30/12/2022
When exploring the rich tapestry of French culture, one often encounters a fascinating array of regional languages and dialects that add unique flavour to the nation's identity. Among these, the 'Patois du Nord' stands out as a particularly distinctive linguistic phenomenon, deeply rooted in the history and daily lives of the communities in Northern France. Often referred to by various names, understanding this dialect can be akin to deciphering a complex system, requiring an appreciation for its unique mechanics and nuances. This guide aims to demystify the 'Patois du Nord', offering insights into its pronunciation, common expressions, and the cultural context that shaped it.
The terms 'Patois du Nord', 'Ch'ti', 'Ch'timi', and 'Rouchi' are often used interchangeably, leading to some confusion for the uninitiated. Fundamentally, these are all forms of Picard, a Romance language spoken across parts of Picardy, Nord-Pas-de-Calais in France, and Wallonia in Belgium. While linguists universally refer to it as Picard, the regional sobriquets have gained popular traction. In Picardy, it's simply 'Picard', but in Nord-Pas-de-Calais, 'Ch'ti' or 'Ch'timi' are more prevalent, and 'Rouchi' specifically designates the variant found around Valenciennes. Despite these regional distinctions, the various forms of Picard remain largely mutually intelligible, much like different regional accents within English.
The term 'Ch'ti' itself is a relatively recent creation, not an ancient endonym used by speakers. It emerged during the First World War, coined by French soldiers to describe their comrades from the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region. 'Ch'ti' is derived from a common Picard phrase meaning 'that one' or 'him', frequently used by locals. It was only after the Second World War that the term gained widespread popularity to refer to the inhabitants of Nord-Pasde-Calais, and its adoption as an endonym by the population is even more recent, solidifying primarily in the 2010s. This historical context highlights how language evolves, even in its naming conventions.
The Orthographic & Phonetic Landscape
One of the initial challenges for anyone attempting to grasp the 'Patois du Nord' is its lack of a uniform, standardised spelling. Unlike standard French, which adheres to strict orthographic rules, the dialect often relies on phonetic interpretations, making it a living, breathing linguistic entity that varies subtly from one locality to another. However, certain phonetic and orthographic conventions are commonly observed, providing a framework for understanding its unique sounds:
- The 'å' sound is pronounced somewhere between the deep 'a' (as in 'father') and 'o' (as in 'go').
- The 'æ' sound falls between an open 'a' (as in 'cat' in some English accents) and an 'è' (as in 'bed').
- The 'rh', especially at the end of a word, is a distinct sound, lying between the French 'r' and the German 'ch' (as in 'Bach') or the Spanish 'jota'.
- The 'vh' sound is pronounced between 'v' and 'f' within a word, but typically becomes a clear 'f' at the end of a word.
- Vowels topped with a circumflex accent (^) are highly accentuated, indicating a stronger emphasis on that syllable.
- Vowels bearing a grave accent (`) are pronounced openly, similar to the French 'à' or 'è'.
- Vowels followed by an 'h' are elongated, giving them a longer, drawn-out quality.
- The tripthong 'aÿ' is pronounced 'éyi'.
- Double consonants are often pronounced distinctly in two parts, rather than merging into a single sound.
Beyond these general rules, specific phonetic transformations are notable. For instance, 'S' and 'C' sounds often morph into 'ch'. So, 'place' becomes 'plache', 'siens' becomes 'chiens', and 'citron' is 'chitron'. Conversely, the 'ch' sound often becomes 'k', transforming 'vache' into 'vaque', 'mouche' into 'mouque', and 'acheter' into 'acater'.
Prefixes also undergo changes: 're-' denoting repetition becomes 'ar-' (e.g., 'refaire' becomes 'arfaire'), while 're-' without repetition becomes 'er-' (e.g., 'religion' becomes 'erligion', 'renard' becomes 'ernard', and 'refuser' becomes 'erfuser'). The 'eu' sound often shifts to a 'u' sound (e.g., 'vieux' becomes 'viux', 'yeux' becomes 'yux', 'pleuvoir' becomes 'pluvoir'). Lastly, words ending in '-aille' or '-ail' drop the 'y' sound, so 'portail' becomes 'portal' and 'bataille' becomes 'batale'. These phonetic shifts create the unique auditory signature of the dialect.
