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Do the French say [Mon Dieu!] as often as Americans say Omg, My God! (oh, My god!), etc?
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henh...@gmail.com
Dec 27, 2023, 1:41:13 PM12/27/23
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Do the French say [Mon Dieu!] as often as Americans say Omg, My God! (oh, My god!), etc?
While "Mon Dieu!" is the literal translation of "Oh my God!" in French, it's actually less common in everyday speech than its English counterpart. Here's why:
Frequency:
-- Americans: "Oh my God!" and its variants are quite frequent in American English, used for various degrees of surprise, frustration, excitement, and so on. It can be seen as a common interjection woven into daily conversation.
-- French: "Mon Dieu!" is not as ubiquitous in French conversation. You might hear it more in older generations or specific contexts like dramatic situations. In casual conversation, other expressions like "Ah!," "Oh là là," "Putain!" (vulgar), or context-specific phrases are more common for expressing surprise, annoyance, or other emotions.
Cultural Differences:
-- Secularism: France is a secular nation, and invoking God in everyday speech might sound a bit archaic or formal. While references to religion exist, they tend to be less casual compared to some parts of the United States.
-- Variety of Expressions: French has a richer and more nuanced array of interjections and exclamations than English. Depending on the specific emotion and context, French speakers have a wider range of choices beyond "Mon Dieu!" to express themselves.
So, while "Mon Dieu!" exists in French, it's not used as frequently as "Oh my God!" in English. Other factors like cultural context and emphasis on variety in expressions play a role in this difference.
Here are some additional points to consider:
-- Younger generations in France might use "OMG" as a written abbreviation online, similar to English usage.
-- The frequency of religious references in everyday speech can vary within different French-speaking regions and countries.
-- Ultimately, language use is dynamic and evolves over time, influencing how expressions like "Mon Dieu!" and "Oh my God!" are used in the future.
I hope this clarifies the usage of "Mon Dieu!" in French compared to "Oh my God!" in English. Feel free to ask further questions if you have any!
While "Mon Dieu!" is the literal translation of "Oh my God!" in French, it's actually less common in everyday speech than its English counterpart. Here's why:
Frequency:
-- Americans: "Oh my God!" and its variants are quite frequent in American English, used for various degrees of surprise, frustration, excitement, and so on. It can be seen as a common interjection woven into daily conversation.
-- French: "Mon Dieu!" is not as ubiquitous in French conversation. You might hear it more in older generations or specific contexts like dramatic situations. In casual conversation, other expressions like "Ah!," "Oh là là," "Putain!" (vulgar), or context-specific phrases are more common for expressing surprise, annoyance, or other emotions.
Cultural Differences:
-- Secularism: France is a secular nation, and invoking God in everyday speech might sound a bit archaic or formal. While references to religion exist, they tend to be less casual compared to some parts of the United States.
-- Variety of Expressions: French has a richer and more nuanced array of interjections and exclamations than English. Depending on the specific emotion and context, French speakers have a wider range of choices beyond "Mon Dieu!" to express themselves.
So, while "Mon Dieu!" exists in French, it's not used as frequently as "Oh my God!" in English. Other factors like cultural context and emphasis on variety in expressions play a role in this difference.
Here are some additional points to consider:
-- Younger generations in France might use "OMG" as a written abbreviation online, similar to English usage.
-- The frequency of religious references in everyday speech can vary within different French-speaking regions and countries.
-- Ultimately, language use is dynamic and evolves over time, influencing how expressions like "Mon Dieu!" and "Oh my God!" are used in the future.
I hope this clarifies the usage of "Mon Dieu!" in French compared to "Oh my God!" in English. Feel free to ask further questions if you have any!
Chris Elvidge
Dec 28, 2023, 6:38:46 AM12/28/23
to
--
Chris Elvidge, England
I WILL NOT SLEEP THROUGH MY EDUCATION
Hibou
Dec 28, 2023, 11:58:41 AM12/28/23
to
Hibou
Dec 29, 2023, 3:19:14 AM12/29/23
to
> On 27/12/2023 18:41, henh...@gmail.com wrote:
>>
>> Frequency:
>>
>> -- Americans: "Oh my God!" and its variants are quite frequent in
>> American English, used for various degrees of surprise, frustration,
>> excitement, and so on. It can be seen as a common interjection woven
>> into daily conversation.
>>
>> -- French: "Mon Dieu!" is not as ubiquitous in French conversation.
>> You might hear it more in older generations or specific contexts like
>> dramatic situations. In casual conversation, other expressions like
>> "Ah!," "Oh là là," "Putain!" (vulgar), or context-specific phrases are
>> more common for expressing surprise, annoyance, or other emotions.
>>
>>
>> Cultural Differences:
>>
>> -- Secularism: France is a secular nation, and invoking God in
>> everyday speech might sound a bit archaic or formal. While references
>> to religion exist, they tend to be less casual compared to some parts
>> of the United States.
>>
>> -- Variety of Expressions: French has a richer and more nuanced array
>> of interjections and exclamations than English. Depending on the
>> specific emotion and context, French speakers have a wider range of
>> choices beyond "Mon Dieu!" to express themselves. [...]
>>
>> Frequency:
>>
>> -- Americans: "Oh my God!" and its variants are quite frequent in
>> American English, used for various degrees of surprise, frustration,
>> excitement, and so on. It can be seen as a common interjection woven
>> into daily conversation.
>>
>> -- French: "Mon Dieu!" is not as ubiquitous in French conversation.
>> You might hear it more in older generations or specific contexts like
>> dramatic situations. In casual conversation, other expressions like
>> "Ah!," "Oh là là," "Putain!" (vulgar), or context-specific phrases are
>> more common for expressing surprise, annoyance, or other emotions.
>>
>>
>> Cultural Differences:
>>
>> -- Secularism: France is a secular nation, and invoking God in
>> everyday speech might sound a bit archaic or formal. While references
>> to religion exist, they tend to be less casual compared to some parts
>> of the United States.
>>
>> -- Variety of Expressions: French has a richer and more nuanced array
>> of interjections and exclamations than English. Depending on the
>> specific emotion and context, French speakers have a wider range of
So the French ejaculate more often than the Americans?
Peter Moylan
Dec 29, 2023, 7:00:25 AM12/29/23
to
On 28/12/23 22:38, someone in my killfile wrote:
>> -- Younger generations in France might use "OMG" as a written
>> abbreviation online, similar to English usage.
I've taken to using the variant "OYG".
>> -- Younger generations in France might use "OMG" as a written
>> abbreviation online, similar to English usage.
--
Peter Moylan http://www.pmoylan.org
Newcastle, NSW
Athel Cornish-Bowden
Dec 29, 2023, 10:18:23 AM12/29/23
to
On 2023-12-29 12:00:18 +0000, Peter Moylan said:
> On 28/12/23 22:38, someone in my killfile
That's the right place for Hen Hanna.
> On 28/12/23 22:38, someone in my killfile
> wrote:
>
>>> -- Younger generations in France might use "OMG" as a written
>>> abbreviation online, similar to English usage.
>
> I've taken to using the variant "OYG".
--
in England until 1987.
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