Who knows French here? (need some translation help)

[Cindy B]

I have a student at work that does not like me. I corrected hm, and he looks in my face and says something in French.


Some other students then start giggling. I am almost certain he is calling me a nasty name in French... I'm thinking sounds like witch or another curse word.


It sounds something like Jetain, or jetelain or it could be chetain... I am sure I am butchering it.. but I am curioius.

He keeps on doing it whenever I correct him,or tell him to get to class.

This is a 7th grader if that helps you.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Je t'aime would be I love you. I'm not sure if that's what he is saying, but that is the closest I can figure he is saying from what you think you are hearing.

 

[Wishydoo]

well, if he is saying "chienne", then it is possible that he is referring to the "B" word. I believe chienne means female dog in french.

 

[mousefan]

just sent you pm......hope it helps

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Ohhh I didn't think of chienne, but then that doesn't explain the "t" sound she is hearing. Lol I wonder what mousefan thinks it is.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

It's really hard to guess without actually hearing what was said. As you can tell we've guessed things on opposite ends of the spectrum. Is there a student that you trust that may have heard it? Maybe you could pull that student aside and ask. I would hate to say it was definitely "?#@*!" and it turns out to be something else. That's the problem with French, things only have to be announciated a little differently to completely change the meaning. Good luck and let us know how you make out. I'm very curious.

 

[mousefan]

haha I was sending pm the same time Wishydo was posting I just didn't want to put that word on the forum.....and also wanted to send here a link to a free translation site for future references.

 

[Cindy B]

I knew Jetaime is I love you, and that would defienetely not be it....

He saw me walking in the hallway, and shouted this word, and then started yelling in English...

 

[DVC-Don]

The only French I know is "Bastille" (sp?)

We used to say that when we stopped a car from Quebec and no one claimed to know English. Usually someone would remember English then.

 

[Wishydoo]

If it turns out that he is saying what I mentioned, you could respond with...

non, je suis un chat (no, I am a cat)

The second "n" in non is silent.
sh sound for "ch", ah sound for "a", silent "t" on chat...shah

Maybe that would surprise him, hehe.

 

[Wishydoo]

Or, am I mistaken, and the "a" sound in chat is more like the a sound in the word <B>a</B>bnormal?

anyone?

 

[Mishetta]

Why don't you just say back "je te comprend!" This means "I understand you!" and maybe if he is indeed saying something nasty, it will deter him. Maybe?

Unless I hear the word exactly, it is hard to figure out what he is saying to you.

Bonne Chance!

 

[Mishetta]

Yikes! I just thought of a bad french word....

If he is calling you "Putin" then that means what the lead role was in the movie "Pretty Woman"! (I noticed that only **'s came up when I wrote that word in! Sorry Moderators!)

Suspend that little garcon!

 

[Sonya]

Mishetta, that is what I thought of when I read her original post. I bet that is it!

 

[christinou]

It also could be cretain, which means idiot. Of all the words it would be the milder one.....
Let me know if you need an answer back.
you could always say.
Tu veux aller voir le principal?
You want to go to the principal's office.

 

[disnee15]

Chien is just a dog in general but adding the extra ne does infact make it that word.. meaning a female dog. Though he could be saying idiot.

 

[Cindy B]

Well, I have three possibles....


Thanks for the possible translations... this is what I get for taking Spanish many years ago.


I found out that this student is a challenging student to many, not just to me...

 

[madonna31]

Perhaps I can help out a bit here...(French to Canadians, is as Spanish is to Americans...)

Chienne is DEFINITLY a witch with a *b* instead of a *w*