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French word of the Day: Ricain

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

French people might label you as this once they hear your accent but don't worry, it's not offensive.

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Why do I need to know ricain?

Because you need to know how to react if you are called it.

What does it mean?

It means "American". It's a shortened version of americain and has a feminine version too - ricaine (short for americaine).

As such it's slangy, but it's certainly not an offensive thing to call someone.

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The term has been in use for several decades, and there's even a popular French song paying tribute to les ricains from 1967, which pays tribute to the sacrifice of American soldiers who died during the Allied landings on Normandy's beaches in June 1944.

READ MORE: Oldest allies: The best and worst moments of the French-American relationship

Use it like this

J'ai entendu son accent et j'ai pensé 'c'est un ricain' - I heard his accent and I thought 'he's American'

J'aime les ricains, ils sont toujours amicaux et généreux en matière de pourboires  - I like Americans, they're always friendly and good tippers

Dix-mille Ricains vivent à Paris - tens of thousands of Yanks live in Paris [a slight exaggeration but there a significant American community in Paris]

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Alexander Neil Gordon 2023/06/14 12:55
It may not be insulting to an American to be called « ricain », but our Australian friends were mortified, and I, a Scot, was horrified!

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