Del Boy from “Only Fools and Horses” is well-known for peppering his speech with mispronounced and often incorrectly used French phrases. Here are 10 examples:
- “Bonjour” – A simple French greeting meaning “Hello” or “Good day,” but Del often uses it out of context.
- “Au revoir” – Meaning “Goodbye” in French. Del Boy sometimes uses this correctly, but also frequently out of context.
- “Mange tout, Rodney, mange tout” – “Mange tout” actually means “eat everything” in French. Del Boy uses it as if it means “It’s okay” or “Don’t mention it.”
- “Creme de la menthe” – This is a play on “crème de la crème,” which means “the best of the best.” Del uses “creme de la menthe” humorously and incorrectly.
- “Mon dieu” – Meaning “My God” in French. Del uses it to express surprise or exasperation.
- “Pot pourri” – In reality, this refers to a mixture of dried, naturally fragrant plant materials, used to provide a gentle natural scent. Del uses it out of context.
- “Pommes de terre” – The literal translation is “apples of the earth,” which means “potatoes” in French. Del Boy uses it to sound sophisticated.
- “Tête de veau” – Literally translates to “head of calf” (or calf’s head), but Del uses it in a context that doesn’t make much sense.
- “Bonnet de douche” – Del Boy uses this to mean “excellent.” However, the literal translation is “shower cap.”
- “Fromage frais” – This means “fresh cheese” in French. Del Boy uses it without any appropriate context.
Part of the charm of “Only Fools and Horses” is Del Boy’s frequent and comedic misuse of language, showcasing his aspirations to be more sophisticated and worldly than he actually is.
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