The true heart of any dialect lies in its idiomatic expressions, and 'Patois du Nord' is no exception. These phrases offer a window into the local culture, humour, and way of life. Here's a selection of common expressions, alongside their literal and contextual meanings:
| Patois Expression | Literal Translation | English Meaning/Context |
|---|---|---|
| Ej t'arconnôs ti z'aute, t'es d'min couin ! | I recognise you, you're from my corner! | I know you, you're from around here! (A friendly recognition) |
| Inlève tin capiau, y'a un ch'ti qui pache. | Remove your hat, a Ch'ti is passing. | Show respect, a local is passing. |
| Vlà m'tiète, min cu i vient ! | Here's my head, my backside follows! | I'm coming straight away! / My body will follow my head. |
| Al a sin cu conme eune mante à prones ! | She has a bottom like a plum basket! | She has large buttocks. |
| Attinds, té vas vir, té vas in printe su t'guife ! | Wait, you'll see, you'll get one on your face! | Wait, you're going to get a smack in the face! |
| À nous guifes ! | To our faces! | Cheers! (A toast) |
| Car qui ione, i va lon | A cart that creaks, goes far. | Said of someone who complains a lot but is never truly ill. |
| Chake poéyis chake mode, chake cu chake crote ! | Each country its custom, each backside its droppings! | Every country has its own customs. (Different strokes for different folks) |
| Ch'ti-là y'a d'étoupes à s' quenouille | That one has tow in his distaff. | Is he a cuckold? (An old-fashioned, indirect insult) |
| Ch'que té m'dis là assis, ej té l'éros bin dis dbout ! | What you tell me sitting down, I would have told you standing up! | You're saying something surprising/outrageous. |
| Éch'ti qui parte à l'ducasse, i pièrd s' plache ! | He who goes to the village fair, loses his place! | Similar to 'If you leave, you lose your spot.' (Northern equivalent of 'Qui va à la chasse, perd sa place.') |
| Éch'ti quî voudrot, i pourrot. | He who would want, could. | Where there's a will, there's a way. |
| Èj va l'foutte à l'uch ! | I will kick him out the door! | I'm going to throw him out! |
| Èj m'étoque, ch'est passé par l'trau à tarte ! | I'm choking, it went down the pie hole! | It went down the wrong way (into the windpipe). |
| Èj m'in va à Gardincour, uit jours din min gardîn pi uit jours din l'cour ! | I'm going to Gardincour, eight days in my garden and eight days in the yard! | Used when not going on holiday, implying staying at home. |
| Èj n'in minjros su l'tiète d'un pouilleu ! | I would eat it off a lousy person's head! | It's very good, I absolutely love it. |
| Eul lanque d'eune fème, eul queue d'un kien, cha bérloque toudis ! | A woman's tongue, a dog's tail, it always wags! | Both are always moving. (Said about someone who talks a lot) |
| Eut'lingue ale s'ra usée qu'tés bros i s'ront cor tous neus. | Your tongue will be worn out before your arms are new. | Said of someone who talks too much. |
| Férme eut'bouke, tin nez i va kére éddin ! | Close your mouth, your nose will fall in! | Said to someone who looks astonished or dumbfounded. |
| Garchon, armet lés vères conme is étòtte ! | Waiter, put the glasses back as they were! | Another round, waiter! |
| Grind vinteu, p'tit féseu ! | Big bragger, small doer! | All talk, no action. |
| Y'a rin qui passe sans qui rapasse | Nothing passes without repassing. | Time heals all injustices / What goes around comes around. |
| Il a sés loupes conme dés bords ed pot d'cambe ! | He has lips like chamber pot rims! | He has very thick lips. |
| I drache toudis ichi éddin, in n'incachrot nin un kien à l'cour. | It always rains inside here, you wouldn't lock a dog in the yard. | What awful weather! (Lit. 'It's raining cats and dogs') |
| Il est malate, i tranne conme un viu kien ! | He is sick, he trembles like an old dog! | He's ill and shaking with fever. |
| In a toudis miu din l'sèke éq din l'frèke | One is always better off dry than in the cold. | It's always better to be dry than wet/damp. |
| In n'est nin né din l'cafetiére pou raviser par l'busète ! | One wasn't born in a coffee pot to look through the spout! | One wasn't born yesterday. / We're not stupid. |
| Lon minjeu, lon ouvreu ! | Long eater, long worker! | Someone who eats slowly also works slowly. |
| L'ogiau qui cante timpe au matin, eul cat i l'print ! | The bird that sings early in the morning, the cat catches it! | The early bird gets the worm (but sometimes with a negative connotation). |
| Mouke tin nez, t'as du brin à t'bottine | Wipe your nose, you have dirt on your boot. | Said to someone whose nose is running. |
| Moyennemint va partout bin | Moderately goes everywhere well. | Slow and steady wins the race. / He who goes far spares his mount. |
