Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
étrennes
English translation:
wish list (here), (more commonly) Christmas or New Year's gift
Added to glossary by
Jocelyne S
Feb 15, 2007 11:25
17 yrs ago
French term
France
étrennes
French to English
Social Sciences
Linguistics
Poster slogans
I've found this term translated as "New Year's gift" in all of my dictionaries, but I've never heard tell of such a gift so I'm actually looking for a bit of context with regard to the EN term.
The term appears here in a slogan on a Spanish Civil War (Iron Column) poster which reads:
"Nos étrennes, des armes et des munitions"
Thank you for your insight!
Jocelyne
The term appears here in a slogan on a Spanish Civil War (Iron Column) poster which reads:
"Nos étrennes, des armes et des munitions"
Thank you for your insight!
Jocelyne
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +2 | christmas gift |
Odette Grille (X)
|
| 5 +2 | See Bourth's explanation |
jacqueb
|
| 5 | gift |
gabuss
|
| 4 +1 | NFG |
French Foodie
|
| 4 | our dues (ici) |
wolmix
|
| 3 | savings |
Miranda Joubioux (X)
|
Proposed translations
+2
42 mins
Selected
christmas gift
I never knew this term was disappearing.
Grandmothers, aunts and others in the family give 'étrennes' (often used when it is money rather than a specific toy or gift)
The revolutionaries want guns and powder for Christmas...
May be the sentence was pronounced by some famous actor of a revolution
Grandmothers, aunts and others in the family give 'étrennes' (often used when it is money rather than a specific toy or gift)
The revolutionaries want guns and powder for Christmas...
May be the sentence was pronounced by some famous actor of a revolution
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
French Foodie
: Just to reassure you, I don't think it's disappearing :-) At least not in my family, although more for New Year's than Christmas in our case
1 hr
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Merci Mara
|
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| agree |
Richard Levy (X)
: Je suis d'accord avec Odette.
3 hrs
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Merci Richard
|
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| agree |
Raymonde Gagnier
: Les étrennes, on les a dans le temps des fêtes! Surtout à Noël!
4 hrs
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2 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you very much to all for your helpful suggestions!
Best,
Jocelyne"
27 mins
savings
This word is often used to mean savings, since a lot of people put money by at the end of the year when they are most likely to receive a bit.
I don't think it refers to a gift being made to the soldiers.
I'd put something like
Our savings are going towards arms and munitions.
I don't think it refers to a gift being made to the soldiers.
I'd put something like
Our savings are going towards arms and munitions.
1 hr
our dues (ici)
-
+2
2 hrs
See Bourth's explanation
He/she nailed it.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Ingeborg Gowans (X)
7 hrs
|
| agree |
Gabrielle Bannard
: I think "our wish list" is appropriate, especially in light of Odette Grille's explanation. "Wish list" is more general, and although used often for Christmas, can be for any time.
11 hrs
|
9 hrs
gift
in this context.
But it can be "Christmas gift or present" or "money" according to Oxford/Hachette Dictionary and it can also be "New Year's gift or present" according to Harraps' Dictionary .
To tanslate the slogan, pls read: "For our gift, give us arms and munitions"
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Note added at 9 hrs (2007-02-15 21:15:49 GMT)
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Etrennes (cadeau) = gift Cf. Oxford/Hachette Dictionary
But it can be "Christmas gift or present" or "money" according to Oxford/Hachette Dictionary and it can also be "New Year's gift or present" according to Harraps' Dictionary .
To tanslate the slogan, pls read: "For our gift, give us arms and munitions"
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2007-02-15 21:15:49 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Etrennes (cadeau) = gift Cf. Oxford/Hachette Dictionary
+1
2 hrs
NFG
Not an answer to the quesiton, but simply bcs I find the etrennes discussion interesting. In addition to the tips to fireman and refuse collectors around Christmas time as Bourth has already pointed out, in my family (in-laws from the Pas de Calais), les étrennes are very specific to the New Year. You have to go around to all your aunts, uncles, relatives (phone call or card will *not* do) and wish them happy New Year. They will often give money to the children, but it is interesting how they use étrennes as a verb, i.e. "aie, je dois aller étrenner ma grand-mere..." to simply mean this act of going round and giving your best wishes for the New Year, and not so much the money you may or may not receive :-)
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Note added at 20 hrs (2007-02-16 07:36:30 GMT)
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Or to go with CMJ's Christmas song theme:
'Tis the season for weapons and ammo! ;-)
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Note added at 20 hrs (2007-02-16 07:36:30 GMT)
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Or to go with CMJ's Christmas song theme:
'Tis the season for weapons and ammo! ;-)
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Ingeborg Gowans (X)
: I find this a very interesting background to all the discussions/ I guess the only chlice is to "agree" even if it is not for points :)
7 hrs
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thanks Ingeborg :-)
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Discussion
My understanding is that soldiers have been given weapons and amno to begin the year. A metaphorical term such as bonus might do the trick.