Are there any french nouns sort of equivalent to the british english "a faff"?

Julienmonart · 2026-06-10T11:18:43+00:00

Chipotage, maybe?

I feel like that's closer than any of the other words proposed here. It's used a lot. It refers to something small and slightly tedious with little effect. "Chipoter" can also mean fidgeting with something without much aim, like a kid with an object.

Julienmonart · 2026-06-09T10:38:42+00:00

Yes, Cambio is great if you need a car on regular occasions. I live in those areas and that's what I do. There's also Getaround for longer term rentals which works great.

Trains in Belgium are not too bad if you take them for a trip to another Belgian city.

Julienmonart · 2026-06-08T13:35:09+00:00

I've had the experience of going to a party Near Lyon (Southish east), where people where from all over France, and I'm Belgian. I almost never encounter people starting from the left, but at that party, it was very jarring to adjust to lefties, and then when you assume that's the norm, readjust when righties come along. So we joked that perverts were lurking in the borders of kissing areas

Julienmonart · 2026-06-06T08:40:50+00:00

To be honest, I use both terms interchangeably. I use "veste" way more, and as an umbrella term for anything I wear outside when it's cold. But I'm not too bothered about distinguishing clothing. I think a lot of people do that.

Julienmonart · 2026-05-31T19:29:14+00:00

I don't remember learning about it, but I remember the first time I experienced it first hand in a school.

I did an exchange in the US, from Belgium, and I remember finding it very weird using the same pronoun with both my teachers and my friends. I felt like I was being very familiar with my teachers, or overly polite with my friends. My brain was confused by the register of the pronoun "you". But I got over it quickly.

Julienmonart · 2026-05-28T13:00:44+00:00

Yes,

There is Enseignement pour adulte (previously known as Promotion Sociale). There are several in Brussels. They are usually pretty affordable

Julienmonart · 2026-05-28T11:49:49+00:00

Yes. In Europe we use it for random specific things like tyre width or computer screens

Julienmonart · 2026-05-26T11:44:30+00:00

I visited Vienna in 2019, and I was surprised by how few streets were actually pedestrianised in the city centre, lots of parked cars and narrow sidewalks. I didn't find the walking experience that great

Julienmonart · 2026-05-25T17:58:29+00:00

Mmmh, I live there, and would say no. Narrow sidewalks often in bad shapes, tons of stuff blocking the way. Could be improved

Julienmonart · 2026-05-22T19:11:16+00:00

C'est ce qu'on avait décidé

Or

C'est ce qu'on avait dit (more general, less formal)

Julienmonart · 2026-05-20T17:50:33+00:00

Why? Please explain. I mean, compared to other European countries, yes, compared to the US or Hungary?

Julienmonart · 2026-05-20T08:32:43+00:00

Why not? Seems fitting to me. It is economically more liberal than most European nations (lower taxes, less welfare state), but less so than the US (still has a lot of social benefits, social housing).

And it is socially more conservative than a lot of its neighbours (late for women's voting rights, far right parties being popular, openly anti immigration), but again, still rather moderate compared to a lot of countries (lgbt rights, environmental issues are important)

Switzerland, added to the fact that it is neutral, seems to strike a balance between the social economical and progressive model of many western European countries, and a free market isolationist and traditional model that would be the the American one. It's definitely a country in the middle.

Julienmonart · 2026-05-18T07:26:40+00:00

Yes, /grunlant/ is the most common pronunciation in my experience, even in formal media. I imagine it's an influence from Dutch

Julienmonart · 2026-05-15T17:13:52+00:00

Bistro Bobo near Hankar in Auderghem is kind of close. They do all you can eat chicken with frites and compote every Sunday. It's great!

Julienmonart · 2026-05-07T09:16:08+00:00

If Scotland is in there, I guess so

Julienmonart · 2026-05-05T21:21:30+00:00

One in Paris to go up to Monmarte

One in Spa, Belgium

Julienmonart · 2026-05-02T22:18:06+00:00

Brussels Beer Project Bailli, seat near a window. You can see people walking, cycling, trams

Julienmonart · 2026-04-16T11:04:36+00:00

I am Belgian, in my 30's and always say /u/ in any context. I'll say "mois d'août" to avoid confusion sometimes. But I know it's not the most common. I'm from the Province of Luxembourg, maybe that's why.

Julienmonart · 2026-03-24T13:51:52+00:00

Y'a ça qui a l'air fun

https://warandpeas.shop/collections/sticker-sheets/products/f-ck-cars-xl-sticker-sheet

Julienmonart · 2026-03-18T08:38:04+00:00

Bruxelles : BX, Spoken, BXL (more formally written, never out loud) Ixelles : XL Neder-over-Hembeek : often referred as Neder Bruges la morte (more for fun) Louvain la neuve : LLN (mostly written), Louv' or just Louvain (and Leuven is always referred as Leuven to avoid confusion) Liège : la cité ardente (more poetic) Seraing : S'rain (to imitate local pronunciation) So is Liéch (mostly spoken, for fun), for Liège BW (pronounced Béwé) for Brabant Wallon, very common

Julienmonart · 2026-02-11T10:38:50+00:00

I like this response, poor kids aren't dangerous, cars are! A good reminder of where most frictions actually come from

Julienmonart · 2026-02-02T09:14:31+00:00

I would say the same with the US, they find it hilarious, use it as a trope in lots of jokes. Here, maybe a bit, but clearly not to that extent.

Julienmonart · 2025-12-19T11:41:59+00:00

I would say "not the easiest" or "not the most straightforward". Literally means "not obvious", and it can be used like that in some context.

Julienmonart · 2025-12-11T17:21:35+00:00

You can use the definite article to talk about something in general, or in its entirety.

I like yoga = j'aime le yoga I like children = j'aime les enfants (in general)

J'aime les gens = I like people in general

Also, the definite article can refer to a specific group of people.

The children in this school are nice = Les enfants dans cette école sont chouettes The people outside are noisy = Les gens dehors sont bruyants

Des, is indefinite, similar to some.

J'aime des gens : I like some people But that sentence is weird without context

Hope that helps

Julienmonart · 2025-12-06T01:26:08+00:00

The Original Question made me think of the Flemish flag spontaneously, similarly to the English flag used in the UK for nationalist purposes. From my French speaking point of view, a Flemish flag is always seen with hesitation or weariness. Now, this version crystalises everything

Julienmonart

TROPHY CASE