| Prinds eune cayèle, pis assîs té par tièrre ! | Take a chair, then sit on the ground! | An invitation to sit down (humorous). |
| Quaind in ravîsse quécun, in' in voit qu'eul mitan ! | When one looks at someone, one only sees half! | Don't judge a book by its cover. / Appearances can be deceiving. |
| Quaind l'glènne ale cante pu heut qu'ech co, in li rabat toudis sin caquet. | When the hen sings louder than the rooster, one always clips its cackle. | A woman who speaks out of turn will be put back in her place. |
| Ravisse éch'ti-chi écmint qu'il est arnéqué ! | Look at this one, how badly dressed he is! | Look how poorly dressed he is! |
| Sake éddins ! | Pull in! / Pull inside! | Go for it! / Hurry up! |
| Un baudet qui foait à s'mote ch'est l'mitan d'ses norritures. | An ass that does it its way is half its food. | Obstinacy pays off. |
| Un cras ojon, i vole jamais loin | A fat goose never flies far. | A person who overindulges won't go far in life. |
| Un jonne èd crapiaud, à s'mère i simbe toudis biau | A young toad always seems beautiful to its mother. | A mother always finds her child beautiful. (Beauty is in the eye of the beholder) |
| Un neu ramon, i ramonne toudis miu. | A new broom always sweeps better. | New things are always better. / A newcomer shows zeal and brings change. |
| Vaut miu vinde du tiemps que de n'acater | Better to sell time than to buy it. | It's better to be early than late. |
| Un porchio qui fé à s'mote ch'eest l' mitant dé s'nourriture | A pig that does it its way is half its food. | Similar to the 'ass' expression, stubbornness can be beneficial. |
| Vlà comme il est nich'quouel ! | That's how perfect he is! | He's perfect! |
| Tiens té droite, t'a l'cul in bus | Stand straight, your backside is sticking out. | Stand up straight, you're slouching. |
| Ravisse in moné | Look a bit. / Come and see. | Come and see! / Have a look! |
| Brin tin cul ! / Brin d'kien ! | Shit in your backside! / Dog shit! | Mild expletives, similar to 'Damn it!' or 'Bloody hell!' |
Top 10 Everyday Expressions
Beyond the more colourful idioms, some expressions are simply part of daily conversational fabric in the Nord. Learning these can significantly aid in understanding locals:
- Hein?: Far from being rude, this is the most polite way to say, 'Excuse me, I didn't understand your sentence or question.'
- La drache: This simply means 'rain'. It's primarily used for heavy showers, sudden downpours, or torrential rain. If someone says it's going to 'dracher', grab an umbrella, or you'll be 'tout fraîque' (soaking wet)!
- Hé, biloute!: This term has two main meanings. It can refer to a man generally, or be used affectionately to address someone younger (especially a boy) or a friend. E.g., 'Hé, biloute, vins ichi!' ('Hey, lad/mate, come here!') or 'Cha va, biloute?' ('How are you, mate?').
- On se dit quoi / je te dis quoi: Don't take this literally as a question. It means 'We'll keep in touch' or 'I'll let you know'. Essential for avoiding misunderstandings!
- Quinquin: This endearing term refers to a small child or baby. It was popularised by the Lille poet Alexandre Desrousseaux in his famous lullaby, 'Le p'tit quinquin'.
- Braire: While in standard French this means 'to bray' (like a donkey), in the Nord, it means 'to cry'. So, don't be alarmed if a local says your child is 'en train de braire'. Someone who 'brait toudis' (always cries) is a 'brayou' (male) or 'brayousse' (female) – a cry-baby!
- Passer la wassingue: If it's been 'draching' and you've tracked mud indoors, you'll need to 'passer la wassingue'. This uniquely named object is simply a floor mop.
- Petit pain: This pastry's name varies regionally. In the Nord, it's a 'petit pain', while elsewhere it might be a 'chocolatine' or 'pain au chocolat'.
- Tincafé, ch’est de l’chirloute: If your coffee is too weak, a Ch'ti friend might say this. It means 'your coffee is too light', equivalent to the English 'dishwater' or 'sock juice'.
- Un crayon de bois: In Nord-Pas-de-Calais, people draw with a 'crayon de bois'. This refers to a pencil (literally, 'wooden pencil').
Other Intriguing Expressions
Beyond the common phrases, the 'Patois du Nord' is peppered with other expressions that offer a glimpse into the region's linguistic quirks:
- Saque ed’din !: Literally 'pull in'. It means 'go faster!' or 'hurry up!' Often used to encourage someone, like an athlete.
- Laisse la porte contre !: If someone asks you to 'leave the door against', don't close it! They mean 'leave it ajar'.
- Prind eune cayelle…: This is a polite, albeit slightly informal, invitation to sit down.
- Abile les vacances !: A more enthusiastic way to say 'Can't wait for the holidays!' 'Abile' can also mean 'to rush' or 'to hurry', so 'Abile don' means 'Hurry up, then!'
