Thursday, 29 March 2012

How to translate 'exciting" into French without sounding like a pervert



I would not recommend to use the adjective "excitant" in French when you only mean  "thrilling" or "very interesting" as it can be a touch controversial.

As ‘ excitant” means ‘sexually arousing” in standard French, I would suggest the use of "passionant" or "émouvant" to con meanings to the English "exciting", however here are a few English phrases and their French translation.

Now, as for the translation of ‘ I’m so excited’ when you are not able to contain yourself in anticipation, I’m afraid there is no translation as such in French, you would just sound too keen.

You can however say ‘il est surexité” about a child, or any persons who cannot control themselves.

Anything exciting in your life?

Qu’est-ce qui se passe de beau à Paris
Qu’est-ce que tu racontes de beau ?
Quoi de neuf dans ta vie ?
I must do a spring cleaning this week! How exciting! Yes there is a touch of sarcasm.... Those who know me would confirm.
Je dois faire un grand ménage de printemps. Génial ! Quel pied ! C’est trop top !

An exciting new acting talent

un acteur qui promet




Then again, as it has been with ‘populaire’ (that used to mean only working-class in the not so far away past), the use of ‘excitant’ with the same English meaning might be creeping into French as spoken in France in a near future.

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