is the word 'gênant' often use?

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Permalink Reply by Neil Coffey on August 20, 2011 at 6:15pm

Yes, basically it means things like "disturbing", "that causes some kind of problem", e.g. un bruit gênant is a disturbing noise. But it includes "disturbing" in a figurative sense-- so "disquieting", or something that "makes one ill at ease" (also covering the notion of "embarrassing").

 

So you could say e.g. "Je trouve gênant que..." to mean something like "It makes me ill at east to think that...", "It is disturbing to think that ...".

 

It can also refer to something that "hinders" or "gets in the way". You might see it on a sign saying "Stationnement gênant" meaning basically "If you park here, you'll get in the way of the entrance/traffic". Similarly, if I say something like Cette réglementation est gênante pour les petites entreprises it means something like "These regulations hinder the progress/activities of small companies".

 

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EducatorPermalink Reply by stu harris on August 20, 2011 at 9:13pm

It's very interesting that the word can also mean embarrassing, because we make the distinction between annoying and embarrassing very strongly in English.  But it certainly can.

 

Ma soeur a pété dans l'ascenseur hier. Elle était vachement gênée. 

My sister farted in the elevator (lift if you're British) yesterday. She was terribly embarrassed.

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Permalink Reply by yong leong on August 22, 2011 at 5:23am

That is a good example ,   Pété means fart-  I thought 'lassier le vent' means fart?

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Permalink Reply by yong leong on August 22, 2011 at 5:19am

Merci Neil, so it is one of those words that I have to figure out when someone saying something but that only come when you are already quite familiar with the language, otherwise you spend too much time trying to figure out what it actually means. Thanks for your help Neil.

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EducatorPermalink Reply by stu harris on August 20, 2011 at 6:17pm

Yes, it's current. In most contexts I'd translate it as annoying. One perfect example is the signs warning motorists about parking in unapproved or obstructive places: STATIONNEMENT GENANT.

 

A more "everyday " usage might be Mon fils ne veut pas m'aider, il est vraiment genant. My son won't help me, he's so annoying.

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Permalink Reply by Erwan on August 24, 2011 at 11:23am

In your last example, I would rather used embêtant, enquiquinant (classless way), agaçant, ennuyeux. The word gênant in your phrase means that the son is an obstacle.

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Permalink Reply by yong leong on August 24, 2011 at 11:47am

Are there so many similar words Erwan? Things appear to be a little complicated now.

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Permalink Reply by Erwan on August 24, 2011 at 11:58am

They all are quite synonymous and the list is not full. I don't know why the French language has so many words for this kind of thing (perhaps because French people are moaners :) )

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Permalink Reply by Neil Coffey on August 24, 2011 at 1:55pm

Though of course English in addition to "annoy" has "irritate", "bug", "bother", "irk", "nark (off)", "nettle", "niggle", "piss off"...

 

It seems that French is not the only language to have evolved an apparent need to express subtle shades of annoyance!

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