- Baisse: In the Nord, 'eune baisse' is a kiss or a peck. If circumstances allow, you might specify 'sur la bouque' (on the mouth).
- Bellot / Bellote: If you find someone attractive, you can say he's 'bellot' or she's 'bellote' (handsome/beautiful).
- Brin: This is the Nordistes' word for 'shit' – a mild expletive.
- Drôle: Unlike in standard English or French, 'drôle' in the Nord doesn't mean funny. It describes someone as strange, odd, or awkward.
- Ducasse: If invited to a 'ducasse', accept! It's a fun fair or village festival.
- Gardincourt: If your friend says they're going to 'Gardincourt' for their holidays, don't look for it on a map! It's a portmanteau of 'jardin' (garden) and 'cour' (yard), meaning they'll be staying at home.
A Touch of Northern 'Amability' and Insults
Like any dialect, 'Patois du Nord' has its own colourful way of expressing displeasure or affection, sometimes blurring the lines between the two. While some phrases are clearly insults, others are almost endearing in their directness:
- Ferme eut bouque, tin nez y va quer eud din !: 'Close your mouth, your nose will fall in!' Use this when someone looks utterly dumbfounded or surprised, mouth agape.
- Espèce de babache !: To be 'babache' means to be a bit dim-witted or foolish. It's a gentler insult, akin to calling someone 'silly' or 'simpleton'.
- Armonte eut’marone, tin pintalon i quié !: Literally, 'Pull up your knickers, your trousers are falling down!' This is used to tell someone to stop talking nonsense or 'caccoulles' (rubbish).
- Gentil n’a qu’un eul,mi j’n’ai deux !: 'Kindness has only one eye, but I have two!' This is a Northern variant of 'Too kind, too foolish'.
- L’a nin eune tiêteàchucherdesglachons: 'He doesn't have a head for sucking ice cubes.' This common bar expression means the person in question looks like a drunkard.
- Parleàmin cul, m’tiête al’est malate: 'Talk to my backside, my head is sick.' A dismissive way of saying you're not listening or don't care about what's being said.
- L’a un caractère ed quien: 'He has a dog's character.' Used to describe someone with a bad temper or a difficult personality.
Frequently Asked Questions About Patois du Nord
- What is the main difference between 'Ch'ti' and 'Picard'?
- Linguistically, there is no fundamental difference; 'Ch'ti' is simply a popular, regional sobriquet used in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais area for what linguists refer to as the Picard language. In the Picardy region, it's generally called 'Picard'. They are largely mutually intelligible variants of the same language.
- Why is the dialect called 'Ch'ti'?
- The term 'Ch'ti' originated during World War I, coined by French soldiers to refer to their comrades from the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region who frequently used the Picard phrase 'ch'ti' (meaning 'that one' or 'him'). It became popular after WWII and has only recently been adopted as an endonym by the local population.
- How difficult is it for a standard French speaker to understand 'Patois du Nord'?
- While many words in Picard are close to French, a significant number are entirely specific to the dialect, especially terms related to mining. Historical accounts, such as Émile Zola's research for 'Germinal', indicate that an interpreter was necessary for him to communicate with local miners, highlighting the distinctiveness of the dialect from standard French.
- Are there specific pronunciation rules for 'Patois du Nord'?
- Yes, despite a lack of uniform spelling, there are consistent phonetic rules. For instance, 'S' and 'C' often become 'ch', 'ch' frequently becomes 'k', 're-' prefixes can become 'ar-' or 'er-', and the 'eu' sound often shifts to 'u'. Vowels with circumflex accents are stressed, and those with grave accents are open. These rules contribute to the dialect's unique sound.
- Is 'Patois du Nord' still widely spoken?
- While it is no longer the primary language of daily life for most, 'Patois du Nord' remains an important part of the region's cultural identity. Many older generations still speak it, and efforts are made to preserve it through cultural initiatives, local media, and by encouraging younger generations to learn some common phrases and understand their heritage.
Understanding the 'Patois du Nord' is far more than just learning a few phrases; it's about connecting with a rich cultural heritage and appreciating the linguistic diversity that makes Northern France so unique. From its distinctive phonetic shifts to its vibrant idioms and affectionate local terms, the dialect offers a fascinating journey into the heart of a resilient and expressive community. Like maintaining a classic vehicle, understanding this dialect requires attention to detail, a willingness to learn its specific mechanics, and an appreciation for its enduring character. So, the next time you find yourself in the Nord, you'll be better equipped to navigate its linguistic landscape and perhaps even engage in a little 'patois' yourself!
If you want to read more articles similar to Unravelling the Dialects of Northern France, you can visit the Automotive category.