Advertisement

French word of the Day: Chiner

The Local France
The Local France - [email protected]
French word of the Day: Chiner
Photo: Annie Spratt/Unsplash/Nicolas Raymond"

This is a word that has changed its meaning quite dramatically over time and has developed a whole new sense.

Advertisement

Why do I need to know Chiner? 

Because this word - pronounced shee-nay with a soft c, not a 'ch' sound like in chocolate - has so many meanings you’ll want to make sure you use it the right way. 

What does it mean? 

In France, this verb is most commonly used when you go bargain hunting for old furniture or second-hand goods at a Brocante - a vintage or second hand. 

You’ll likely hear something like: Allons chiner à la brocante ! – Let’s go find things at the brocante! (Find out more about this French institution here). 

But for the younger generation it doesn’t quite have the same meaning.

Advertisement

In fact, chiner somebody means trying to chat someone up or hitting on them. Tu la chines? – Are you hitting on her?

While younger people use it that way, it funnily doesn’t really mean that at all. In fact, according to the French dictionary’s definition, chiner means “to criticise, to laugh at” but this is very rarely heard nowadays. 

Use it like this

Tu as vu ma nouvelle chaise ? Je l’ai chiné à la brocante le week-end dernier ! – Did you see my new chair? I found it at the brocante last weekend!

Ce mec n’arrête pas de me chiner, j’en ai marre ! - This guy keeps hitting on me, i’m sick of it!

Synonyms

Draguer - to flirt or to hit on 

Brocanter - to bargain-hunt

Blaguer - to joke

Although chiner sounds a bit like the English word shine, it does not have this meaning in French. The verb 'to shine' is instead briller.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

Anonymous 2021/11/05 21:01
Tu as vu ma nouvelle chaise ? Je l’ai chinéE with a ‘e’ at the end J’ai chiné une chaise (féminin) La chaise que j’ai chinée. Je l’ai chinée. Tou have la chaise, complément d’objet direct located before avoir. 😉

See Also