - and also the migration of some American phraseology into British English.

I wince internally when my brother (who lives in Virginia) refers to our mother as “Mom”.

Momma might be worse, Chris. I think some English words may have gone the other way, I don’t remember Americans using the word ‘bonkers’ until recently.

That’s fairly common in the UK now, unfortunately.

And “mam” in the NE :smiley:

There’s also the problem about when to say “c’est bien" and when to say “c’est bon", both meaning “it’s good".

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I don’t hear Brits saying mom, but ma’ is quite common.

Only yesterday, I was chatting with a pilgrim as he sheltered from a sudden downpour :roll_eyes:
In the course of our conversation I said something (can’t remember what) and then thought better of it..

“should I say this blah blah or that blah blah. Which is correct?”
I asked him in my best French … and he merely grinned and said “les deux”

and that happens a lot… aaargh :rofl:

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‘C’est bon’ can also mean that’ll do, that’s enough, stop etc etc

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I’ve been ‘Kriss’ all over the world.

Afghan - “Mr Kriss, it is not in our custom” .. to mention someone farting, on account of that meriting one being killed.

I start with ‘Christophe’ but immediately add ‘Christopher’. Alternatively it’s

In Spain I started with ‘Cristobal’. I learned that in Spain ‘Krys/Chris’ is reserved for women - Christina. A bit of a dodgy situation. The beard cleared up any debate.

As for ‘bien’ it’s quite clear to me 'et bien lavez les mains’ after administering some jollop.

In France my name is pronounced without the -th… So it sounds like the end of cigarette.

Also, my (equally Welsh sounding) surname is very often mistaken for my first name, so I’m referred to as Monsieur Gareth.

Ooh you are a dark horse sometimes :slight_smile:

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Yes….like it’s okay… I’m satisfied.

I’ve also heard ‘c’est bon’ used as the equivalent of ‘keep the change’. I was with a French lady who said that so I’ve adopted that myself.

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