(IN ORDER OF USE IN THE NOVEL)
Dors, min p’tit quinquin, / Min p’tit pouchin, / Min gros rojin; / Te m’f’ras du chagrin / Si te n’dors point qu’à d’main
Sleep, my little child, / My little chick, / My fat grape; / You’ll annoy me if you don’t / Go to sleep till tomorrow
qu’est-ce?: What?
merde: shit (human or animal); exclamation of annoyance
micheton: (literally, “little Michael”) prostitute’s trick or john
allumeuse: (literally, “she who lights/turns on”) cocktease
cigare: (literally, “cigar”) penis
l’heure bleue: (literally, “the blue hour”) dusk
gamin: urchin, street child
ça va, mademoiselle?: All right, miss?
cuisses de grenouille au beurre noir: frog legs in black butter
mon vieux: my old friend (masc.)
dehors: outside
connard: jerk
bordel: brothel; exclamation of annoyance
chérie, ça va?: Darling (fem.), how are you?
Blanche la danseuse: Blanche the dancer
mac/maquereau: boyfriend of a prostitute
ami intime: bosom buddy (masc.)
Au clair de la lune, on n’y voit qu’un peu: By moonlight, you can’t see much
Maman: Mom
quelle salope: what a bitch
la vie de bohème: bohemian life
Courrier de San Francisco: a French-language San Francisco newspaper
con: (literally, “vulva”) fool
enchanté: delighted to meet you (masc.)
pantalon: trousers
chacun ses goûts: to each his own
qu’importe: no matter
mon beau: my handsome (masc.)
heureux au jeu, malheureux en amour: lucky at gambling, unlucky in love
petite amie: girlfriend, lover (fem.)
ma puce: my flea; term of endearment
le Cirque d’Hiver: the Winter Circus
les jours anciens: past times
des conneries: bullshit
satané: (literally, “satanic”) damn
Français: the French, or Frenchmen
à table, messieurs-dames: come and eat, ladies and gentlemen
Monsieur Loyal: traditional title of circus ringmaster
vous comprenez?: you understand?
Voici la fin de la semaine: / Qui veut m’aimer? / Je l’aimerai. / Qui veut mon âme? / Elle est à prendre.
Here’s the weekend: / Who wants to love me? / I’ll love him. / Who wants my soul? / It’s for the taking.
putain: whore; exclamation of annoyance or surprise
prends-la dans le cul: take her in the ass
chatte: (literally, “female cat”) vulva
l’amant de Blanche: Blanche’s lover (masc.)
merci: thanks
bisou: kiss
regarde le beau cheval: look at the handsome horse
chut: shh
voilà: there
caca: poo
viens ici, mon gars: come here, my lad
gulli gulli: tickling taunt
putain de merde: (literally, “shit-whore”) exclamation of extreme annoyance
mon amour: my love (masc.)
pauv’ bébé: poor baby
qu’est-ce que ce sera?: What’ll it be?
choucroute: sauerkraut
j’en ai marre: I’ve had enough
bordel de merde: (literally, “shit-brothel”) exclamation of extreme annoyance
patron: boss
foutu: (literally, “fucked”) damn
bel ami: boyfriend, boy toy
hein: now (conveying insistence)
Chapeau sur côté, Musieu Bainjo / La canne à la main, Musieu Bainjo, / Botte qui fait crin crin, Musieu Bainjo …
Hat on one side, Mr. Banjo, / Cane in hand, Mr. Banjo / Boots that squeak, Mr. Banjo …
la vie est trop courte pour boire du mauvais vin: life’s too short to drink bad wine
la ville sans honte: the shameless city/town
Mais il est bien court, le temps des cerises … / Cerises d’amour au robes pareilles, / Tombant sous la feuille en gouttes de sang …
But cherry time is very short …/ Cherries of love in the same dresses, / Falling under the leaves in drops of blood …
bonne nuit, mes amis: good night, my friends
hou-hou: yoo-hoo
comme il faut: as it should be done
cuisses de grenouille à la poulette: frog legs chicken-style
à bientôt: see you soon
bonne chance: good luck
libre: free (to do)
gratuit: free (in price)
cul: ass (meaning sex in general)
ta gueule: shut your trap
enchantée: delighted to meet you (fem.)
l’une pour l’autre, double paix-paroli, masque, sept-et-le-va: faro jargon
que ça pue: what a stink
va te faire foutre: go fuck yourself
bon voyage: have a good trip
jamais de fumée sans feu: there’s no smoke without fire
fille de joie: (literally, “joy girl”) prostitute
Mardi i’ r’viendra m’ voire, / O gai! vive la rose; / Mais je n’en voudrai pas, / Vive la rose et le lilas!
He’ll come back to see me on Tuesday, / Hey, long live the rose; / But I won’t want him back / Long live the rose and the lilac!
gouine: dyke
ma pauvre: poor thing (fem.)
qu’est-ce que c’est que ça?: What’s this?
qu’est-ce qui m’est arrivé?: What’s happened to me?
gendarmes: French police
corbillard: hearse
croque-morts: undertaker’s assistants
le voilà enfin: there he is at last
un enfant sauvage: a wild child
enceinte: pregnant
mari de convenance: husband of convenience
santé: to your health (a toast)
pommes frites: French fries
Ma chandelle est morte, / Je n’ai plus de feu. / Ouvre-moi ta porte / Pour l’amour de Dieu.
My candle’s out, / I’ve got no more fire. / Open your door to me, / For the love of God.
dernier cri: the last word in fashion