Pétou - a little Provencale word (guaranteed to make a man smile!)
Friday, May 05, 2017
TODAY'S WORD: le pet (le pétou*)
: fart
*In Provençal it means "little fart."
Click here to listen to Jean-Marc read the following sentence in French
Le petou est littéralement la bête qui pue.
Le petou is literally the beast that stinks.
French definition from the Dictionnaire Etymologique et Ethnologique des parlers brionnais
Get the best-selling Kindle here and lose yourself in a good book.
Improve your spoken French with Pronounce it Perfectly in French
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE
by Kristi Espinasse
We have been living in limbo since the day we promised to sell our vineyard. Even though we found ideal buyers and we've signed a promise to buy a home in La Ciotat, the process is slow and uncertain--with more than one government entity involved in the transaction. Six months into the process, it is still not sure when--or if--we will be able to turn the page, and lately this has really set my husband back.
Wednesday afternoon Jean-Marc and I headed to La Port de La Madrague. This time of year all the wildflowers are out...lilas, santolines, genêts, les immortelles...making the coastal walk along the Sentier Littoral even more spectacular. Bright colors and fresh air are mood-altering, but I had not expected this sneaky blues remedy to work instantanément....
It happened almost as soon as we parked our car right alongside le quai. That is when I looked over and noticed one of the small traditional fishing boats. Unlike the brightly-painted pointus, this little boat was dull and washed out. You could barely read its name (unceremoniously stamped onto the side of the bow). It read, PÉTOU ("Little Fart").
An unexpected snort escaped me.
My husband looked over from the driver's seat, where the weight of our past year held him frozen in place.
"Come on, let's get out. I've got to show you something...."
Jean-Marc followed me to the edge of the dock, where I pointed to the fading fishing boat. "Look at its name!"
And there, my husband lit up. If you could have seen that smile, that look of amusement--that glimmer of childhood antics in his eyes--you, too, would have burst with joy!
So, Dear Reader, forgive me for featuring a soi-disant "vulgar" word in today's missive. But I think you will agree, a little fart is harmless--and it could very well make somebody's day.
* * *
Post note: Not only did Jean-Marc enjoy what he saw, he immediately wanted to share it with his childhood copains. He pulled out his telephone and knelt beside the old Fart in time to take its picture.
Meantime I looked around, as one does when "fart" comes to mind....but only to make sure no one could see us snapping photos of a little boat named PÉTOU.This story is dedicated to Erin and Tamara, "The Book Angels", who encouraged me to take a leap and write about a Little Fart. Please check out their helpful book, My Publishing Journey.
French Vocabulary
lilas (lilas d'espagne) = red valerian
santolene = santolina
le genêt = scotch brush flower
le sentier = path
littoral = coastline, seabord
le quai = dock
le pétou = little fart
soi-disant = so-called, supposedly
les copains = friends
EMBRYOLISSE cream - used by French grandmothers and makeup artists
FRENCH GOURMET ITEMS - including herbs, mustard, coffee, tisane, chocolate, cakes
FRENCH SHOPPING BAG - made and knit in France!
PARIS METRO CUFF - Unique bracelet with a map of the Paris metro!
WORDS IN A FRENCH LIFE: Lessons in Love and Language from the South of France
Those of you who'll be in the area of Collioures around mid May - do not miss Suzanne Dunaway and Anne Pujalte's art opening!
A Message from Kristi: Ongoing support from readers like you keeps me writing and publishing this free language journal each week. If you find joy or value in these stories and would like to keep this site going, donating today will help so much. Thank you for being a part of this community and helping me to maintain this site and its newsletter.
Ways to contribute:
1.Zelle®, The best way to donate and there are no transaction fees. Zelle to [email protected]
2.Paypal or credit card
Or purchase my book for a friend and so help them discover this free weekly journal.
For more online reading: The Lost Gardens: A Story of Two Vineyards and a Sobriety
It's so good to have some cheering words from you Kristi - despite the problems you are clearly facing. Your words arrived on a bad day for me. I particularly appreciated the light way you handled a delicate subject. I've had to change my attitude radically to all things "bottom" since the arrival of my grandson now 4. I had two little girls (including his mother) who wouldn't have dreamed of talking about, let alone doing, half of what he gets away with. But I think it's changed me for the better. I loved your link to your adorable dogs in hats. And you are so right about sunlight and nature lifting the spirits. It made me look up and out at the sky through my window and promise to go out later when I've tackled the things I really really don't want to do. I'm sending you all the very best wishes for the present and the future.
