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French word of the Day: Rencard

The Local France
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French word of the Day: Rencard
Photo: Annie Spratt/Unsplash/Nicolas Raymond"

If someone has asked you for one of these then congratulations - you're obviously looking foxy!

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Why do I need to know rencard?

It's relatively commonly used, especially by younger people in a friendly or romantic situation.

What does it mean?

It means a date (of the romantic variety, not the fruit - that would be une datte).

So if someone asks you Tu veux allez à un rencard avec moi? - Would you like to go on a date with me? you will know to either enthusiastically accept or work on some excuses, depending on whether they float your boat.

It's usually used in the sense of a romantic date, so you might say Jean-Pierre et moi allons à un rencard - Jean-Pierre and I have a date.

Or Caroline est très élégant aujourd'hui, je crois que elle a un rencard - Caroline is looking smart today, I think she has a date.

Couples who have been together for a while and are trying to recapture the magic might have une nuit de rencard - date night.

Although it's usually in a romantic context you can also use the phrase with friends you know well to signify a meet-up.

Alors jeudi, jeudi 19h? C'est un rencard - Thursday, then? Thursday at 7pm? It's a date.

The process of dating itself is know as rencontres so an online dating site is a site de rencontre.

Any other ways to ask people out?

Oh, hundreds. French men, in particular, are not shy about approaching people in bars, clubs or even on the street and asking the question.

Some of the common ones you will hear are Tu veux sortir avec moi? - Do you want to go out with me?

Tu veux prendre un verre/un coup - Do you fancy a drink?

Donne-moi ton zero six - Give me your phone number (French mobiles all start with 06).

Un rendez-vous is often also used to signify a date.

But sadly for Lady Marmalade, voulez-vous couchez avec moi, ce soir has never been widely heard in France and is very unlikely to score you a date.

 

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