French Word of the Day: Bla-bla
This handy little phrase can be either cute or dismissive, depending on how you use it.
Why do I need to know bla-bla?
Because we all know someone who loves to waffle on.
What does it mean?
Bla-bla, sometimes written blabla and always pronounced blah-blah, has a number of definitions.
The first is the similar to that used in English. Bla-bla can be used to mean an incoherent rambling of words that don't really lead anywhere or carry any weight.
Ce n'est que du bla-bla - It is just nonsense/gibberish
In a similar vein, the term can be used to talk about lies, deceit or misleading language.
Préviens-moi quand tu auras fini ton bla-bla - Let me know when you have finished with your bullshit
Le discours du président n'est rien que du bla-bla - The President's speech was nothing but lies
Another use of the term bla-bla, which we don't really use in English, is to mean chitchat or friendly conversation.
A number of French supermarkets have introduced blabla caisses, or chitchat checkouts, where shoppers who want to take their time and have a chat with supermarket staff while paying for their goods are free to do so.
READ MORE French supermarkets open ‘chitchat checkouts’ to counter loneliness
La blabla caisse ralentit la cadence - The chitchat checkout slows down the pace
Ces blabla caisses autorisent les clients à prendre leur temps et faire un brin de causette - These chit chat checkouts allow clients to take their time and have a little conversation
There is a ride-sharing company in France known as Blablacar. On their profile, drivers describe how chatty they are, with bla meaning not very chatty, bla bla meaning sometimes chatty and blablabla meaning very chatty.
Synonyms
Bagou - Guff/glibness
Baratin - Bullshit/claptrap/waffle
Bavardage - Prattle
Battage - Hype
Causer - To chat
Verbiage - Waffle
Comments
See Also
Why do I need to know bla-bla?
Because we all know someone who loves to waffle on.
What does it mean?
Bla-bla, sometimes written blabla and always pronounced blah-blah, has a number of definitions.
The first is the similar to that used in English. Bla-bla can be used to mean an incoherent rambling of words that don't really lead anywhere or carry any weight.
Ce n'est que du bla-bla - It is just nonsense/gibberish
In a similar vein, the term can be used to talk about lies, deceit or misleading language.
Préviens-moi quand tu auras fini ton bla-bla - Let me know when you have finished with your bullshit
Le discours du président n'est rien que du bla-bla - The President's speech was nothing but lies
Another use of the term bla-bla, which we don't really use in English, is to mean chitchat or friendly conversation.
A number of French supermarkets have introduced blabla caisses, or chitchat checkouts, where shoppers who want to take their time and have a chat with supermarket staff while paying for their goods are free to do so.
READ MORE French supermarkets open ‘chitchat checkouts’ to counter loneliness
La blabla caisse ralentit la cadence - The chitchat checkout slows down the pace
Ces blabla caisses autorisent les clients à prendre leur temps et faire un brin de causette - These chit chat checkouts allow clients to take their time and have a little conversation
There is a ride-sharing company in France known as Blablacar. On their profile, drivers describe how chatty they are, with bla meaning not very chatty, bla bla meaning sometimes chatty and blablabla meaning very chatty.
Synonyms
Bagou - Guff/glibness
Baratin - Bullshit/claptrap/waffle
Bavardage - Prattle
Battage - Hype
Causer - To chat
Verbiage - Waffle
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 here to leave a comment.