Posted by: Margaret | Friday, May 05, 2017 at 11:54 AM
Hi Kristin, I've read and enjoyed your blog for some time and often thought about contacting you, but you know how these things go. Anyway, before I get immersed in my work today, I thought I'd drop you a line. I'm a writer (www.new.janicemacdonald.com and I also blogged for a while: www.travelingnovelist.worpress.com) and almost your neighbour--I live in the Languedoc, between Beziers and Pezenas. Really not that far. I drive down to Marseilles on occasion to pick up visitors at the airport. I'm English, but lived so many years in the US--mostly California and Washington state--that I'm a bit of a hybrid, with an accent that causes confusion. I've been living in France for four years, absolutely love it, and for the past two have been working on a book about a vigneron who grows wine in Faugeres. Her work, and passion for making wine, sometimes reminds me of how it is to work as a writer. She has these ideas of how she wants her wine to be, but they don't always match the finished product. Comme moi. Rather than rattle on though, I'll just offer you my very best wishes and to say it would be lovely to hear from you. Best, Janice
Posted by: janice macdonald | Friday, May 05, 2017 at 11:55 AM
There is quite an obsession with putting "-ou" at the end of words to denote a diminuative, a sweet little nickname: Mamou, Gisou, Papou. I hadn't heard anybody use pétou before but I knew immediately what it meant.
Posted by: Taste of France | Friday, May 05, 2017 at 02:21 PM
But of course ...it's universal!
In our home ...my little girls ... referred to "flatulence" as " toots" ... this was 35 years ago ... and it elicited a lot of giggles when it occurred.
My four year old granddaughter recently "tooted" and started to giggle. I inquired with curiosity " Do they laugh when you "toot" at school?". After a few pensive moments she very seriously replied " no, but they laugh really hard when you fart."
Who knows...it's just funny.
Mary Liz
Posted by: Mary liz | Friday, May 05, 2017 at 04:28 PM
I'm glad to hear some silliness was good medicine for your husband!
Posted by: Ginny | Friday, May 05, 2017 at 04:31 PM
Fantastic! So good to hear about Jean-Marc's joy! It's so often difficult to get out of a stuck place, and this petou is to be honored! Could just see the flowers and boats along the path. What a beautiful picture you drew!
Posted by: Judi | Friday, May 05, 2017 at 04:47 PM
Kristin - this is good to hear that Jean-Marc is smiling, even a cause de le pétou! haha
I'm so THRILLED to hear that Jean-Marc's Mas des Brun Rosé has made it to Phoenix!!! I love Vincent's farmer's market, so I will be stopping in to grab a bottle... or two!
Posted by: Beth | Friday, May 05, 2017 at 04:53 PM
Kristi, I read your first book and have followed your blog for several years now. Is it possible to order just one bottle of Jean Marc's wine for my husband's birthday in June? We were in Provence last May (Luberon area) and fell in love with their rosés.
Bev
Vancouver Island, Canada
Posted by: Bev Harris | Friday, May 05, 2017 at 05:20 PM
Kristi,
A smile is always good especially when someone is in the blues and works their way out. I love the description of the flowers. Ours in Connecticut are not that advanced, but the trees are greener every day.
I wish your Rosé was in Connecticut...Arizona is too far to travel for a bottle of wine, even through I know that I would enjoy it....the trip and the wine.
Keep praying that your mas sale and house buy happen quickly. it is tough being in flux.
Enjoy the flowers, the sun and coming of summer...and new beginnings.
Kathleen
Posted by: Kathleen | Friday, May 05, 2017 at 05:31 PM
Hi Kristi,
Made me smile today with your story! I now have a new pet name for my husband and he won't know what the h.... it means. Mon pétou LOL
Thanks for the smile today! :-)
Posted by: Eileen deCamp | Friday, May 05, 2017 at 05:55 PM
Dezr Bev,
Thank you for wanting ordering our wine. You can obviously order one bottle but I am not sure where you want to it to be delivered or where you want to pick it.
I don't think it will be possible to ship to Vancouver...
Cheers, Jean-Marc
Posted by: Jean-Marc Espinasse | Friday, May 05, 2017 at 06:10 PM
I'm about to stock up on rosé for the summer. Is Mas des Bruns sold in Portland ?
Posted by: Jeffrey Swanson | Friday, May 05, 2017 at 06:16 PM
Dear Jeffrey,
A pallet of Mas des Brun is about to dock in Portland. It should be on the shelves very soon. Stay tuned, we will let you know as soon as we hear from our importer
Thank you for your support
Cheers
Jean-Marc
Posted by: Jean-Marc Espinasse | Friday, May 05, 2017 at 06:27 PM
Dear readers,
Thank you for your kind comments and thank you for your support buying our wine and Vincent on Camelback if you live in Phoenix.
