Why do I need to know à la queue leu leu?
You might hear this French expression at a wedding or in schools.
What does it mean?
The expression à la queue leu leu, roughly pronounced ah lah kuh luh luh (listen here) means to stand in single file. It describes a group of people, animals, or vehicles moving in an orderly line, each following directly behind the one in front.
This expression dates back almost 1,000 years. The word leu was the Old French term for wolf (loup in modern French). Although wolves were widely feared, people also observed them closely and noticed that they often travelled in packs, moving one behind the other in a line.
This behaviour helped the animals protect one another and conserve energy, particularly when the ground was covered in snow. The image of wolves following each other's tails became associated with any group moving in an orderly line. Over the centuries, the old word leu survived in the expression, even as it disappeared from everyday French.
But many French people also associate the expression with the popular party song À la queue leu leu. Made popular by French actor André Bézu in 1987, the song became a staple of village parties, weddings, family celebrations, and dance halls throughout the country.
During the song, participants form a long line, each person holding onto the shoulders or waist of the person in front, and move around the room together - literally à la queue leu leu.
Wolves feature in quite a lot of French phrases or expressions, from invoking the devil to reckless behaviour.
READ ALSO: 'Speak of the devil' - Why are there so many wolves in the French language?
Use it like this
Les enfants sont entrés dans la classe à la queue leu leu. - The children entered the classroom in single file.
Les voitures avançaient à la queue leu leu sur la route étroite. - The cars were moving one behind the other along the narrow road.
Les canetons suivent leur mère à la queue leu leu. - The ducklings follow their mother in single file.
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