As to answer questions about other locations :
- Houston : French Country Wines, 2433 Bartlett St, Houston, TX 77098. Tel : 713 993 9500
- Washington DC : Cork & Fork Logan Circle 1522 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20005. Tel : 202 588 5766
- Alexandria : Planet Wine, 2004 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301. Tel : 703 549 3444
- Los Angeles : Larchmont Village Wine, 223 N. Larchmont Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90004. Tel : 323 856 8699
- Asheville : Bouchon, 62 N Lexington Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801. Tel : 828 350 1140
Please contact those wine stores to make sure they still have our wines in inventory
Our wine will also soon be available in Portland. Stay tuned, we will let you know where to find them
For our Dear French and Europe Friends, please contact us at [email protected]
Cheers!
Posted by: Jean-Marc Espinasse | Friday, May 05, 2017 at 07:03 PM
I met a French lady who demonstrated how to make miniature cream puffs, and as she was squeezing the pastry out of the pastry tube by little bits onto the baking sheet, she said that the miniature cream puffs are popularly called "petes des nonnes!" Isn't that funny?
Posted by: Joan | Friday, May 05, 2017 at 07:36 PM
Such a charming, cheering anecdote and wee word today -- love every syllable and every smile as the fun ripples 'round the globe amongst your readers! Thanks for this one with its earthy universal humour, Kristi: just what's needed in Niagara Region, in fact our entire province, today with relentless rain and floods threatening. A 'raspberry' re weather like this! PS ~ Do you know a French expression that means what 'raspberry' connotes to nous anglais? As Merriam-Webster defines this usage: "[short for 'raspberry tart', rhyming slang for fart] : a sound of contempt made by protruding the tongue between the lips and expelling air forcibly to produce a vibration; broadly : an expression of disapproval or contempt." ... en français??
Posted by: Kitty Wilson-Pote | Friday, May 05, 2017 at 08:20 PM
Just wanted to send you a shout-out. I have followed your blog for years and years and love it MORE THAN EVER! What a privilege to follow you and your family thru all the ups (and downs) of your very real life. <3
Posted by: Julia | Friday, May 05, 2017 at 08:52 PM
Thank you, Julia! So good to hear this. What wonderful motivation to keep on truckin here. Thank you for reading and for this shout-out.
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Friday, May 05, 2017 at 08:59 PM
Our dear Kristi,
A dear friend once told me to make it a point to have a hearty laugh every day.
Some days this is easier to achieve than others,but I am filing
today's post away in memory for when the laugh potential is weak.
THANK YOU for your wonderful words(as they always are!)
Keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers.
Love
Natalia xo
Posted by: Natalia | Friday, May 05, 2017 at 09:26 PM
Like you, I rarely say the word in English or French. But, I love this story and can relate to the joy of seeing a loved one laugh.
Posted by: Chris | Friday, May 05, 2017 at 10:58 PM
Salut Kristi,
LOL! As I approach my 87th birthday in a couple weeks, instead of "little XXXX" I guess my descriptor might be "old XXXX". There must be French verlan for that.
Plan to go to Vincent's tomorrow :>)
Herm
Posted by: Herm in Phoenix, AZ | Friday, May 05, 2017 at 11:07 PM
Petou is not rude...
Certainly NOT vulgar !
Cute as hell , actually .
Michèle Jupont
Phoenix Az
Posted by: Michele | Friday, May 05, 2017 at 11:25 PM
Herm, The market at Vincents is actually on Sunday (there was a mistake in the announcement). Many thanks for going to get some Mas des Brun!
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Friday, May 05, 2017 at 11:32 PM
Thanks!
Posted by: Herm in Phoenix, AZ | Saturday, May 06, 2017 at 01:54 AM
Thank you for this story, which really resonates with my family. Do you have any comments or predictions regarding this weekend's election in France? It is going to be a critically important election not just for France, but for all of Europe and the U.S. (if not the world), and we are following it closely.
Posted by: Leslie in Oregon | Saturday, May 06, 2017 at 03:17 AM
So sorry guys for the confusion on the farmers market date at Vincent. It is DEFINITELY today Saturday May 6 from 9 AM to 1 PM. All my apologizes
Posted by: Jean-Marc Espinasse | Saturday, May 06, 2017 at 04:00 PM
Is that Portland, ME or Portland, OR? If it is the former, I'd love to get a bottle.
Posted by: Anne Umphrey | Sunday, May 07, 2017 at 02:31 AM
Hi Kristi,
Do you still offer tastings at your home?
Regards,
Aaron Groseclose
Posted by: Aaron Groseclose | Monday, May 08, 2017 at 05:33 PM
Aaron, We are currently in transition and have not organized any tastings here at our home.
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Monday, May 08, 2017 at 08:47 PM